 Well, I think we're going to get started. Chairman Connell is supposed to show up and you guys know this afternoon works out. Most of the time people are late, but we're going to start. And I want to start by thanking everybody who's here, especially the folks who are behind me. Thank you all very much. This is an important issue for years. I have heard from veterans who have gone across this country that have been counting on us to pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam. These veterans have served our country gravely in Vietnam, where we're still awaiting recognition. These Vietnam veterans have gravely served this country in Vietnam, but they're still awaiting recognition for the federal government, for the service. The benefits that they've earned and that they and their families were entitled to. The Republicans, Democrats, independents, better service organizations working in good faith towards the Blue Water Navy bill over the finish line winning a long overdue victory for these veterans living in exposure to Agent Orange. Now we've got to make sure the VA keeps up its end of the bargain by actually issuing the benefits that are due to these veterans. We're all here today because we're concerned. And I don't know that I feel that same level of concern for the VA. The VA needs to continue to process the claims of those veterans who are already deemed eligible under the law. Right now, the VA is instead issuing a stay on these claims. It decision that only further delays the delivery of critical health here and will contribute to an influx of claims waiting in the wings. If the VA stops stalling those claims to be managed, by the processors today. In addition, the VA has dragged their feet in adding health conditions to the presumptive list for herbicide exposure. We've already seen the toll taken on Blue Water Navy veterans forced to wait decades. Veterans suffering from these service related illnesses shouldn't have to wait another day. So it's pretty simple. Today we're telling the administration to end the wait. End the wait for the men who return home from Vietnam war only to find their country wouldn't give them the treatment and the benefits that they desperately needed. End the wait for red tape on these presumptive benefits and let our veterans access the care that they've earned and that they need. We're past due when it comes to providing these veterans who sacrifice so much for our freedom. And we won't stop fighting until we get them the benefits that they have earned. This is a big issue. It's an issue that the VA needs to step up and lead on. We have done what we needed to do, both through Congress and through the courts to make sure that they've provided the veterans the benefits that they've earned now they need to provide those benefits. Time is of the essence. I don't know if Chairman Tocano is here yet, is he? Anybody from my crew? It's on his way crossing that. It's on my committee minutes away. Shane, do you want to say a few words? I'm Shane Learman, DAB Deputy National Legislative Director for Veterans. I'm pleased to join my fellow VSO leaders, veterans and members of the Senate and the House to stand up for Blue Water Navy veterans and their survivors, some who are with us here today. For more than two decades, Navy veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange or ships off the coast of Vietnam were denied equal access to healthcare and benefits because in 1997, VA incorrectly decided to reverse course and remove their concession of exposure to Agent Orange. Three months ago on June 25th, the entire Veterans community celebrated when Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. However, less than a week later, our joy turned to dismay when VA Secretary Wilkie issued a blanket stay that stopped all processing of all benefit claims by Blue Water Navy veterans, including those already eligible to receive Agent Orange-related healthcare and benefits based on the court's decisions in Procopio, issued in January nine months ago. In response, a united VSO community appealed to Secretary Wilkie, calling on him to lift or modify the blanket stay, particularly for those veterans who are terminally ill over the age of 85 or impoverished as well as those who already have sufficient evidence to grant benefits based solely on the Procopio decision. We have recently received a response from the Secretary and it is apparent that our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. So today DAV, together with Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Fleet Reserve Association and VETS, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Military Officers Association of America and Blinded Veterans Association are calling directly on President Trump to end the wait for Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans. As chief executive charged with faithfully executing the nation's laws, President Trump has the authority and the responsibility to change the Secretary's decision and allow VA to begin processing Blue Water Navy claims now. Although this injustice did not begin during his administration, President Trump can and should end the wait today. I will now introduce Mr. Bobby Daniels from Missouri who served in the Navy from 1960 to 1964 including service aboard the USS Lexington an aircraft carrier deployed to Vietnam. Together with his wife Judy, he has been battling prostate cancer, a disease linked to Agent Orange. But because of the blanket stay, Bobby must continue to wait until at least January 1st before VA will even begin processing his claim. But January may be too late for Bobby as his prostate cancer has been found to be terminal and incurable. Bobby made the difficult trip from Missouri to be here today because he wants to speak out for his fellow Blue Water Navy Veterans and especially for their survivors like his wife Judy. Bobby, thank you for being here today. And this status. Make this brief to my shipmates. I feel like we have finally landed a major victory in June when they signed the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act in too long. In decades of waiting, we finally had hope that our service and sacrifices would be recognized. But less than a week went by before they pulled a loving rug from beneath us and snatched the victory away. Terry had placed a state of Blue Water Navy claims. It felt like somebody sledgehammered me and the wife and in the bout which by the way, I've had that pain. I got all the teeth knocked out in the service. Still no pain. I live with chronic pain with cancer inside of me that I can hardly endure the pain and the misery that