Brad Wenstrup

As an Iraq War veteran myself, I hope and expect that our current generation of veterans will match or exceed those numbers.

I want to thank you very much for your input, for your advice, and for your sharing of ideas here today.

I trust every single person that sits around this table, both sides of the aisle, to be professional and do the right job and try and take care of veterans.

But please--please work with us.

VocRehab has improved dramatically in the last 15 years. But it still needs to be a separate division.

So it is time to try something new, because the young people separating need a job now, they don't need a job in 15 years.

The best social reform or opportunity for an independent life that anyone has is a job.

But I am not certain that I am hearing that these employment numbers are a result of those programs.

Unfortunately for years, it has been clear that senior leaders at the Department of Labor do not put the focus that is needed on the Veterans' Employment and Training Service.

I would like to take a second to talk about something that is working well.

From our standpoint here, we want to know if the program that we are endorsing is actually having the result or is the result coming from somewhere else?

To be quite frank, many in the veterans' community... have said over and over again that more often than not, DoL has ignored the agency altogether.

Sure. No, I think you do have to evaluate locally, but you can start with what it is in the big picture.

Well, I look forward to seeing those types of numbers because that has got to be our guide as we try to decide what is best for the veteran and the VA itself as we go down the road.

So if we know what the budget is for all the health administration costs and what that is, can't that give us something to start with?

I am here for the same reason I think you are, is to make a difference and to make good decisions, but we have got to come up with those numbers because you can't decide if Choice is working better or worse and effectively, especially when…

I appreciate all of your testimonies and your lifelong concern for our veteran and for those that have served.

I believe that focusing only on the online version would shortchange our servicemembers of critically important information.

I believe we can mitigate many other issues that have plagued and continue to plague previous generations of America's veterans.

I have to tell you I am very honored to serve as chairman of this subcommittee

I am concerned about the strength of what we have in Syria.

ISIL, to me, is somewhat of a state, not a recognized state, but they actually have territory, they have wealth, and they have an army.

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio will be postponed. Amendment Offered by Mr. Swalwell of California

Reclaiming my time, you know, renewable is not an option for this area of America until it is cleaned up, and waiting costs more and it paralyzes a large portion of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

The $15 million is coming from renewable energy accounts and less crucial administrative accounts.