Wilkie was a witness this morning for joining us and since this is her first touring with some members to spain remotely id like to begin by offering a brief explanation of how it will work in order to benefit both members and the public. First, this searing room has been configured to maintain the recommended sixfoot social distancing between members, witnesses and other individuals in the room necessary to operate the hearing. As i mentioned some members have opted to use secure video teleconferencing which allows them to participate remotely. For those on the Video Conference once you start speaking there would be a slight delay before you are displayed on the main screen as i am now. To minimize background was to ask members are participating virtually remain on mute until it is your turn to ask questions. Please remember to mute yourself at the conclusion of your questions. Should you seek additional time please unmute yourself so i will recognize you. Just like if you were in the room and you want to get the chairs attention you would turn your mic on and ask for attention. For those produced many remotely your voice will activate your appearing on the screen across room so just know it doesnt go on, you dont move to the scrn until you actually begin speaking. I remind on members and witnesses the fiveminute clock still applies. If there is a difficult issue will move to the next member until the issue is resolved and you will retain the balance of your time. For members using the video option you will notice a clock on the bottom of your screen. That will show how much time is remaining. At one minute remaining the clock will turn yellow. At 36 remain i will gently tap the gavel to my members that the is almost expired. When your time has expired the clock will turn red and i will begin to recognize the next member. In terms of the speaking order we will follow the order set forth in the house rules beginning with the chair and Ranking Member and thin members present at the time to drink is called to order will be recognized in order of seniority and finally members not present at the time during his called order, order. Todays fincas on the his response to the covid19 pandemic. Again we welcome the department of Veterans Affairs secretary Robert Wilkie who is joined by dr. Paul lawrence under sector for benefits at the Veterans Benefits administration, mr. Jon rychalski, assistant secretary and chief Financial Officer and dr. Jennifer macdonald chief consultant to the deputy under secretary for health. Thank you all for being here today. I cannot underscore enough the importance of ensuring as we try to take care for veterans and do everything in our power to keep our frontline healthcare workers safe. This hearing is an important opportunity to provide oversight of almost 20 billion congress has appropriated to v. A. In emergency funding in the family first Coronavirus Response actor and the cares act to assist v. A. In combating the ended. Both of the funny with divided is for direct funding and it is her due to oversee that funding to ensure v. A. Isnt mincing and veterans are receiving the utmost and highest quality of care especially during these unprecedented times. With that money would expect v. A. To provide a personal protective equipment, or ppe, to every Single Person working in the facility and for the patients when necessary. As soon as one covid positive patient walks through the door of ap facility every v. A. Employee working there is at risk for contracting the virus whether theyre directly treating the patient into coronavirus or not. I understand shortage of supplies and unstable supply chain issues contributed to v. A. Supplementation of austerity measures to providing ppe but only providing ppe different lengthy a healthcare workers typically only those who were trading directly covid19 patients was unacceptable especially given the amount of interaction other v. A. Employees have who may or may not display symptoms of the virus. We all know and are well aware that you do not have to be symptomatic in order to be carrying the virus. I am glad v. A. Has started to make steps in the right direction after unrelenting backlash from congress on the irresponsible ppe policy and assess updated it to reflect the needs to provide one mask for every employee regardless of interaction or not. I appreciated the opportunity to talk with you throughout this crisis, express our concerns and also get feedback on how we could be helpful to you in making sure we could write that ship. Despite this being the policy on paper, i am still hearing concerns that the field level is not being implemented consistently. Many veterans and employees are still left unprotected. V. A. Must make sure it is communicating effectively, its not enough to issue guidance regarding health and safety veterans and v. A. Employees pick v. A. Must ensure such guidance is being adhered to and implemented consistently. Further, v. A. Must everything in his power to be conventional standards and ppe usage. Any austerity or contingency measure on usage leaves veterans of healthcare workers vulnerable to infections. This is especially egregious with the present has the limited authority to fix a from of a lack of supplies and ppe by fully invoking the defense protection act so american businesses can completely fill the gap in the supply chain for these vital resources which is the defense production act purpose. V. A. Would no longer had to compete for scarce supplies like it currently does and v. A. Could revert back to conventional practices rather than austerity measures in a diminishing ppe. Further, exacerbating problem scarce resource great the right condition for price schedule gs many copies are taking advantage of. A propublica piece published a couple weeks