The stand out moment? Senator Patty Murray.
Senator Patty Murray: But I do want to ask about the caregivers program because according to briefings from the VA, the Department has ruled out trying to narrow the eligibility criteria for the caregiver program. But I'm still very concerned that there is a number of issues the VA is looking at that I'm concerned about including changes to the stipend, restricting veterans based on their type of injury or requiring a minimum disability rating. This seems to be VA still focused on keeping people out of the program instead of making it work better for our veterans. And yesterday, NPR reported on several cases where veterans -- including a double and a triple amputee -- were downgraded or kicked out of the program completely, inappropriately. And these are, by the way, not one-off VA cases. We're hearing that this is a continuing problem in the VA's management of this program. When the VA previously downgraded and terminated caregivers, the VA assured me that it had resolved the problems that led to these type of actions but it's very clear that's not true and I would like you to immediately re-instate a ban on downgrades and terminations until VA can demonstrate to us that the serious management problems have been corrected and these type of outrageous errors will not occur again.
Secretary Robert Wilkie: Senator, I will say that caregivers is especially important to me. I am the son of a gravely wounded Vietnam warrior.
Senator Patty Murray: I appreciate that.
Secretary Robert Wilkie: Uh, and I've seen my mother and family, uh, take care of my father prior to his passing last --
Senator Patty Murray: I appreciate that.
Secretary Robert Wilkie: The stories --
Senator Patty Murray: Will you reinstate the ban?
Secretary Robert Wilkie: I --
Senator Patty Murray: Will you reinstate the ban?
Secretary Robert Wilkie: I-I-I'm not familiar with all the rules but I will tell you the National Public Radio story, that, uh, problem was corrected within 24 to 48 hours.
Senator Patty Murray: Those are not isolated cases. We're hearing many of them.
Secretary Robert Wilkie: And-and those cases, is my understanding, have been corrected because of directives from this department that people were not reading the regulations properly. So my promise to you is that I am going to do everything I can to make sure everybody stays in the program. It's that important to me personally.
Senator Patty Murray: Can I have your assurance that no one else will be downgraded or kicked out of the program until you look and make sure that the regulations are being implemented at every level correctly?
Secretary Robert Wilkie: Absolutely, I will -- I will make that commitment and will brief these Committees.
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The hearing was reported on at THE COMMON ILLS in "Iraq snapshot" and "Iraq snapshot."
