 Good afternoon. I'm DAV National Legislative Director Joy Elum. And I'm Deputy National Legislative Director Shane Learman. With us is Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who is a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in the 117th Congress. Today we're honored to present Senator Manchin with DAV's 2021 Outstanding Senate Legislator of the Year Award for exemplary leadership and bipartisanship on the Veterans Affairs Committee, as well as his willingness to tackle key veterans issues such as sexual assault, opioid addiction and health care access for veterans living in rural areas. As Senator Manchin, DAV greatly appreciate your legislation to address toxic exposures from burn pits and your unyielding pursuit of justice for the families of veterans whose lives were cut short. You have undoubtedly demonstrated an unflinching commitment to the men and women who serve. Well, let me just say to both of you, to Shane and to Joy, thank you very much, and I am so honored to be named the Disabled American Veterans 2021 Outstanding Senate Legislator of the Year because there are so many deserving Senators and Congresspeople who work just as hard. You all have given so much for our great nation, and it is my honor to serve on the Senate of Veterans Affairs Committee and fight to ensure our veterans receive the support and care they deserve for bravely serving our nation. As many of you know, our veterans in my home state of West Virginia have faced issues of mistrust after at least seven veterans were murdered at the Clarksburg VMC, and there's even more investigation is going on as we speak. Our veterans have endured an acceptable treatment, corroding their trust in the VA system and the care provided to them. Imagine what it feels like to lose a loved one who was supposed to be in the safe, capable hands of VMC and still don't have adequate answers about the circumstances of their death. Their families deserve transparency and answers, which is why I introduced the improving safety and security for Veterans Act, which was signed into law at the end of last year. This legislation requires the VA to submit detailed reports to patient safety and quality of care at VMC facilities and will ensure that Congress veterans and their families are fully informed on the policies and procedures in place at the VA on a national level that could have led to the deaths of these veterans. It also requires the VA to submit a detailed report and timeline of events surrounding the deaths of the Clarksburg VMC after the criminal investigations are completed. And while it's mandated by law that we receive the detailed report within 30 days of the bill becoming law, we're still waiting. We continue to press the VA to release the report as soon as possible and to provide an explanation from the missing deadline, missing the deadline to give West Virginians and Americans peace of mind that their loved ones are being properly cared for. Dennis McDonough, as you know, is our new VA secretary, and we've had some great conversations on this issue. And I'm sure he's working diligently on getting me the information. My main concern continues to be monitoring the quality of care that our veterans receive at our West Virginia VMCs and the VA facilities across the nation. And I'm not going to stop fighting to ensure until we ensure every veteran has the quality care they deserve. I want to thank you all for your service to our nation, our people. We are forever indebted to each and every one of you for your sacrifices and your courage. And let me say this. This is one committee that brings us together. There's two committees that basically bring us together as one, whether you're Democrat or Republican. That's our services committee and our veterans committee. That's what we rally behind. If it wasn't for our military, it would be hard for us to agree on almost anything anymore in this toxic atmosphere. But the veterans and the servicemen men and women who are serving today, keep the country, the glue of the country, if you will, but they keep us together. They keep Democrats and Republicans working as one purpose to make America stronger and better and take care of those who've sacrificed so much. So I want to thank all of you each and every one of you. And God bless you. Thank you for your attention while we wish we could have been there in person today to present the award. We do appreciate you coordinating with us for this virtual presentation and for your very thoughtful remarks. On behalf of DAB members, our leadership and the entire legislative team, congratulations to you once again on this well deserved award. Thank you to continuing our work with you and your staff to ensure more legislative victories for veterans in the future. Thank you. Well, thank you all. Thank you so much. I appreciate it more than you know, and I am so indebted to every person who has served to make my life better and the freedoms I enjoy every day and I something I don't take for granted.