You don't have to respond, Doctor. You are----

It is an honor to serve with this group and think about the needs of our veterans and how we meet those needs.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. And thanks for your testimony. I appreciate it.

The VA is a treasure. We want to protect that, enhance it and do everything we can to improve it.

I see this hearing as that same sort of opportunity: an opportunity for me to listen; to think about the priorities as you identify them.

If this is the course of conduct over a period of time with the SEC and whoever else is involved in this, how can you ensure to me and to investors out there that the light bulb is finally on and you are paying attention, that they are…

I want to know did the General Counsel engage.

As a very, very junior Member of this Committee, I am going to pay very close attention to this investigation and there will be a day where the investigation is done where I will ask these questions again.

That is good. It is good they have engaged now.

I would have the Inspector General in my office.

I must admit I sit here in amazement at what you are saying.

I really urge you do to that. When I was a Cabinet member, we worked on avian influenza, and the conclusion I reached is: this is just a matter of time.

I think it is just a great honor to serve your Nation in this capacity.

I encourage you to work on this because you know as well as I do that delay feels like unfairness.

I think everybody on this Committee has heard from veterans about the painfully slow claims process and trying to get through that.

First thing I would say is that to describe this as a massive project is to under-describe how big this is and how significant it is and how much is involved.

At the White House, dairy farmer turned governor is now President Bush's nominee for secretary of agriculture.