David Roe

I can assure you that this panel will not forget your needs.

It is bad enough that these veterans who fought so bravely for our freedom have lost their eyesight due to injuries that they received in battle, but to ignore their needs when they return home and more sorely need our help is inexcusable.

I hope we hear better news about the program than what I heard last month and I want assurances that the witnesses who testified last month have now all been contacted by an FRC team and are now receiving the assistance they so richly…

When the penalty is stiffer for shooting a deer and taking it across the state line than it is for taking the life of somebody, there is something fundamentally wrong here.

If these companies are going to willfully continue to do this, then I think what we have to do is we have to have an agency that has teeth.

Whoever altered that machinery is responsible for this young man dying. And not only should they pay a fine, ... they ought to go to jail, and they ought to go to jail for a long time.

If, on the other hand, the primary objective of the greatly increased criminal penalties is to exact retribution from the few employers guilty of truly egregious conduct, then we should acknowledge that objective.

That strongly suggests that the focus on increased criminal sanctions would do little to address the current level of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths in this country.

There is something wrong with the law, when an employer, who knowingly endangers his workers, commits a 17-year felony under the environmental laws, but doesn't even commit a crime under the law designed to protect the health and safety of…

I respectfully disagree with that view.

I believe those statistics provide a useful point of reference and avoid creating unrealistic expectations.

And I think we are going to do better.

We do have a safe food supply, generally, in this country. We can always work on doing better.

First of all, the food in this country is safe.

The VCE is taking steps to ensure members of the Armed Services and veterans who are visually impaired receive appropriate vision rehabilitation quickly and effectively.

Please provide to the Committee a timeline for execution of the Vision Centers of Excellence.

VA has already approved the Concept of Operations in January 2009.

When will the Department of Defense approve the Concept of Operations?

Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. The Committee looks forward to receiving your answers.

We should be jumping through every hoop we could, and I think someone needs to be in charge of this problem.

I find this embarrassing to have treated our veterans this way.

It is critical that Congress conduct strict oversight into how this program is developed and implemented to assure that our Nation's servicemembers and veterans are well served.

I agree with the Chairman, that it is important that this Committee take a look at the process being made in implementing this legislation.

I am pleased that this funding has been finally identified and provided by the Department of Defense.

The Vision Center of Excellence, and accompanying Military Eye Injury Registry, were included as provisions in the Military Eye Trauma Treatment Act introduced last Congress by my colleague, Dr. John Boozman.