u.s. house. all as a public service of private industry. we're c-span. created by the cable tv industry 34 years ago and funded by your local cable or satellite provider. and now you can watch us in h.d. >> let us pray. to whom infliction we call. forgive us for continuing to so to the wind even when hearing the sounds of the approaching world when dutch world when -- whirlwind. shut down,

delayed benefits to the families of children dying on faraway battlefields. it is time for our lawmakers to say enough is enough. shame with the robe of your righteousness. forgive us. reform us. and make us whole. in your merciful name, amen. >> the issue of death benefits for families of military personnel killed in action has evolved since the commons is morning from the senate chaplain, very black and the house passed a bill that will restore the $100,000 death benefit that passed in the house very heavily.

there is word from the white house today. good evening and welcome to a discussion for the next hour on the government shutdown, day number nine today. that of discussion about death benefit for military families. the house today, as we .entioned, past the bill uncertainty in the senate whether they will take up. the headline says private foundation to pay death benefits for soldiers. and they talk about moving to defuse one of the mayor controversial cutbacks brought on by the government shutdown. the pentagon announced a private charity, the fisher house, to pay the benefit for fallen soldiers. it provides temporary housing for families of loved ones undergoing medical treatment that military and veteran

affairs medical hospital. chuck hagel said his apartment is entering into an agreement with the fisher house foundation that will allow the federal government to provide the family members of fallen service members with the full set of benefits they have been promised, including a 100,000 death gratuity payment. that is from the "washington post. we will open up our fall -- our phone lines again and get more. here's how to participate in the conversation. we will also check twitter. tweet from mark millar talking about the schedule had tomorrow as -- the schedule ahead tomorrow. meanwhile, the house democrats today met with president obama.

we will show you some of the comments from that gathering in just a bit as we await your phone calls. a story about veterans also in the washington post this evening ashley came out earlier today, a report that bonneville power administration -- they have a comment from senator ron wyden, the chairman of the natural resources committee. confirmshat the report a bonneville repeatedly and systematically violated federal rules giving hiring references to veterans. he added that this is simply unacceptable. hyundai should veterans deserve much better. so again, the house passing the restoration of the $100,000 death benefit today in the house. they also passed a bill partially funding the faa.

the houses in at 10:00 tomorrow. the legislative work starts at noon. it will take up one bill which deals with or security. the senate is back as well tomorrow. at 10:30 eastern. it will take a break at 1:00 so they can -- so the democratic senators can attend the meeting at the white house. let's first go to jonesboro, arkansas. caller: yes, called social security today and said no regular check if they don't get this thing straightened out. not only that, the electric not payingl go broke their bills. >> which company? >> the government go broke. there will be no money coming in. first how has the government so far -- the government shutdown so far affecting you? caller: it is a mess.

is there something that you can give us an example of that is notable. caller: we get no medicine. people die. you can pay for the copayments. for all no money to pay the stuff. it will be a terrible disaster. city.'s go to phoenix go ahead. honestly, the way that it impacts me personally and i apologize if i get my son is but currently serving in afghanistan right now. post: what did you say is happening? caller: my son is deployed right now as we speak. and it is absolutely absurd that

we even have to think about paying these soldiers who died an care who it is. there should have been no question about getting paid. my son is over there fighting, my only son. he feels whennk he sees the stuff on facebook? when the president or the house, whatever, cannot come together in an agreement? this is what he is fighting for. they are over there putting their lives on the line. i see this stuff on facebook and he sees it also. how do you think he feels going out there and battle every day

when he doesn't even feel like the president himself respects what he does. shame. a crying it is an absolute disgrace. >> all right, barbara, thank you for sharing your story this evening. west columbia south carolina is next. joshua. caller: how are you doing tonight? host: i'm fine. make sure you mute your phone. caller: our veterans served. havetunately, so many sacrificed. the families need help. the tea party is very interesting.

you have to admit they are pretty genius and what they did. it is up in the air. and theyll the time will completely default. i believe they will. democrats yesterday were calling the tea party out on it. and they are right. but for some reason, it falls on itf ears and it seems like less like they can do nothing about it. it is a sad an interesting development. but i feel really bad for the people who are affected. ryan may have got things rolling and "the wall street journal," and here's the reporting on it.

there is now far less urgency on capitol hill about ending the government shutdown which heads thursday.0th day on it has created inconvenience for many individual americans but it doesn't seem to threaten the whites read damage that a default may bring. ken in detroit on our democrats fine. are you there? i agree with the young lady to callers way. people who have fought for our country and people are depending on their money. is just an attack on our

president. that is all it is. they are mad about the health care. how can republicans receive their full benefits and congress? they are losing nothing. they are getting paid. they don't want people who don't have insurance to get that. shutdown affect people social security and pensions? steve who says -- jason says -- raymond says -- and from senator ted cruz of

. among the hearings today, two hearings looking at the impact of the affordable care act. in particular, the house oversight committee holding a lengthy hearing on the internal revenue service and their role in a tax patient part of the aca. >> thank you, mr. chairman. you have been at the irs how long? >> i'm sorry. over 31 years. pre-k's i want to go back to where the chairman was. the 6103 confidentiality statute very sears they. it's very sears they. >> let's put up the definition. will discuss any return in connection with her or his service or otherwise or

under the provisions of the statue. it is pretty straightforward. you cannot share personal taxpayer information, correct? questioner. -- >> true. this as youighted are talking about the affordable care act. this is from the presentation you gave according to the minutes of that meeting in front of the irs oversight board and i want to show federal tax law imposes piracy protections that bar irs from disclosing federal tax information. this encompasses that encompasses the release of the data in the safeguarding of the data in the hand of the recipient. so you can't pass this back and forth. you have to protect this. this is a hesitation you gave in front of the irs oversight or do. now let's go back to the e-mail that the chairman had in front of you, if we could. just -- it is addressed

to ms. jean lambro. who is that? cracks my understanding is that she is in the public council. >> you don't know her very well? >> no. >> in 17 months, you visited with her 75 times. as more than once a month. 75 different times, it is in the log that you visited with her. >> that is the time that i was cleared to attend, not the times that i actually attended. >> do you know how many times you did attend? >> many fewer. but the potentially could have been a semi-five times. your estimate into mr. issa was that you'd did not disclose any 6103 information, correct? >> i have not. >> who then at the irs decided that you did and blacked out all

that they blacked out on that e- mail? we got this from the irs. we didn't like it out. we want to know what is underneath. >> there is a difference between whether somebody gives me information about a taxpayer, to which i can respond, versus releasing an e- mail to other members such as members of congress. i defer to the people at the irs. >> are you saying you're allowed to give 6103 information to the white house? >> that is not 6103 information. >> look at the that e-mail. there is a number written on each one of those blacked out areas. can you say for the record with the number is? question with the release of the document -- >> just say the number. >> 62103. to someone at the irs decided that this was confidential taxpayer information.

