Elizabeth Esty: “I hope that PHMSA and this committee can work together to improve pipeline safety in the United States.”

I am happy to welcome everyone here today as we enter the home stretch on the implementation of the Appeals Modernization Act.

I want to thank Chairman Roe and Chairman Isakson and Ranking Members Tester and Walz, in particular for their efforts on the Blue Water Navy veterans.

I want to make sure that VA is using RAMP to inform the new system, and not as a means to disguise a true size of the appeals backlog.

If they cannot see--the VSOs who are on the front line are unable to see the legacy claims, then we are not really getting the benefit--the promised benefits of this IT innovation.