Beto O'Rourke

So just to make it clear as part of the record, if a student is overpaid because of the inability of the VA to implement the solution on time, the veteran will not have to return the overpayment to the VA?

There were reports that clinicians literally quit because they were terrified that they might hurt or even kill one of their patients.

I am looking forward to any direction you can give us, any guidance that we can follow and implement in that Transition Assistance Program.

We need to ensure that our veterans have the opportunities they deserve.

I know in the case of Prudential and other large employers in El Paso, you haven't waited for the Government to give direction, you have taken the lead yourselves in making sure that that transition is a successful one.

I am just grateful on behalf of our constituents, the veterans in El Paso, in making sure that we see this through.

the conservative estimate, and we don't know the real number, but it is 20 a day, every day are taking their lives.

I love the idea behind today's hearing, which is how do we make the most out of what those veterans are ready to give back.

And I will just say, and I am sure my colleagues have similar experiences, as we have hired both veterans, military retirees, and military spouses, we have always found that to be extraordinary value for our office.

the single largest challenge for us to do our part in holding up our end of the bargain is to make sure that those spouses have opportunity in our community.

We were out a medical center director for two years, had a series of interim directors.

It is a pretty important question.

Six-hundred-thousand dollars.

You can't pay a tenth or, you know, a fifth and then expect that you are either going to be able to recruit people in or retain them.

Care delayed became care denied. It led to really tragic outcomes.

On Monday of this week, I was in McAllen, Texas, a beautiful community comprised of some incredibly courageous, strong, kindhearted people in the Rio Grande Valley in the State of Texas, connected by the Rio Grande River to Reynosa…

I am just constantly reminded that any progress we make in Congress or on this Committee is thanks to the pressure that you bring to bear.

It took this country more than 40 years to acknowledge our responsibility and our accountability and to pony up and begin to take care of people who we should have decades earlier been there for.

I feel like those are the two basic charges: to make sure that we cared for those who have been exposed and who are suffering and to stop this from happening going forward.

I also just support allowing doctors at the VA to prescribe it today, because there are doctors who would like to prescribe it today.

There is no Republican or Democratic bill to increase access for mental health care for veterans.

Dr. Wenstrup has been incredibly powerful and eloquent on this need to have purpose and fulfillment in your life after you come back from battle or combat or service.

Legislation that just passed last week in the House of Representatives that made significant changes to a number of programs...

I think this is the sixth successive VA Secretary with whom I have worked.

I think it is just, you know, success, will we get more success in that, but we have got to take these steps.