[Senate Hearing 107-]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S HRG. 107-699
NOMINATIONS OF CLAUDE M. (``MICK'') KICKLIGHTER, TO BE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR POLICY AND PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND
JOHN A. GAUSS, PH.D., TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY, AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
AUGUST 2, 2001
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
81-941 WASHINGTON : 2002
___________________________________________________________________________
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COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia, Chairman
BOB GRAHAM, Florida ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania
JAMES M. JEFFORDS (I), Vermont STROM THURMOND, South Carolina
DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii FRANK H. MURKOWSKI, Alaska
PAUL WELLSTONE, Minnesota BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado
PATTY MURRAY, Washington LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho
ZELL MILLER, Georgia TIM HUTCHINSON, Arkansas
E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
William E. Brew, Chief Counsel
William F. Tuerk, Minority Chief Counsel and Staff Director
(ii)
C O N T E N T S
----------
August 2, 2001
SENATORS
Page
Rockefeller, Hon. John D. IV, U.S. Senator from West Virginia,
prepared statement............................................. 2
Specter, Hon. Arlen, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, prepared
statement...................................................... 3
WITNESSES
Gauss, John A., Ph.D, to be Assistant Secretary for Information
and Technology, and Chief Information Officer, Department of
Veterans Affairs............................................... 12
Prepared statement........................................... 13
Questionnaire for Presidential nominees...................... 14
Response to written questions submitted by:
Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell............................. 15
Hon. Tim Hutchinson...................................... 16
Kicklighter, Claude M. (``Mick''), to be Assistant Secretary for
Policy and Planning, Department of Veterans Affairs............ 6
Prepared statement........................................... 8
Questionnaire for Presidential nominees...................... 9
APPENDIX
Campbell, Hon. Ben Nighthorse, U.S. Senator from Colorado,
prepared statement............................................. 23
(iii)
NOMINATIONS OF CLAUDE M. (``MICK'') KICKLIGHTER, TO BE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR POLICY AND PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND
JOHN A. GAUSS, PH.D., TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY, AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
----------
THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2001
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:30 p.m., in
room SR-418, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. John D.
Rockefeller IV (chairman of the committee) presiding.
Present: Senators Rockefeller, Akaka, Wellstone, Murray,
Miller, Nelson, Specter, Thurmond and Hutchison.
Chairman Rockefeller. This hearing will come to order.
Senator, I understand you have some family here.
Senator Miller. Yes. How did you know that? They are Braves
fans, too.
Chairman Rockefeller. Are they?
Senator Miller. Like you.
Chairman Rockefeller. Like me? Well, maybe we just ought to
introduce them here right off the bat.
Senator Miller. Well, my wife is here and my two grandsons.
Chairman Rockefeller. Can they stand?
Senator Miller. This is the last committee meeting I will
ever get them to go to.
Chairman Rockefeller. Are all three of you Braves fans?
Senator Miller. Very much so.
Chairman Rockefeller. I am now sufficiently emotionally
happy that I can proceed with this hearing. The hearing will
come to order, and we have, obviously, the last--is it 2 days
or 2 weeks--of our session? Whatever it is, we have a lot to
do, so I am going to be brief in my remarks. We are going to
consider the nominations of John Gauss to be Assistant
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Information and Technology,
and Mick Kicklighter, who is to be Assistant Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning. Those are both very
complicated positions.
Dr. Gauss, John, I extend a warm welcome to you and to your
wife, Charlotte, if she is here. We are happy to have you.
Computer technology within the VA, I suspect, is going to be
something of a change from what you have been doing. Space and
Naval Warfare Command in San Diego, and VA computer technology
and IT, are not probably at the same level, but this is a
hugely important time for that technology and therefore I am
very glad that you are here.
We have been criticized in the VA for the failure to
protect financial and medical records. That is a subject that
interests me beyond the scope of this committee. And we have
been criticized for the delays in processing claims, which has
to do, obviously, with technology. Some people have said that
what we do makes the situation worse, rather than better. So,
assuming that you will be confirmed, which I hope you will be,
we will be looking upon you as a genuine architect, with very
large responsibilities and enormous consequences for veterans
everywhere in this country. A seamless set of processes is easy
to say. I suspect you have done that, but I suspect it will be
more difficult in our situation. So that is what I would say to
you for the moment.
Mick, you are, of course, no stranger to the VA, and I
welcome you and your family, and I understand your wife Betty,
your daughter Jane, and two grandchildren, Matthew and Richard,
are here. Where are they?
Mr. Kicklighter. Right here.
