Thank you for calling this hearing today, Mr. Chairman.  I appreciate you inviting the new Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to this committee.

Mr. Secretary, thank you for coming here today. I was pleased with your testimony where you said that you “have much yet to learn about Veterans Affairs.”  I am pleased you admit that you do not have all the answers and are willing too learn.  This committee does not have all the answers.

You quoted President Lincoln in your testimony.  I believe the words of the first President of the United States, George Washington, are also worth repeating at this time:

``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country.''

I would like to be the first one to invite you to Florida.  I was dismayed to learn that you have not been to Florida since basic training.  I assure you that if you did not have a positive experience during basic training, Florida has gotten much better since the mid-60’s.

Thank you for your decades of service defending the freedom of this nation.  Thank you for your commitment to the veterans who also served this nation.

I look forward to working with you.  I know I speak for the committee when I say that we want to be partners with you to help the veterans of this country.