I happen, by the way, to agree with you that we should never have a fair fight against an adversary.

One of our first steps should be to, quote, 'shore up maritime power projection by emphasizing submarines that can attack an adversary from concealed positions.'

I think we need to focus on an accountability measure that puts the blame and the responses to that fact finding and blame exactly where they should be.

All the more reason for the VA not to threaten you with cutting off your benefits.

Mental health is often overlooked, given less attention than it should be.

mental health is as absolutely vital as an arm, a leg, any physical part of the body, and it deserves the same kind of world class, first class health care.

But the patient's preferred date may depend on when she or he is told that there is an opportunity to see someone.

in 2013, the VA estimated that about 1.5 million veterans required mental health services, which VA provides in a variety of settings. In addition to the traditional VA medical centers, veterans may access mental health services and…

what more we can and should do right away, not at some distant point in the future, but literally right away.

The systemic issues here really have to be overcome.

Laurie Harkness has been a tremendous force for good

Commissioner Rosenworcel hails from Connecticut, and it is a great honor and privilege to welcome her here today.

It is against their culture, so to speak.

We should make sure when we talk about accountability in this body that we are demanding accountability from the right people.

I agree with Senator McCaskill about the inadvisability of the suggestion made in the budget agreement.

Absolutely unacceptable.

I have a very quick question for you, Dr. Draper.

I strongly agree, Mr. Chairman, with Senator McCaskill.

Well, you know, I think a lot of us are expressing frustration with the apparent finding of your report that the VA may have learned nothing from what has happened in the past.

telephone companies ought to make blocking options available right away.

The carriers, in my view, must provide clear and conspicuous exposure of any third-party charges and must give consumers the option of blocking all third-party charges and other commitments.

the Consumers Union conservatively estimates that $350 million are lost annually to phone scams.

There is no topic, in my view, that is more important than mental health for our veterans.

I am just more astonished and appalled that the VA has not done better, even after years of records and documentation.

I want to thank her particularly for her very diligent and dedicated work on behalf of a wide variety of issues.