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Source: Congress.gov
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The committee will come to order. And good morning. I want to say thank you to all of our witnesses for being here. You know, when I got home from the Marine Corps, VA was a different place. It was a long time ago, too, by the way. It was slow. It was frustrating and less modern. Now, we've made progress, a lot of it, because of the work this committee, not only in this session but over the years, has done to make sure that it is moving into the modern world. But I'm not interested at all in patting ourselves on the back. There's still too much work to do. Today's hearing will be 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 serve. 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 VA buys new tools and services. And from my seat as chairman, I am focusing on pushing VA into a modern agency, and I know it can be done. Acquisition reform isn't flashy, but it matters. And when it comes to bringing new technology into VA, the stakes are too high to let process get in the way. VA has said they want to partner with industry and academic leaders, and that's good. But we need to know what that really looks like, who's getting through the door, and how long it's taking. Let's get past 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. The VA, one out of every four patients, have it. Heart disease is the number one cause of hospitalization at the VA, and it kills two-thirds of our veterans who have diabetes. PTSD makes those 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 new products and tools. Budgets are tight. Training takes time. But I want the VA 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 the big city. That's what this hearing is all about. The people here today aren't just developing impressive technology. They're building tools that have veterans and 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.
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