Mr. Gibson, you stepped up to the plate at the most challenging moment in the VA's history.

The business model for producing and delivering and supporting the VA product is fundamentally broken.

We need a business-minded approach to reform the agency.

I'm looking forward to discussing with him his vision for reforming the VA.

How come we don't have the resources to do more on that?

I am okay taking responsibility until I have no teeth to effect what is being done.

I think this is before all this blew up, that we need VA management as good as most of the clinicians and workers within VA and we don't have it.

This is not a partisan issue. It is not partisan.

We need a new model, a new approach, and a new way of thinking about and looking at the department.

I want to know are you taking care of the veterans. The outcome is so critical.

I want to make sure that the VA is there for them.

It is an American negotiation. It is for the men and women that you serve.

We need to make sure that we are looking at the long game.

The business model for producing, delivering and supporting the VA product is fundamentally broken.

I think now we know where you both are coming from and hopefully we will be able to work in a bipartisan manner to get this thing done.

I don't care how big the increase it is within the VA budget, is are we taking care of our veterans?

More of the same isn't going to solve the underlying problems.

The status quo is unacceptable. It is time for change--change that embraces both new ideas and proven practices.

Our veterans deserve a VA that works for them; not one that refuses to work at all.

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

I believe that we should always strive to do better, and I think that we can learn and get some good ideas in areas where private sector health care providers have had great successes.

I am not looking at talking about privatizing VA care, I am talking strengthening the health care system that is uniquely suited to serve the needs of our veterans.

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.

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

General Hickey, quickly, there are some pretty serious allegations and compelling allegations made by Ms. Ruell with regard to the shredding of at least 96 boxes and 8 cabinets of military and returned mail documents.