Mike Johanns

Hopefully, there will be a day where we are out there digging ground and the construction has started.

I thank the voters for their support in November so I could be a partner in this effort.

I think absolutely a new tower is necessary.

This hearing wouldn't be happening but for you. Senator Nelson, you guys laid the groundwork.

I was so impressed with that when I was here and I walked out with such a great feeling about that and even more committed to try to get them a facility that meets the needs of the veterans.

Telemedicine is a piece of the answer to that very challenging puzzle, so I really applaud that.

We all know that when you move out to more rural areas--less densely-populated areas--these veterans need these services as much as anyone.

I will tell you, I don't know the Secretary yet. I look forward to getting to know him better. If you would, take back to him how much we appreciate his attention.

That is such an excellent point. And needless to say, we would love to see some of those future physicians decide that this is exactly what they would like to do with their career.

Nothing I say, should be taken as wanting to hold this up or gum it up.

You want that as badly as we want it, but you are limited by this and it is very, very hard to pull that off.

You have got to do this. Our veterans need it, and there is tons of evidence to support that.

As I understand it, it is not just the equipment in the basement, it is the pipes that run through; in expanding the capacity there lies another challenge, that you just don't have the room to put a bigger pipe in.

Because every construction project has dirt and dust where you are tearing things up to put them back together again, hopefully better than they were.

I don't know if it is a question for Mr. Orndoff or, for you Al, but how are these ranked?

I think you and I agree on that. We certainly don't want to be overbearing, but we certainly want to make our case.

When I was on the cabinet, we described that office as the most powerful office in all of Washington.

Now that the report is out and needs are being established and the condition of the premise is known, I will be asked, what happens next?

Yes. I am going to turn to David Brown, who is of course, the President of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

But the health care debate has got us all moving, and veterans' health care is a critical part of that discussion.

I do not believe that is the case. I believe the issues are too significant and I believe the report establishes that, in fact, we are at a point where we have to build.

I am going to guess, once we have laid the appropriate record, no one will argue that this isn't really a critical need.

I appreciate that you don't build a facility overnight.

I would argue that this investment is a wise investment for our veterans.

I was amazed to find that there is a defunct nuclear reactor in the basement.