We are all witnessing pretty much the collapse of Greece's welfare system, how unsustainable that model is.

That is what politicians from both parties are telling the American people, looking them straight in the eye and lying to them.

I think right now, as Senator Enzi was saying, I think our total borrowing cost is about under 2 percent.

For every one percent increase in interest rates, that is $180 billion more that is added to our interest payments.

let us start working. Let us try and find those areas of agreement

The Trust Fund is a fiction. By and large, the Trust Fund is a fiction.

This Committee hearing will come to order.

At some point in time, America's creditors are going to run out of patience.

I look at that and I go, that is probably not realistic that we are going to be able to get away with spending only 2.6 or only 3.4 when historically we spent about 4.2 percent.

Dollars are more relevant.

That is not leadership. That is an abdication of leadership.

I would ask unanimous consent to enter my opening statement into the record.

I think both Senator Carper and I will certainly work together to see what we can do to help those in Mr. Schneider's position.

This hearing is really about the recent outbreak of avian influenza (AI), bird flu, that has plagued, really, primarily the Upper Midwest.

In light of the VA OIG's treatment of the victims and whistleblowers at the Tomah VAMC, it should not come as a surprise that VA whistleblowers and others would rather seek assistance from nonpartisan good-government groups--like the…

This is about getting people to admit we have a problem. I think this is a real problem that needs to be addressed urgently.

That is something you try and do working with a law that does not contemplate indemnifying the operator.

This common-sense bill--S. 1082--would simply increase the accountability for VA employees.

Full and fair accountability for all VA employees is necessary to achieve the kind of culture change that VA badly needs.

I think the vast majority of people working in the VA are incredibly dedicated, professional, doing everything they can to honor the promises to the finest among them.

However, this bill simply does not go far enough.

Thank you, Chairman Isakson, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and other distinguished Members of the Committee, for the opportunity to present my legislation.

Accountability is certainly better at the VA today than it was a year ago, but there is a long way to go in regard to cleaning up that corporate culture to make it the kind of system it should become.

There is nothing more corrosive to the morale of an organization than if bad actors just continue to be able to conduct themselves in an inappropriate manner.

All my bill is trying to do is provide accountability, give the VA the tools to remove truly those people that are not honoring the promises.