Elizabeth Esty: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing on improving water quality through integrated planning.”

We should not expect our veterans to be experts in appeals law, Veterans Affairs regulations. That is not their job. It is our job to take care of them.

Let me be clear. When the report on military sexual trauma came to my attention in August, I was disappointed and disturbed.

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 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.