Allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Our secretary will call the roll. Roll call. President scott. Present. Vice president lim, excused. Commissioner follansbee, excused. Commission sass expected. We dont have a quorum but we will by the time we get to an action item ive been assured by those expected commissioners. We do have some opening remarks so if youd call on discussion item 1 please. Item one opening remarks, Health Service board president and acting director. Mitchell, ill take the privilege of going first, if i may. Thank you. This forum is designed to do several things. Not only to provide more in depth information on certain tommics and issues that topics and issues that will bear on the work and policies in part as well as the issues as we work win providers. Some of these are not unique to the system b
When i have questions about their records, but in this nominees case, i simply cant ignore so many indications that the nominee isnt the right person to occupy a lifetime appointment to the federal bench. I sincerely hope that im wrong about justice white, and i reluctantly vote no on the nominee, and i yield the floor. The presiding officer the republican whip. Mr. Cornyn over the last several weeks ive spoken about the ongoing crisis on our southern border, something the president has acknowledged as a humanitarians crisis with tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors making a perilous journey from Central America and ending up on our doorstep, most often in my state, the state of texas. This year the numbers are skyrocketing again. Starting in 2011, we saw the numbers roughly about 6,000 unaccompanied minors. They have doubled from 2011 to 2012. They doubled again from 2012 to 2013, and they look like theyre going to double again from 2013 to 2014. And we can only wonder what might
Chair man of the House Veterans Affairs committee. Youre watching live coverage on cspan 3. After hearing from myself, chairman blumenthal and acting Ranking Member heller, id like to ask all other Committee Members to waive their Opening Statements. There is going to be an opportunity for remarks following testimony today. Hearing no objections so order. Its an honor for me to be here this afternoon with so many dav members and i thank you all for coming to the hill once again. Due to the hard work and dedication of vavs 1. 4 million members, especially dav Service Officers, veterans are provided with professional benefit counselling and claims assistance and transportation to and from Va Health Care facilities. Dav also assists with Transition Assistance Services and onsite care at military treatment facilities, Va Medical Centers and clinics and at home. Thats just to name a few of the many programs that you, dav, provides every single day. Ive witnessed many of these efforts first
Serviceconnected disability compensation, safe and High Quality Health Care and prompt access to earned benefits. It demands that in dealing with the department of Veterans Affairs, veterans be treated with the dignity and professionalism that is earned through Honorable Service to our nation. The need for oversight is crucial. But it is the need for accountability that is paramount. Speaking directly to th must set the example. True leaders lay out clear expectations, putst others in positions to succeed, they follow through, and most importantly hold themselvess accountable for their actions of the follow me. That is the motto of the infantry. Yet those word can be easily translated to okayizational leadership at va. When there is a mission to be accomplished those who put themselves on the line are the leaders that others want to follow. And, it iacs a lack of accountability that corrodes trust within a chain of command. That said, an undeniable, widespread, simtic lack of accountab
Intelligence threats, cyber terrorism, and edward snowden. This is a little more than an hour. This is a list you do of accomplishments of a man and i have to recite them but i will go really fast. He was a white house fellow and he had the experience of working with the National Security council with such deadheads as Henry Kissinger whats the generals name . General brent snowcroft. He had three major positions in the senate including being the Administrative Assistant chief of staff, International Policy advisor to chris dodd. And a stint with robert byrd, one of the great characters of american politics. There are few companies he did not touch. Im sorry. He had such power that he moved their headquarters from texas to greenwich, which was quite amazing. He was assistant dean of the Fletcher School of law and policy and director of communications for the number one position or place in intelligence in the United States of america. Most recently as the Communications Director of the