goes with it. But what I cannot deal with is that we Vietnam veterans have been forgotten and abandoned by the VA. Even though we suffer illness, lead to our military service to VA rather delay our claims until we're too weak to fight, which is not the case, or simply wait until we are gone and our voices fade away in silence. As old boys can be. Living wife, Judy, could not be here with me today. A former school teacher has been by my side for 56 years. For example, we struggle through tough times together. Including taking out a second mortgage on the home of medical expenses that we did not qualify for at the time and had to go to private sector at the cancer center in MD Anderson, Houston, Texas. My biggest fear now is leaving her behind. To struggle through tough times. This is a thought I cannot bear. In reality, she shouldn't have to face these issues. Sorry people, the vertigo is a little bit sticky here and I'm doing my best. This is how it has affected me as a personal individual. Sometimes late at night after my wife has gone to bed and I scream into the darkness. That's where I'm at. I have so much fear and anxiety. I can't pronounce that word right now. I'm sorry. Bottle up inside me, not knowing how long I'll be here and not knowing how my wife and son will be able to survive without financially. You get down to it, a dollar talks. This country I guess is based on factual. It's a burden no one should ever have to feel. It is far past time, decades to my opinion, to do right by the blue water sailors and veterans and other veterans in need. It's the VA who will stand up and we need Mr. President to do the job deserving veterans need to have. This comes from the heart, people. And it's not only about my case. I'm just an illustration of many of them out there who are young ladies who also give a testimony. I'm glad to be here. God bless America. Thank you. National Veterans Service Director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the VFW. And after hearing a story like Bobby's, we have to ask why is VA doing this? At a time when VA should be building trust among veterans and working as many claims as they possibly can, decisions like this stay only erode trust and put VA further behind in delivering timely benefits for all veterans. We know VA is working on some tools to help process claims in January and that's perfectly reasonable. However, as Shane said, we also know that some of these claims can be granted today. We started to see grants right after the courts ordered VA to do so under the Procopio v. Wilkie decision. But all that momentum came to a grinding call on July 1st. VFW's service officers came together last week for training and I got to hear from our advocates who sit face to face with those affected by the stay. It's hard to look veterans like Bobby and survivors like Claudia in the eye and tell them that they have to wait even longer. It's even harder when you know they're fighting a terminal disease or facing a financial hardship and you can't give them a legitimate reason why. One of our VFW service officers in Mississippi, Robert Lanford, is an affected veteran. He's seen this issue as both a veteran and an experienced advocate and wanted me to carry his message forward. Veterans expect this to be fixed. The organizations here today represent thousands of veterans like Bobby and Robert, but it's not just the veterans who this hurts. We must also talk about the hardship for survivors affected by the delay. And I'll be introducing one such survivor, Mrs. Claudia Holt, wife of Bluewater Navy Vietnam veteran Frank Holt, pictured here, who died on May 13th of this year while VA was still considering whether or not to appeal the Propovo decision. Frank Holt served in the Navy from November 1960 to November 1964, including service on board the USS Pritchett during Vietnam. For two decades, Frank suffered from illnesses, including lung cancer, which he claims are related to as an exposure to age and orange while serving offshore Vietnam. But like Bobby, Daniels, Robert Lanford and other Bluewater Navy veterans, Frank's condition would not have qualified for age and orange presumption until VA accepted the court's decision. Now that Frank is gone, Claudia has applied for survivor benefits based on the Propovo decision and under the court. But because of the blanket stay, Claudia must have continued to wait until at least January before VA will even move. Claudia drove almost three hours to be here, so she could speak out for her husband to 42 years, as well as other Bluewater Navy veterans and their spouses. Thank you for joining us here today. My husband passed away on May the 13th and suffered 19 years with illness. I had long since given up my career as a nurse to help provide the care he needed. Because of my professional background, I knew when I first saw Frank's scans, he didn't have much time left. I also knew he was worried about leaving me behind and what hardship his death would be placed on me. Before he died, I would need to place survivor's benefits. He said, you fought for me, now you fight for you. At 78 years old, worried about life, I will lose my home, keep food on the table, lights overhead. Worried because I couldn't get an answer from the VA. How sad that the VA would let a veteran die with this burden blooming over them. How shameful that they let my husband die not knowing what would happen to his family. Our nation's records deserve far better than this. There is no reason that the VA cannot decide my case and others like mine today. What they have simply chosen not to and this is wrong. I lost my mother's husband's decision. My husband Frank told me to fight for what was right. So today, I am honoring his memory as best as I can. I am here to ask the question on his behalf and survivor's spouses. Secretary Walton, why are you so late? If the Secretary won't change yet, Mr. President, we need you to lift the stay. As we were in May, as we were in June and suddenly at the first week of July, this day is put on. We wrote and asked why and we never have gotten that letter answered with anything that makes sense. So we say now to the President, Mr. President, it is ultimately your responsibility because VA is not issued what are they going to do for the people who die between now and January 1? As we all know, the claim dies with the veteran. So the question about whether or not the survivors are going to be able to keep the house, whether they're going to be able to survive and have some kind of an income stream, although it's modest, is something that hangs over those veterans who served their country well and need to be