Clearly, the scheduling practices and technology within the department are not working. The system can be manipulated.

I want to be clear: we are not talking about privatizing VA care. We are talking about strengthening a health care system that is uniquely suited to serve the needs of our veterans with best practices that are working in the private sector.

dependency claims have risen by nearly 2,000 percent in 4 years, with the majority of those being backlogged.

We need all of the facts and we need honesty, frank discussions.

I do, however, have concerns--and the VA OIG shares the concern--that the resources needed to achieve VA's backlog goals are being directed and applied disproportionately, ultimately harming other veterans' services.

I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.

Did you find any instances in which VA is intentionally manipulating the data to present better outcomes than what's really happening?

Lax measures and practices with records to veterans' personal information is simply unacceptable.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs cannot morally claim success in delivering better care to our veterans.

We are setting the Department of Veterans Administration and, more importantly, our veterans up for failure down the road once again.

Veterans define good, timely care and services on their whole experience from start to finish.