Denis McDonough

We need to reach those folks. We need to make sure that they know that some of these exposures are covered.

we feel pretty good about how this year, and the out-year look.

We are determined to meet these goals laid out in the program, because the President expects us to, but as importantly, because our vets need it.

We are going to increase access, is what we are going to do.

I want to directly address this issue about whether you would be taking something from another veteran or from a battle buddy.

I have great respect for CBO, but I can not speak for them.

What do we do to connect directly with the family?

We think there would be a real impact on both.

It is simply a fact that we have to do better--and we have identified this fact--we have to do better with our survivors.

We take great pride in the fact that we send a package to that family within 10 days of the death announcement.

The reason they recommend we do it, the reason why I think we should do it, is the connection between mental health disorder, including suicide, and what clinicians call gender dysphoria is a very tight connection.

If we go back to fiscal year 2022, that would be about a $565 million cut on the major construction account in fiscal year 2024.

Inasmuch as suicide prevention is our number-one clinical priority, yes, I consider it a priority.

This is a really heartbreaking case.

We just need to get better at hiring than we are. Period.

I pray to God the next time I appear before you that we have reduced this number, because if we don't, we won't meet our hiring targets.

I have seen this personally myself, including with a Gold Star mom and a Gold Star wife.

The most important thing you have done to date helps, which is making us competitive.

It's our responsibility to serve veterans as well as they have served us no matter who they are, where they are from, or the status of their citizenship.

You all did us a massive solid by passing the RAISE Act and attaching that to the Omnibus which itself was very generous.

This Budget will ensure VA is moving swiftly and smartly into the future as we serve our two core requirements: timely access to world-class care, and timely access to earned benefits.

We do it well. I saw CBOC here in suburban Washington, D.C., where on one visit a woman veteran can get primary care.

we support the PACT Act and we do that for important reason, because it will, from my perspective, it will help us get access to more vets and get those vets into our care.

The President's prioritized and why you have helped us now for successive years in giving big set-asides for what the Women's Health Program.

President Biden describes our country's most sacred obligation as preparing and equipping the troops we send into harm's way and then caring for them and their families when they return.