Mark Begich

I applaud DAV for these constructive proposals.

How did you come up with three times?

You know, I think we're really onto something incredibly important here.

I might ask you to respond. But, that, to me, is a challenge.

Qubo is designed to fill that gap in programming for children right after preschool.

We're a small-business family, and so, he thinks--that's very intriguing to him.

Instead, saying earlier, well, here is success, here is where we are having some trouble, and here is why.

You can do a lot of great plans, and then they can just sit there.

We are now learning through a lot of data that more and more veterans are living in more rural areas than ever before.

There is a plan in place, the long-term plan.

There is an annual and then there is a 5-year plan.

I mean, literally, you don't have roads to some of these areas.

I believe the President has all the rights to pick who he wants, but also he survives and dies based on your work, so it is on your shoulders.

I want to stress how important and difficult it is for very remote veterans to get to the physical facilities for those services.

A plan is a plan, and it does change based on the environment.

I want to ask one broad question, and then I have two quick ones.

If I could just ask one, which you don't have to answer now since I will put it in the record.

If you could share that with the Committee, I think that was what Senator Murray was asking, is that long-term?

As you think of strategic planning, long-term, how do we get to that rural component that is growing, and how do we ensure that we have quality services?

I am not going to speak on behalf of the Committee in total, but I would because I think it is a great way for us, instead of waiting for the end of the cycle, to say, why did you not do this?

The faster we can make these appointments happen, the better off the VA is and the more services we can deliver to our veterans.

But it was, I think, especially toward the end here, a very positive opportunity to figure out what is the right thing to do for the long-term benefit of not only Alaskan Natives but American Indians and Hawaiians and all of us together.

I think it is fair to say that when you sent out your letter some 6 weeks ago, there was a great deal of angst about this hearing, the direction that you were taking with it, and a real concern that a program that has really yielded…

Our Alaskan people understanding waiting and being patient.

We have to invest in those, too.