ago shed light on the issue of small and express contractors charging exorbitant prices scarce ppe and v. A. Agreed to pay that price because of that desperate the situation. I understand these unprecedented times we need to do for the weekend to protect our veterans and are frontline healthcare workers were putting their lives at risk to combat the study by resource to protecting taxpayer dollars to do so. Additionally within the Funding Congress appropriated we want to make sure v. A. Is providing adequate testing to veterans and to its employees. I cannot stress enough the importance of testing as obese only way we can get a handle on how the virus is spreading and where. We need adequate testing to make americans feel safe. We do not have a consistent cover hints testing policy at v. A. , and that must change. This is especially important that v. A. Makes the decision to reopen its facilities around the country beyond emergency and urgent care. V. A. Has begun reopening at 20 for sosa plans to reopen additional facilities and start resume or services in a in a fh process but we need to make sure we have sound policies in place so we dont fight these fights in the virus as before. Lastly, when veterans are at v. A. Hospitals we need to make sure theyre being treated with the utmost quality of care. More and more information is coming out about how it affected a potentially deadly the antimalarial drug hydroxy cork wine is to covid positive patients. What is sent to me is v. A. Is still insisting a providing this drug to veterans. Yet v. A. Cannot effectively to mitigate the circumstances in which the drug is administered. I hope that changes today. We clearly have a lot of ground to cover today. Thank you all for being to this one and look for it your testimony, mr. Secretary. Id like to yield to my Ranking Member judge carter for his Opening Statement at please note there may be a delay before he is displayed on the main screen. Judge carter. Good morning from round rock, texas. And chairman, thank you for this hearing today. Just to let you know that right now it is 67 degrees outside the lone star state, it would be upper 85 today which is kind of cool for us. Im really glad to be aired today. I never thought i would city in my home kelly communicating. This is quite a step. This hearing is a a big step fr the appropriations committee, and the house of representatives, and a first steps are proud to be part of it. I congratulate chairwoman lowey, Ranking Member granger for their leadership in this and im very proud of our subcommittee chairwoman who has been working very hard to get this done right. I think all of them and congratulate them for all their work. As a member, who cannot attend this hearing, its hard i guess this is a bass ill be able to do and im grateful for it. As we continue with our oversight of the department of Veterans Affairs, especially its response to covid19 and the use of supplemental funding provided just two months ago, secretary wilkie, thank you for being here to talk to us about the v. A. Response to covid19. Covid19. In many ways the v. A. Has been at the forefront of americas response and has been a leader those affected by the pandemic. V. A. Quick and decisive actions to protect residents civic center and other special care facilities spare many veterans serious injury or illness. V. A. Has also stepped up a system and as individual employees they will work out [inaudible] provide urgent need for doctors and nurses, dads, equipment and medicine in every corner of the United States. A large decentralize National Healthcare system could so quickly and effectively respond like that v. A. Did, never losing focus on their first vision, which is care for our veterans. The v. A. Has some problems in maintaining supplies a personal protective equipment for its employees contracting procedures and will discuss these issues today. We also need to discuss the supplemental funding provided by the cares act and whether theres a need for additional funding and in the follow up package that may be coming in future years. I want to thank the committees Technology Staff and the house e Recording Studio for the very diligent work. Were holding this hearing today because of your knowhow and willingness to help us learn, and i personally thank you. Madam chair, take it again for yielding me this time, and i yield back. Thank you, judge carter. And appreciate your kind words, and join you in thinking appropriations staff as well as the Technology Staff and house Recording Studio. This is one of the outside of the rules committee, the first with outside witness hearing. Outside witness hybrid hearings will be of some members participating remotely and some in person, and there was lots of rehearsal, dress rehearsals tt went into this to make sure everything was going to go smoothly and and i think all oe numbers for the cooperation and thats the spirit of this committee. It always has been and its deeply appreciated so that we can continue to do the work that is so important for us to do. Judge carter, a cue for your thoughtful remarks. Now i would like to yield to the full committee chair, congresswoman nita lowey for opening remarks. And again, there might be a slight delay before she appears on the screen. Madam chair, you are recognized. Chairwoman schultz and transceiver holding this very important hearing, and i welcome secretary wilkie and other distinguished officials, and i think our Committee Staff for navigating this new way of conducting business. Before we begin our discussion on the heels of memorial day, we would be remiss not to mention our recent calls for the removal of nazi headstones at some of our cemeteries. Although predecessors may have allowed them. Today, we need to do the right thing and remove these