recognized for what they have done and what they have suffered as a result of exposures in military service. That is our call to the view, Mr. President. You're of our generation and we urge you to act. We're now going to hear from one of our great champions along with Senator Tester, his chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, the Honorable Mark Takato. Well, thank you, Rick Wideman. Thank you for the work you do on behalf of our Vietnam veterans. In June, we celebrated a landmark achievement and passed the Blue Water Navy Act of 2019 to finally grant benefits to the tens of thousands of veterans who for more than 40 years were denied benefits they earned while serving off the coasts of Vietnam. This bill was emblematic of what Congress should be, a bipartisan body that works with stakeholders across the ideological spectrum to deliver for the American people and to deliver for our veterans. As we look forward to the Blue Water Navy going into effect in January, we understand VA may need assistance as they consider the challenge before them. We want to support their preparation efforts to ensure the implementation process goes smoothly. We want to see VA succeed by developing a comprehensive plan that anticipates and influx the claims. A plan that coordinates with the Department of Defense and assesses what resources might be necessary for processing claims. Our hope was to do this together. But the little information VA has given us so far is not enough. They refuse to participate in roundtables or to share specific plans with Congress. We anticipate VA will need additional employees to process claims, and employees in the field tell us that they may need hundreds of new employees to do the work. We ask VA what they need, but we're still waiting for an answer. In the meantime, Vietnam Air of Veterans are still sick and are facing delays for their needed benefits and care. After celebrating the signing of the Blue Water Navy Act, a huge movement of China, we learned that VA intended to stay all claims without exception until January 2020. While we recognize that VA needs time to plan for full implementation of the law in January, we must ask whether VA should exercise any discretion. Is it really necessary to stay all of these claims? Or can we help with some of these veterans today? Too many of these veterans are suffering from debilitating illnesses related to herbicide exposure and cannot wait until January 2020. For benefits that were stopped in the past, relief could be as easy as reinstating a previously established service connection. Delaying benefits for every Blue Water Navy claimant is not the answer. So, my plea is to the VA, let's work together so we can finally get these veterans the benefits they've earned. Congress appropriated and President Trump signed into law the bill which would get these veterans down those benefits. They have already waited far too long. Thank you very much. Now I'll open it up for questions. Senator, we have any indication yet from January 2020 how long it would take them to get cranked up to actually start processing claims? Also, Senator, do you have any indication from them as they're going back to have sugar when they will expand the aging bar? But one of the reasons we're here is that, look, I've been on a VA committee since January 2007. I know what their budget has done over the last 13 and a half years. And I will tell you that they got the money. They just need to get the commitment to get these folks served. Quite frankly, if this moment in time, no reason why everybody from the Blue Water Navy here can't get their benefits. But if we want to cut them a break, then we can say, you know what, at least give some of the people their benefits. But we didn't pass this bill, so some of the people would get their benefits. We've got an all-volunteer army defense force in this country, and people are watching. They're watching what happens to our Vietnam. Bobby talked about taking a second mortgage out of this house for God's sake. It's an uncertainty. This is a complicated life enough. These folks serve. They were impacted by their service. Their benefits need to be there. It's an obligation as a country. We've done our job. The courts have done their job. And now, they need to provide the benefits. And as far as I'm concerned, they should start right away in that January 2020. And if there's any excuses in January 2020, I may pull a little hair I have out. Well, you know, I was just... another came up to me and said he'd lost three. I just have to tell you, there is a... because it's already taken... he was just really angry. I just know that this anger has been intensified by this total stay. This total stay is not necessary. And I understand. I understand the sentiment that every single veteran, there's all those Navy ships off the territorial waters during the time period specified should get their benefits now. I understand that. But at the very least, Mr. Secretary and Mr. President, we need to get caught to the sickest and the oldest. We cannot wait any longer. It's cruel. It's cruel and unusual. I have a question for you. Well, I won't speak for the VSOs. I can tell you more often. I've been in contact with them regularly about one thing. They're trying to outlive me. This is no secret. This isn't done in a vacuum. The fact is, the VA understands that time is in the essence here. We're expecting them to provide the benefits. We haven't directly tried to reach the White House. We don't have a lot of time to go on cable TV to meet the person directly. But we have been in touch with the VA. We've invited the VA at least twice to come and talk with us in very non-twinty settings and a round-table setting. And they've refused. They refused to acknowledge that we had made the invitation. They did not respond to our recent invitation. So I am puzzled as to why they won't be more cooperative. Look, I don't want to have my first move to be about oversight. I'd rather it be a partnership. You know, an adversarial oversight sort of situation doesn't serve our veterans. We want to know what they need in order to get these claims filled out. And if they're worried, we're going to pounce on them because they get it wrong. You know, if you work out a plan to make sure that the most-needed veterans can get acted upon right away. I don't know if it is. Actually, earlier this morning, DAVB, DFW, VDA, and several of the service organizations here, we did send a letter over to the White House in reference to our concerns about this day and asking that they end it today. Any other questions? Well, thank you all for being here.