Under the new benefits, the benefits for housing and for books, those benefits are going directly to the veteran.

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) short- and long-term strategies for implementing the new GI Bill requirements will come to order.

I extend the invitation to you once again as I did last week to South Dakota understanding that the summer months would be preferable than the dead of winter in South Dakota.

Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin introduced the Pilot Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 in February 2009.

I think the multi-year procurement authority is one initiative that would help accomplish some of the things you are talking about doing, and we would like to work with you toward that.

Transportation issues are critical to my state.

I want to make sure as we go through the process that we don't de-emphasize highway investment in rural states.

The 2006 QDR stated the Department plans to develop a new land base penetrating long-range strike capability that would be fielded by 2018.

I think it will incentivize a lot greater participation by the private sector in expanding synthetic fuel production, if we have that type of multi-year procurement authority.

I want to thank our nominees for their willingness to serve their country, and many of you have had careers in public service.

The RAND Corporation recently issued a study that estimates that synthetic fuel would reduce the U.S.'s reliance on foreign oil by as much as 15 percent, while possibly generating up to $60 billion in domestic revenue each year.

In your view, will the next-generation bomber be vital to our national defense strategy?

the Senate has passed a resolution by a vote of 94 to 3 that Guantanamo detainees, including senior members of al Qaeda, should not be transferred stateside into facilities in American communities and neighborhoods.

it appears that President Obama has no intention to continue with plans to field a third ballistic missile defense site in Eastern Europe.

He reached these decisions after consultations with the President, and with the military and civilian leadership of the Department of Defense.

Secretary Gates' most recent budget decisions were informed policy decisions.

As future policy advisors to the Secretary, I would like to get your opinions on whether or not these most recent budget decisions were indeed informed policy decisions.

I want to see us succeed in Afghanistan and be able to put together a strategy that would allow that to happen.