Richard Burr

The numbers that we look at suggest for every infected individual that they will infect somewhere between 5 and 20 additional individuals.

We're going to break every fail-safe that exists at the FDA.

I think we've already spiraled. I think we're in that spiral now.

If you'd get that to us, I'd appreciate it.

My math says we're going to be behind the eightball on day one because we won't have enough beds.

I think we continue to be a step behind up until this point, this response point.

The boss of this operation is the veteran.

This town is full of commissions. As soon as we hear the word commission, we all start looking for who is hiding.

Culture change is difficult, but I think we can do it.

The problems within VA seem to be rooted in two things. One is the culture that has been created, and I think that culture has been created because there was a lack of accountability.

This legislation is a first step in providing veterans with the ability to choose where they receive care if VA is unable to provide care within a timely manner or if they live greater than 40 miles from a VA facility.

My time has expired, but let me say once again I thank you and your staff for the process you are going through.

While this is an essential first step in addressing the systemic issues facing the Department of Veterans Affairs, there is still much more work to be done.

Since our last hearing on the state of VA health care, Congress has moved forward with historic legislation that will improve access to health care to veterans across the Nation, which was signed into law in August.

Today the Committee is holding another hearing on the state of health care within VA, specifically focusing on the final IG report released last month as it relates to Phoenix.

I stand today not to rehash with my colleagues the crisis that exists at the Veterans' Administration or to share it with the American people. They know the story, and especially our Nation's veterans, who have been given the runaround. I…

Without serious changes at the VA, the reports of mismanagement, fraud, whistleblower retaliation, and more will continue.

My hope and my expectation, Mr. McDonald, is that you will not allow VA to ignore the signs of deep dysfunction at VBA, but will work to resolve any systemic problems immediately.

It is tough for anybody to envision why somebody would take this job.

I cannot believe that just throwing more money at the VA is the answer.

We need a culture where warning signs will not be ignored and twisting performance metrics to make it appear that veterans are being well served will not be tolerated.

More broadly, your charge moving forward will be to ensure that this entire Department, from top to bottom, is refocused on providing our Nation's veterans with the high-quality service that they have earned and that they deserve.

What the VA really needs is a transformative leader that can bring about true and lasting change.

I personally believe that the VA needs competition.

Your charge moving forward will be to ensure that this entire Department--from top to bottom--is re-focused on providing our Nation's veterans with the high-quality service they have earned and they deserve.