is when we ask for it, it considered confidential but it was ok for you to release that information to the white house. >> i will defer you to the persons -- >> we would like to know who that is. >> i believe the committee is interacting -- >> i believe this is your e- mail. you oneant to ask question. if it is not 60 10 three and it is your e-mail, let's just go right below the line. there's one little sentence. the large well known blank universities -- you see that unit -- you see that sentence right there? the large well known blank universities. what is underneath that? >> i don't know, sir. question you wrote it and you don't remember? this is the lawsuits, a number of christian universities had against the government about the latest liberty rights, isn't that right? >> it is about the definition under 6033.

it is au can't come if christian university are catholic university, even though he wrote it? >> no, sir, i cannot tell you. who decided tell me to blacked this out and redacted so the committee couldn't get it , but your testimony is also i did not share any confidential taxpayer information with the highest that's what the white house. even though you are cleared semi-five times to meet with ms. lambro and all of this reduction says 6103. it sure looks like somebody here broke the law, missing rim. i referredreform -- the congressman with the team which this committee is already working with. orwe provide us the person persons who decided that this committee couldn't see this information and wrote 6103 on this e-mail? factwill take the word that the folks who are working on the committee in the production of documents --

>> or you should be able to give us the information if it's not 6103. >> will the gentleman please yield? will of the individuals behind please identifyehin yourselves? i just want to know if there's anybody there that will communicate to the irs that we would like these documents in an unredacted format? is there anybody in the group who can correspond with the irs? maybe danny oracle should have been here. >> that's my point. >> so is there any of you that tell them that we would like the unredacted document and move forward and ask missing groom what her involvement was and what organizations were targeted in this case. will one of you raise your hand if you can? >> we would be glad to take your questions -- nine cracks you

will be back here if that's the case. instruct the clerk to get a call into the irs. i would like those documents delivered before this hearing is over so that we at least can have the witness detail her own e-mails. just to let you know that hearing is airing now on our companion network c-span2. we will continue with your calls momentarily here on c-span. on the issue of the health care law and the implementation of obamacare, here is a story about some of the web players they had. and down is the headline on the story. what really went wrong with healthcare.gov.

to the political story of the affordable care act and the repeal a replace of obamacare that has been attempted ahead of the shutdown, here's a story in politico this evening.

back to your calls, our democrats line, camino, california. pam, thank you for waiting. hello, pam, camino, california. caller: i just wanted to make a statement. i am a government employee. my husband is a government employee. and we have been affected by this government shutdown. a few years back him under the bush administration, when there were cutbacks in the government for, i had to take a job in california and he took a job in

arizona. we still own our home in utah. so we are the all american family. we have two good jobs and a home, but they are in three different states. we have except did this affecting our home and our lifestyle for quite a while now. we have a son in a wheelchair affected with medical issues. issue want to state this of egos between both parties is affecting us personally. those around us. yet the biggest crime i see -- i am the supervisor of 11 young men and women who cannot afford this and they are home, laid off, not being able to work and they would all love to work and do their jobs. this is really just horrible that grown adults are sitting this example for our young children and grandchildren. it is top -- it is time to stop the insanity and get on with our two parties getting together and figuring out how to work this out.

states citizen, i would like to see us come to our senses. thank you for listening to me. host: here's dallas texas with karen on the republican line. caller: there is so much and so little time. i voted republican. i am a tea party member and i am now moving toward a more libertarian stance. i have a statement to make. the first is the partial shutdown. any business they cannot cut out 17% of the fat of their business is a very lean business. this government is loaded and out-of-control. that is one comment. the next thing, the argument has he come very, looted. yes, there is a health care issue and yes, i do not like socialized medicine or nationalize medicine. , theer, the debt ceiling

continuing resolution, those things are all being merged by a complicit media with our politicians through our the government bloated politicians. but that is a whole other issue. $17 trillion in debt, $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities and the continuing resolution gives us a rubber stamp? is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. they are passing continuing resolutions to run pieces of .overnment as we need to do there has never been the idea that we have to pass everything. the senate hasn't passed a budget in well over a thousand days. the president's budget has never even been approved by his own people. 0 have voted against it.

there is so much going on right now that is incorrect information. large businesses come if you think about health care, large as this is and friends of this administration and congress have been given the right to not have to participate in the system. this mental health care, obama care is being pushed on everybody but the people in government. if we really want equality and fairness, then everybody should live under the same laws, not just friends of the administration or establishment people or large corporations. with the partial shutdown and god bless our troops and all those were struggling, this resident has ton divisive in his efforts

keep us against each other and turn things into a lot of what is not. she: all right, karen, brought up a lot of issues. she also brought up the ceiling -- the debt ceiling which will, a week from tomorrow. we will have live coverage tomorrow morning beginning at 8:00 eastern on c-span two. ,etty is in muskogee oklahoma. yes, i am a government worker and the shutdown is affecting a lot of the muskogee area government workers here. we are in a very tight spot. i.o.u.working with the

and the politicians don't understand how much work we do to serve the public every day. and to the public am i want you all to know that we are not to blame if you do not get your check. so you need to direct all your anger and frustration toward the congress and not toward the government workers because we may not be there on that day. host: is everybody in your office for load? caller: yes, but we are there. host: thank you for calling this evening. some different stories coming out of the shutdown. you may have heard a lot about the world war ii memorial and partial closings of the national mall in washington. here is a story about a man with a lawn mower cutting the grass at the lincoln memorial. a south carolina man tries to mow the lawn outside the lincoln memorial. this is from the new york daily news.

a virginia man attempted to mow the lawn outside of the lincoln memorial. the issue of keeping the congressional gym open, the house gym open, here is earl blumenauer of oregon on that issue today on the house floor. >> there is a tremendous disconnect that can be found in the house gym. make no mistake. everywhere i have worked, i have started fitness per grams for all our employees. we save money. they improve productivity. they can even save lives. a fitness program here for our employees here on capitol hill. if anything, it may be more

important for people in congress who are leading a crazy, unhealthy lifestyle and can seldom get together and interact like human beings. for 17 years, this is where i have tried to start every single day, to exercise, to enjoy bipartisan camaraderie, an island in the storm of capitol hill. it is convenient to be able to shower their instead of at home. it is important. it is very important. but it's not essential. i had some be argue with me yesterday that it doesn't cost that much because we pay dues. theave access key that lets sand and there are no staff members there now. that's true. it doesn't cost very much. but it costs. the electricity, the hot water, the tallest -- they are not provided by jim fairies. they are provided by taxpayers. and the same is true for

careless listener base -- for countless facilities across america closed by the senseless republican shutdown. since we decided that we are going to pay all the employees when it's over, we are paying them not to work. and it is costly not to collect fees. you can make a better argument for restoring those services then you can for the house gym. some of the most fanatic about inflicting unnecessary pain on the american public are regulars , enjoying our house gym while the staff gym is closed. speaker, if you and the house republicans are serious and not cynical about the shutdown, then shut down the house gym until this madness ends. [applause] the headline from "the washington times," john boehner's order --

