So, again, thank you all very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Let me tell you a story and many of my colleagues have heard this.

I thank my friend for yielding as well. The VA currently requires veterans in need of organ transplants to travel to VA transplant centers to receive their transplant. Waiting times at these centers average 32 percent longer than those…

We want to keep working to try to cure this problem.

Okay. I am having trouble following that line of logic, okay. You have got a new system and the new system is so good that you are having overpayments?

Thank you, Ms. Esty.

This hearing will review the reasons overpayments are created and how VA can prevent them.

We will also look into the Department's debt collection process to ensure that the VA is being both fair to the veteran and a good steward of the taxpayer dollars.

Yeah. That is what we really want.

During that time we received a call from one of the veterans who spoke specifically about the assets that is held by the VHA.

We thank you for this nation. We thank you that we can live freely, that we can debate issues to try to make this nation a better place for our families, for the prosperity of this nation.

This last week on Sunday, southern Illinois, the State of Illinois, and I believe this Nation mourned with the family and friends of a friend of mine by the name of Tom McNamara. About 2 weeks ago, we lost this local hero who spent decades…

I appreciate all of you taking the time out of your day to be here with us for sponsoring legislation that will help our Nation's veterans.

I have to believe that everybody at the table, along with everybody here, believes we should cure the problem, the question is, is which agency handles it and how do we handle it most effectively? It is a real problem that is occurring.

I don't think it is the intent of the--we don't think it is the intent of the sponsor.

If they are going to start charging veterans to take photos at the wall, I mean, that is kind of--it is unfortunate.

And we should contact the Committee with Natural Resources too. Because that is where, you know, they would be the overseers and we would not want that to happen.

Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Esty, and Members of the Subcommittee:

My bill, H.R. 3656, amends Title 38 of the United States Code to provide for a consistent eligibility date for spouses and dependent children.

Thank you for the testimony provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the September 13, 2017, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs legislative hearing.

Because of our veterans' service on behalf of each and every one of us, it is our responsibility to do our best in this Congress to serve them.

Lord, we thank you for this nation in which we live.

It's a republic, madam, if you can keep it.

We've killed 57 million babies in 44 years. There are lots of things going on in this country that God cannot and will not bless.

On August 21, a total solar eclipse will stretch from coast to coast in the United States for the first time in 99 years, and I am proud to say that my district in southern Illinois is the prime viewing spot. In fact, my home county of…