Chairman Rockefeller. You guys do not even have to be
Braves fans. I understand also that you have a friend named Tom
Donnelly who is here, and where is he? OK, Tom.
Is Senator Akaka here? Senator Akaka is here, and he is
going to introduce you. But before any of this starts, I have
to note that both of the nominees have completed their
committee questionnaire for Presidential nominees, which will
appear in the hearing record; also included will be letters
from the Office of Government Ethics, acknowledging that each
is in compliance with laws and regulations governing conflicts
of interest, and I have reviewed the FBI reports. I am sure the
ranking member has too, and we find no bar to either nominee's
confirmation.
[The prepared statement of Senator Rockefeller follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV, U.S. Senator From
West Virginia
Good afternoon. We have a very busy agenda today, with a
confirmation hearing followed immediately by a meeting on
pending legislation, so I will be brief in my remarks.
We meet first today to consider the nominations of John
Gauss to be Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
Information and Technology, and Mick Kicklighter to be
Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Policy and
Planning.
Dr. Gauss--John--I extend a warm welcome to you, and to
your wife Charlotte. Computer technology within VA might not
evolve at the same blistering pace that you confronted at the
Space and Naval Warfare Command in San Diego, but this is a
critical time for VA's information systems. VA has been
criticized for its failure to protect private health and
financial records, and for the delays in processing benefits
claims that have been exacerbated, rather than eliminated, by
new technology. Assuming that you are confirmed, we will look
to you as the architect of a new VA information system--a
seamless set of processes that will be able to grow and adapt
to new needs and new technology. This will be a demanding and,
perhaps, frustrating task, but one that is necessary if we are
to meet the expectations in the slogan ``One VA.''
Mick, you are, of course, no stranger to VA. I welcome you
and your family, including your wife Betty, your daughter,
Jane, and two grandchildren, Matthew and Richard. I understand
that you also have a friend, Tom Donnelly, here with you today.
My friend and colleague Senator Akaka is here to introduce you
formally. I'm looking forward to hearing about how the Policy
and Planning office can help VA's various offices develop a
cohesive strategy to meet veterans' changing needs.
I note that John and Mick have completed the Committee
Questionnaire for Presidential Nominees, which will appear in
the hearing record. Also included will be letters from the
Office of Government Ethics acknowledging that each is in
compliance with laws and regulations governing conflicts of
interest. I have reviewed their FBI reports and find no bar to
either nominee's confirmation.
Now, I look forward to hearing from both of our nominees.
Chairman Rockefeller. Now, before I let Senator Akaka make
the introduction, I need to get you to stand, each of you, and
raise your right hand so I can give you the oath. Do you swear
or affirm that the testimony you will give in this hearing, and
any written answers or statements that you provide in
connection with this hearing, will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth?
Mr. Kicklighter. I do, sir.
Mr. Gauss. Yes, sir.
Chairman Rockefeller. Please be seated.
Senator Specter, did you have anything you wanted to say
before I turn it over to Senator Akaka?
Senator Specter. Mr. Chairman, I just commend you for
scheduling this hearing. I know that we have the nominations
and are hopeful that we will be able to move promptly to give
the Secretary the people he needs. We have very important
substantive issues before us. In light of the heavy workload of
the committee and what we have to do this afternoon, I will put
the balance of my statement in the record.
Chairman Rockefeller. I will do it both----
Senator Specter. Just do not forget, tomorrow we are
supposed to start a recess. [Laughter.]
Chairman Rockefeller. So we will come back with batteries
fully charged and verbiage in appropriate sequence, I hope.
[The prepared statement of Senator Specter follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Arlen Specter, U.S. Senator From
Pennsylvania
Good afternoon. We have a lot of business to accomplish
this afternoon--and we have a limited amount of time in which
to accomplish this business. Therefore, I will be brief.
Our purpose today is two-fold: to consider two nominations
by, first, receiving testimony from them and then--the Chairman
and I hope--voting to approve their nominations. Second, we
meet today to markup and approve an extensive legislative
agenda.
I know the Chairman will summarize the legislation we will
consider today in some detail. I will not, therefore, attempt
to do that. I just take a moment to note one measure of
particular importance to me: proposed increases in Montgomery
GI Bill benefits.
As the Committee's members know, I worked hard while I was
Chairman to secure increases in Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
With the help of now-Chairman Rockefeller and the Committee's
members, we achieved some level of success; MGIB benefits went
from $427 a month to the current level of up to $800--an
increase of 87% during the four years I chaired the Committee.
I am pleased that we continue to press ahead on this issue.
