The goal of today's hearing is to determine whether the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is meeting the pharmaceutical needs of our veterans.

VA's proper management of the formulary system is vital to ensuring our veterans receive the highest quality of care and access to the most up-to-date medications they deserve.

I also have concerns about patient safety and whether we are doing enough to prevent adverse drug events.

I have heard from veterans who have voiced their frustration with the VA national formulary as being too restrictive.

That is a big concern that I have, plus the fact that there are a lot more drugs on the DoD formulary.

Once again, I would like to thank the panelists. They have been very helpful.

Doctor, in your testimony you noted that the FDA and VA signed an interagency agreement allowing FDA to provide funds to the VA to work on safety issues of mutual interest.

Thank you very much. It has been very helpful.

Is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Meeting the Pharmaceutical Needs of Veterans?

The charter school movement in the District appears to have been extraordinarily successful.

That is real progress for these students.

Too much of a revolving door.

Senator Durbin has, understandably, brought up many times, and that is looking at testing.

I don't see the need to treat the Opportunity Scholarship schools differently. It seems to me accreditation ensures a certain level.

That really is heartening to me, and that suggests that we're making a real difference.

I think empowering Michelle Rhee's office, as the chancellor of education for the District of Columbia, would be a good thing.

That's why I'm such a strong supporter of the D.C. public charter schools and of the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

we've got to be able to assess the impact of that investment on the students that we're serving.