Charles Q. Brown

Although their position is always to privatize. Well, what is that? What is privatize? It is minimum-wage jobs.

for me, it is just very clear that the Republicans have one agenda, and that is to privatize Amtrak

Until our country becomes far more selective in recruiting, training, and retaining top-tier teachers, student achievement will continue to lag.

Teacher effectiveness is critical to the success of education reform efforts, which is why forward-thinking leaders are focused on reforming teacher certification.

I don't understand why the VA has to wait for a hearing or an IG audit report for them to take those measures.

This is bullshit.

I apologize for saying bullshit and apologize that we are here on a witch hunt when we should be doing the veterans' business.

In this very poor economy, we should allow veterans to pursue all worthwhile occupations that lead to gainful employment.

It would be tragic if we do not help veterans take advantage of these opportunities.

Let me just say when American get a cold, African Americans got pneumonia.

I have been on this Committee for 20 years and I met with many, many secretaries. And I can tell you many of them, they come to this Committee, they talk a great talk, but they do not walk the walk or, as the veterans say, roll the roll…

One team, one fight. That is the Army's motto. And we are all in this fight together.

We have a big task. And we are a very bipartisan Committee and I am interested in working with you to make sure that we improve the lives for all of the veterans.

I guess my question, and I am glad you all were able to get lunch in that small window, but what do you believe is the number one barrier veterans are facing when they are accessing mental health services...

Congresswoman Brown, you put your finger on what I think is probably the most important future development in not just mental health services delivery but in medical care delivery in general and that is tele-mental health and telehealth.

While I agree that much has been done, I am discouraged that we still hear stories of the struggles many veterans face when trying to access VA mental health care services.

It is going to take all of us working together to solve some of these problems.

But basically, we all want the same thing. We want the veterans to get service.

Not everybody needs a psychiatrist.

I hope as we develop mental health programs that we realize that it is not just the person in the military but it is the entire family that is involved.

So basically we have this culture that I don't think is as conducive to women, which is the fastest growing group.

If there was some way that the student loan could be tied into working into some of the critical areas, then that would be incentive to encourage people to work in, let us say, the rural areas.

If you are going to put the liability of this person's mental health care in my hands, I want to be in control of how that treatment is provided.

I have worked on this project for over 25 years and I guess I have adopted the military motto, what do you do when failure is not an option. You get the job done.

I want to take the politics out of it. I just want the work done.