Bill Johnson

Do you think overpayments will cease in the near future?

What special training, experience, tooling, or technique is required on behalf of the surgeon to use the various biological brands?

Where do biologics manufacturers procure their donors?

How can a surgeon or VA facility be assured that the biologics they purchase are indeed safe for the patient?

Could you briefly explain some of the criteria that the Association of Tissue Banks, AATB, has to ensure patient safety?

Will the VA be able to effectively recover money that it overpaid to vendors?

Okay, how do the various biologics manufacturers work cohesively together? Do they commingle?

In March of this year, I sent a letter to the Secretary regarding the VA's procurement of biologics over the open market instead of from better-known small businesses already on the Federal supply schedule.

Chairman Bill Johnson.

Let me re-ask my question because it sounds like you are saying that you have already gone into the execution phase of the plan.

I can certainly agree that there is no intention to do so, but I think we all agree here that the objective here is to make sure that those veterans that request mental health counseling get it as soon as absolutely possible.

I would first like to commend all of you for your efforts to assist our veterans with disability claims.

I want to thank the Chairman for having this hearing today.

I share your dedication to those who have sacrificed so much for our great Nation.

We need to start treating China like a developed country.

H.R. 4048, Improving Contracting Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Act of 2012, introduced by Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH), would amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the contracting goals and preferences of…

Making the veterans' preference laws stronger is one of those few no-cost things you have the latitude to accomplish even in a tough year which can really improve the lives of disabled veterans.

I want to thank the panel for being here today, as well.

I would also like to remind everyone that this is a budget hearing on OSM, and their use of taxpayer money to, amongst other things, unnecessarily rewrite a rule to forward a political agenda, regardless of the amount of jobs it would cost.

The preferred rule of OSM would cut down on underground coal mining by as much as 50 percent, and cost tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, if it goes forward.

If you want to talk about costing tens of thousands of direct and indirect coal jobs, and causing electricity rates to go higher, then we should go forward with that goal.

I want to commend you and the chairman of the Full Committee, Mr. Hastings, for digging deep for the answers to this important issue.

As this Subcommittee made clear to the VA in its invitation to this hearing, we are examining the proposed clinic in Savannah as a case study for the rest of the country.

This hearing will come to order. I want to welcome everyone to today's hearing on the VA'S Dubious Contracting Practices: Savannah.

We have evidence of similar dubious practices taking place at other locations, and our intent is to have the VA fix the problems and conduct necessary oversight at all of its construction sites.