tracey roberts, and her three children. d been reports of a violent break-in and a shooting. [inaudible] 20 miles away, tracey's mother was also wondering about her daughter. tracy was late picking her up for her grandson, bert, basketball plastics. then the phone rang. it was her, sobbing. >> she just broke out in tears. and was crying hysterically on the phone, was really hard to understand him. and said that someone was shot in the house. and someone -- >> tracy's mother, drummed in her car and race down country roads to the house. she says the policeman stopped her from going inside. >> he said, i couldn't go in because it was a crime scene. and i said, i want to see how my daughter, how she is. i'm sorry. and he said, they are working on her. and she couldn't breathe. >> tracey was alive, but she was gasping for breath. paramedics loaded her into the ambulance and took her to the hospital. two hours later, another came rushing to what was once the home of a friend, but now a crime scene. >> and there's all these kids, a

roberts to reynolds dietary undersecretary for the veterans benefits administrations, department benefits for years. and, miss tracey therit. chief human capital officer, department of veterans affairs. i think all of you for being here today and i will remind our witnesses to pause 2 to 3 seconds before speaking and answering questions. doctor all know, all you are recognized for five minutes to present your testimony. we >> mister chairman, ranking member, bossed members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the aids implementation of the pack tax. i am joined by my va colleagues, whom you just introduced. the facts marks the most significant expansion of veteran care and benefits in decades empowering va to do more for veterans exposed to talks and sharing their service. the law allows many more veterans to benefit from the end of the four thus the tools we need to execute i am proud of the incredible work va has already done, and we are ready and eager to implement the full extent of this law. in va we have one guiding question. our veterans the center of everythin

tracey from mansfield. chief scott from italy. chief jesus from ferris. chief long from blooming grove. chief robert johnson from corsicana, chief secora from dawson. chief parson from rice. chief skezny from grand prairie. chief ivey from kearns. sheriff brad norman from ellis county. sheriff tanner from navarro county. sheriff bill wayburn from tarrant county. chief rickey boyd from w waxahachie fire. chief mccays till from mid lone -- midlothian fire. chief ross from mansfield fire. chief kate from italy fire. chief horton from ferris fire. chief jackson from milford fire. chief rhodes from palmer fire. chief ryan from corsicana fire. chief fife from grand prairie fire. and chief kennedy from the arlington fired. you all go above the call of duty each and every day and it's my honor to recognize you. i'd also like to acknowledge the 30 applicants from texas' sixth congressional district who want to serve in our nation's military academies. it's an extraordinary -- it's an extreme honor as a 199 naval graduate to pick the next generation of leaders for the military and perhaps in statesmanship. th