That's a good question.
Mr. Chair, I said in my opening address that we are here because of a unanimous decision that brought this committee to agree on the recommendations from ACVA. This is what the answer to these recommendations is, the sequence of events that led us to today. Again yes, it's a step in the right direction and we're moving forward. I think what's important is the veterans' and families' needs will continue evolving, and we need to make sure there is a continuum in this movement of getting things better as well.
Also, it has to be veteran-centric, not just made to facilitate administration and not just to have easy legislation and regulations. Some of these things, I think, are important when you say their personal situation...like what will somebody's income be at 65? By being veteran-centric, I would expect that when a veteran turns 64, somehow proactively he's contacted by the department and somebody says, “You're going to be 65 next year. What's going to happen to you?” Let's do it now. Let's not wait until.... I have all kinds of processes and mechanisms in place.
Yes, I agree with you. To me we've opened a door and we need to put our foot in there now before they close it.