David Roe

And will the TPAs have to let staff across the country go if it is not replenished?

Will veterans be able to seek appointments in the community like they have before if the Choice is not replenished?

I am very concerned because one of the purposes for the Choice Program, when Congress enacted that, was because veterans were not receiving access to care that they needed and deserved.

I think we hear all the bad. We don't hear a lot of times the good.

I get a little frustrated sometimes because I know we have done that, and have had other requests that come on from educators.

I think what the VA is trying to do is provide the very best care it can for veterans.

If Congress does not replenish the Choice Fund, will wait times lengthen like they were before Phoenix?

I think the conversation around changes that WIOA have made in our Nation's workforce development system in preparing Americans for high-skill jobs is a critical one.

I bet you were wondering about who controlled the pot too.

I want to be sure I get that on the record--it is not.

But it looks to me like either the VA or the academic affiliate is dropping the ball somewhere if there is those kind of disparities out there.

Well, where I am, and where I live, $1.7 million is still a lot of money.

I mean, it is pretty simple. Has it ever happened?

Can you assure us moving forward that there is a consistent accounting of resident time to ensure that GME dollars are being spent appropriately?

And if they don't, what happens?

I hope we can learn more about this audit and discuss ways to guarantee that there is open communication between the two Departments going forward...

The American Legion applauds the passage of H.R. 1259, "VA Accountability First Act of 2017", and thanks Chairman Roe for his leadership on this issue.

Since 2010, the number of veterans receiving care for PTSD from the VA healthcare system has grown by more than 50 percent and despite historic and ever-increasing investments in VA mental health services and supports since the turn of the…

Therefore, MOPH asks that Congress reject this misguided provision of the VA budget request.

We support Representative Stivers' H.R. 2225, the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act, which would direct VA to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.

We support Representative Coffman's H.R. 918, the Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act, which would require VA to furnish certain mental health services to veterans who are not otherwise eligible.

Due to the nature of the membership criteria of our organization, MOPH members suffer from PTSD at a relatively high rate.

MOPH appreciates the effort that you and the committee have dedicated to this important topic in recent years, and we are grateful for the opportunity to submit our views.

Chairman Roe, Ranking Member Walz, and Members of the Committee, on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), whose membership is comprised entirely of combat wounded veterans, I thank you for allowing us to testify today on…

VA deserves credit for its transparency on improper payments, but beyond transparency, I look forward to hearing a credible plan to solve the problem.