Firsthand how the laws and programs that we enact here are working and to receive the feedback on legislation being considered by the congress in the future and what i can do to better help the folks back home. Now, a typical state work period involves dozens of facetoface events from every corner of my state covering all ages, professions and walks of life. Last august i spent time talking with my constituents about everything from the smith act and g. I. Benefits from student veterans to project safe neighborhood grants and the u. S. Mexicocanada trade agreement, but as we all know, 2020 has been anything, but typical and this august was no exception. These big inperson events have been replaced with virtual ones but face to face meetings which now involve wearing masks, social distancing and a heavy dose of hand sanitizer. Instead of the broad range of policies we might normally discuss, almost every one of them centered on the impact of covid19. No big surprise there. Ive heard fro
U. S. Senate is about to gaveling to get the week started lawmakers considered a a judicl nomination with a limited vote set for 5 30 p. M. Eastern. And now live to the senate floor here on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Black, will open the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, our hope for the years to come, empower our lawmakers to live with integrity. Inspire them to permit their words to be matched by their deeds. As they strive for this ethical congruence, strengthen them to examine their hearts with the goal of seeking to glorify you. Living by your precepts, may they aspire to be faithful to the noble calling of serving you and country. We pray in your majestic name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and ju
The congress in the future. And what i can do to better help the folks back home. Now a typical state bar. It involves distance facetoface and vince from every corner of my state covering all ages professions and walks of life. And last august i spent time talking with my constituents about everything from the debbie smith act and g. I. Benefits for student veterans to project safe neighborhood grants in the usmexico canada trade agreements. At as we all know, 2020 has been anything but typical. In this august was no exception. These big inperson events have been replaced with virtual ones read but facetoface meetings, which now involve wearing masks, social distancing, and a heavy dose of hand sanitizer. Instead of the broad range of policies and we might normally discuss, almost every one of them centered on the impact of the covid19. No big surprise there. Effort from mayors, teachers, food bank employees, healthcare workers, restaurant owners, Energy Workers and countless others ab
Focused on the future and how we can Work Together to create a better, brighter healthier one for the Healthcare System rather than on rehashing the mistakes we made long ago. As we begin to move forward, we must not lose sight of where we started. Years ago, next month in this very room, the Committee Heard testimony from a veteran named barry coates who spoke about waiting almost a year for care at the department of Veterans Affairs facility of south carolina. He was finally seen long after he should have been. He was diagnosed for colon cancer that had spread to his liver and to his lungs. He passed away in january last year. It was garys story and accompanying allegations that 40 veteran patients had died while waiting to receive care for the Va Medical Center in phoenix arizona that kicked off a nationwide access and accountability scandal the likes of which the da had never seen. It also led directly to the creation of the Choice Program and to the allocation of billions more tax
With be a secretary david show ulkin. This is two hours and 20 minutes. [inaudible conversation] the committee will come to order. We thank all of you for being here and joining us tonight. Its somewhat unusual for the committee to meet in the evening hours for a conference we are staying up late for. I want to keep our work laser focused on the future and how we can Work Together to create a better, brighter healthier one for the Healthcare System rather than on rehashing the mistakes we made long ago. As we begin to move forward, we must not lose sight of where we started. Years ago, next month in this very room, the Committee Heard testimony from a veteran named barry coates who spoke about waiting almost a year for care at the department of Veterans Affairs facility of south carolina. He was finally seen long after he should have been. He was diagnosed for colon cancer that had spread to his liver and to his lungs. He passed away in january last year. It was garys story and accompa