bacteria calls. melody in your, pennsylvania. have -- i'm sure my comments won't be too popular. but i believe john boehner has it right on the tar. you cannot keep spending more than you make good everybody should take one--- 101 accounting course. it will delay the inevitable. keep raising the debt ceiling. when is it going to stop? i hear all of these government employees whining saying my

husband and i have worked for private companies. my husband gets no vacation, no sick time, no holidays. if he doesn't come to work, he doesn't get paid. and you know what? we deal with it because it is what it is. he was out of work for six months and he took this job because it's better to work them not to work. up andil america wakes realizes that you can't keep spending more than you take in, the better off everybody will be because they will just keep raising the debt ceiling. nobody wants to cut. everybody wants to live the slab .dge -- this lavish lifestyle but they don't want to sacrifice anything. i agree with john boehner. i think he is right on target. cutsnk there needs to be

and nobody likes the cuts because they want to keep doing exactly what they've been doing. i appreciate -- host: thank you for your call. margaret is in anchorage, alaska. caller: thank you. i am referring to barbara tuchman, the author of the book "march of salé," which describes self-serving decisions on historical figures to shape the future of government and how these decisions brought down there once money -- once mighty governments. an example would be the kingdom of israel that was run into the ground by the sons of solomon. the wisest man who ever lived. byy sacrificed that kingdom stupid and ridiculous decisions here at this congress will be

able to congratulate itself if it continues on this vein by going down in history as the governmental body that drove one of the world's greatest countries in to ruin and eventual oblivion. but not to worry. china, the middle east are waiting in the wings, enjoy no doubt watching america, the great democratic experiment, go quickly up in flames. which brings me to mind yet another example that i would urge our congress to ruminate in close your eyes for a moment and picture a leader named nero who played his fiddle while rome burned. thank you very much. host: thank you for joining the conversation. headlines this evening in the associated press, a lot of polls out there about the government shut down.

here is louisiana with ron on the democrats line. you are on the air. i would like to set the

record straight. i think the united states of , when they see united, this country was built on our forefathers to be united in we are divided. and for the speaker to leave the gym open and shut down the government, that is a blast to anybody's face. but back to the real deal. i have heard other people say how the government has to cut, , youcut and but you see have special interests and big is this to have a lot to do with this shut down. until a person of knowledge knows it they can i get a second opinion or go anywhere, like a friend of mine

from canada who says we can go to any hospital, go anywhere but the united states is the only country that cannot give free health care for you to go to any without all of this feedback and shutting the government down. we went through two wars. iraq, afghanistan. all of these people didn't say nothing, meaning congress or anything. but now that people who are getting free health care to go to any hospital is like, ok, the sky is falling. what i would like to say to the republican congress that is shooting itself in the foot is that we are a united states not a divided state. it wasn't until you had a black president was you having all of these problems. i would like to say another thing. texas whothe guy from

was filibustering and doing all the stuff with the tea party, they put a target this lady from arizona and they shot her, gabby. the same 32 tea party people they got this country shot down. i think they are terrorists. they are treasonous. but the guy who is running the congress, he is garbage. take my word for it. they will keep shooting themselves in the foot. wrong fromis louisiana. love looks tonight from the capital. the president tomorrow will be meeting with members of the senate with senate democrats. he will also meet with house republicans. he met today with the house democratic caucus at the white house. after that meeting, leaders from the house met with reporters for a couple of minutes. this is what they had to say. >> all right, here we go.

>> good evening. positivead a very meeting with the president of the united states. we express our appreciation to each other for standing strong with the american people to open to honor the full faith and credit of the united states of america. >> i want to say that the president emphasized over again what we also share, which is that he's really to talk about all of the issues that our republican colleagues want to talk about and try to come to agreement. we he is simply saying that can talk while the government is open. the government doesn't need to be shut and we can talk while we

make sure that the government pays its bills. i think the mac and public agrees with that. and we agree with the president on that issue. can't add anymore to that. this was a great meeting, very positive, very neat. our members were very -- very upbeat. our members were very positive and the president was very firm. we believe strongly the president is open for discussions with anyone. the problem we have right now is the american people, especially those who depend upon the federal government for work, we ought not keep them at bay while we have these sessions. time spent a good deal of sharing stories. the president from his experience and the members from ours us to the hardships that

the american people are feeling because of the government shutdown. was individually or come in some cases, a furlough of contractors. ours about the fact that veterans make a large percentage of the federal workforce and a large percentage of those veterans are people with disabilities. emphasis is to solve the problem, both in government, negotiate and under the dash and honor the full faith and credit of the united states. we can take just a few questions. >> [indiscernible] >> i don't know what to expect. but i will say this. we have said that we are willing , as the00 votes distinguish what said and others have said, 200 votes to open government, point countries to go to the table to discuss the budget.

and say to the republican leadership of the house and we accept the number and we would like to get to the table and take a yes or no. he not heard an offer one way or the other. >> are you open to the idea of a short-term debt ceiling increase for just a few weeks? to the cr, isback all we want is a short-term cr because we think the number is not acceptable. so we need to take up that number, deal with it and come up when we go to the budget table is when we can resolve some of the issues about the debt ceiling. that is to say the discussion will be a useful one. it shouldn't be any condition as to what will happen with the debt ceiling. and there is no concession on the debt ceiling. at the debt ceiling needs to be lifted. they are not getting anything for that. and we haven't seen an offer for that hearing when we

see an offer for that, we will make the decision about that. >> i want to make a comment on that. democrats are prepared to make sure that the government pays its bills. economicsolicy, good and building confidence for the mecca people would be extending it for a substantial amount of time so the markets will have the confidence of where we are going to be next week, next month, and next year. although i think the answer to your question is we are not going to vote against making sure that america pays its bills, we think it ought to be a longer-term for the economy and the growth of jobs. jobs, after all, is what we really need to be working on. >> [indiscernible] give the republicans confidence once a give you what you want -- >> rating today.

we are giving them what you want. a 19 86. none of us want 986. we said yes to them for their number, which we don't like. so once they take yes for an answer to their bad number -- >> what do you do to convince them that, once the cr is fast, you will return to the table? >> wait a minute. let's put this into perspective very briefly. in the beginning of march coming the oval office, the republican leadership of the house and senate said they wanted regular order. you pass a budget and a house and in the senate any good conference. that happened a few weeks later in the house and the senate. then they said they don't want regular order anymore. for six months, we have been saying but that's what you said you wanted. now we are saying, ok, you shut down government, which is

totally reckless and are responsible. we are now accepting your number weeks tor the next six go to the regular order of going to the budget table to discuss our budget priorities in and that is the past that is regular order. moodat is the president's as to whether or not a deal could be struck? house republicans said that they will not send everybody over, just a certain people. that was not well received. >> our entire caucus was here. everybody was here. everybody was invited as far as we know. there may have been one or two people that did not getting out of the rain. i don't think we can emphasize enough the fact that, when we

