S5118 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 23, 2018 and the rule of law. It almost seems Kagan—let’s call it the Kagan stand- in the mud. Even though there is bipar- that anyone who criticizes him is be- ard—is good enough for Judge tisan condemnation for the President’s yond the pale, is fake, is dishonest. Kavanaugh—paraphrasing, of course, behavior last week, the Senate has re- As the revelation about the Nixon what is good for the goose is good for mained virtually silent on the matter case shows, there is still much we don’t the gander. because Republicans here are unwill- know about Judge Kavanaugh. The The Senate’s duty to advise and con- ing, maybe afraid, to confront the Senate and the American people de- sent does not mean move as hastily as President, even though they know serve to know where Judge Kavanaugh possible. For the benefit of this body, what he did was so wrong. stands on a host of issues. After all, the for the sake of consistency, and for the At the end of last week, the Repub- Supreme Court is a lifetime appoint- honor of this Chamber, I hope my Re- lican majority blocked a bipartisan ment with enormous power—the power publican friends join Democrats in ask- resolution—a modest one from Sen- to overrule the elected bodies of gov- ing for and waiting for all the docu- ators Flake and Coons, one a Repub- ernment. ments related to Judge Kavanaugh. lican, one a Democrat—that sought to Given that the hearing process for The American people have a right to hold Russia accountable. It didn’t have the Supreme Court has tended to be know what is there, and the Senate many teeth, but still the Republicans more of a public relations exercise for must have enough time to review the objected. nominees rather than a legitimate ex- body of work before making an unal- Are my Republican friends ever will- amination of judicial philosophy, terable decision on a lifetime appoint- ing to push back against this Presi- Judge Kavanaugh’s papers might be ment to the Nation’s highest Court. dent, not just in words but in deeds, or the best and only way to judge what f are they too afraid of the political con- kind of a Justice he might be. My Re- sequences? Are they willing to put publican friends understood this when TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT country over party at this crucial it came to Justice Kagan, who had Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on time? It seems not, at least so far. served in key positions in prior admin- Russia, a week ago today, President I know many of my colleagues on the istrations, much like Judge Trump met with President Putin in other side of the aisle were deeply dis- Kavanaugh. They were then in the mi- Helsinki, and with the world watching, turbed by the President’s inexplicable nority, as we are now, when Judge failed to show an ounce of strength in behavior in Helsinki. I say to them, Kagan was nominated, but our Repub- defense of American interests. America needs you now. We need you lican colleagues demanded the entire What followed was an embarrassing to stand up, step up to the plate, and paper history of then-Solicitor General week of insincere walk backs and do something about it. Kagan before moving forward with her mixed messages, culminating on Fri- Frankly, if we don’t do something nomination, and Democrats agreed. day in a bizarre invitation for Presi- real, President Trump—I know him— In a joint letter to the director of the dent Putin to visit the White House will conclude he doesn’t need to change Clinton Library, the chairman and this fall—something the President’s his behavior, and, as a result, Repub- ranking member of the Judiciary Com- own Director of National Intelligence, licans will be complicit in enabling the mittee at the time—Senator LEAHY, Mr. Coats, was not made aware of. It is President to continue down the disas- the chairman, and Senator Jeff Ses- not hyperbolic to say that last week trous course he has set. sions, now Attorney General, but then may have been one of the worst weeks I yield the floor. the ranking Republican on the com- in American foreign policy in recent f mittee—wrote that they expected ‘‘all memory. records containing documents written In the face of these stunning events, CONCLUSION OF MORNING by, edited by, prepared in whole or part what have my Republican colleagues BUSINESS by, under the supervision of, or at the done to rein in the President? I am sad The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning direction of Elena Kagan, as well as to report, virtually nothing. In the full business is closed. documents referencing Elena Kagan by week since the Helsinki summit, Re- name, initials, or title, and documents publicans failed to take meaningful ac- EXECUTIVE SESSION received by or sent to Elena Kagan.’’ tion to hold the President accountable A Democratic chairman and Repub- for his foreign policy blunders in Fin- lican Senator Sessions, the ranking land. Republicans have offered words of EXECUTIVE CALENDAR member, asked for every single docu- rebuke, statements, disappointed ment of Elena Kagan’s record. Why The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under tweets, but they have not backed up should such a standard apply to Justice the previous order, the Senate will pro- any of those words with the force of ac- Kagan but not to Judge Kavanaugh? ceed to executive session for the con- I have taken the liberty of editing tion. sideration of the following nomination, the letter sent by Senators Sessions I have seen my colleagues shrug their which the clerk will report. shoulders as if there weren’t anything and LEAHY. It didn’t take much work The senior assistant legislative clerk to make it directly applicable today. It the U.S. Senate could do to check this read the nomination of Robert L. is the same letter, same request, sim- President, even though they feel in Wilkie, of North Carolina, to be Sec- ply crossing out every time it mentions their hearts, I know, that he needs retary of Veterans Affairs. Kagan and putting in the name checking. I mentioned several ways the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ‘‘Kavanaugh.’’ There was no change. It Senate could grapple with and push ator from Kansas. is the same standard. back a bit on what President Trump Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I started I have already heard from my Repub- has done: bring in his national security my morning in Kansas City speaking lican colleagues, including Chairman team and translator to testify before to 4,000 veterans attending the Vet- GRASSLEY, that there is no reason to Congress, particularly so we can tell erans of Foreign Wars 119th National review Judge Kavanaugh’s full record what happened in that 2 hours when Convention held in Kansas City. before proceeding with his nomination. Putin and Trump were alone; pass leg- My speech was a message to those I have had enough of the two- islation to protect the special counsel Americans whom I hold in highest re- facedness, the total hypocrisy on and legislation to harden our election gard, our Nation’s veterans, and espe- judges, where somehow our Republican infrastructure because we risk Russia’s cially those veterans who are helping colleagues say it is good one way when interference again; implement sanc- other veterans. I wanted them to know, we have a Democratic President and tions against Russia; demand that Rus- when they signed up to serve our coun- the opposite should take effect when sia hand over the 12 Russians indicted try, they did not do so in support of we have a Republican President. That for election interference and more. any political party. Those who serve is what they are doing with the records If my Republican friends were serious our Nation, and particularly those who here first of Judge Kagan and now about doing something to redirect our paid the ultimate sacrifice, did not an- Judge Kavanaugh. posture toward Russia, we should have swer the call to support Republicans or Well, I say to my Republican col- seen some movement by now on one or Democrats, but they answered for a leagues, what is good for Justice more of these things, but we are stuck higher calling.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:28 Jul 24, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JY6.007 S23JYPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with SENATE July 23, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5119 Speaking to thousands of veterans provide the leadership to confirm Mr. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, this morning and being in a room filled Robert Wilkie to be the Secretary of today the Senate will vote to confirm with the characteristics that make this Veterans Affairs. Robert Wilkie, President Trump’s out- country so great—duty, honor, loyalty, I suggest the absence of a quorum. standing choice to serve as the next respect—should remind us here in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Washington, DC, that we must work to- clerk will call the roll. The job is an incredibly important gether to do everything possible to en- The senior assistant legislative clerk one. As Secretary, Mr. Wilkie will be sure that our Nation’s nearly 20 mil- proceeded to call the roll. tasked with fulfilling our Nation’s lion veterans receive the best our Na- Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask commitments to veterans and their tion has to offer. Putting veterans first unanimous consent that the order for families, expanding their access to and setting aside differences has led to the quorum call be rescinded. care, and improving accountability at major policy changes and vital vet- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. the VA. erans legislation such as the John MORAN). Without objection, it is so or- Millions of American veterans rely McCain VA MISSION Act to reform the dered. on the VA—day in and day out—for VA’s healthcare system. Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today healthcare, employment resources, Of course, a large part of the task to this Chamber will take an important counseling, and a host of other services ensure veterans get the best our Nation step to ensure that we have leadership they need and have certainly earned. has to offer falls to the Department of in the Department of Veterans Affairs It is fortunate, then, that Mr. Veterans Affairs. I want our veterans to oversee the implementation of his- Wilkie’s impressive career of public to receive the best care, the best atten- toric reforms that we passed in May to service demonstrates he is well pre- tion possible from the Department of improve the VA’s healthcare delivery pared to advance the agency’s vital Veterans Affairs. system and provide veterans with more missions. In just a few minutes, the Senate will choices and fewer barriers to care. Robert Wilkie grew up the son of an vote on the confirmation of Mr. Robert We will vote on the nomination of Army artillery officer. He carried on Wilkie to be the Secretary of the De- Robert Wilkie to serve as Secretary of the tradition of service as an officer in partment of Veterans Affairs. I am con- the VA. Having served our Nation in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. In addition fident Mr. Wilkie is focused on putting uniform, as well as experiencing mili- to uniformed service, Mr. Wilkie has veterans first, changing the VA culture tary life as the son of a wounded com- amassed more-than two decades of ex- of any complacency—ridding it of any bat soldier, Robert Wilkie’s extensive perience as a civil servant. He has complacency—and is ready to lead the career in a wide range of defense and served at the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs. veterans issues makes him uniquely at the National Security Council, and Of course, Mr. Wilkie has numerous qualified to serve as the next Secretary here on Capitol Hill. monumental tasks ahead of him. The of the VA. He clearly understands the Throughout the years, he has built a Department of Veterans Affairs is a complexities associated with serving reputation as a thoughtful analyst and massive bureaucracy that has had a our Nation and the importance of tak- a skilled manager. Both these skills number of challenges in the past, and ing care of veterans. will serve him well at the helm of an he will be charged with successfully I am grateful for Robert Wilkie’s an agency that employs nearly 400,000 implementing the John McCain VA willingness to serve as the next Sec- people to meet the needs of millions MISSION Act. retary of the VA. I urge my colleagues The VA MISSION Act, if imple- more. to follow the example of the Senate mented correctly, will be trans- I know I speak for so many of my col- Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which formative for the Department and will leagues when I say that the Senate overwhelmingly advanced his nomina- make sure the VA continues to serve looks forward to working closely with tion to the Senate in a bipartisan way. veterans for generations to come. I the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. look forward to working with Mr. Having served as Acting Secretary of Already in 2018, guided by the leader- Wilkie to accomplish that goal, and I the VA, Robert Wilkie is well aware of ship of Chairman ISAKSON, this body appreciate the interest the Trump ad- the challenges facing the Department. has taken decisive action to better ful- ministration has had on implementa- Accepting responsibility to oversee fill our Nation’s promises to veterans tion of the VA MISSION Act. the implementation of reforms passed and their families. I judge whether the VA is working by Congress, including the VA MIS- In May, the Senate voted, by a wide for veterans by what we all call case- SION Act, to update its medical bipartisan margin, to pass the VA MIS- work, which is when veterans seek help records system, to expand support for SION Act, which was designed to en- from me and my staff because they our women veterans, and to reduce the sure that the services on which our Na- can’t break down the barriers or navi- disability claims backlog, are just a tion’s heroes rely are flexible and ac- gate the VA’s penchant to tell them few of those issues that he will need to cessible enough to meet their needs. no. Right now, we have about 80 open tackle. The omnibus spending measure veterans’ cases and a steady stream of To accomplish all of this, he will passed earlier this year included a about 30 cases coming from Kansas vet- have to change the culture at the VA. record level of support for VA pro- erans each month. I intend to be an ac- Serving as the Secretary of the VA is a grams. tive participant, working with the VA huge undertaking, but one that he has In Robert Wilkie, the President has as they work to implement the VA committed to me that he whole- chosen a partner with whom this body MISSION Act. I intend to be a con- heartedly accepts. The Senate VA can work side by side to continue ad- structive participant in the process for Committee and my office are ready and vancing the interests of our Nation’s making the VA better for Kansas vet- willing to help him and the VA succeed veterans, including more than 300,000 erans and American veterans. in their mission. in my home State of Kentucky. Those in our communities can help Congress has given the VA the tools I look forward to doing just that. I as well, not just those in the Depart- to provide our veterans with quality urge each of my colleagues to join me ment of Veterans Affairs. It is what we care and to improve the benefits they in voting today to confirm this quali- all do as citizens, educators, and busi- have earned. Now the Department fied nominee. ness men and women. One of the first needs his leadership to implement and Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I am acts is developing access standards, to carry out these changes. Under the proud to speak today on behalf of my and folks can provide their feedback leadership of future Secretary Wilkie, friend and colleague Robert Wilkie, the until July 30. So let us hear from the the VA can reestablish a nonpartisan nominee to be VA Secretary. VFW and other VSOs. Let us hear from approach to serving veterans. I have had the honor of working with veterans. Either the VA or my office Our veterans must be our top pri- Robert for 3 years. Sometimes, he can direct you to the Federal Register ority. I am confident that Robert worked for me, and other times, I site to make those comments known. Wilkie will provide the leadership the worked for him. His combination of I am pleased we are taking the final VA needs to better serve our veterans. knowledge, humor, humility, and heart step needed in the Senate tonight to I yield back. has endeared him to my staff and to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:28 Jul 24, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JY6.009 S23JYPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with SENATE S5120 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 23, 2018 scores of North Carolina constituents, I look forward to supporting his con- frankly, I believe that good employees including many servicemembers and firmation, and I would encourage all of are being forced out, not because of the veterans. my colleagues to do the same. Put poli- job they are doing but because of their Robert was born in Frankfurt, West tics aside and vote in favor of this hon- views. When Mr. Wilkie becomes Sec- Germany, the son of an Army artillery orable and eminently qualified man to retary, he is going to have to make officer. He literally grew up on Fort serve all of our Nations’ veterans. sure that stops. It is critically impor- Bragg, and he lived most of his early Thank you. tant that we keep the employees that life in the Fort Bragg-Fayetteville area Mr. BOOZMAN. I suggest the absence we have who are good employees and of North Carolina. of a quorum. move the VA forward so it can do the Robert is now an intelligence officer The PRESIDING OFFICER. The job that it is meant to do. in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. clerk will call the roll. He also has some challenges to ad- Previously, he served in the Atlantic The senior assistant legislative clerk dress in rural America. The commu- Intelligence Command and Joint proceeded to call the roll. nity-based outpatient clinics we have Forces Intelligence Command and the Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I ask there need to be staffed up. We need to U.S. Navy. unanimous consent that the order for make sure that the VA has what it Robert has also pursued a distin- the quorum call be rescinded. needs to meet the needs of the veterans guished career in public service on the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without in rural America, and, by the way, with civilian side, both in the halls of the objection, it is so ordered. the passage of the MISSION Act, we Pentagon and of Congress. Robert has Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I rise need to make sure that veterans aren’t served as a trusted adviser to some of today to announce that I think Robert run around once that act gets fully im- our Nation’s most distinguished public Wilkie is the right man for the job to plemented and they need community servants, including Robert Gates, be VA Secretary. Today, we are going care and the VA can’t provide that Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, to fulfill our constitutional responsi- care. and Jim Mattis. He needs to make sure the disability As a congressional staffer, Robert de- bility to provide advice and consent on the President’s nominee. This is a re- appeals process continues to move for- veloped excellent working relation- ward and that the backlog is whittled ships with committee staff, on both sponsibility that I take very seriously, especially in my role as ranking mem- down. He needs to make sure that the sides of the aisle. He is universally rec- accountability bill is implemented as ognized as a team player and mentor, ber of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Congress intended and that the whis- traits of any outstanding leader. tleblower protection in the bill lives up Frankly, given his depth of experi- In our committee, Chairman ISAKSON to what it means. He also needs to im- ence, I was pleasantly surprised and and I have overseen the screening of plement the ‘‘Forever GI bill’’ in a way very proud to have Robert accept a po- the confirmation of 12 nominees to that makes sense for our veterans. sition with a 6-month-old freshman serve veterans. I am proud to say that Last and certainly not least, he needs Senator, but it was clear to me from we confirmed them without dragging to make sure the VA MISSION Act is the start that Robert was destined to our feet. implemented in a way in which a vet- serve our Nation at a higher level. Recently, we had Mr. Robert Wilkie Last year, Robert received that call before the committee for his confirma- eran can make the decision as to how from the administration