Mazie Hirono

This change is essential to automating payments of certain survivor benefits.

I do not give up. You know, I am absolutely committed that we have to fix this, we have to make a difference.

My commitment would be to continue to support and accelerate those efforts.

There is an understanding that our women veterans have particular kinds of needs, and I would like to have your commitment, should you be confirmed, that you will ensure that women veterans have better access to the full range of…

I think technologies can enable that.

I find it astounding that you accuse those people who support ACA of engaging in illegal campaign contributions.

I consider the ACA, among other things, to be remedial legislation that should be interpreted in a way to effect the purpose of the legislation.

Getting back to the Chairman's question, though, with regard to the testimony that he referred to where there are these huge overpayments as well as underpayments, that sounds like something that should be addressed pretty fast.

So, clarifying your processes so that all your individual VA health centers, et cetera, are not doing their own thing, is that high on your list of priorities so that----

There are 100 or so recommendations that have not been implemented, so this is for Dr. Clancy.

Is the homeless veterans issue a high priority?

I think part of it was that there was a desire that it should not be a one-size-fits-all, that there is a desire that different communities may want to approach the health care needs of their veterans in ways that would be best for them.

I applaud the Army's intent to partner with Hawaiian Electric on Oahu for the development of a 50-megawatt power plant using renewable biofuels.

We were very pleased that Under Secretary Hickey instituted it; really went back and looked and saw that those claims for MST-related conditions were being processed at a lower rate for PTSD.

Those are the women who are actually accessing the system. I have a feeling it might be a higher percentage.

I think just within VA, because of the small percent and the statistical minority of women, only about 7 percent out of the six million veterans that VA treats, it is always difficult and a challenge with women veterans.

Now, Secretary McDonald has said that he would like to eliminate homelessness in veterans by 2015.

I think we should make it as simple as possible for people who are transitioning from active duty to veteran status to be able to access the information.

I particularly want to thank you for focusing on whether we are keeping our promises, as indicated in the hearing notice, to our women veterans.

I think there definitely is a connection between setting certain standards and the spurring of developments that would help us meet those standards.

I see that EIA projects that nationwide the U.S. will only achieve 18 percent renewable energy by 2040 if we continue our current policies.

We need to provide a lot more of that kind of focused attention, face time, acknowledgement of the importance of those alliances.

I would say the countries we are dealing with in TPP--they would be much better off in the kind of system that we are promoting as opposed to dealing with a huge, powerful entity like China.

I would like to see the U.S.-Philippine relationship grow much, much stronger.

The Southeast Asian allies and likeminded partners are going to be key going into the future.