I wish people could actually watch how we do things in the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

It is my hope that by bringing all parties together here today, we can make progress in evaluating the Veterans' Cemetery Grants Program and, ultimately, to serve the needs of our veterans as best we can.

As our veteran population continues to age, and as we wind down two overseas conflicts, the placement of our national and state veterans' cemeteries becomes increasingly important.

the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and my Subcommittee will continue to listen to your needs and work to fix several issues that we discussed here today.

So we really have given more control back to the local states, given back control to the local regions to make these with support from the Federal Government.

Therefore, I would respectfully request that everyone be courteous to our witnesses and remain silent until the hearing is formally adjourned.

I see that that spirit of collaboration and stewardship of taxpayer dollars, as well as fulfilling our moral obligation to our veterans is alive and well.

And I might add, it feels like I spent a lot of my life up at Camp Ripley, and I can tell you that that facility is second to none.

I would argue it's a very important part of our country, of how we take care of those willing to serve.

I think when it comes to serving our veterans, that this is one that my patience is--I'm so short fused on.

It is my hope that by bringing all the parties together here today, we can make progress in evaluating the Veterans' Cemetery Grants Program and ultimately to serve the needs of our veterans as best we can.