accepted the 986 number, that was a number that we accepted to start the negotiations and the -- andimself, on sunday, boehner himself, on sunday, said that he agreed to that for a clean cr. that he later found that his people who wanted the affordable care act to be into this mix, he agreed that we would have a short-term cr and we will negotiate somewhere between our number of 1058 and their number of 986 over six weeks. and if that is not negotiated, i don't know what is. up on me say, following my distinguished colleague the assistant leader said. this number is the number that speaker boehner offered to

leader reid. leader reid accepted this number. president obama accepted the republican house number. house democrats accepted the republican house number. the only people who are not accepting the republican house number are the republican house leadership. and there are enough members in their party who want to vote for that measure to open government at that number. we don't believe that number is good enough, but, in order to open government, we will do it. they are changing these and taking back commitments and is a luxury that our country cannot afford. >> [indiscernible] >> yes. cr -- there are two different things. cr we wereerm

willing to agree to because the numbers not sufficient as the chairman of the appropriations committee has said. that number is not sufficient. that is a different story. ithort-term debt limit, isn't restore confidence. it isn't the place to go. one,hen we see them offer we will see what path they think that takes us down. >> [indiscernible] alt turn it it is to -- as i said,ault when we see -- [laughter] you, but humorous to it's only your 401(k), if you have one, interest rates on car payments -- no, there is.

i don't think it is a responsible place to go. i hope that our colleagues would not do that. we're are just at the same place that we were -- excuse me? >> [indiscernible] >> you have to talk to him about that. in any event, we have made every concession. we completed prerogatives of the concededbut have never to the speaker to say, if you -- if this makes you feel more comfortable, we will smooth a path to let you go to the table. we accept your number. if you talk about hypotheticals, if they are, what would you do, let's see what they are offering. but the only connection they have is the budget conference table. that is where this negotiation should be taking place and with government open. businesses are not having the

customers that they need because people are out of work and other people are uncertain. this is a sad scenario for our country. thank you all very much. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] the president will meet tomorrow with some senate democrats and house republicans. eleanor holmes norton get into a heated exchange with president obama.

making her point, she refused to yield the microphone, according to a lawmaker who attended the event. described as trend, self absorbed and parochial in her exchange with obama.

the reporting today in "the washington post." caroline is in newnan, georgia. say a: i just wanted to couple things that i have noticed about all this. first of all, i have heard a lot of them saying they are not playing games and they are elites and they are very much playing games with people's lives. republicans ran on the ticket that they didn't want to -- they wanted to repeal obamacare and they wanted to dismantle what they call an entitlement. disabled vets living and entitled life. but there are other things in this country -- and this government like top secret cia them up pentagon that they can

defined and they always want to pick on the poor while they are fatcats living good lives. i know a lot of people who are seniors and disabled and vets and this is no more than a type of domestic terrorism. they are terrorizing americans right now. when theyt don't know will be able to pay their rent. or buy medicine. for certain medical conditions, if you don't have your medicine on a daily basis, you get very sick or you die. i think they know on both sides, republican and democrat, they are playing games and they are playing games with peoples lives and that is just really sad. appreciate your call. the house and senate back tomorrow. a report here, a tweet that says --

response from some of our viewers -- today, they did pass the measure that restores a $100,000 death benefit to the families of mature personnel who die in the line of duty. so passing the house was a short-term spending bill for the faa. anita is in columbia, maryland. she is on the democrats line. today: yes, i watched when the bodies came home from afghanistan. i was in tears. to think that there relatives benefits -- they don't have any burial benefits.

and goodness for fisher house and other people like that. but, you know, these young men and women are dying over there and it is appalling. it should have been shown to every member of the senate and the congress as they were brought home. i should have had to look at that since he what they are doing to these people. i am 75 years old and i can tell you right now that it is all coupling the reticence he -- coupling the presidency and getting rid of him because that is one of the rings that mitch mcconnell said. get $175,000 a year. their salaries are still going on. they get their health care and they have pensions. i really believe that they should have term limits and they should pay for their own health

care. i don't know what will happen to our country, but i agree with the lady before me. they are holding america hostage. they are like terrorists. and we are tired of it. i may be 75, but i go to the polls and i vote and they all need to be voted out. anita started her comments mentioning the return of the soldiers bodies to dover air force base in delaware. secretary hagel was at the air force base today as the bodies came back. some video here which i believe is courtesy of channel six from their website in philadelphia. secretary hagel there this afternoon. nebraska.in bellevue, go ahead. yes, my heart is bleeding for all of us as americans.

it is so sad. i hear some of the comments from and that is why i called on this of the line because it is not about the mcdata republican. it's about us as u.s. citizens. america.ve in this is what this is about. people who watch the politics and they watched the news and they follow what is going on in this country daily orif they watch a soap opera when they gossip about their friends. if they talk about it in a real they will know for themselves. i will tell you something. i noticed and am watching.

exactly what the caller said before. this will lead us to ruins just like rome. if we don't get it together, that is exactly what happens. how is it that we can allow a small number of people, a small amount of people to run this country? there it is not freedom when you are encroaching on someone else's right. that is octavia nebraska. let's go to fairview tennessee. larry, good evening. go ahead. caller: thank you for taking my call. i don't understand why every believes -- why everybody believes that the republicans are responsible for this. .he democrats are in power they orchestrated all the stuff to make the republicans look at. that is one of the little tricks they have been pulling for the last 50 or 60 years.

it is always there kind of rhetoric that it's always the republicans. the republicans have at least tried to do more for the poor and everybody in this country than the democrats are have. and when a president of the united states gets up in front of the country and says i want to take the well from this guy over here and spread it around, that is straight out of the communist manifesto. he is nothing but a communist is all he is. -- they should have impeached him years ago. that is not racial. four black men right now. i am not a racist. i can't stand him because he is ruining the country and i don't know why people can't see it. i give. comments, of europe the conversation continues online at facebook.com/c-span and are #on twitter -- and our

hashtag on twitter. hear from theill chair of the progressive caucus. also, the republican from >> he served as a legal adviser to the national security council during the george w. bush administration. on c-span 2, the senate finance committee hearing from treasury secretary jack lew. span 2.ll be live on c- we will also have it for you on c-span.org. president obama named janet yellen to be the next chairman of the federal reserve. she would be the first female to head the fed if she is approved

by the senate. here is the announcement from earlier today at the white house. ladies and the president of the united states accompanied by ben bernanke and vice chair, janet yellen. >> have a seat, everybody. good afternoon. over the past five years, backca has fought its way from the worst recession since the great depression. we have passed historic reform to prevent another crisis and protect consumers. for the past three and a half years, our businesses have .reated 7.5 million new jobs our housing market is rebounding . manufacturing is growing. the auto industry has come rolling back. we have cut the deficit in half. i think everyone understands we

have a lot of work to do to rebuild the middle class, but we have made progress. we should not do anything to threaten that progress. this has made a difference to millions of americans. the extraordinary resilience of the american people. we can think that dynamism of our businesses. a lot of it has to do a choices we have made to create more jobs and growth. one of the most important contributors to this whole process has been the fed reserve under the strong leadership of ben bernanke. hasnearly eight years, ben led the fed through some of the most daunting and economic challenges of our lifetime. he has made it clear that he intends to finish his service as chairman at the end of his term, which is this january. i want to take a minute to pay tribute to ben for his extraordinary service. i want to announce my choice for

the next chair of the fed reserve. one of the nation's foremost economists and policymakers, current vice chairman, janet yellen. after i became president, i was proud to nominate ben for a second term. the fed is and must always be independent. i want you to know that i am very grateful to you for being such a strong partner in helping america recover from the recession. son ofo surprise as the a pharmacist and schoolteacher that ben bernanke has the home.n of he has been a voice of wisdom and a steady hand. at the same time when faced with potential global economic meltdown, he has displayed tremendous courage. he took old action that was needed. he helped us stop the freefall and stabilize financial markets.

