does not benchmark itself versus good private sector organizations to determine where gaps exist.

I hope that is a goal that we can shoot for, though.

And it disturbs me when the Secretary seeks an extension of time because we are forcing a veteran then to drag out the conclusion of their appeal.

I hope for those that are shocked by the 70 percent graduation rate in high school, that they are even more shocked today to hear that barely 60 percent of our higher education students graduate in 6 years.

Every year, more than a million full-time, first-time degree-seeking students start college. Yet fewer than 40 percent of those students pick up their degree in 4 years.

The United States is now the only industrialized Nation in the world where a kid has a lesser chance of graduating from high school than their parents did.

The FDA is struggling today due to lack of funding, low morale, and an increasingly expanding mission.

My answer would be, probably not. It would probably not be involved in research to the degree that they are.

I think we are going to be challenged in the future as to how we take more of the VA facilities and have that tight relationship with an academic institution.

Aloha, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, and I thank all of our witnesses today for what I think will be some very, very important testimony.

But, I would say this to all three of you, just because things are in statute certain ways, if they don't work, for God's sake, tell us so that we can change them, so that we can facilitate what it is you need in the positions that you…