offensive symbols from the solemn ground where our brave warriors rest. During this horrible coronavirus crisis, our responsibility to the men and women who have served our country has never been more vital. This administrations lack of preparedness and mismanagement has led the needless deaths and suffering, and much fear among veterans. Their families and Healthcare Professionals who care for them. To date, there have been more than 13,500 cases of covid19 diagnosed throughout v. A. Healthcare facilities. Of the 1193 tragic deaths, 241 has occurred in new york. The situation, and even more tragic, in state run veteran homes where our most vulnerable veterans have been denied the highest quality of care that v. A. Has responsibility to oversee and ensure that facilities are meeting the a standard of care, and v. A. Should have sent them sooner to hell. For nearly three months the v. A. Healthcare workers have risked their lives, and the lives of patients, the because of the shortage of personal protective equipment. The lack of urgency by the v. A. To address this need has likely contributed to additional sickness and death. I do hope that we are all on the same page and that we can work to fix this issue which is so outrageous. Veterans have suffered because of disruption to routine physical and Mental Health care visits. Many faced the stress and burden of unemployment, homelessness, and uncertainty. And at a time when veterans most need the v. A. To be ahead of the curve, it is falling behind. We need to understand what went wrong, why then we can understand and identify what needs to be done to avoid this shameful treatment of veterans in the future. So thank you. I look forward to your statements, and i do look forward to answers to our questions. Thank you. Thank you, madam chair. Appreciate your thoughtful remarks. Mr. Secretary, as always your full stable we entered into the record and you recognize to summarize your remarks for five minutes. Thank you very much, and what you thank you also for your available to meet throughout this. I value that relationship and i think it is incredibly important. To the department. We are fighting a war that very few people in america would have predicted just a few months ago. Our doctors, nurses and staff are routinely putting their lives on the line and sacrificing time with their families to care for veterans, most of them most are older and vulnerable to the fires. 31 of our Staff Members have passed away, and as you know we have lost hundreds of veterans to this disease. But the news is not all grim. From the start v. A. Took an aggressive posture to protect our patient from covid19 and our staff has worked tirelessly to carry it out with great success. Here is where we stand. We have diagnosed 11,500 veterans with the virus, but over 9000 of them have fully recovered if that is, 76 . Today, we we are only treating 1500 veterans for the virus out of the over 9. 2 million veterans who are in our system. We are stocked with supplies. On average, vha has a a minimuf two weeks a plan head of each type of ppe, gloves, i protection, massachusetts, dance and sanitizer. We are staffed in part because of the changes weve made in our hiring process. The last five weeks we have hired more than 10,000 medical staff including 3000 nurses and as i discussed with the chair yesterday, i intend to keep these processes in place. If i need to come for a legislative fix, i will be doing so after consultation with you. Our infection rate among the a staff i can argue is the lowest of any Healthcare System in the country. It is either half of 1 or lower. And i credit the steps that we took early on to protect those on the front lines with these incredibly low numbers. We were the first Healthcare System and the First Federal agency to activate our emergency procedures. We did so in january. Establishing 19 Emergency OperationCenters Across the country. We did begin to manage our supplies with ppe, and as ive been candid with the chair, our regular supply chain was disrupted by this National Emergency and we have changed to meet that emergency. In some ways we have stressed the system which i think would be better for the future. Telehealth services have expanded exponentially. In a normal month we would conduct 40,000 Mental Health tell a visits here we are now at 900,000. We are reaching areas of the country that we never thought we would reach, particularly and tribal and rural america. This is a game changer particularly when it comes to Mental Health. In april we began working our Fourth Mission in earnest. Taking in nonveterans in hotspots in the point via staff to Nursing Homes and state veterans homes that needed our expertise, and issue i know some of you will want to talk about today. In addition, our veterans and if its admission has worked out to more than 400,000 veterans and continue to talk about our response and answer questions about their benefits during the crisis. Our National Cemetery administration has taken steps to ensure that loved ones are encouraged madam chair, you need to mute your line. Secretary, you can resume. That our veterans are interred in a mr. Secretary, you can proceed. Please, proceed. Ill just the verge, i was privileged to address several veterans of the quantico National Cemetery on memorial day. As i was looking out down the hill i saw veterans families gathering on that day to pay their respects to their loved ones. Our veteran cemeteries have never closed. Our hospitals have never closed. At the end i believe that our people have turned v. A. Into a learning organization that was able to turn on a dime in this crisis and transform itself from an institution that many of us have known, some of us have looked at for many years. I cant think them enough for their agility. I