Thom Tillis

We have an obligation to take care of our families and our retirees.

As Iran's economy improves, as money returns back to Iran as a result of this--the Iran agreement that I opposed, that we could even see more shifting of resources.

I hope that he or she serves every single day of it.

There is a potential issue with timing.

I would like to see what that organizational model looks like as you get to a full transformation.

I would like to see a matrix going forward of any of the infrastructure or technical decisions that you are making.

We want to make absolutely certain that we are communicating, that at the end of the day this is about getting the veteran to a point of care that they are comfortable with as quickly as possible.

I think over time it should be rolled up to a level to where we are not sweating the details but really just looking at trending.

One thing that I want to make sure--I put this together while you were doing your opening statement.

Congratulations to your family and for you all being recognized for your past service and leadership.

To me it is one of the most pressing things we need to do in this hemisphere.

The greatest threat in that area--although China is doing what they're doing, the greatest threat in the area, I think, uniformly, everyone agrees, is North Korea.

I think he has made progress.

Seventy percent of veterans are going to return to small businesses.

Eighty percent of the jobs in North Carolina are created by small businesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank you all for being here, and I thank those of you who have served as well.

Defies logic and common sense, and it is something that I have asked some folks to look into earlier this morning.

I wanted to come over here just to underscore my own interest and concern with some of the practices that we have seen out there...

But we have to start getting very serious and have everyone understand what the distraction possibly costs us in terms of shortening the time to benefit for the overall transformation.

This time, I will not give a speech. It has actually gone from 50,000-foot to the ground level.

I have yet to hear a single veteran who has received care from the VA say that they want purely a private choice.

I think, Deputy Secretary Gibson, you were at that hearing, where I said it is a shame that a benefit that over 10 years will equate to about $6.2 million is going to require $5.1 million in systems changes before you can start providing…

I want to help you establish a plan that transcends your tenure and your positions, that continues to show progress as we get another President.

I will bring this back to the Secretary in the ongoing discussions Senator Tester and I are having with them.

I want to start out by thanking Ranking Member Blumenthal and Senator Brown for some opportunities to work with you all.