I think it is important because I certainly--I visit our VA facilities all across our State, and retention--the need for more hospital personnel, et cetera, is really critical, and to keep them.

The VA's Office of General Counsel provides conclusive interpretations of legal matters for the Department and assists in the drafting and implementation of relevant legislation.

That kind of approach has to become institutionalized within the VA, so it is not catch as catch can.

So, now that you are aware, it is going to rise to the top of your list of priorities----

Providing service-disabled veterans with lifetime passes to our national parks and public lands would convey our gratitude for their service.

I hope you will undergo that because I think that these programs have proven themselves to be worthy of support

And my thanks----

I think it is really critical that the young people in our country have the experience of being in our national parks.

Many of the bills we are considering today represent worthy ideas to improve and expand access to our public lands and national parks.

There should be a definition that you have for what constitutes permanent disability that is showing that someone has to provide in order to get a free pass.

The mindless cuts to defense and non-defense programs were meant to be so bad that Congress would be forced to find an alternative way forward.