We are talking about the integrity of the structure; making sure that it doesn't burst like it did.

I appreciate both of you all so much for your willingness to serve in these positions. You almost have to have the wisdom of Solomon, and we pray that you will have that.

I think those are things that we just have to look at or just things that I think we can help you with.

We have got overcapacity on our inland waterways and, yet, you have to do these little things so that you can have more capacity.

I think sometimes some of these things sound a little self-serving, and yet you get so caught up in these projects.

I would hope that this Committee would take a longer look at not only just I-73 in South Carolina but the other corridors that need to be addressed as the population shifts from the Northeast down to the Southeast and also to the Midwest.

I think the design-build method certainly would be something that I would like to see us implement.

I applaud these efforts and the work of the thousands of Federal employees tasked to assist our Nation's veterans, but more can and should be done.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Was it to provide service-disabled vets with a contracting program, or was the intent of Congress to provide them with a true business development program?

So as far as you know that is going on and that is a problem.

The point I want to make to the VA witnesses here today is that the law says verify the database.

To their credit, VA has made a significant effort to increase veteran-owned small business' share of contracts and last fiscal year awarded 14.9 percent of the procurement contracts worth about $2.1 billion went to veteran-owned small…

I think everybody wants to do what is fair, in implementing what we want done.

I can assure you that this Subcommittee will continue to work diligently with all stakeholders to ensure that the interests of our veteran owned small businesses are being heard and addressed.

Otherwise, it is perfectly reasonable for us to expect reasonable progress toward implementing the legislation we pass.

We have got kind of the ongoing discussion about in general excessive use of sole source procurement.

Congressman Boozman spoke about that.

I would like to know when we can expect that report.

I appreciate the testimony. I think you all have raised a lot of... the Committee really are trying to be helpful.

I think that is where the bigger challenge comes.

Current subsistence rates are simply inadequate.

No wounded warrior should be denied enrollment in the VR&E Program because of the unique nature of their injuries.

I suspect VR&E is the most effective disability rehabilitation program offered by the Federal Government.

I believe veterans continue to drop out of the program for reasons within our control.