Robert C. Byrd: “I do not believe that we can overstate the importance or the difficulty of the challenge before the Congress.”

Our service men and women, now more than ever, are depending on your leadership to put the military medical system on a new track.

The Department is firmly committed to working closely and openly with Congress in order to protect the health of our servicemembers.

In closing, may I say that the President's request includes $658 million for construction of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

We need important changes in our great health benefit program. TRICARE, to ensure a superior benefit for the long-term.