I think we are going to be challenged in the future as to how we take more of the VA facilities and have that tight relationship with an academic institution.

Aloha, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, and I thank all of our witnesses today for what I think will be some very, very important testimony.

But, I would say this to all three of you, just because things are in statute certain ways, if they don't work, for God's sake, tell us so that we can change them, so that we can facilitate what it is you need in the positions that you…

My answer would be, probably not. It would probably not be involved in research to the degree that they are.

the challenge is that the VA competes for these professionals in a marketplace where they are high in demand and short in supply.

It's another reason why people are fed up with Congress. We're facing huge challenges in housing, government spending, taxes and illegal immigration. Congress would be better served to focus on any of those issues instead of inserting…

The Centennial Challenge Fund will help the National Park Service achieve that mandate of all 391 units.

Senate bill 1253 outlines a new and creative way to fund Federal projects.

I think you begin to lose people on the Hill, you begin to define things in a way that potentially it could have some effects outside of the world we're talking about here.

As I said in my opening statement, I'm very supportive of this initiative of public/private----

Does this demand--and I agree with all of you that I think we've only touched the philanthropic potential of parks--but, given the scope of this challenge, does it almost demand us to go back and look at the programs we have in effect…

It's great to be a part of a Subcommittee that really treasures our national treasure, and that's our parks.

We believe that these cases were the result of a tragic rush to accuse and a failure to verify serious allegations.

The Durham district attorney pushed forward unchecked. There were many points in this case where caution would have served justice better than bravado.

Based on the significant inconsistencies between the evidence and the various accounts given by the accusing witness, we believe these three individuals are innocent of these charges.

I think it shows that, you know, the new majority and the new leadership of this committee is intent on making political hay out of something that simply is not a valid point.

Aye.

Only through unity of effort of all--coalition and Iraqi, military and civilian--can we bring the full weight of our effort to bear on the difficult situation in Iraq.