cant thank them enough for putting themselves in harms way to serve their fellow americans, and i thank you, madam chair, for allowing me to speak. Thank you, mr. Secretary. Now i would like to begin by five minutes of questions. Mr. Secretary, i want to start of this in discussing the issue of personal protective equipment, or ppe, which i note has been huge issue for the v. A. As a gifted v. A. Has had about 39 day supply of gloves 333 days of life they shields, 20670 sublette n95 nas, 244 day supply for surgical supplies. This is a submit an improvement from our base and committed the cove i spent 18 days or less of all supplies leading to be invoking austerity measures on vha employs due to ppe. Per guidance as ppe availability returns to normal, Healthcare Facilities should probably resume standard practices. Navigate has higher amounts of ppe. The v. A. Does a v. A. Plan guidance to protect, two for the protect and healthcare workers . Would you please clarify for the record what v. A. s guidance is regarding who receives ppe and in what circumstances they receive it including veterans, frontline healthcare workers and all other employees in the v. A. Facilities . I will let the practitioner give you the chapter and verse on what the medical needs are. I will say that i that our hoss that never it out of equipment, but in response to this emergency, as you and i discussed yesterday, we are putting in place plans and operations so that we do not have to adjust to a disruption in the supply chain. Ive given instructions to begin the establishment of that those across the country, to supply, to house ppe and other medical equipment so that if this does rebound mr. Secretary, i want to be mindful of my time. Specifically, with more availability of ppe do you have plans because last time issued, issued guidance may 1, do to gt plans to issue any additional less stringent guides to the fields we can further test veterans healthcare workers . We will as we resume normal operations for how many days with a supply would be a need to have on hand before you accountable to further reduce the austerity measures . Madam chair, i thank you for change this vision just want to emphasize that our workforce is the strongest asset. With a workforce that run towards the chuck ended up at most prior to ensure that their spears i apologize. My time is limited and we will stick to it we all pretty much pressure to work. Yesterday. We have moved to universal masking. Because of early plan that begin in january our workforce has had within the threat the entirety of the response. Those in the front lines have n95 masks. Those the facility have a mask a day and a visit to our facility even if they are the caregiver of better, a company that better the critical appointment speedy but i specifically asking about yesterday measures it because yes, i understand there are issues with masks but the concerns of been expressed come the anonymous complaint setting getting vindicated that they are required to be used repeatedly those masks, to have been laid out in the sun in order to sanitize them. What are the current criteria in terms of mask issuance and ppe issuance . Madam chair, thank you. We are at universal masking right now and in reference to yesterday measures, this was a move in guidance as a Global Supply chain within a state of a certain a virus was surging. We were certain we have two weeks of supply on hand. What we were not certain of was our ability to resupply and we made a strategic decision for a very brief period of time to make sure that our supplies would reach into we could be resupplied. At each point and each day across that time our employees had within needed and had n95 masks and a full set of personal protective equipment that need to care for patients. And i would add right now we sadly have 500 employees who are infected. The reason that number is dark is that is 500 start ndaa 330,000 in the measures we put in place arguably emergency measures were designed in an emergency to take care of those who were the most immediately vulnerable. Ive been able to expand the use of ppe as the emergency has changed but i would also argue that the entire nation has been learning this on the fly. As you and i discussed for the first time in history of v. A. , we did have to share resources with the state of new york, the city of los angeles. We followed cdc guidelines. We followed them to the letter. We followed the same guidelines that you would find at Georgetown Medical center or at nyu. And i think the results have shown that we have done an excellent job, better than in Healthcare System in the country, in keeping his numbers as low as we have. Okay. Im sure of the memos will get into the ppe issue further. Look, with achilles indulges ill ask additional questions and we will certainly recognize judge carter for longer than five minutes. I do want to take a moment to answer the following dash into the fall into the record, a letter from myself, judge carter, chairwoman lowey and Ranking Member granger to you, secretary wilkie, regarding the gravestones that have been discovered that are at the sam houston v. A. Cemetery in houston, and v. A. Cemetery in utah as well that have the nazi swastika as well as inscription honoring hitler on them. So i will ask unanimous consent to enter all of the following into the record, statement frm the Southern Poverty Law Center to recognize the offensive nature of those inscriptions and statements, and to remove them. A statement from that also asks to remove those gravestones and inscriptions and replace them with more appropriate information about the deceased. A statement from the avo, the Antidefamation League asking the same, save it from the Jewish Community asking for the same. This is deeply troubling to learn