Daniel Akaka: “We need to ensure that the VA has access to, or can arrange, geographically dispersed crisis beds.”

Thank you, Chairman Brown. Thank you very much for holding this hearing today and for all of your work on consumer protection issues.

We must also reaffirm and acknowledge the Department of Education's Federal trust responsibility for American Indian and Alaska Native students.

That is why I have worked hard during my time in Congress to educate, protect, and empower consumers.

Last Congress, bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senator Daniel Akaka (S. 998) and Representative George Miller (H.R. 1867) to address this problem and assure that all pilots are provided fair benefits.