These are not easy. Everybody says, well, it is easy in the VA Committee, everybody agrees on that.

I am humbled and appreciative of the work this Committee has done, but I am also very cognizant we have failed in areas.

We have to preserve and expand resources to homeless vets, including HUD-VASH vouchers which provide crucial support of housing.

We are all troubled by the idea that our servicemen and women might return home from battle, survive battle, only to take their own lives.

We can never stop talking about it in trying to find out which areas are working and leave the egos at the door.

That is why congressional oversight is the absolute key, putting policies in place that extend beyond individuals and making sure the oversight to implement them is a priority.

Veteran suicide has been elevated to the top priority of this Committee for years, both by Democrats and Republicans; there is no space between us in saving the lives of heroes.

Secretary Wilkie implying in his testimony yesterday before the Senate that our constitutional right to oversight is a burden on his ability to implement the VA MISSION Act signals a very dangerous misunderstanding of the role of Congress…

We can't see veterans as a whole, certainly veterans' mental health or health care in a vacuum.

If he not met so many obstacles, would my son be alive today?

The tragic epidemic of veteran suicide is one of the most serious challenges facing our country.

I want you to guarantee me the IG will immediately have access to that Office of Accountability Whistleblower Protection database and any other information it needs to audit that program today.