-- get credit flowing again. a lot of people are not sure what the federal chair does. but more families were able to and businessess could hire workers. more people could pay their mortgages and car loans. it meant more growth and more jobs. with his commitment to greater transparency and clarity, he is also allowed us to better understand -- let a new era of said speak. it is good for our democracy. the job of the fed chair is not our top monetary

policymakers. the world looks to the american fed chair for leadership and guidance. the degree to which he is admired and respected and the degree to which central bankers all across the world look to him for sound advice and smart policymaking is remarkable. he has truly been a stabilizing force not just for our country, but the entire world. i could not be more grateful for his extraordinary services. you and your wife and your children, thank you for your outstanding service. [applause]

as i said, the decision on who will succeed ben is one of the most important economic president.s one of the most important appointments any president can make. the chair of the fed is one of the most important policymakers of the world. i have considered a lot of factors. we need sound monetary policy to make sure we keep inflation in check. we need to increase employment and create jobs. it remains our most important economic challenge. i have found these qualities in janet yellen. she is a proven leader. she is tough, not just because she is from brooklyn. she is well qualified for the role. she served in leadership positions at the fed for more than a decade. as vice chair, she has been

exemplary and the driving force of policy tell boost our economic recovery -- and help boost our economy recovery. she doesn't have a crystal ball, but she has a keen understanding of how markets and the economy work, not just in theory, but in the real world. she calls it like she sees it. she also knows how to build consensus. she listens to competing views and brings people together around a common goal. she is the kind of person who makes everyone around her better . not presently, she is held in high esteem by colleagues across the country and around the world who look to the united states and the fed for leadership. she is committed to both sides. she understands the necessity of a stable financial system were removed ahead with the reforms that we have begun. protect consumers. ensure no

institution is too big to fail. make sure that taxpayers are never left held holding the bag because of mistakes of the reckless few. at the same time, she is committed to the appointment and understands the human costs when americans cannot find a job. these are not the statistics. the toll is terrible on the mental and physical health of workers, their marriages, and their children. she understands this. iny will have a champion janet yellen. thank you for taking on this new assignment. confirmhe senate to janet without delay. she will be an exceptional chair of the fed reserve. i should add that she will be the first woman to lead the fed in its 100 year history. america's men and women thank

you for not only your example and excellence, but also being able model for a lot of folks out there. janet wasn said that at the fed reserve literally. this is where she met her husband, a celebrated economist in his own right. you can imagine the conversation around the dinner table might be different than ours. [laughter] in fact, i have been told their idea of a great family vacation is the beach with a suitcase full of economic oaks. but this is a family affair. again, i want to say thank you to ben bernanke for the outstanding work he has done an keep herng work to economy moving forward during the remaining of his tenure. we will have occasion for additional goodbyes.

him to giveting on net isdvice -- ja counting on him to give good advice. [applause] >> thank you, mr. president. i'm honored and humbled with the faith you have placed in me. have much to do my upmost to keep that trust and meet the responsibilities that congress has trusted to the federal reserve, promote maximum employment, stable prices, and a strong and stable financial system. i would also like to say thank you to my spouse and my son,

robert. i cannot imagine taking on this new challenge without their support. years have been tumultuous for the economy. it has been challenging for many americans. i think we all agree, mr. president, that more needs to be done for the recovery. especially for those hardest hit by the great recession. we have made progress. the economy is stronger. the financial system is sound or. -- sounder. a considerable credit of that goes to ben bernanke for his wise, courageous, and skillful leadership. it has been my privilege to serve with him and learn from him. we have made progress. we have farther to go.

the mandate of the fed reserve is to serve all the american people. too many americans still cannot find a job and worry how they will a those bills and provide for their families. can help if it doesn't stop affect every. we can help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to work hard and build a better life. that it doesn't undermine the benefits of a growing economy. we can and must safeguard the financial system. the city has powerful tools to influence the economy in the financial system. i believe it's greatest risk in this capacity to approach important decisions with

expertise and objectivity and unite behind a response. effectiveness depends on the commitment, ingenuity, and and myty of the staff fellow policymakers. america with great dedication. mr. president, thank you for giving me this opportunity to continue serving the fed reserve and carrying out this important work on behalf of the american people. [applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> treasury secretary jack we

will testify about the debt ceiling deadline. he will take questions from members of the senate finance committee. you can view that on c-span 2. on c-span 3, the senate committee will hold a hearing on the potential impact the default could have on the global economy. live coverage at 10 a.m. eastern. the veterans affairs secretary eric shinseki testified that if the government shutdown continues, 3.8 million will not receive disability compensation in november. he took less chance for members of the house veterans affairs committee. this is two hours and 20 minutes.

>> the hearing will come to order. before we begin i would like to ask unanimous consent, the gentleman from california and former member of this committee, mr. mcnerney, be allowed to join us and participate in today's proceedings. hearing no objection, so ordered. mr. secretary, welcome to the committee. i appreciate sincerely

appreciate you being here on relatively short notice and we are here to understand how veterans are being impacted by the lapse in appropriations that has the government currently in a shutdown mode. there's plenty of blame that can be shared as to why we're in this position, but that's not why i called the hearing. i really called the hearing so we can get the best possible information available out to the veteran community. veterans want to know whether their disability checks and g.i. bill benefits will be paid in november and thereafter. they want to know if their disability claims will be decided or further delayed. families want to know if their loved ones will receive a timely burial at v.a. national cemeteries.

