Watch booktv this weekend on cspan2. President biden has picked Denis Mcdonough to head the Veterans Affairs department. He previously served as white house chief of staff during the last four years of the obama presidency. His confirmation hearing he was asked about veterans access to healthcare, modernization efforts in the das responds to covid19. This is just over two hours. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] i i want to call this evening to order. I want to welcome everybody. I appreciate all that are here, all those that are online. The purpose of this hearing is due from the i president s nominate to serve as secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis Mcdonough. Before i talk about him i just want to say i appreciate this committee all the reasons we sat on this committee thats been bipartisan and its been nonpolitical, and we tried to do the best by our veterans whether you are the republican side for the democratic side of the aisle. I particularly appreciate the re
Republicans. His greatest title is former chairman of the ways and means committee. I am proud, were all proud of our speaker and friend, paul ryan. [ applause ] first, i want to do a back at you. I want to thank the man in the house who made this day possible, our joyful field general from houston, our good friend and leader kevin brady. Thank you so much. [ applause ] ive got to say, this is nothing short of extraordinary. Let me just tell you, getting 218 members to agree on something as complicated as the most well, we needed 218. Let me rephrase it. Getting 227 members to agree on something as complicated. This country has not rewritten its tax code since 1986. The powers of the status quo in this town are so strong, yet 227 men and women of this congress broke through that today. That is powerful. Of course, i want to thank not just the members who made it possible. I want to thank the president. I want to thank his transportation. And i want to thank our partners in the senate w
We cant lose ground. The new treatments can be extremely expensive and cost as much as 1,000 a pill. I understand the v. A. Has been able to negotiate with the Drug Companies to a lower cost. And ive heard estimates that v. A. Is instead paying closer to 600 a bill, is that correct . I you may not have a answer. I would like to not have to answer that question. We work very slowly and collaboratively with the manufacturers of those drugs and have been able to reach attractive arrangements for the continued purchase of those drugs. And we continue to have those conversations. My what im curious about is if maybe our veterans are maybe choosing to go to v. A. As opposed to the private care or tricare or other options because they might get access to this medication more easily and the doctors might be able to get the treatment done in a more timely manner . I think that is certainly the case. If a veteran who is medicare eligible was to go to a private provider, he would wind up with a v
Middle class. Hope if it continues to be middle class how long of the crisis because middle class wants better, goods and services and expensive and that will, drive, that is driving politics more and more. The fact leaders have to address the concerns, discontent in the streets. I think that will drive the economy even more. There is a lag effect there. Doesnt matter where it comes from but they need better services. I said this before, it is not a matter anymore access to goods. There are 250 million cell phone lines in brazil for 200 Million People. It is matter of access to phones that actually work. The debate shifts from the goods to the services that makes those goods useful. I think that will be a key driver for Economic Growth going forward. That leads opening up with the economy with the debate that is happening. On the Prosecutors Office and constitution, i dont think the constitution is bad thing. There were excesses to some extent. In hindsight, the company came out after
Look at the day the lord has made. We thought it was going to be raining, a wash out, look at this weather. Before we introduce our guests hey jared can you do a 360, we have more people here this early then any other year. Thinks our ninth year doing this we solute the military just to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Hello, family. We are all family today. I didnt see you standing there with the camouflage. Old joke, old joke. Lets introduce our guest. We have Major General christopher pence good morning to you. Good morning, thanks for having us. So glad you are here. Master Sergeant Larry williams, sergeant, good to see you. Thanks for having us good to see you. I mean today, just look at the news over the last 24 to 48 hours. We need you folks more than ever before. We have had a terrorist attack in london, already. I know that all branches of the service, maybe not coastguard but trying to fight off isis. I dont know if they take responsibility but it looks like an isis opera