Simply put, this is an unacceptable way to treat our veterans or their families.

I think that suggests that there is something extremely serious to look at, whether there is fire behind the curtain.

I hope that you will publicly or privately share with us when those epidemiologists come back after they have looked at the genomic connection.

clearly quality and safety seems to have diminished from a standpoint of importance

In my capacity as Ranking Member of the Committee and as a Senator from North Carolina who represents 7,500 veterans in a 3-county area that are serviced by Mountain Home, I was not told...

Yes, you highlight it. And there is nobody today that can tell us we have not done everything to prevent it.

I guess my direct question is having noted those deficiencies in those three facilities, at what point would it trigger you to take a more aggressive stand relative to VA's remediation of the deficiencies?

There is a human element to this issue that must not be forgotten or overlooked at all.

I deeply respect the work that they do.

Now the VA has maintained that it is very transparent when it comes to its disclosure of adverse events, even more so than the private sector.

How about from a standpoint of infection? How many Hepatitis B or HIV before this is a medical problem?