Eric Shinseki

we do not want to be sending people down to Seattle, which is a 3- to 5-hour ride in a plane, for care that can be delivered at a good price in the community.

For the past three budget requests, the Congress has supported the very high priority that the President has placed on funding for programs that provide care and benefits for our Nation's 22 million Veterans and their families.

Senator, you have my assurance that we will do our utmost to provide for any of our veterans wherever they live, including the most rural and remote areas, the same access and quality to health care and services as we provide to someone…

not a single Member of this Committee nor this Congress should be in any way satisfied with that number.

As Secretary of Veterans Affairs, I accepted the solemn responsibility to uphold our sacred trust with our nation's Veterans. Fears that Veterans health care and TRICARE will be undermined by the health reform legislation are unfounded.

The Constitution is very clear about tasking us to make the hard decisions to cut programs.

As these newest Veterans return home, we must anticipate their transitions by readying the care, the benefits, and the job opportunities they have earned.

This submission seeks your support of the President's continued high priority support for Veterans who have earned this Nation's respect.

We look to develop more visibility of the 'at-risk' veteran population in order to prevent veterans from falling into homelessness.

The emotional wounds are no less common than physical injuries; however, they are more difficult to diagnose which adds to the challenge of suicide prevention.

Of the 18 veterans who commit suicide each day, five of those veterans are under the care of the VA.

Taking care of survivors is as essential as taking care of our Veterans and military personnel. By taking care of survivors, we are honoring a commitment made to our Veterans and military members.