John Boozman

I think the point that Senator Blumenthal tried to make, which I am trying to make, is that those two groups are very different.

Following up on Senator Blumenthal, what is the average age of the veteran that decides to take their life?

A pill alone is not the answer. VA must embrace a holistic approach to providing mental health care and promoting wellness.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, I really do appreciate all of you being here testifying.

The idea of saying that we are not over-medicated, to me, does not make any sense at all.

This is so important.

Speed is important, education is important, coordination is important.

Can you reassure the--I know the public is concerned about bringing it into the country.

I think in rural America, there is real concern about the perception and the actuality of overreaching regulation and just overreach in general.

When I am back in Arkansas, the number one thing on the minds of Arkansans is jobs, jobs, jobs.

Are we following up on that? Are we in the process of doing an IG study regarding quality of care with these cases and other cases?

I do appreciate the hard work, Mr. Griffin, of you and your staff. I think you have done a very, very good job.

My concern is that this sort of activity is throughout the system, and that is what I was referencing.

I appreciate you all being here and appreciate the hard work. I was on the school board for seven years...

Are you seeing any reduction in obesity in your children?

How do you work with the school food authorities to comply with the National School Lunch Act buy American provision?

I would like for you to just think about that in the future.

I believe choosing the next VA Secretary is only the first step of many toward getting VA headed back in the right direction.

Today, VA is failing our Nation's veterans, and from all accounts, the issues plaguing VA are systemic and require big change, certainly in the current culture.

The next Secretary of VA must be willing and ready to lead the VA in a new direction.

This agency is broken and we need a leader at the top determined to and equipped with the skills to change the pattern and get us back to our main mission and responsibilities.

I just want to say that I am very, very impressed with the answers that you have given.

I do not think it is fair to get too specific with you in the sense, you know, you are in the position that you are just getting your feet wet.

I firmly believe that a lack of accountability is the root cause of the problems facing VA today.

If there are good over-the-counter systems right now in place that major medical centers are using without any problem at all--that is the basis of medical practice.