Dan Benishek

We have had a lot of trouble with the EPA, getting permitted to mine the resources that are there.

We strongly support robust research and more training throughout VHA medical personnel of the uses of medications such Suboxone and Buprenorphine to assist in the treatment of addiction.

Their husbands, Scott McDonald and Ricky Green, honorably served our Nation in uniform and came home -as far too many of our returning veterans do - hurting and in pain.

I assume that Dr. Bahorik will not face any negative professional repercussions in the department as a result of her testimony here, is that correct?

Pain can be an unrelenting enemy - one that thwarts an individual's ability to work and enjoy the activities they once loved.

I look forward to working with you to answer some of the questions that were raised here and develop an overall plan within the VA to markedly improve the pain management system there.

I appreciate your comments there, Dr. Jesse.

This is a real scary thing for me because of the fact that, here we have got government controlled health care, where administrators are going to be changing the physician's notes to make themselves look good is a pretty scary situation in…

I had a path report that said it was benign, and then the patient... the same path report had mysteriously changed and become malignant.

Well it sounds as if that Dr. Gray and the other doctor were encouraged not to refer people, but encouraged to use narcotics.

These policies are indefensible. And they should be changed.

I do not think that is sort of the behavior that we want to foster in the VA.

I have seen complex veterans that have polytrauma, chronic pain from this War.

It is critical for VA to take responsibility for its failures and rise to the challenge to change and take immediate action to adopt effective pain management policies, protocols, and practices.

I would really like to get this behind us. And I take this opportunity to urge my Senate colleagues to come to the table and let's get this figured out.

I tend to agree with you on the advanced funding issue. Frankly, I don't see why we don't have 2-year budgeting for everything.

I am happy that the House has passed the military construction and VA bill in a bipartisan fashion, and hope that the Senate acts on that.

I would like to remind my colleague that only the House has passed a bill that would allow for furloughed workers to be paid.

We owe you a great debt that we still remain a free country.

Even one suicide is one too many.

I would just ask that the speakers use the microphone because we have had some comments that it has been difficult to hear your testimony.

The vet center program is geared toward readjustment counseling services for war-zone veterans and their families.

We have a full-time suicide prevention coordinator.

How many patients in the last two years under your care have committed suicide?

I am working on legislation to take the reporting and the prosecution of offenders out of the military chain of command.