How do you maintain the All-Volunteer Force if you will not pay them competitive wages?

I just think that there are cultural impediments within the Active Duty Force that argue against that.

Mr. Secretary, you recently stated that VA has identified more than 430 vacant buildings and 735 underutilized buildings that costs the government $25 million a year. How do you intend to address the issue of unused VA facilities without…

I am especially interested in your plans for retention of the right service members that are central to your mission, in what may develop into difficult recruiting and retention environment in the coming years.

Please be seated. I want to welcome everyone to the Military Personnel Subcommittee's hearing on the state of the military service personnel systems as we enter the fiscal year 2018 budget season.

Before I introduce our panel, let me offer Congresswoman Speier an opportunity to make any opening remarks.

Are we forcing good people out that should otherwise stay in, by virtue of our promotion system?

I just think that is inappropriate.

the more incentives we cut, the old adage: Nothing is too good for the troops, and nothing is what we will give them.

I want to, first of all, tell each of you I am sorry for what you had to endure.

Assaults are a criminal act and nothing less. They are always a criminal act.

We want safe academies. We want the world's best military. We want a respectful environment.

Harassment and assault are two different things. Harassment is a cultural thing. It is bad, really bad. But assault, that is criminal, and people need to go to jail.

I say that as a five-time commander, served nearly 30 years in the Air Force, but also as a husband, father of a daughter, granddaughter of three little girls. Actually want better. So we owed you better.

We have got to hold people accountable.

We have just heard the compelling stories of survivors of sexual assault.

I want to thank each of you for sharing what happened in your life. And I just want to make it clear, actions described were disgraceful and unacceptable.

You went to the service to serve our country with honor and respect, and you certainly weren't treated that way, and I am very sorry for that.

This hearing is called to order. I want to welcome everyone to this afternoon's Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing.

We have got to do three things in leadership. One, make the policies clearer, what the standards are, and how to respond when an incident does occur. Two, I think we owe a way to support victims when these things occur, so we have to have…

For far too long, the real and proven effects of PTSD and TBI largely were ignored.

As we know, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant health issue that affects service members and veterans during times of both peace and war.

The medical-scientific literature indicates there is a paucity of data for women affected by brain injuries particularly in the armed services.

I find it preposterous that China would try to influence South Korea to not get a weapon system that is completely defensive against the very country that is allied with China.

I stand today in support of legislation to remove the sunset date on the Veterans Choice Program and, in turn, bring continuity to our Nation's veterans currently receiving their health care in the community through the Choice Program…