and many of v.a.'s employees themselves want to know if they will be serving veterans on the job or going to be furloughed. i understand that answers to some of these questions are entirely dependent on how long this shutdown lasts. and although i want to be sure that most of us agree that we want the shutdown over quickly, it's our responsibility to ensure that the public, especially veterans, understand what the current state of play is. first of all, mr. secretary, i want to say in the last couple of weeks, getting good information about your contingency plans and the effect of lapse in appropriations and its effect on veterans has been very difficult for us to get the information out of your office. for example, the original field guide that v.a. put out regarding the shutdown impact at first spoke of no effect, no

effect, on payments to veterans or processing of their benefits. but in a later version, v.a. stated that a prolonged shutdown would impact both, but didn't provide any details as to how it would be impacted. secondly, the veterans health administration is not shut down at all because it has received a full year's appropriation for 2014, back in march. so hospitals, clinics and vet centers should all be open for business. yet the president made a statement the day before the shutdown saying that that veterans will find their support centers unstaffed and implied that counseling services for veterans with p.t.s. would be affected. third, this committee has consistently been told by the mandatory overtime effort

towards the backlog would actually end on september 30. yet days into the shutdown, we are now informed that the shutdown prevented v.a.'s planned continued payment of overtime. fourth, although a shutdown should have a relatively uniform effect across all regional offices as suggested by your own field guide, my staff met with several representatives from v.s.o.'s last week who relayed their members are hearing mixed messages out of different regional offices. and i think it goes without saying none of this is ideal. some degree of confusion is to be expected, and we understand that. the v.a. employees should be worrying about v.a.'s mission of service to veterans, not planning for furloughs or managing an agency on spare change remaining from last year. however, what can never be expected is anything less than

the full truth as best as it is known at the time. this grave situation does not need to be assisted by misleading statements from anybody. statements designed to aid a political argument by any political party, regardless of which one we may be long to. it's my hope we can uphold the best traditions of this committee and rise above all of that today. mr. secretary, i appreciate your willingness to join us in this effort. since this hearing was called last friday, we have had a little bit more clarity on some of the issues we have been asking your staff about for the last 10 days. but i thought the public should hear some of the same information. now, one last point before i conclude. last july, we held a hearing on a bill that the ranking member and i introduced that proposed

to advance funds the entire v.a. discretionary budget. the administration declined to take a position on the bill, saying instead, it needed to conduct a review first. it's obvious that no review is necessary given where we are today. mr. secretary, i sincerely hope that you are making that case with the administration. and i'll follow up with you on that point during questioning. and i now recognize the ranking member, mr. michaud, for his opening statement. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman, for having this hearing and i want to thank you, mr. secretary for coming. before we begin exploring how the government shutdown is affecting veterans and the v.a., i want to acknowledge the very real consequences and the lapse that the shutdown has had on v.a. employees. i know they do not work solely

for a paycheck but work in helping veterans. a lot of them are veterans. and they have done a phenomenal job and now it's time for congress to do its job. we can do this in two ways. number one, either the senate take up the milcon-v.a. appropriation bill that was passed by the house four months ago or the house can take up a clean c.r. passed by the senate. i don't care which ones that we choose, as long as we get on with the reopening of government and that we fully fund v.a. the v.a. contingency plan and field guide provide us with a rough idea of the consequences of a government shutdown.

last week, we saw the immediate shutdown and what it had on v.a. offices, such as the inspector general. yesterday, we saw from v.b.a., i.t. accounts run dry and thousands of v.a. employees furloughed. we know the mandatory funds to pay compensation and pension benefits are scheduled to run out in little over two weeks. we also know that furloughs and suspensions of programs and other agencies also affect veterans. roughly 2.1 million federal employees, more than 600,000 are veterans. many of them are already or expect to be furloughed. also as programs and services and other agencies are disrupted, it affects v.a.'s ability to receive the necessary information and support to deliver those services for our veterans. we know we'll hear bad news today from you, mr. secretary. important v.a. operations have or will be suspended. some veterans will not get what

they are expecting. what they deserve and most importantly what they have earned. this may be a difficult conversation, but one that we must have. openly, frankly and honestly. but amidst the bad news there are good news. with v.a.'s medical accounts under advanced appropriations, the veterans health administration is largely unaffected by lapse in the fiscal year 2014 appropriations. all medical facilities are open as you heard from the chairman, and operation under normal status. this will continue regardless how long the current government is shut down. it is clear now that in the midst of the shutdown that getting a vote on h.r. 813 as amended, the putting veterans funding first act is necessary and the critical step in ensuring veterans' benefits and services are not put at risk

when there is a lapse in appropriations. mr. chairman, i thank you for signing on the letter with me to the speaker asking that h.r. 813 as amended be scheduled for floor action. i encourage all members of the committee to sign on to that letter and send a message that veterans should not and cannot and will not be disadvantaged by which party who is in control. mr. secretary, i look forward to your testimony and the questions to follow. mr. chairman, once again, i thank you very much for having this very important and timely hearing today. with that, i yield back the balance of my time. >> thank you, mr. michaud. as you might imagine, this is a critical time for our government and certainly for our veterans out there and that's why i asked the secretary and so pleased on very short notice, he was able to come in and give us some indication of where we are now

within the v.a. and where we are going in the future depending on how long this shutdown does, in fact, continue. i welcome the only witness of this morning, the honorable secretary shinseki. your complete statement will be entered into the record and you are recognized for five minutes. >> members of the committee, thank you for entering my written staple. -- statement. let me, mr. chairman, just recognize in the room here, we have partners for all of us from our veteran service organizations. i would tell you and quite helpful to me over the past 4 1/2 years in trying to help us be better in our responsibilities in caring for veterans, but also service members and families and

survivors that we are responsible for. mr. chairman, you called this hearing to examine the effect of government shutdown on v.a. benefits and services to veterans. and ongoing lapse in benefits, let me say that all the effects that i'm going to describe of the shutdown are negative. it is an impediment to v.a. to deliver services and benefits that veterans have earned through their service. v.a. continues to invest significant resources and time for this infrequent and avoidable situation. the ongoing shutdown presents myriad challenges. last time a shutdown occurred in 1996 as i'm told, our nation was enjoying a sustained period of relative peace. today we are in the 13th year in the war in afghanistan,

providing care and benefits to veterans of that war and the war in iraq as well. members of this latest generation of veterans are enrolling for benefits in v.a. they along with the veterans of every preceding generation will be harmed if the shutdown continues. in brief, in the last six months through 30 september, the veterans benefits administration reduced the backlog of compensation claims, something we have all been working on and prodding and encouraging them to do better, while they have begun that delivery, 193,000 claims reduced in the last 190 days. 31 1/2 percent increase in a little over six months. since the shutdown began on 1 october, the backlog has stalled and increased by 2,000 claims. v.b.a. has furloughed more than 7,800 of its employees, half of whom are veterans.

