September 11 was a wake-up call for our Nation.

Most universities in the country are 25 percent or less--State universities.

A streamlined approach that still protects veterans, taxpayers, and preserves oversight is desperately needed.

For the benefit of the Members, one of the burdens of chairmanship is from time to time you are asked to make commitments on the floor of the Senate that you wish you had waited to make.

I think the VA ought to investigate this case and I would appreciate your advising the Committee of what happens in that investigation.

Thank you for your service and thank you for your testimony and thank you for your courage, not only to represent the country, but to speak out at this hearing today.

I wanted you all to hear from the VA that they have no objection to the provider agreement language.

I know we are about to adjourn for lunch, but I have to come to the floor and pay the Senator a great compliment. For the last 6 days, the Senator has tried to illuminate some misperceptions and, quite frankly, half-truths that have been…

I appreciate your organization's testimony and your advocacy for them.

I would think his case merits a revisit in terms of the VA, first of all, in consult with his physician.

We're at a break point. We're at a point where we may kind of invert because of the rising cost of higher education and because of the rising debt of students.

We need to start educating students on what it's going to take them to pay the debt that they owe.

That's the Wayne Clough Scholarship Program.

Georgia State University has developed a program called Panther Grants, where they track 24,000 students at Georgia State University.

The point I want to make is that you can't compare apples and oranges.

I speak specifically from my experience leading Medicalodges and also from my fellow extended care providers across the country when I tell you that FAR-based agreements are simply not workable for many extended care providers.

The Committee on Senate Veterans Affairs will come to order. Welcome everybody.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I would be happy to answer any questions you or other Senators may have.