[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 96 (Tuesday, June 6, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S3256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



              Tribute to Texas Military Academy Appointees

  Mr. President, it is good to be back at work here in Washington after 
a work week at home. I had the honor, starting on Memorial Day, of 
spending some time with Texas's newest recruits to our country's 
military academies.
  Every year, now for the 11th year, I have had the privilege of 
hosting an academy sendoff ceremony in ``Military City U.S.A.,'' my 
hometown of San Antonio. This annual gathering recognizes the bright 
young Texans who have accepted an appointment to one of the premier 
military academies that serve our Armed Forces, and I am always proud 
to celebrate the incredible achievement they have made so far in their 
young lives and encourage them as they begin a life of public service. 
It is truly inspirational, and it is my favorite event of the year.
  This year about 272 young Texans have answered the call to get a 
service academy education and a career in military service. It is a 
good deal if you can qualify for it because basically you get a free 
ride to one of these premier service academies, and we train the next 
generation of military leaders, which is good for all of us.
  My wife Sandy and I look forward to this event each year, and we find 
that Memorial Day is a fitting time to send off these young men and 
women, while we at the same time remembering the ultimate sacrifice 
made by those who gave their lives answering that same call to service.
  I try to recruit a top-tier speaker to these events, somebody who 
will challenge and inspire these young men and women, and this year was 
no exception. ADM William McRaven, the Chancellor of the University of 
Texas System, spoke to these incoming midshipmen about lessons he 
learned in public service and his 37 years in the U.S. Navy as a Navy 
SEAL.
  He spoke candidly that this would be the greatest challenge of their 
young lives but also the most rewarding. He said it would be a decision 
they would never regret. He also spent some time--appropriately, on 
Memorial Day--talking about the heroes who have sacrificed all to serve 
the military in the greatest country in the world. So all in all, 
Memorial Day was a great day, and it was a great event for these young 
men and women.


    Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower 
                            Protection Bill

  Mr. President, as we come back the week after Memorial Day, I know I 
am not the only one encouraged to find better and more effective ways 
to serve our country. Fortunately, this Chamber in the Senate will have 
a chance to do that. Soon we will vote on a bill that will reform the 
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a Department riddled with 
inefficiencies and marked too often by scandal and corruption.
  This is a huge government department. At last count, some 330,000 
people worked for the Veterans' Administration and, unfortunately, we 
have all become familiar with the horror stories of fake scheduling, 
indicating that people actually were being seen who were not seen, huge 
wait times, and people literally dying as a result of not getting the 
treatment they earned by virtue of their service in the military 
through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  The legislation we will vote on is called the Department of Veterans 
Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. It will 
protect the Veterans' Administration employees who care deeply for 
veterans by protecting them as whistleblowers. It also provides 
managers with the tools they need to address poor performance and 
misconduct. To sum it up, this bill will make it easier for VA 
employees to be held accountable, and that is something the Veterans' 
Administration and our veterans desperately need, and it has for some 
time. It will make the VA work better for the men and women who have 
served us so well.
  I should point out that at a time when I suspect people doubt whether 
there is any bipartisanship in the Congress or in Washington, this is a 
bipartisan piece of legislation. It was voted out of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee by a voice vote 2 weeks ago, which essentially is by 
unanimous consent.
  It has growing support among groups focused on helping our returning 
warriors to get the treatment, care, and support they need. That is 
because the VA bill will do what it is supposed to do and, 
unfortunately, hasn't always done well, which is to serve our veterans.
  Like all of us, I have the honor of meeting with our veterans 
regularly and working with them to help them succeed after giving so 
much of themselves to keep our country safe.
  One other example of bipartisan legislation that was signed last week 
by the President of the United States is a bill called the American Law 
Enforcement Heroes Act, a bill that I introduced to help connect 
veterans to opportunities in law enforcement in their local 
communities. So it is another example--perhaps, not in the headlines. 
There is not a big partisan food fight over it. So maybe most people 
are not aware of it. But I think it is important to remind people that, 
amid all of the distractions they see in Washington and in the news, 
there is important work being done to benefit people who certainty 
deserve it, and that would be the case for our veterans.
  I am thankful for the work of the chairman of the Senate Veterans' 
Affairs Committee, Senator Isakson, as well as the diligent and 
thoughtful work of the Senator from Florida, Mr. Rubio, on this 
important veterans bill. I look forward to passing this bill soon.
  Mr. President, I also look forward this afternoon to confirming the 
nominee for general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. 
Director Pompeo has been there for some time now, having been nominated 
by President Trump and confirmed. He is an outstanding choice to be the 
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Like every organization, 
it seems these days, the CIA needs a good lawyer to lead its effort to 
make sure that it conducts itself precisely in accordance with the rule 
of law.
  Ms. Elwood is extraordinarily qualified. She served during the 
administration of President George W. Bush as Counselor to the Attorney 
General, Deputy Counsel to the Vice President, and Associate Counsel to 
the President. I am confident that she will serve as a sharp, 
independent mind to the CIA. I hope we will confirm Courtney Elwood 
soon, and I trust we will.