Richard Burr

That even brings more insanity into it than I think one could comprehend.

The Chairman has been very kind to listen to me on occasion rant about the lack of veterans' abilities to get transportation to appointments.

Senator Burr knows what I am talking about when I am saying it is $700 short, and that has a huge impact for a family.

I think I know what we are going to find out, but I would reiterate what the Chairman said. This is not the first time.

I have seen the Chair before refuse to accept testimony and would encourage the Chair to consider that as appropriate in the future.

I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the collaborative issues with VA and DOD and hear firsthand from veterans about their personal experiences moving from active duty to veteran status.

While it is critical to hear these personal stories from our Nation's veterans, it is just as important to continue our dialog with the agencies tasked with ensuring a seamless transition for servicemembers from active duty to veteran…

If they cannot do that on time, then I have little faith that we can ever achieve a seamless transition.

I want that Marine and all Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Coast Guardsmen to have every benefit and every service we have available.

I think we both agree we are a long way from it.

It is past time to get it right.

Well, let me apologize to you.

I am pleased with the progress that is being made improving the lives of our Nation's wounded warriors, their families, and as they transition from active duty to veterans' status.

I believe that reauthorization is absolutely essential. I think we can do it better than we did it before.

If there is any group in Congress that gets this problem and knows how to get it done, it is the HELP Committee.

It is essential that someone be in charge, as Senator Burr has said.

It is very important that members understand we are going to have quite a discussion before PAHPA reauthorization comes up, about whether we need to redefine emergency use authority.

I think having this focal point for leadership has proved to be really important.

I think it falls well outside the space that we are here to talk about today, but indeed it is a problem and it is a problem that leads us then to the FDA and to other areas that need examination by this committee and other committees.

I think it was our belief, that if that could happen, then we need to be prepared.

I sort of put you in charge of letting us know before we get this legislation done.

My hope is, and I pledge to Senator Blumenthal, if the committee will look into the drug shortage I will be right there with him.

One of the committee's greatest responsibilities is ensuring that our Nation has the medical and public health preparedness and response capabilities necessary to respond to all hazards and all threats, whether natural or manmade.

As we work to reauthorize the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act and BioShield, it is critical that this committee take a hard look at what is working well and what is not working well.

We could find ourselves in a situation that we have a real threat, we have an inability to respond in a timely fashion.