when he was tion hearing. Members of our com- he gets his or her healthcare. Veterans need a leader who will build nominated to be Under Secretary of mittee asked him tough questions bridges and find solutions to the issues Defense for Personnel and Readiness. about his vision for the VA. We asked that face our veterans, not who will Robert demonstrated his extraordinary him about his plan to bring much need- tear down the Department to meet a skills in a short period of time, so it ed stability to the Nation’s largest political agenda. Veterans need a lead- was no surprise to me that the admin- healthcare system. Following the im- er who will not shy away from those istration identified him as a perfect fit portant exchanges during that hearing, challenges that face the VA. We need to be Secretary of the VA. Members sent more tough questions to someone who is going to tackle the When he was appointed in the acting the nominee for his response. In the challenges like workforce shortages, role as VA Secretary, he quickly days since his nomination, Mr. Wilkie worked to improve morale at the VA, like access to mental healthcare, and has sat down with Members to respond like barriers, particularly in rural earning strong reviews and trust from to their questions and concerns one-on- VSOs, members of Congress, and VA America, for women veterans. I believe one. that Mr. Wilkie is the right fit for that staff. He also moved decisively to exe- By voting to confirm Mr. Wilkie cute the electronic health record job. today, I believe we are providing Right now, the VA does not have a project, which we all know is a critical stronger leadership for America’s vet- part of the VA transformation initia- confirmed Secretary who is focused on erans. With this vote, we are fulfilling the larger mission of serving these vet- tive. our obligation to them. Robert has all of the education and erans, of implementing the reforms, We are doing our job, but our job just professional experience required of a and of improving VA care and benefits. doesn’t stop today. As Members of this Secretary of the VA, but perhaps what Instead, we have had temporary polit- body, we must hold Mr. Wilkie ac- makes Robert best suited to the job is ical appointees in charge who have countable to the commitments he has his lifelong experience as an Army brat been more interested in picking polit- and the personal experience as the son made through his confirmation proc- ical fights with people who have not of a gravely wounded soldier. ess. been their enemies. I believe we have He has literally lived the experience, There are some critically important lost sight of the VA’s mission. It will and I know that Robert will bring his issues to be addressed within the VA. be up to Mr. Wilkie to right that ship. professional experience and a personal There are workforce shortages, wheth- That is why I am so hopeful that this insight and intensity to the role that er in rural America or urban America. evening, we can get Mr. Wilkie con- will serve our veterans well. We need more doctors and nurses and firmed so that he can get on the job as Robert has been confirmed unani- more psychiatrics and psychologists soon as possible. Veterans are depend- mously by the Senate on two separate within the VA. This is critically impor- ing on him, and they are depending on occasions, most recently in November tant if he is going to oversee a success- us to make sure he gets to work. Once 2017, by my colleagues in this current ful VA. We need to have the VA per- he gets to work, I guarantee that the 115th Congress. Since the VA was ele- sonnel. We need to have it manned ap- chairman of the VA Committee and I, vated to a Cabinet-level department in propriately to meet the challenges that as ranking member, and all of the 1988, there have been nine Secretaries are out there after being at war for 17 members of the Senate’s Veterans’ Af- of Veterans Affairs; Robert Wilkie will years and veterans from previous eras fairs Committee will make sure that he soon be the 10th. getting older. does the job and fulfills the promises No nominee to be VA Secretary has Today, unlike ever before, we have we have made to our veterans. ever received a single recorded no vote political forces at play inside the VA. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- on the Senate floor. This is very unfortunate because, quite ator from Georgia.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:28 Jul 24, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JY6.024 S23JYPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with SENATE July 23, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5121 Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I thank to participate in the VA MISSION Act things. We will talk about one last the Senator from Montana, Mr. and the Veterans Choice Program, they thing, and that is rural America. TESTER, for his remarks. I thank him will not have to add all of the other Certainly, with JON, I have gained a more so for his hard work, as ranking costs of infrastructure, and our vet- greater impression than I have before member, over the last 2 years with me, erans will get better choice, better of the problems that rural America as chairman, and for bringing us to the