The Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 has been held up by one Member of the Senate.

The primary purpose of S. 1237 is to authorize both the VA and Department of Labor to provide assistance to single veterans and their dependent children, with funding dedicated for employment supports that--for the first time in U.S…

I want to congratulate Secretary Shinseki for making this decision which will greatly simplify the application process for veterans.

Mr. Driscoll, do you have any estimates on how many service providers have to turn away homeless women veterans or homeless veterans with dependent children because they cannot meet their needs?

Civil servants must be able to serve their country without undue influence or fear of discrimination at the workplace.

One of the most important responsibilities of the Board is to adjudicate claims brought by Federal employee whistleblowers.

If confirmed, I expect these nominees to be strong advocates for the merit system and the Federal workforce.

Our dedicated Federal employees are among this country's greatest assets.

As the sponsor of S. 372, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009, I believe that Federal employees provide a valuable service to our country when they expose waste, fraud, and abuse in the government.

I believe investing in better training for supervisors could help prevent many workplace disputes.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of your bill, Mr. Chairman, S. 1102, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.

I would ask that my full statement be placed in the record.

this legislation is needed to assist the government in recruiting new employees to the Federal workforce.

Providing these benefits makes sound business sense.

It is fitting that these two committees would join forces to look into this program and the long-term care insurance market.

I hope that today's hearing will help determine how to keep the program affordable and stable for our federal employee participants.

I hope the witnesses will address these rate standards and how to make sure that future increases will not occur.

The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs will come to order. Aloha and welcome to today's hearing where we will focus on how the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense respond to in-service exposures.

Thank you very much, Dr. Gillooly, for your testimony, and now we will receive the testimony of General Payne.

I want to know that VA is doing everything possible to help in the wake of the recent natural disaster there.

Thank you very much, Senator Begich.

Thank you very much, Mr. McClain.

Congress clearly recognized the risks of sending veterans outside the VA for care, limiting the use of health care contracts to specific circumstances.

Since taxpayers paid for those reports, should not that information be made public and how is the information in them protected if it has not disclosed the identity of either the patient or the provider?

Thank you. Will you please do that?