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 think it would be a great benefit to our veterans and to our country.

It would be interesting to know if that actually would cost the taxpayers more or less.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Actually sort of on that subject, do you know what percentage of the VA hospitals are participating in the prescription drug monitoring programs in cooperation with the states?

Do you have a timeline, do you think? We have a pretty big problem in my district with prescription drug abuse.

Is there anything we can do?

I appreciate all of your level of expertise and your medical backgrounds. But to be honest I am a little surprised that there is not people involved with administration that have been in the private sector.

So what are you measuring? Because I was operations chair for a 26-doctor orthopaedic group.

I did not come to Congress to sit here and to complain about things but to try and bring solutions.

Because there is a part of it sometimes that makes me curious as to what motivates the VA system, the way it is funded, et cetera, to really be effective and efficient compared to, say, private practice because I have operated under both…