Johnny Isakson

There is no excuse for the plethora of problems the VA was having.

I agree with Mr. Blumenthal, is not the right way to do it.

Supporting the care needs of America's Veterans is a tremendous honor and privilege for me.

It is about time we started getting some results.

Thank you, Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Michaud, for your willingness to serve the country, for your forthrightness in the testimony today.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I think that is a testimony to the service you have given to the veterans of America in the House of Representatives.

There is probably no more important job for our veterans who are coming home than getting another job outside the military.

I think the same thing is probably true in information technology in the VA.

You made a comment during your testimony when you said it is not the topic, it is the enabler.

The minute a permanent one is confirmed, and if it is you, there is going to be tremendous scrutiny and responsibility on your shoulders to turn the ship and get the VA and the IG's Office cooperating in fixing the wrongs and righting the…

I have great regard for Bob McDonald and the people of the VA trying to do the best job that they can, but it has become obvious to me that there has been a culture of manipulation of statistics within the VA for a long period of time that…

We have to have the eyes and ears of the American taxpayer looking over the shoulder of the Administration of the VA.

We have a very serious problem at the Veterans Administration.

Of all the confirmation hearings that I am involved in this year, I know of none more important than this one.

My focus is first on the veterans' priorities.

For your benefit and the rest of the Members of the Committee and Senator Moran, who has been outspoken on this issue, we are working with VA staff now and we hope in a couple of weeks to have statutory language for the care you need being…

Thank you, Senator Brown.

I hope they got Senator Blumenthal's message loud and clear.

I have called for outside investigations, in part because I have doubts about whether or not the Inspector General in the VA has the resources, the expertise, and independence to do these investigations vigorously and aggressively.

We need people in positions of permanent leadership to guide and set policy for the VA.

That is a billion dollars that should not come from other veterans health care. That is a principle that I will fight to uphold.

I think it ought to be in saving lives, providing care and comfort to our veterans, and seeing to it those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are getting the treatment they should get.

If outcomes are the measure by which health care is judged and construction is judged, the outcome in terms of that hospital is horrible.

I want to ask one of the staff members to give you a business card that I just handed off.