Secretary gibson will travel ton a series of facilities over the weeks to meet with veterans, their families and employees toh identify obstacles to Quality Health care. Ee and secretary gibson has said we must restore americas trust in Va Health Care system. We must restore that one veteran at a time. Our dedicated workforce over a a third of whom are veterans are engaged. Mr. Chairman, thank you to your dedication to and your care fore our nations fete rans. Mr. Griffin, you are recognized for five minutes. Chairman miller, ranking mmi, member michode and members of the committee, thank you for th opportunity to testify tonight e to discuss the results of the office of Inspector Generals work related to delays in care at the Phoenix Health care system. Im im accompanied by miss linda holiday, assistant inspector au general for audits and evaluation. Dion. The issue of manipulation of of wait lists is not now va and v. Since 2005, the oig has issued 18 reports that identified at both
Their community. I am very proud to be a part of Mental Health first aid. Thank you. Its a little tight back here. Hi there, i am liz rearden. Ive been a trainer for the past five years. Im the very proud spouse of an air force veteran. The husband dave served from 1971 to 1975 in southeast asia. You talk about the invisible wounds of war. I know what it is like firsthand have someone who you live really loved to have to go through that. Train number of years, i did not know what to do. I figured, it is vietnam, long time ago, time will heal those well, it doesnt. I did not know to say. Finally, we got ourselves down to the Veterans Administration hospital in White River Junction vermont where they have a primary Mental Health clinic. We finally got down there. The very first thing they said to us when we walked in the door was, thank you for your service. And that opened a door for us because also, they were so nonjudgmental. My husband was able to tell his story. They were not surpri
331 of these counties are represented by republicans. And 18 are split between the two parties. From that impersistent poverty should matter to all of us, regardless of party, geography, or race and ethnicity. In early 2009 when we were putting to the the recovery act, i proposed language to require at least 10 of funds in Rural Development account to be directed to projects in these persistent poverty counties. This requirement was enacted in law. In light of the definition of persistent poverty counties having at least 20 poverty rates over 30 years, this position became known as the 102030 initiative. This provision bore dividends, as Economic Development projects proliferated in persistent poverty counties across the country. The recovery act funded a total of 4,655 projects in persistent poverty counties totalling 1. 7 billion. I saw firsthand the positive effects of these efforts in my congressional district. Projects were undertaken that would have otherwise gone lacking, and jo
And still be eligible for these programs. I think that is a mistake. Thank you. Mr. Mcclintok. Did some states not follow the welfare reform requirements . I know back in california, the state excused people, the fiveyear time limit slightly reduced their benefits. The states Unemployment Rate which had been running well below the National Average had been running well above it. The reduction was miniscule to those experienced by other states. Did you study such comparisons . I have not done a fullfledged study of all the states and their approaches. There was flexibility but supposed to be strong Strings Attached that would be enforced by penalties should they fail to comply. Mr. Turner, any observations . The observation i have has to do with a growth of disability. Its taking over a lot of the low wage employment marketplace. 13 of philadelphia, working aged adults are, are either receiving ssi or ssdi. A lot of them came on when the rules were relaxed and allowed people with im loo
Thank you again for your leadership and the opportunity to be a part of make it in america. And next from the state of pennsylvania, representative cartwright who has introduced the job creation through Energy Efficient manufacturing. Thank you. And thank you all for coming today. I want you to notice a couple things about the people standing before you on this stage. Were all wearing two things. Were wearing our congressional badges and were wearing our make it in america pins. We wear the first because we care about this country. We wear the second because we know that part of caring about this country is caring about making manufacturing jobs resurface in this country. And i thank mr. Hoyer on his leadership and in the make it in america plan, to strengthen businesses and create high paying jobs in this country. Im also gratified to have had hr4162, the job creation through Energy Efficient manufacturing act, added to this program. Energy efficiency is not just about being green, it