Sam Farr

So if we are really serious about government being a partner in this, then let's listen to these ideas.

We have to start being honest about the discussion in this Committee.

I hope when you get that number it will also be by school districts because that is a much more accurate than just States.

If we are really going to bring down costs of healthcare in America, we have got to start with growing healthier people.

I really do think that this sort of credit card system is a lot better than the old food stamp system.

If we do not make them at the Federal level, they will make them at the State and local level.

It seems to me, for our veterans that we are trying to help in any way but because the Welfare Reform Act does not allow them eligibility longer than 3 months without training for the SNAP program, you ought to come back here and tell us…

I think that is going to be a real crisis for our country because everybody here in Congress talks about wanting to help the vets and leave none behind.

It is the feeding of people in this country who are in need of not only food but in need of healthy food.

I can't believe that they can't take steps to correct that.

I really want you to go back and find out what initiated the ruling on this issue.

I hope, Mr. Chairman, when we finally get these numbers, and we are taking the Veterans' budget and cutting and squeezing and trimming it, we can bring the Secretary back and have a real, transparent discussion on what those cuts are going…

I personally think that non-V.A. care is a great and underutilized alternative, particularly in the aftermath of what happened in Phoenix and elsewhere around the country.

The Choice Act, as you know, is bifurcated, reflecting the different views of the members of the House and Senate authorizing committees at the time.

We will need flexibility within our budget to ensure that we have the right resources at the right place, at the right time, to provide veterans the timely care they need.

I want to second your statement, particularly the issue of the interoperability between the V.A. and the DOD health record.

It is also critical that we continue to invest in tried and true models like veterans treatment courts.

We need more than words on this critical issue; we need results. In fact, we are demanding results.

I can't emphasize strongly enough the importance of achieving interoperability with DOD's electronic health-record system.

The most frequently asked question in Congress is 'why don't we run government like a business?'

It is the military's responsibility to clean up the dirt and anything under the dirt, and of whoever is receiving the land to clean up what is above the dirt.

You can't transfer property with unexploded ordinances on it.

You are cutting that cleanup fund every year. I recall that you indicated in last year's proposal that you would clean up some more, but then you level funded the account this year.

I would just hope that you will listen to the needs of the school rather than the green eyeshades that want to cut back to 884. It would be a disaster.

We ought to be asking States, how much money have you got in the game to help solve this problem?