    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Page H894]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                            STAFFING CUTS AT THE VA

      (Mr. DELUZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for
    1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
      Mr. DELUZIO. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago we saw more than 1,000 staff
    being fired at the VA. Then, this week, 1,400 more staffers were fired
    at the VA.
      Who are these folks?
      They support the veterans' crisis hotline. They take care of medical
    research, studying cancer, mental health, you name it, and burn pit
    exposure.
      Mr. Speaker, remember that the Federal Government is the largest
    veteran employer in the United States. Around one-third of all VA
    employees are veterans themselves.
      Yesterday, we learned the Trump administration is canceling more than
    800 VA contracts.
      Do you know what these things fund, Mr. Speaker?
      Getting toxic exposed veterans access to their records to prove their
    claims, cancer care for veterans, and calibrating radiation detection
    equipment. I could go on and on.
      It is a betrayal to attack veterans' care. We do not send young
    Americans off to fight wars and then when they come back to this
    country, we betray them by attacking the VA.
      Mr. Speaker, do you want to talk about fiscal responsibility?
      Then go look at the fraud, waste, and abuse at the Pentagon. Go tax
    billionaires and offshoring corporations. We don't do it on the backs
    of veterans.
      This is unacceptable, and we are going to fight this every way we
    can.

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