service, better medical care, and better faces. Georgia has a large rural popu- point at which we are today. Jon and I time. lation, but, quite frankly, Georgia is a are very excited because we know that This is an opportunity to make the big State, and Atlanta is a big city. Robert Wilkie is the real deal. We change of a lifetime. We are going to When you go outside Atlanta, you still know the things that we have gone make the VA something it has always have Savannah, Augusta, and a lot of through with some of the previous ap- wanted to be and give the veterans places that are much bigger than the pointees and with some of the problems something they always thought they biggest city in Montana. We owe those at the VA now have a chance to be had—the best possible care at the most veterans who are more distant from overridden and solved and that we will affordable price to the taxpayer. We the services we provide, because of step forward in a new day for the VA. will deliver a difference for our vet- where they live, the opportunity to get We no longer want somebody who is erans and their families. the services faster and quicker. We are going to make excuses for the VA. We I am proud of what the committee going to do that with the VA MISSION want somebody who is going to make a did 2 weeks ago when it passed the VA Act. I appreciate JON’s leadership in difference at the VA. Robert Wilkie un- MISSION Act and when it brought doing that as it has made a real dif- derstands the needs of our veterans in about caregivers’ legislation for those ference. rural areas. He understands their needs family members so that they may take What I have tried to do with the hot- in large urban cities. He understands care of loved ones from the Vietnam lines on mental health for the veterans the threat of suicide and the need to war era. We are going to have bills who call in—whose lives are in danger have mental health care accessible and coming up that have to do with the or who are in danger of taking their available to our veterans at all times. Navy and other things like that in the own lives or who need help or coun- He knows all of the things we need to year ahead. We have a lot of things we seling then and now—is to make sure do. He also knows we have given him a are going to do. they are no longer getting hung up on, I want us to stop, here and now, drag- quiver of arrows that he can use as he to make sure they are no longer get- ging out old stories about the VA and hunts through the VA to root out the ting referred to other operators, to talking about what the VA isn’t and, bad players and lift the big players. make sure they are no longer getting instead, talk about what it is. I want to The VA MISSION Act, as JON TESTER called back tomorrow after leaving just mentioned, is absolutely rule No. give a specific example. The press voice mails. It is to make sure they are needs to stop giving a 3-, 4-, 5-year IG’s 1. The implementation of that change getting action right here and right report and reporting it as today’s news. gives our veterans the choice, our rural now—today. We owe it to our veterans Jon and I have spent more time in re- veterans the access, our urban veterans whose lives are at risk today—the same sponding to reports about the IG or the accountability, and the VA the thing they do every day when they someone else—I am just picking on the chance to maximize the delivery of serve us in uniform and their lives are IG—and about failures within the VA healthcare services to our veterans at a at risk every day overseas. when, in fact, it turns out that they We have a chance to do a wonderful cost that, over time, will be less than if are from a study from 2006 when we fi- thing, and that is to keep our promise. the VA had done it all by itself. nally get the report. They make a big The VA is a tremendous organiza- We have to change and deliver quality deal out of it as if it were yesterday. tion. It is the state of the art in many healthcare to our veterans and deliver Most of the issues from the Veterans things—in ophthalmology, for example, a better response to our veterans than Administration’s major stories—I they have ever had before. We have the and in treating a lot of the signature didn’t say ‘‘all,’’ and it never will be chance to fix the problems that we wounds that we have today from the all—are being met and addressed faster have had and to look to the future for war—PTSD and all of those. Our VA than ever before. We have to report the new solutions to other problems that does a phenomenal job with all of good news as well as the tough news. I will face us. We owe our veterans no those. Yet there are a lot of healthcare will stand there and respond to the less than the best Secretary in Robert services that are routine for which vet- tough news all day long, but I hate it Wilkie, and we have him in Robert erans shouldn’t have to wait 3, 4, and 5 when I have to call my own press con- Wilkie. months but that they ought to be able ference to talk about what is really I told Robert: You have no excuses. I to get in a reasonably accessible period going on at the VA that is really good. have heard all of the excuses I ever of time. They ought to be able to get It is absolutely essential that we be want to hear about this. We