Jerry Moran

Even if there were enough private-sector providers, it wouldn't solve the problem.

But as we sit here today, I'm having a hard time understanding what has really changed since we covered this exact same ground in 2012, and even in 2008.

What can I do as a Member of Congress, what can this Committee of the U.S. Senate do, so that when we have a hearing 6 months from now, or a hearing a year from now, the conversation, the testimony is different than what we hear today?

It seems to me, not much changes.

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Thank you to those who are here to testify today.

This is very alarming given that the report also found that 94 out of 140 health care facilities needed at least one additional psychiatrist.

I appreciate you saying that. I have 15 seconds only to remind you, Dr. Kudler, we had a conversation about a year ago about the hiring of particular mental health professionals.

I think the belief and the evidence was that the VA was incapable of providing the services that were needed by veterans in a timely fashion.

That is a failure we cannot allow.

Failure is not an option, as far as I am concerned.

I just need you to help me put the puzzle together so that it happens for real.

What strikes me today as I sit here is, once again, this Committee--I previously served on the Veterans Committee in the House.

I certainly would not disagree with the need for quality care, but I also know that no care, or care that is delayed, the quality of that care is zero.

The goal here was to alleviate the challenges that the VA has in being able to care for our veterans.

As far as I'm concerned, that equates to failing our veterans.

I have been trying to convince the VA that they have an opportunity in my State of Kansas to contract with community mental health centers.

I appreciate your comments in regard to the nature of Congress working in a bipartisan effort.

We do have some concerns about the public policy benefit of an action like a partial prepaid loan.

I just want to make sure that we were not out-Kansaned the gentleman from Oregon.

We think that is part of it. That is part of what we try to do as well.

It does not solve the problem permanently, but it certainly solves the immediate problem.

If a question is directed to you or to Rural Development, we would appreciate if we could have a response back within 4 weeks.

I cannot understand the public policy of that. It does not benefit the utility. It does not impact the end-user.

We believe that increasing the population limit to 20,000, with a priority given to smaller communities, would provide a benefit to rural America.

The loans do not go away. They are still going to be due and owing.