Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote. A recorded vote was ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 235, noes 171, not voting 27, as follows: [Roll No. 577]…

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, the Chair will reduce to 5 minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote on the question of…

You cannot call it an integrated program if DOD is the only one there.

some of us on this Committee have expressed concerns and even frustrations with the lack of communication and transparency that this Committee receives out of the Veterans Administration.

Do we monitor whether they are given meaningful work, meaningful assignments?

Do we have a written integrated plan for these individuals?

Obviously, with the VA system, any services provided would be remotely because we do not plan to stand up VA facilities outside the country.

I heard you say, 'So approved.'

Let me ask on behalf of the Committee that before any decision is finalized, that you may at least share with the Committee what the intent of that overseas program would be.

It is my hope that we will begin to think of something different, and I think you hit on the key.

Let me ask you, do we survey any of the individuals to find out if, in fact, idleness is a concern that they have?

My hope is that we will all get the same goal in sight and the same tools of measurement.

I think it is absolutely incumbent on those of us here to ask the obvious questions to make sure that we have gone through the thought process.

I would love to know how extensive the VA presence is abroad given the challenges we have at home.

We are deeply into a disability problem in this country which we have thrown money at for, I think, a decade.

I would ask unanimous consent to be able to take my further questions and ask them in writing

Once again, let me thank the three of you for your expertise, your commitment to make these programs successful and to evaluate them.

Am I naive to believe that part of our assessment should be how many people complete the process in the agreed-upon timeline?