Richard Burr

I thank you for your willingness to continue that service by working with us to improve the system of care and the benefits for all our servicemembers.

Without the bravery and support of loved ones like Sarah, many of our wounded warriors would be forced to live in nursing home settings.

Thank you for calling this hearing.

And do you know how many people in-theater know that that exists?

What we learned from that hearing led to provisions enacted within the 2008 Defense Authorization Act.

Aloha, Mr. Chairman.

What we are really concerned with is people on the margins.

I have a slightly different takeaway than my good friend from Minnesota.

If this were a disease, we'd call it an epidemic, and we'd do whatever we needed to, to fix it.

We have to fix education, we have to fix the economy, we have got to fulfill the promise we made to these kids.

To allow this to happen for 30 percent of our high school students is unconscionable.

I'm much more interested in whether the agency is actually keeping these commitments.

Should be or will be?

Unfortunately, the first semester of this program did not go smoothly for many of these veterans.

Until we get answers to questions, we do not know the next questions to ask.

Does VA intend to provide advance payments in the future?

I would point out to the Chair that the last paragraph of my opening statement praises his willingness to work with me as we try to draft a technical corrections bill, and I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for that.

When these brave men and women choose to pursue their educational goals, their benefits need to be accurate, timely, and hassle free.

If somebody does not repay that advance payment that is owed back, what recourse do you have?

This education program was created for those who have served in the Armed Forces since the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001.

By accelerating the planned retirement of 257 legacy fighter aircraft, we are committed to a smaller, but more capable fifth-generation fighter force.

What is the current position of the Air Force concerning the issuance of additional leases in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico to support off-shore drilling operations?

Remotely piloted aircraft currently provide 41 continuous combat air patrols to U.S. CENTCOM.

I've been told that, as a result of the cap of 30,000 troops placed by the President on General McChrystal's plan for surge operations in Afghanistan, many of the requests for forces currently being received by the Army from field…

Are there sufficient aircraft at home station to fulfill the requirements of the nearly 1,400 pilots trained annually by the Army?