that several v. A. Cemeteries contain graves of german soldiers and content swastikas as was inscriptions that on adolf hitler. The sit alongside men and men n fought for courage and our ideals, ideals of intent everything the swastika and the nazi ideology represent. I understand these cemeteries were not under the jurisdiction of v. A. At the time these headstones were installed another fit under v. A. Jurisdiction there is no excuse for v. A. To continue to maintain these headstones instead of replacing them. The agency is claimed in his public response that you will replace these headstones because a national stork preservation act of 1956 requires federal agencies to profess quote historic resources. In fact, what Historic Preservation act refers to are defined as sites with a conclusion on the National Register of Historic Places are in case youre wondering, the National Register of carter generally does not individual gravesites eligible except in case of quote historical figures with outstanding reports. German soldiers who took up arms against the United States did not meet this criterion. It appears that this is relying on a gross misreading of 11 i was an act to preserve and protect Historic Sites in neighborhoods so we do not erase our nations history in the name of developer it is not like excuse to avoid addressing past mistakes. So, mr. Secretary, i really fail to understand why does for you refused to remove and replace these gravestones with nazi insignia here is that the kind of stewardship that contributes to the quote inspiration and benefit of future generations that the law actually states . If not as you and i both know its not, how can you continue to claim that the visa and it would replace these headstones because of Historic Preservation law . Madam chair, im going to come if you dont mind, i want to take a moment of personal privilege on this. Sure. You and i in the last two years of our relationship, i have exchanged speeches with you that i have given in israel, that i have given the jewish war veterans. In fact, i made a point in my very first speech in v. A. Was with the jewish war veterans and as you know my son in his senior year in high school spent that year working of the holocaust museum. This is a subject, the oldest hatred, which im very passionate about. If you go the words mean of memory and a name. Antisemitism is rearing its head all over europe as we speak, and weve even seen in some places in the country. I happen to agree with the president of Haifa University was quoted in the wall street journal article that the last thing we need to do is not remind americans of the horrors of antisemitism and the horrors of the nazi cult. Ive asked my people to look at various ways to address this. I happen to think that taking sure that when people visit our cemeteries they are educated and informed of the horror, is an incredibly important thing to do, erasing these headstones, removes them from memory. And as we continue to study the holocaust, the last thing any holocaust scholar wants to do if you race that memory. I think we can find a way to put this in Historical Context. That is my view that we cannot, we cannot erase the horror and ignore it. We have to continue to hammer it. My view is we need to look at historical interpretations that i am very happy to put up. And i also note in that Historical Preservation act in section these cemeteries which we inherited from the army are on the National Historic registry. I would have to engage in a very long process right now in order to erase no, mr. Secretary, if you look closer at the of the statute, decided section one to six that youre hiding on, it says it is a policy to quote administer federally owned administered or controlled Historic Property in the spirit of stewardship. A spirit of stewardship does not restrict vehicle take a serious look at the purpose of these headstones once served and was a is appropriate today in the current four. Effect v. A. s all materials on this issue acknowledge the law does not prevent you from removing them. The law sets forth for the consultation process that taking action, v. A. Begin that process as it is known and you just referred to right now and start the process of removing these headstones. The a clearly acknowledges engravings and headstones can send messages about our values. For example, on vh1 website discussing the various emblems of belief they can integrate it says quote, v. A. Will not inscribe any emblem on the headstone or marketer would have an adverse impact on the deputy of cemeteries honoring those who serve the nation i would argue swastikas as well as inscription that these headstones feature honoring hitler actually have an adverse impact and honoring those who serve. We cannot we do not erase history by replacing these headstones for modern times with more appropriate inscriptions, and im not suggesting removing the dead who lie beneath the headstones, but i urge you to immediately begin section 106 process replaces inappropriate and insensitive headstones. There are far more, far more individuals across the world that think that that is absolutely essential when we look through the lens of modern times. I hope you are not suggesting the replacing these few offensive headstones with neutral replacement, than in a respectful way, would be unreasonable step. To take in the name of sensitivity. You have soldiers who fought and died, who were killed by the nazis, whom they are lying next to you and whose loved ones need to walk past inscriptions in American Veterans cemeteries that honor hitler and have nazi swastika. The swastikas prohibited in germany from being displayed because it is not seen as a reminder to prevent the hatred that has spawned it is deemed a something to be snuffed out and