no cost tracking. there were credit card purchases made above the authorized contract level of the purchaser. one individual made 10 purchases that had a value of over $10,000. when his contract didn't allow hum to make purchases above $3,000. >> meanwhile, more than 700,000 war veterans have been waiting more than 125 days for their backlog disability claims to be processed and approved. >> what's the v.a. saying about all this? >> well, here's what the v.a. is now former assistant secretary for human resources said at the hearing today when he was asked about the two conferences in 2011. >> with all due respect, mr. chairman, on the advice of my counsel, i respectfully decline to answer based on my fifth amendment constitutional privilege. >> the new assistant secretary for human resources who came on