Ann Kirkpatrick

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for having this meeting.

I appreciate your willingness to provide the committee with a year by year breakdown of how the money has been spent.

Your testimony notes a total of 6.9 million that the VA has budgeted for the center from fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2014.

I appreciate that. My concern is suppose that a military member transitions out today, goes to a doctor tomorrow...

And, Dr. McCarthy, I would like to go back to your description about the VCE.

I think that is what our committee should do.

If there were one thing that our committee could do to make a difference in that area, what would that be, in your estimation?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Fugate, one of the things that our committee has been focused on is creating and making sure there is a seamless transfer of records from DoD to VA so that there is no gap at all in the records that a doctor…

Eye injured veterans are already challenged and we should be working as fast as we can to ensure that their next encounter on the VA web sites will not be so difficult.

We will also hear the testimony of Mr. Glenn Minney, from the Blinded Veterans Association on HR 1284.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am Ranking Member Ann Kirkpatrick from Congressional District 1 in Arizona.

It is not acceptable that we have 18 reports in 8 years, and we're still dealing with the same problem.

I think it's incumbent on this committee to continue our oversight responsibilities until this gets fixed.

And now is the time, so we know there's a problem. We know what the problem is, and now is the time to fix it.

The VSOs would like to be very involved in this process.

I represent a large rural district. A lot of places don't have access to broadband.

I really think listening to our veterans is key to resolving this issue.

I want this fixed in Arizona so that we can get the veterans the care that they want and they need in a timely way.

I appreciate you're making it a priority to fix it and come up with solutions.

We know that a veteran's first year is the most critical for a successful transition from military to student life.

I am extremely proud to say that my alma mater, the University of Arizona, has demonstrated a strong commitment to helping its student veterans achieve success.

Thank you, Ranking Member Takano.

I support this amendment. It is my job as ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to ensure that we get to the bottom of the allegations that patients died at the Phoenix VA due to delayed…

We need to do all we can as a Congress, a community and a country to guarantee care for those who've served and sacrificed for our nation.

Mr. Chairman, I ask that the statement of Mr. Barber and Ms. Sinema's full statement be submitted to the record.