Is VA meeting the needs of women veterans?

I was actually involved in the initial attempts to roll out the eligibility for military sexual trauma for free counseling.

As part of my oversight responsibility, I learned that some veterans at the Austin, Texas, clinic were inappropriately being charged for services related to military sexual trauma.

In order to best meet the needs of all veterans, I also urge the development of enhanced relationships not only between the DOD and VA but also with those community organizations that are ready and willing to fill gaps in services.

One of my major goals is to create a seamless transition for servicemembers as they leave the military and become veterans.

I want to thank the first panel for your testimony and your responses.

VA is poised to make some important changes to how care is delivered to women, but, in fairness, we seem to have a bit of a disconnect between mandates and what is actually happening.

It should not be 'free;' it is without-charge counseling for veterans who have undergone such trauma.

To disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future.

If we pursue an engagement strategy with Pakistan to reduce the threat of terrorism and nuclear proliferation, we must be prepared for a long-term commitment.

The implementation of an effective policy toward Pakistan is a very significant and important national security priority.

I agree that metrics are important and that we need to focus on measuring effectiveness and not just effort.

The United States should forge lasting, international partnerships to bring security and prosperity to both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The President's strategy states that the United States must pursue constructive diplomacy with both India and Pakistan.

We cannot continue with a World War II system. We have to change that system and move it to these current times.

I want to be clear that each of these instances is a breach of our promise to provide the highest quality of care to our veterans.

The Nation's veterans deserve more, and the Committee will continue to insist that VA provide the best care anywhere.

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.

Too many Americans... lack basic financial literacy.

Our current regulatory structure, I feel has failed to adequately protect working families from predatory practices.

I have concerns about mandatory arbitration clause limitations. I believe we share a concern on that and that it has been harmful to consumers.

This issue is so important because it has tremendous potential to improve the quality of life for our working families.

Pandemic influenza continues to be a grave threat facing the United States and the world.

I really appreciate your participation in these hearings, and we have worked so well together all these years on these issues.

I hope that agencies are learning from the ongoing H1N1 outbreak and taking corrective action for future planning.