I ask unanimous consent that Jennifer DeVito, a fellow in my office, be granted the privilege of the floor for the duration of consideration of S. 524. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing problem in the country. It is a problem the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies as an epidemic. The availability of prescription painkillers is a leading factor in the…

I think this has been a good hearing. We covered a lot of ground.

The latest decision by the Merit Systems Protection Board overturned disciplinary action. I think we have a situation now where they have overturned more than they have upheld.

I commend you on the things that you have done, but let us stick to our goal of by the end of March getting a new toolbox and giving you the tools that you need to have accountability as a mechanism that works in the VA.

That is so important.

So, the old days of just handing out a check are over.

I think that is one of those that people do not think about, but the accessibility really is important to Members of Congress.

Can you talk a little bit about how impossible it is to run an efficient entity where you simply do not have the ability to discipline people when they need to be disciplined?

We do appreciate your service in so many different ways to your country and your fellow veterans.

So lots more emissions and lots more expense for your company in trying to compete.

In Arkansas, we have got two VA hospitals where they work really hard at serving veterans and do a good job.

One of the huge problems that we have got is that right now, because of the turnover in leadership throughout the system.

Thank you Attorney General Lynch so much for being here today.

I have heard from a number of police departments in Arkansas who have had equitable sharing funds recently removed from their accounts due to the Department of Justice's (DOJ) mismanagement of the budget.

I am here today with my colleague Senator Cotton to honor Dale Bumpers, a longtime advocate of Arkansas, who passed away on January 1 at the age of 90 after a long life of dedicated public service. He was a soldier and a statesman who came…

What do we do if you have an installation that perhaps the marks are not as high, the metrics are not as high?

If we get negative feedback on the assessment, how do we rectify the negative problems that are going on at that facility?

When I was in the House, I was the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the subcommittee that had jurisdiction over this.

Do we have night classes and things like that?

So, TAP is mandatory now?

Are all the branches cooperative?

We continue to be the most generous Nation on the Earth as far as providing food aid.

Certainly, that should be factored in, that there is a possibility of the G.I. Bill being used toward that.

Why do they not just use the G.I. Bill in furtherance of that objective?