there are ways you can put the gravestones in an appropriate Historical Context that dont lie about the grace of the spin. I have taken let me, let me respond. I hope, i urge you and ask that you begin the section 106 6 process and we do not . I will certainly, i will review everything. I will just finish with a statement that was issued in 2018 by the American Council on Historic Preservation which governs these matters. It is essential for decisionmakers to directly confront histories difficult chapters, consult probably with the public to acetate contemporary Community Views and consider a range of Management Options is to promote Public Education regarding all aspects, positive and negative, of the nations history. What i am just saying is that as someone who cares deeply about this, and you know i do i do. I do want to do it in a way that still reminds americans of the horror. And because of the times in which we live where we have seen antisemitism reach our shores, i want to make sure that v. A. Is doing the best that we can to educate and remind people why those veterans in that cemetery fought against that horror from 19411945. 19411945. So i just want my meaning clear about what im thinking. Mr. Secretary, i dont want to prolong this and im certainly not questioning your personal commitment to upholding religious pluralism and fighting against antisemitism. But i review is not a commitment to begin this section 106 process and i can assure you this will not be the last time well deal with this. I really would urge you to make sure that we can set aside those gravestones from the 1940s, and put them in context historically. There are other places in the cemeteries to do that without having them appear that may be reclaiming my time. That may be reclaiming my time. Without having them appear above the grave of nazi pows and having our families of those soldiers that were killed by nazis walked past them when they visit speeders and i will conclude i dont think were that far off. Because i do think that putting those in context in the cemeteries, as you just mentioned, is a way forward. Ill take a look and see what because we have the same goal in mind and as you know i am very passionate about that issue. Thank you. I am as well as you can see and hope we reached the same conclusion that theyre not in appropriate context of the thank you for the committees indulgence. I apologize judge carter, you are recognized for his long as you want to basically. Thank you very much for the committees indulgent. Judge carter, you are recognized. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you for recognizing me and secretary wilkie, welcome. Before i go over some of my question let me go back to the subject matter at hand. I love history and i read history and my hobby is reading history. In trying to consider what problem we have in 1943 and 1944 when these things were erected, its hard to concede in the 21st century why he would be that way. For all we know thats the horrors of what went on to the jewish people and other people in concentration camps. If you will study history you will realize we had rumors of these things at the governmental level, but you know, they were subject to 24 hours news were not subject to do 24 hours like we were. The average american soldier, he may not even have a concept of what was going on in the first during that time. The if you give your comments about attitudes changed after we actually discovered the concentration camps, even more vehement in the battle we realized [inaudible] so maybe the people who erected these stones didnt realize what historically would that mean, how much it would affect the jewish people, and americans who are all horrified by what went on in germany at that time. So i think you should replace these stones with just a regular stone, still say they were a peruser of war but thats it, and take all the nazi symbolism of it and a sony wants to preserve those tombstones for histories purpose, then we can do that in some way. I dont think it should be the american public. Now that we know what happened and are aware of it, we want are offended by things like that. I think we should definitely do it and i think its the right thing to do. Yes, sir. And i think we [inaudible] were in the same place. And i mentioned earlier, my only concern, and its one from a passionate view, is to make sure that when we do this, we are still reminding people of that horror and why those soldiers fought, and the reeducate. Because the last thing, theres a museum down the street that will not let people forget. It is to never forget. And because of my feelings on this issue, i want to make sure that if it is done, it is done so that we still allow people to reflect, to contemplate, and is also never again. I hope we can work this out because its a very important thing. Every member of this committee, you will note that both the chairman and Ranking Member of the full committee have endorsed our letter, and we expect it to be done. Moving on. The chair provided you with [inaudible] to respond to the covid19. As of last week, less than 2 billion of the money has been obligated. How much has been obligated as of today . How much has been allocated and should we be concerned about the whole rate of obligation . Ill let our chief Financial Officer answered that. Madam chair, is that, is that all right. Was yes. But before he answers, there is one vote that begins now but we are voting in groups, some going to continue with the hearing, and members have to go vote during their group should do so and then just come back to the hearing. So yes, mr. Rychalski, your record i. Thank you. Thanks for the question. As of today i would say to. 3 billion those have been obligated. Should we be concerned about that or disassemble . What assays we dont have a president to compare. Were crating the baseline today. Were finding many things out. First i think the committee to thank the committee for the funds they provide. The some expenses are less come summer more. For example, we are putting some workers into hotels so the didnt have to go home, things like that. Well know a lot more in six months. I think were actually adequately funded at this time. The one thing i would say that we probably can make better use of this with some additional flexibility, and by that i mean maybe some Additional Limited transfer authority. Are coupled aries will we probably did not think through what we needed. Vba for overtime and upgrades, additional workload. Think think were providing updated obligation reports weekly and well see how this goes. Theres nothing really compare to if thats lower hyper in some cases the materials and supplies were not available when wanted by the we have to go through the federal procurement process and that takes time. We have an old account access and so not everything is realtime. We will see this go pretty substantially especially as we resupply ourselves and have stock on hand. Judge carter . Administration is considering supplemental funding package as needed. How much more do you think the v. A. , how much would you estimate the v. A. Would need for additional supplemental package Going Forward . How much more does v. A. Estimate will be the need to address current covid situation . What if the inspections spiked the summer considering . If you were on the subcommittee how would you balance the the cares act funding for your estimate for future needs . Thank you, sir. With respect additional supplemental funding, i think from what i see now we are adequately funded. I dont know whats what happened in the future with respect to spikes of exec that what we are still from a medical perspective adequately funded. For additional needs, so not in that every the one area i can see potential needs and when we with our facility folks to see about accelerating reconfiguration from multipatient multipatient rinsed a single patient realspeak that was something we all renew the can week so with that. That made a big difference. Thats probably the only area if i was on the committee, ill tell you what we need more than money at this point is probably some additional flexibility as i mentioned to move some of the terrorist money around and then additional legislative i think provisions. We have one thats important now. Its related but not exactly. We need authority to keep paying our Community Care bills the we are today. We call that obligate and peter we have a legal ruling we are probably not in compliance with the law, protuberant law. If we dont keep that authorization we will be short about 5 billion in Community Care but its a matter of an accounting issue and a legal issue as opposed to a money issue. I yield back. Thank thank you so much, jude carter yields back. Next id like to recognize chairwoman lowey for her questions. I dont see chairwoman lowey on video. Issue still with us . Is she still with us . Chairwoman lowey, your video is turned off. Okay. We will come back to the chairwoman and mr. Bishop and mr. Case have gone to vote, so you are recognized for five minutes for your questions. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you, secretary wilkie, for being with us here today, and for the work youre doing to take care of our veterans. Thank you to all of your staff who we know are extremely dedicated to our veterans and are challenged everyday working in the Health Care Field and our hearts go out to the family of those veterans have lost their lives to covid19. Im good to take a look bit of a different path but but in no tt all the issues related to the situation that People Struggle with with covid19 and one of them is around food and security. Such a longstanding Food Insecurity crisis among a better population come over a quarter of iraq and Afghanistan War veterans have struggled to put food on the table which is about double the national rate. Its also related to Adverse Health outcomes which we know are an indicator for those people were really struggling with this particular disease and we know Food Insecurity is exacerbated during this crisis. Weve all seen the long lines at food banks and the challenges that many families are facing and our veterans are equally vulnerable. As a said its also put, the pandemic is also put an extreme the burden on some of these disadvantaged populations including those Underlying Health conditions. Data shows that is have higher rates of multiple, chronic disease related conditions like heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. So my concerns are bound both are we assessing Food Insecurity with our veterans and are we improving access to healthy food . Its much more of a longterm problem. One of the challenges weve seen during the covid19 crisis is it shows some of the underlying issues that people are facing, whether its around the Underlying Health conditions are just basically getting food at any moment in time today in particular can you give us a little update about how the v. A. Is tracking Food Insecurity during this pandemic . And also do you have data on the burden of obesity and diet related diseases within the Veterans Community . Thank you. Im good answer the first part by saying that the chair of the subcommittee actually answered are most immediate Food Security need in your emergency package. You opt the amount of money per diem costs, which we have instructed those receiving them to use for amongst other things their food. And that i think has helped more people than you probably knew when you entered into that. So i think the chair and i thank the committee for