Va Medical Centers

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have run a small business, and I know that any organization needs long-term certainty. No organization can successfully operate under a revolving door of short-term leaders, especially not one tasked with caring for America's heroes. Unfortunately, this is what is happening at our Nation's VA centers.

Almost 20 VA medical centers, nationwide, currently lack a permanent director. Some of these facilities have not been staffed by a permanent director in almost 2 years. Instead, these facilities are managed by short-term directors who stay on the job for just a few months.

There is just not a lot you can do in a few months. It is not nearly long enough to review operations, recommend improvements, and see these reforms brought through to an end. That is why I introduced bipartisan legislation with Mr. Costa from California that put an end to this revolving door. Our bill pushes the VA to hire permanent directors at all VA medical centers--no more interim directors.

We all want a VA system that can complete its mission to care for those who shall have borne the battle. Having consistent leadership is the least we can do for our Nation's heroes.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I say to the people of southern Illinois and this country: Your constitutional rights are under assault. If you are a law-abiding gun owner, a sportsman, you need to pay attention.

This week, the House Democrats will bring a bill to the floor that will restrict your freedoms and do little to reduce gun violence.

As a father and a grandfather, I want to reduce gun violence as much as anyone, but we have to be smart. We can't get roped into scoring political points. That is why I worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle last year on a measure which is now law to increase security for our kids in the schools. But the gun control bill being considered this week makes it harder for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and others against criminals who have guns.

We need to enforce the laws already on the books, not limit the rights of law-abiding citizens who want to protect their families.

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