Mike Michaud

We have got to have something, I think, in writing as we deal with VA's budget.

Because if I remember correctly, the President actually supported mandatory funding during the campaign.

Now is not the time to eliminate the GAO review.

Allowing this GAO review to sunset puts veterans' health care in jeopardy. We cannot take that risk.

We owe it to our current and future veterans to ensure the VA never again runs low on resources to provide health care to our veterans.

Change is necessary if we are to position the VA to meet its responsibilities and fulfill its mission in the coming years.

My bill recognizes VA's current efforts and intended to support these efforts while making sure Congress has access to the information we need to do our job.

Before we budget and appropriate dollars, we must plan in programs.

They ensure requested resources are sufficient to meet the current and future needs of veterans.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for holding this very important hearing this morning.

Putting Veterans Funding First would end the uncertainty by ensuring VA has its full discretionary appropriation well before its fiscal year begins.

I think we would all agree that our veterans deserve better than this.

Once more, political calculations having nothing to do with our veterans are putting our collective support for funding for their benefits and services at risk.

Let me be clear, both VA and DoD have a responsibility to end the backlog by 2015.

I take this lack of personal engagement as a sign that they care less, that they are not as committed.

The Department's resistance to the President's open standard agenda appears to be founded largely on an incorrect assumption.

Throughout the first term, the Department's actions have been inconsistent with the President's agenda.

If we really want to get these systems integrated, if we really want to get the backlog cleaned up, then we need to start passing appropriations bills.

And I don't only say that without two secretaries--also the President of the United States who made it very clear in this first term he wants both agencies to work together.

I am told that strategies have been modified and collaborative efforts are ongoing for both records transfer and IEHR.

Let me be clear. Both the VA and the DoD have a responsibility to end the backlog by 2015.

I would submit to you that the government has struggled to fulfill the sacrifice, you know, trust to care for those who have served and sacrificed in defense of our Nation.

I take this as a lack of personal engagement, as a sign that they care less, that they are not as committed as they have been.

None of us up here are going to take our foot off the gas when it comes to ensuring progress is made on the backlog.

Ensuring the Department of Veterans Affairs has the proper infrastructure and facilities to provide safe, effective, quality health care to veterans is a priority of mine and of this Committee.