a shutdown directly threatens us to eliminate the backlog. 1,400 veterans a day are not receiving decisions on their disability compensation claims due to the end of overtime. if the shutdown does not end in the coming weeks, v.a. will not be able to assure of 1 november checks to more than 5.18 million beneficiaries and that accounts for 6.25 billion in payments that people are expecting and compensation and pensions and depend events and indem any ti -- dependents, vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits. including veterans who are 100%

disabled, surviving spouses, eligible children, orphanned by the death of their military or veteran parent. television and stipend dollarses for over 500,000 service members and eligible family members and education programs will also stop. these are some of the major issues veterans face if the shutdown continues. my written testimony includes details of other negative impacts through our i.t. initiatives, to our national cemetery that our employees lay to rest. v.a. staff offices and v.a. employees themselves, especially those who are veterans. while some have suggested a mini c.r. as an approach to meeting our f.y. 2014 budgetary responsibilities for funding the government, that's not a solution for veterans or for our nation. the budget request submitted by president obama nearly six months ago as a result of an extensive and cooperative effort

across all the departments and agencies to produce a budget request that balanced priorities and risks. picking and choosing parts of government to fund would ignore two key drumbeats that i tried to deliver over the past 4 1/2 years and the first is very little of what we work on in v.a. originates in v.a. much of that originates in another department. and second, v.a.'s care for veterans and i mean health care, education, employment, insurance, housing for both the homeowner and the homeless does not occur without significant coordination with d.o.d., with housing and urban development, h.h.s., social security, treasury, education, labor, the i.r.s., small business administration. and frankly, it is this collaboration amongst and across the government that allows us to be effective. and i would add to that, we have a fourth mission, as the chairman recalls besides our three administration, we have a

fourth mission in the ept of an emergencies, humanitarian requirements that i must make available our capabilities where it is needed. our work with fema and homeland security is also part of our day-to-day responsibilities. these are not insignificant connections with this department. without them, we are less effective in serving veterans, their families and survivors. these are the facts that i present, mr. chairman at a critical time for veterans, everyone at v.a. should be focusing on how best to accomplish their missions. and i ask the committee and the rest of congress to help us by resolving this fiscal impasse now so v.a. and our federal partners on whom we have to rely to do our work can get back to work full-time fulfilling president lincoln's call to care

for those who have gone to battle. >> thank you very much, mr. secretary. you and i both know that regular order is not in the mode that we are in today, but regular order requires a piecemeal approach of 12 appropriation bills. 126-plus days ago, this house on a bipartisan basis passed a v.a. military construction bill that fully funded, not just partially funded on a short-term basis, which is what folks are asking for now, a partial c.r., fully funded. yet that bill languishes in the senate. to my colleagues because it has been so long since we sent that bill over to the senate, there's

very little difference, maybe a quarter of a percent difference between the two bills. it could very easily be brought forward and this would be off the table. and so my question is, and statement is, in years past, house and senate, regardless of parties and the white house have always come together and tried to find a way to prioritize how money would be spent, who would be at the top of the list as we started to shut the government down and run out of money and today, we don't have that. even back in the shutdown of 1995, there was a priorityization and d.o.d. and veterans were taken off the table, of which they're not right now. my question is, don't you think v.a. benefits certainly should get the same priority or priority isation today as it has

prioritization today as it has in other shutdown situations? >> i missed the last piece of your question, mr. chairman. >> just basically in years past, we have in fact prioritized spending needs. d.o.d. and v.a. has been taken off the table and my question is what's different this time and don't you think veterans' benefits should be prioritized at a higher level than others within our federal government? >> mr. chairman, i would just tell you this. the department has benefited from leadership of the president and leadership and support of the congress. if you look at what has transpired over the last four years through our budgets, we can all be proud of what we have done to take care of veterans. and i will always tell you that that's a top priority with me.

but i do understand that there is a budget request presented to the congress. there is a process that you referred to that requires passage of a budget. within that, the individual departments are then provided guidance on what their budgets will be. i'm not sure where the congress is in that process. but i would ask the congress to provide us a budget so that not only this department, but our partners in government on whom we rely to do our mission well can get on with business. >> i think it's important to discuss the differences between a budget and an appropriation, because it has been inflated in the national media that because a budget has president been passed, we can't appropriate money. in fact, we have done it for a number of years now because we haven't been able to come to agreement on a budget. we did pass in this house over 126 days ago now, by a large bipartisan measure -- and i

would hope know or have some type of an idea of why the senate is holding that so tight, has chosen not to move that legislation forward. we passed four different, full appropriation bills. and i'm hoping that maybe you can help me understand why the senate continues not to act on the full, not a piecemeal partial bill, but a whole funding bill. >> mr. chairman, i appreciate your confidence in my ability to sort through this. for the congress, i would just claim to be just an average guy trying to do an average job here. i didn't know there was going to be a shutdown. i had no idea that this was intended to happen. and so, the month of september for me is the end of the fiscal

year. what usually happens is i'm trying to get people to tell me what the funds congress has provided and then anticipate that i will have a budget on 1 october and how to understand how to make that transition. because these transitions in the past have been difficult, congress authorizes a carryover opportunity, but it limits what i can carry over. and one administration, it may be as low as 4%, and another, it may go as high as 10%. but these are limitations. i need to understand what we are doing to close out properly so i can determine what our carryover will be, so i can meet congres'' intent, and it usually takes me about 10 days at the end of a fiscal year to be able to bring this to order.

about today is when i would have these factors coming together and in fact this week would have been the week that i would have my f.y. 2014 execution meetings with the various accounts. i would just tell you these factors are coming together daily, and there are adjustments here in how much money is available and the rate at which those funds will last. so we're doing the best we can. two things we are doing here. we're trying to keep our operations going for as long as possible to where we are allowed by exception under the law to take kear of as many veterans as -- to take care of as many veterans as we can, for as long as possible.

the other thing i have to do is make sure i'm taking care of our employees so that i'm not telling people that they're going to be furloughed when in fact they aren't going to be. there's a period of time here, not to be alarmist, but at an appropriate moment when we know we're going to have to -- we're not going to have a budget, we'll have to take other steps, that we will inform our employees that they are going to be furloughed. the ones that have been furloughed, we have gone through this process. but it's not just telling them, you're furloughed, close the door, and leave. we're going to get bauget here hereing to get a budget at some point, mr. chairman. what i want our offices to be able to do is come back and as soon as capable be up and running at full speed. and that requires us to close in an orderly function. if i would, forgive me, i'll fall back to my military experience, at the end of the day, i want everyone in a fighting position to organize for whatever might happen that night. grenades in one location, rifles aiming left and right, ammunition, walter, be prepare. -- water, and

be prepared. i want us to be in the same position that when we have a budget, people go back to work, we're running at full speed, we're taking care of veterans as quickly as we can. i don't want to spend 30 days trying to figure out how to get back to that point. >> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. michaud. >> thank you, mr. sec retear. -- mr. secretary. i understand why you can't predict what the senate will to or what the house will do, but there are two areas we can solve this, the senate can pass the full appropriation bill we passed four months ago to fund all of the v.a., or the house can pass a clean senate c.r. with that will get us, unfortunately it's still a c.r. but it will move us beyond this particular point. i understand your -- that even with the full milcon v.a.

