We cannot allow fear to disrupt our daily lives or our liberty.

But, for that to happen this late in the game is a bit frustrating to me.

We wish to thank bill sponsor Senator Jon Tester and his staff, who have provided valuable guidance to our organization.

That uncertainty, by the way... does not add confidence to the VA moving forward.

The fact that we have 1.2 percent increase for in-house medical care and 33 percent for outside medical care is disturbing.

You talked about in your opening statement Choice being down to $821 million and the fact that there was additional dollars in Community Care that you wanted to transfer over.

We cannot assume that private care will work in rural communities where there are no providers in the first place.

We know that the vast majority of veterans using Choice over the last 2 years are eligible due to long wait lines, not because they live too far from a VA facility.

the Choice Program was intended to supplement care, provided, directed by the VA, not replace it, not now and not into the future.

Ms. Kitcheyan, among the reforms in the system included in the Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act, I know you found the expansion of training for IHS personnel in tribal cultural and history to be 'of utmost…

You can get them hired in 60 days? That is not bad.

Our tribes deserve better than the status quo.

I did not like that, had a difference of discussion with your predecessor about that.

I think to open up a market to 1.3 billion people is no small effort.

I want to commend you and the administration in the leadership that I've been seeing in Asia.

the U.S., and I quote, year of strategic patience is over, as was articulated by Vice President Pence.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Udall.

making sure that when disasters happen that we have a safety net is critically important.