Thirty to 90 minutes is great progress compared to three hospitals and no clinics, which was the case just a few years ago.

We need another VA hospital in Atlanta in order to provide timely and quality health care for the steadily increasing number of patients.

It appeared to me there were a disproportionate number of women in the center versus the ratio in the service.

Well, let the record reflect that is precisely why we are having this hearing today, so that is exactly the intent we plan for.

Thank you for that answer.

Well, thank you very much, Mr. Williams. I appreciate your testimony, and I want to make note, by the end of this year, we will have 78 more clinics--833--is that right?

I sincerely hope the administration will consider looking at those facilities that have been built in preparation for the brigade combat team which has now been withdrawn, to see if one of those facilities will match with the VA's use…

I know proximity is essential to what you all have done in Augusta, Ms. Wiley, but is it possible to adopt some of the seamless transition procedures they have done in Augusta in this new Hinesville facility with Charleston?

Well, let me thank all three of you for your testimony and for your service to our veterans.

I think Secretary Shinseki has been very impressed with what has happened there and I think the results bear out that this is an important thing to cover.

I always brag about what you all do there. It is nothing short of remarkable.

I want to thank the Technical College and their President for all their cooperation and hospitality in allowing us to hold this hearing today.

Will the Department normally, based on the study they run, make the request, or do you wait for the State through their Representatives or Senators to make the request for that consideration?

So the timely opening of Brunswick and Hinesville will make a dramatic improvement in the accessibility for veterans in this region?

Communication is a very important thing, and a lot of frustration with services is more out of frustration with the lack of information and communication than it is the actual service.

Well, I want to thank you. I learned a lot, and I appreciate your candor.

I think that is an appropriate issue to raise; and I think as the VA contracts for services, that recognition should be there.

I want to thank the hospital publicly for the efforts they have made in terms of shuttles and other things.