Thank you Mr. Chairman,

And welcome everyone, to this hearing on Veterans Business Administration training programs.

A quality training program is the key to any successful organization, particularly one like VBA that must adhere to such a complex set of laws, regulations, and precedent decisions by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

In addition to the aforementioned legal knowledge, a significant portion of VBA employees must also have a fair understanding of medical terminology and basic anatomy and physiology.

While these requirements pose a daunting challenge for trainers, I want to emphasize my strong desire to ensure that a comprehensive and substantive training program is employed at all levels of VBA.

Over the past several years, Republican members have recommended substantial increases for training in our views and estimates.

We realize the importance proper training and feedback has in production of quality rating decisions that are fair and equitable to our veterans.     

Throughout my tenure on this Committee, we have discussed a number of problems within VBA that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and I recognize could be addressed through better training. 

I believe that the VA’s greatest challenge, the claims backlog, is largely attributable to hasty decisions made without proper regard for accuracy.

While the recent expansion of its workforce will certainly have a positive impact, VA must ensure that newly hired claims workers receive training that is commensurate with their responsibilities.  

It is equally important that the results of the training are evaluated.

Without feedback, VA may never know whether or not the training is accomplishing its goal.

Any viable training program should be able to identify deficiencies and demonstrate the intended and actual outcome of its curriculum.

VA training must be connected to its vision and mission, and VA managers need to be assured that if employees are pulled off the floor for training that it will result in long-term benefits.

I’m sure that with a growing number of pending claims, there is a certain level of trepidation among managers that production will decline and they will fall further behind if they have to conduct training.

There must be clear support, from the top down, in order to conduct adequate training and acquire the expected outcomes.

I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today, and I thank you all for your participation

Thank you, I yield back.