appropriation bill, there are still services that veterans will not be able to receive because other parts of the federal government are not up and operating because of the shutdown. i totally understand that. but it's my hope that the bulk of the v.a. can be taken care of. my question to you, mr. secretary, you mentioned trying to get staff back up and running once the shutdown is done, if, say, today, that congress and the president was able to get the, you know, our act together, how long will it take the v.a. to get up and running, full steam ahead, and when will you be able to assess some of the damages, morely as it relates to the backlog that will take to get become on track again? >> i would say, congressman, at this point, you know, in some sections, hours, days in other sections but the longer we go, then the startup will just take

longer. the fact is, you know, i've indicated that on 1 november, i will not be able to pay all these beneficiaries who are expecting those checks. i need the authorization, appropriations, and a budget to be able to do that. and i don't do that independently. in order to make those claims decisions, i link into i.r.s. and social security, education with the department of education, small business. so i would say that what is best for veterans and for all of us right now is a -- a budget for the entire federal government. let us get back to work. the sooner we do it, the faster i get back up to full speed. >> we did a couple of years ago pass advanced appropriations --

wouldn't hinder in providing services? >> we have had these discussions in the past. theet the generosity of appropriations for our health administration. the question of how much of an isact -- 80% of va functioning. hospitals are open. and ourur vet centers mobile clinics. and so, that will continue. the impact is negligible. where we get little bifurcated

is where we have authorization to do something with that facility. we have to wait for our i.t. budget to clear and we managed to add something that we have worked on in the past. are there easier ways to handle it, i think done the road, that is perhaps worthy of discussion. for right now, they would not be able to cash and check on november 1. that is my concern. i do not want to be an alarmist, but i want to speak for the veterans who are looking into this. not only to we have a large number of beneficial's were looking for the checks, i have veterans myself that i employ. a third come over 100,000 veterans. a number of them will be subject to the are low. if they are furloughed -- a number of them will be subject to furlough. havehey are furloughed -- i

the responsibility of china find a way to keep them from being homeless. this is a much larger challenge for us. >> thank you. i yield back. >>. >> thank you, mr. chairman. education training, many items to discuss in the testimony. he made an important point when he said that many services that veterans rely on are not held directly within va. small business administration loans, that is an example. can you expand on other types of these programs that would be outside of that bill that we passed that is now sitting in

the senate. >> you mean others that are impacted? >> that impacts our veterans that are outside of the va bill. >> our claims processing requires by law our responsibility to the irs for income data and social security for other benefits. that is part of the process that we go through. you saying that even if the senate passed the va bill and the senate was willing to sign that funding bill thomas that there would still be some challenges because of the inactivity with the irs and their furloughs? >> exactly. it depends on the issue. it could have greater impact. bill,ion, 9/11 g.i.

vocational, rehabilitation, employment. we're not an independent operator here. veterans employment is a high priority for us and for all of you. and the small business administration as well. >> thank you. question, you and i have talked several times about a facility that borders mine and another's district. on going construction project, can you outline what a protracted or a long delay in delay inr a long funding would affect both our ongoing construction projects and the staff at the va office,

or the planning for future va projects. >> congressman, i will get back to you with specifics. say in the office that watches a construction, they also have acquisition, logistics, and construction. depending on which of those topics, they are variously affected by the shutdown. in the case of construction, for those construction activities that are underway, those will continue. ever oversight responsibilities will be reduced. we will continue to provide oversight as best as we can and ensure the requirements of the contract are met. about 52 talking projects and about $12 billion of construction.

the major projects will continue. design on the other hand, about 20 projects might be delayed. maybe significantly delayed depending on how long this process goes. your question about it, i need to find out exactly where we are in this process. other aspects of this, major leasing actions. 33 projects. might be delayed. a clinic.ould be south bend, indiana. butler, pennsylvania. like to seeuld these uninterrupted. there will be some delays here. the significance will be determined by how long the shutdown continues. thank you, mr. secretary.

i yield back. >> thank you, mr. chair and thank you, mr. secretary, for being here. your remarks on the importance of passing the complete and clean and tingling resolution. it will provide the certainty that i think that americans are looking for in their government and leaders. there was an attempt to provide 'sme funding for our nation veterans in the middle of this debate that we are having. thatnk there is clearly that underfunded a lot of areas. , just speak to that. you have mentioned a couple.

if you could comment a little arounde specifically let's say that medical prosthetic budget that i do not wase was funded -- believe funded, you mentioned something on the technology piece. the office of inspector general, the v.a. home, and the like, if you could comment on that specifically about the impacts there. >> sure. as i indicated earlier, with advanced health care administration, a large portion of va is fully funded. i would say will over approximately 80% is funded. of our medicals activities that do not come under advanced appropriations.

that do the decent would stop until we had a full touch it. >> thank you. on an area, i up do not think we have spoken too much about this so far on having to do with the g.i. bill and what that will mean to veterans who are enrolled in colleges and universities across the country. cannotat mean that they contain you? any to drop out? how are we going to handle that? >> there is a carryover in the benefits administration. roughly $40 million.

it is used to keep that office open as long as possible to take care of all of the various categories of claims -- education is among them, disability, pension, compensation, vocational rehab, education claims. ont money was exhausted and october 7. parte 8th, we furloughed a of the workforce. we still have about 13,000 people working. them the law, we declare accepted, and they are accepted because -- an account currently has money in it, but that will run out by the end of the month. these folks process claims and where it is appropriate to make

a decision whether they get paid today or rector at two funds -- retroactive funds. reducesyment we make the mandatory funds. by the end of this among, -- this month, this account will be exhausted. then they will have no reason to function. the clause that allows them to the will be exceeded when mandatory account is exhausted. at that point, they will be furloughed. the veterans benefits administration will be reduced 1000.ething over maybe less than 1500 folks who continue to operate in our 56 regional offices.

and our call centers. every veteran who submits a claim will require them to date stamp it so there is a place in line for them to be recognized when funding is restored. for education claims, students , andre currently in school as those come up, we will pay those likely do or the retroactive claims, at some point, that is a draw on the mandatory account. that will end by the end of this month. we will be required to furlough a large portion of the 13,000 workforce. >> thank you. i appreciate you being here. i yield back. >> thank you. >> thank you, mr. chairman. mr. secretary, near sea for your testimony. -- thank you for your testimony.

what is the last day of this calendar month you can process all of those payments for time received on the first of the month? >> again, it will be later this month toward the end of the month. the exact day is going to be -- once they mandatory account is no longer we.ent, . we are processing claims as fast and as hard as we can, as we were before october 1. those claims will be ready to be paid. when the budget is provided, we go to work. has there been any discussion

within your department and or participation of claims or fully disabled, that kind of thing as you get near that deadline? there are a good portion. over 400,000, when i percent disabled veterans who will be affect did -- 100% disabled veterans will be affected by our inability to send them checks. think is aion i closer number. there is a good portion of them who are 100% disabled. them, we have the survivors, the surviving spouses, children who are orphaned, or a veteran parent. been no discussion

of priority there. we do it as they go through the process? have -- we prioritize in our processing of for financially challenged veterans or claimants. medal of honor recipients. prisoners of war. eternally ill. it is easier to process. in the processing business, that is where we get to your eddie. -- get priority. produced the we

biggest production output. once it goes in the payment process, there is a sequence that goes along with how they are put in mind. hopefully when we get out of his mess, claims a's project. can you talk about the future plans for use of mandatory overtime to address the backlog, mandatory use in the future? >> mandatory overtime in >> yes. >> we use mandatory overtime. it's a device that's been used over the last several years when we see an opportunity and we want to get more production because for some reason we've