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Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the full committee hearing to examine how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can leverage state-of-the-art healthcare innovations to ensure veterans have access to the modern support and services they need, while also ensuring Congress is a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars and the investments made in VA.

The Committee will come to order.

Good morning.

Thank you to our witnesses for being here.

When I got out of the Marine Corps, V.A. was a different place.

It was slow. It was frustrating. Less modern.

We’ve made progress. A lot of it because of the work this Committee has done.
But I’m not interested in patting ourselves on the back. There’s still work to do.

Today’s hearing is about making sure veterans have access to the best healthcare technology available—no matter where they live, what they’ve been through, or when they served.

We’re here to ask a few basic questions.

What innovations are working? What’s holding them back? And how can we move faster?

Government delays and red tape should never be the reason a veteran can’t get life-saving care.

I support efforts to cut waste, eliminate duplication, and streamline the way V.A. buys new tools and services.

And from my seat as Chairman, I’m focused on pushing V.A. into the modern agency I know it can be.

Acquisition reform isn’t flashy. But it matters.

And when it comes to bringing new technology into V.A., the stakes are too high to let process get in the way.

V.A. has said they want to partner with industry and academic leaders.

That’s good.

But we need to know what that really looks like. Who’s getting through the door? And how long is it taking?

Let’s get past the buzzwords.

Veterans don’t need more talking points. They need results.

That’s what House Republicans and the Trump administration are focused on.
Over 30 million Americans live with diabetes. In V.A., one out of every four patients have it.

Heart disease is the number one cause of hospitalization at V.A. It kills two-thirds of veterans who have diabetes.

PTSD makes things worse. It increases the risk of heart disease. It causes sleep issues. And veterans with chronic pain suffer more—and longer—than the average American.

These are real challenges. But there are real solutions out there.

Many of them are sitting in this room today.

Still, innovation takes too long. A recent study showed that hospitals struggle to bring in new products and tools. Budgets are tight. Training takes time.

But I want V.A. to be the exception.

Veterans can’t afford to wait.

That’s especially true for rural veterans. Too many live hours away from care. They deserve access to the same devices and services as someone in a big city.

That’s what this hearing is about.

The people here today aren’t just developing impressive technology. They’re building tools that give veterans more options. More access. More chances to live healthier lives.

Our job is to make sure the system helps—not hinders—that work.

We owe that to today’s veterans. And to the veterans of tomorrow.

One day, I suspect more of my grandchildren will be veterans.

I want them to walk into a V.A. that’s not just functional—but forward-thinking. Fast. Innovative. At the front edge of modern medicine.

Let’s keep moving toward that goal.

With that, I welcome our witnesses and look forward to your testimony.

I now recognize Ranking Member Takano for his opening comments.