that. Ill give you just my parents home town of new orleans. Of those who passed with the virus, 51 had diabetes. We have an aggressive education and Outreach Program on food and on health, related to food choices. And ill let dr. Macdonald go into the particulars, but this is the subcommittee that recognize the problem, and you certainly made up ground, particularly in the Homeless Community on this. Congresswoman, to follow up with what the secretary said. One of the Silver Linings in this extreme and challenging time is the nations emphasis on population health, and certainly that is our priority within v. A. I thank you for pointing out this issue that the social factors affecting veterans, including Food Insecurity and as often focus on homelessness, are factors in the health or chronic conditions are part of it but whether that come now to live, is a huge part of their ability to succeed in combating this virus and succeed across this time. Im proud to say of the first billion in medical funding that youve graciously given us in the cares act, more than 20 of the, 205 million, has gone, has gone toward her Homeless Veterans and toward programs that help out reached the veterans and make sure their Food Insecurity issues that housing, rapid we housing for them and their families are addressed. And i thank you also for calling attention to diabetes and chronic conditions specifically. It is important that we are engaging through our care teams and outreach to all of those patients we know are vulnerable. Were taking specific action to protect those populations that we know are significantly affected or at high risk of covid19. As one example, we are conducted outreach to those veterans who have registered with us as being affected by i want and receive a text message myself and i know this outreach is occurring as i myself am receiving it. That outreach is important as we engage veterans and let them know that v. A. Is here for them across this time, not just for medical conditions but for the entirety and holistic approach to their life. Well, thank you both for your answers. It would be great in the future to see a little more data and see more of an update once all the funding that is been allocated and to do particularly appreciate your comments about our Homeless Veterans. It breaks i was hard to think of anyone who served the Country Living on the street are going hungry, and particularly in these times, people are homeless, some of the most vulnerable with this disease. So thank you and i yield back, madam chair. Thank you, ms. Pingree. Mr. Hurt, you are recognized for five minutes. Chairwoman, first of formal i want to associate myself with chairwoman lowey industry, its about a nazi symbolism and some of most holograms and need to remove that, and i appreciate the chairwoman of our subcommittee leading the charge on seeing that happen. And also to the leadership of the committee and the staff, i feel like weve been doing more conversations since covid19 than we were before, and i think that shows the commitment to the american people. Secretary wilkie, its also pleasure pleasure to be with you. One of the things i would like to highlight the south Texas Veterans Health Care system based out of san antonio, my hometown. They didnt experience a shortage of ppe, that are private sector colleagues are academic affiliate saw. They even went as far to help donate ppe the folks within the community to make sure the community was in response and theyve also been leading in the video connect system. That was already used before covid19 and they are not a leader in the number of v. A. Video connect episodes of care. One of my questions is how do we ensure that for the foreseeable future that we are able to continue this level of technical, you know, Technical Support to our activities . Do we have the facilities and the spaces where you can have the exam rooms to do some of this telemedicine and telecare . How are going to make sure existing facilities are able to deal with this most outrageous not outrageous but amazing numbers you sit at the beginning of your remarks . Thank you, sir, the people at audie murphy are wonderful. Tex is a a place we dont haveo explain military service to anyone. Ill just give a couple of statistics that make it at the beginning. In april vha provided 1. 2 million Mental Health telephone and tele video visits. That is an astounding number. We have stressed the system i i believe, i believe we will go back. Part of the change has been the distribution of thousands and thousands of tablets, particularly in rural and native america. I cut the ribbon on the first v. A. Private sector telehealth clinic at a walmart in asheville, north carolina. I expect walmart would be expanding that across the country, particularly as walmart has a footprint in most of rural america. Video telemedicine is the wave of the future, particularly Mental Health. And i think we are now add a stage where were not going to revert back to the old ways. This committee, the subcommittee has recognized that by funding our outreach. Ill ask the practitioner its just anything to say, dr. Macdonald. Thank you, mr. Secretary. We will leave this here for a moment to go to the senate or a brief session. Its part of cspan2s longtime commitment of bringing you live gavel to gavel coverage of the senate. You can continue watching the hearing at cspan. Org. Now to the senate floor. To the senate under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3 of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable pat roberts, a senator from the state of kansas, to perform the duties of the chair. Signed chuck grassley, president pro tempore. The presiding officer under the previous order, the Senate Stands adjourned until 3 00 p. M. On monday, june 1, 2020