know what services closest to home, where they in partnership with the media—the VA we have to do, and we know when we are, and be able to get them from those itself, the VA’s employees, its service need to do it. It is now. We have to who can deliver the services to them providers, and all of us in our roles in know how to do it, and it is with you when they need them. The VA MIS- Congress as committee chairs, in lead- as the Secretary of the VA. SION Act lets that happen. ership. It is essential that all of us join I commend him to my fellow Mem- I am going to say a few things to- in and put our arms together and move bers of the U.S. Senate. night in my remarks on the early forward in order to have a stronger, I thank Chairman ROE, from the warnings with regard to the VA MIS- more productive, more responsible VA. House of Representatives, and for the SION Act—that it is costing a lot of I mentioned the VA MISSION Act hard work that they have done in money because they are going to see and accountability. We have finally bringing this together with JON and I some requests come in for money. Yes, given the VA the ability to hold its em- and seeing to it we have a great Sec- it is going to take us a little while to ployees accountable, which we have retary. get over the bubble with the initial im- been meaning to do for a long, long We are going to lock arms and be in plementation, but when we do, we are time, and it is making a difference. We lockstep next year to make the VA per- going to minimize the cost and give have the Whistleblower Protection Act, form even better than it has before. We greater service to the veterans and, which gives whistleblowers the chance are here to make sure that the VA has over time, reduce the cost to our vet- to make reports for things that they no excuses on the results, that it gets erans. see, know, and do that are difficult and the backing it needs from us, that Every time we don’t require the VA should be corrected. We have given those veterans who have served us get to build another hospital or another them some degree of reasonable protec- the healthcare they need, and that the clinic, we are lowering the cost of our tion so that they are not run over in- veterans who join us today to defend us real estate and uplifting the oppor- stead. That is something that is impor- in the future will have it there when tunity for us to spend more money on tant to do. they retire. services. Every time we have doctors in We have talked about accountability. I urge Senators to vote for Secretary hospitals who treat veterans who want We have talked about all kinds of Robert Wilkie to be Secretary of the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:28 Jul 24, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JY6.015 S23JYPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with SENATE S5122 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 23, 2018 VA, our 10th most recent VA ap- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- LEGISLATIVE SESSION pointee, and to give him a unanimous ator from Georgia. vote today, which is the kind of sup- Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I yield INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, FINAN- port he needs to move forward in the back all time. 21st century. CIAL SERVICES, AND GENERAL God bless all for being here today. I The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS thank the Senators for their votes. I is yielded back. ACT, 2019 thank Senator TESTER for his support The question is, Will the Senate ad- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under as ranking member, and I thank the vise and consent to the Wilkie nomina- the previous order, the Senate will re- Senator from Kansas for his support tion? sume legislative session and proceed to the consideration of H.R. 6147, which throughout the year. Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I ask the clerk will report. I yield to the Senator from North for the yeas and nays. Carolina. The bill clerk read as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a A bill (H.R. 6147) making appropriations ator from North Carolina. sufficient second? for the Department of the Interior, environ- Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I thank There appears to be a sufficient sec- ment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other pur- the chair for the kind words about the ond. nominee, Robert Wilkie, for the Vet- poses. The clerk will call the roll. erans Health Administration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- I am here to proudly discuss his The legislative clerk called the roll. ator from Alabama. Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask record. Actually, until about 6 months Mr. CORNYN. The following Senators ago, he was the military affairs adviser unanimous consent that for the pur- are necessarily absent: the Senator pose of rule XVI in relation to the sub- in my office and was my adviser on the from North Carolina (Mr. BURR), the VA. He has done an extraordinary job. stitute amendment No. 3399, division A Senator from Tennessee (Mr. CORKER), of H.R. 6147 serve as the basis for de- He is the child of a gravely wounded the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. KEN- veteran from the Vietnam war. He fense of germaneness for division A of NEDY), and the Senator from Arizona the amendment; that division B of H.R. grew up on Fort Bragg. He is from Fay- (Mr. MCCAIN). etteville, NC. He has done an extraor- 6147 serve as the basis for defense of dinary job in serving our office, in Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the germaneness for division B of the mentoring my staff, and in working for Senator from Ohio (Mr. BROWN), is nec- amendment; that H.R. 5961, as reported Senate leaders and leaders in the White essarily absent. by the House Appropriations Com- House—Secretary Gates, Secretary The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. mittee, serve as the basis for defense of Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, and now LANKFORD). Are there any other Sen- germaneness for division C of the General Mattis. ators in the chamber desiring to vote? amendment; and that H.R. 6072, as re- Robert Wilkie is going to do an ex- ported by the House Appropriations The result was announced—yeas 86, Committee, serve as the basis for de- traordinary job because he understands nays 9, as follows: what it is like to be the son of a vet- fense of germaneness for division D of eran and to be a member of the armed [Rollcall Vote No. 163 Ex.] the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there services himself. He serves in the Air YEAS—86 Force to this day. He previously served objection? Alexander Graham Paul Without objection, it is so ordered. in the Navy. He has attended the U.S. Baldwin Grassley Perdue AMENDMENT NO. 3399 Army War College. He has a law degree Barrasso Hassan Peters and a keen understanding of how this Bennet Hatch Portman (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute.) Blumenthal Heinrich Reed Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I now governing body works. He also has Blunt Heitkamp Risch call up the substitute amendment No. great relationships with people across Boozman Heller Roberts the political spectrum. He has worked Cantwell Hirono Rounds 3399. Capito Hoeven very closely in committee work with Rubio The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Cardin Hyde-Smith Sasse clerk will report. Carper Inhofe the committee staff. He just has an ex- Schatz Casey Isakson The bill clerk read as follows: traordinary reputation. He has an ex- Schumer Cassidy Johnson The Senator from Alabama [Mr. SHELBY] Scott traordinary sense of history. He has a Collins Jones Shaheen proposes an amendment numbered 3399. great dedication to our veterans, and Coons Kaine Shelby Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask he understands the intrinsic link be- Cornyn King Smith tween Active Duty and reservists and, Cortez Masto Klobuchar unanimous consent that the reading of Cotton Lankford Stabenow the amendment be dispensed with. ultimately, with veterans. Sullivan Crapo Leahy The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without I believe that he is going to go in and Tester Cruz Lee objection, it is so ordered. move forward with the transformation Daines Manchin Thune Tillis (The amendment is printed in today’s and do great things for our veterans Donnelly McCaskill Duckworth McConnell Toomey RECORD under ‘‘Text of Amendments.’’) who need the help today. He will do an Durbin Menendez Udall The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- even more outstanding job of under- Enzi Moran Van Hollen ator from Alaska. standing how we can better prepare the Ernst Murkowski Warner Fischer Murphy Whitehouse AMENDMENT NO. 3400 TO AMENDMENT NO. 3399 men and women who are serving today Flake Murray Wicker Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I to go into veteran status—to help them Gardner Nelson Young call up my amendment No. 3400. find jobs, to provide them with The PRESIDING OFFICER. The NAYS—9 healthcare, to make sure they get the clerk will report. most out of their veterans’ benefits. I Booker Harris Sanders The bill clerk read as follows: know that Robert Wilkie will do an ex- Feinstein Markey Warren Gillibrand Merkley Wyden The Senator from Alaska [Ms. MURKOWSKI] traordinary job. proposes an amendment numbered 3400 to I appreciate Chairman ISAKSON’s NOT VOTING—5 amendment No. 3399. leadership on the committee. I think, Brown Corker McCain Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I with a strong Secretary like Robert Burr Kennedy ask unanimous consent that the read- Wilkie in Veterans Affairs, we will fi- The nomination was confirmed. ing of the amendment be dispensed nally start making progress in repay- with. ing the debt that we can never fully The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without repay to the men and women in uni- the previous order, the motion to re- objection, it is so ordered. form. I strongly support this vote, and consider is considered made and laid The amendment is as follows: I look forward to having a very strong upon the table and the President will (Purpose: To make a technical correction) confirmation vote this afternoon. be immediately notified of the Senate’s On page 95, line 6, strike ‘‘$5,000,000’’ and I thank the Presiding Officer. action. insert ‘‘$5,250,000’’.

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