I have never seen the degree of angst and upset that we have right now.

Even though you've announced your retirement from the Senate, that service that has been, as we say in the south, 'in your bones,' will continue.

It's that inequity that I want to address and that I have addressed each year that I have been here.

Obviously, we are in a tough fiscal environment, and obviously, there are many worthy pieces of legislation to be funded.

The Coalition supports S. 260, Senator Nelson's bill, to end the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset to the Survivor Benefit Plan.

We must completely eliminate the SBP/DIC offset.

Has their matter been presented in some of the testimony here?

We ask Congress to allow medically-retired servicemembers and their families to maintain the Active Duty family TRICARE benefit for a transition period of 3 years following the date of medical retirement.

I think, when we talk about performance, and I am sure you will agree, we need to talk not just the speed of getting things to market, but making sure they are safe when they get there.

I want to ask you two gentlemen, Dr. Maisel and Dr. Nexon, if you would comment on the tension between safety and the need to innovate new technologies.

Is there earlier testimony on the record as to the increased cost as a result of these delays?

There's a longstanding problem in our military survivor benefit system.