And while the full complement of increases contained in the
bill (S. 1114) I introduced on June 27, 2001 are not possible
due to budgetary constraints, the provisions contained in the
Chairman's mark take us two-thirds of the way there. I thank
the Chairman for including these provisions--and for sharing my
sense that Montgomery GI Bill increases are a first-priority
item on this Committee's agenda.
Chairman Rockefeller. Mick, both Senator Akaka and Senator
Thurmond want to present you.
Mr. Kicklighter. Thank you, sir.
Chairman Rockefeller. So, if Senator Akaka would defer,
which I am sure he will, to the senior position of Senator
Thurmond, Senator Thurmond, we would be delighted to have you
make that introduction, sir, to introduce Mr. Kicklighter.
Senator Thurmond. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here
today to welcome our nominees, Admiral Gauss and General
Kicklighter. I am delighted to have the privilege of
introducing to the committee Mr. Claude M. ``Mick''
Kicklighter, who has been nominated to serve in the Department
of Veterans Affairs as an Assistant Secretary of Veterans
Affairs for Policy and Planning. This committee needs no
introduction to General Kicklighter. He is known to the Senate,
having been nominated for important positions within the U.S.
Army, where he retired in 1991 with the rank of Lieutenant
General. Members will also recall the magnificent job he did as
director of the Department of Defense committee to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of World War II.
Later, as Deputy Under Secretary of the Army for
International Affairs, General Kicklighter organized the
committee to carry out the Korean War 50th Anniversary
Commemoration.
General Kicklighter is well-qualified to serve in this
important position. As a retired officer, he is keenly aware of
the needs of his fellow veterans. His professional experience,
his work with veterans organizations, and his service in other
non-profit foundations are a statement of his concern and his
willingness to continue to serve his Nation and fellow
citizens.
Furthermore, he is no stranger to the Department of
Veterans Affairs. General Kicklighter previously served in the
Department--first as Deputy Under Secretary of Memorial
Affairs, later heading the Office of Public and
Intergovernmental Affairs.
I congratulate General Kicklighter on this nomination and
fully endorse him. I have known and worked with him for many
years. I can personally vouch for his integrity and ability. I
look forward to working with these nominees as they are serve
the veterans of our Nation. I thank them for their appearance
today and look forward to their testimony and prompt
confirmation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Rockefeller. Thank you, Senator Thurmond.
Senator Akaka?
Senator Akaka. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I feel it
a great honor to come before the committee and thank you for
this hearing, and I would say something about my long-time
friend. So it is a pleasure for me to present Claude
Kicklighter to the committee for confirmation as Assistant
Secretary for Policy and Planning. I would also like to welcome
Betty--Betty, it is good to see you here--to today's
confirmation hearing, and your daughter Jane and grandsons
Matthew and Richard, also here to support their grandfather.
I first met Mick Kicklighter in 1984, when he was in the
U.S. Army and stationed in Hawaii, and those were memorable
days, because we were very close. We got to know his family and
he got to know mine, and we were able to meet on many occasions
because he worked very well with the community. Based on the
many years I have known Mick, I have every confidence in his
ability to be an effective Assistant Secretary for Policy and
Planning at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and I fully
support his confirmation.
Mick has been the Acting Assistant Secretary for Public and
Intergovernmental Affairs for the VA since January 24, 2001. He
also serves as Director of Special Events in that office, a
position to which he was assigned on October 22, 2000. Mick
first joined VA as Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial
Activities on April 7, 2000. Mick also served our Nation for
many years in the U.S. Army. Mick developed his leadership
skills, decisionmaking abilities, and sound judgment during his
years in the military when he commanded at every level, from
company through division.
Mick returned to Hawaii in 1989, when he was assigned to
command the U.S. Army-Pacific in 1989 to 1991. In July, 1991,
he was designated as director of our Nation's effort to honor
our World War II veterans during commemorations of the 50th
anniversary of World War II, and that was a tremendous success
because of Mick. It was a national holiday in Hawaii and across
our country, and he did a tremendous job on that.
From September, 1995 to July, 1999, Mick served as Deputy
Under Secretary for the Army for International Affairs. Mick's
extensive experience with and knowledge of veterans and
military matters clearly indicate that he is an excellent
choice to be Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the
Department of Veterans Affairs. As such, I am pleased to lend
my support to Mick Kicklighter's confirmation and I urge the
committee to act favorably on his nomination.
I would also like to mention that I had the opportunity
last week to meet with Dr. John Gauss, who has been nominated
to be Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology at the
Department of Veterans Affairs. His accomplishments through his
career reflect his qualification for this position. As such, I
support Dr. John Gauss' nomination to be Assistant Secretary
for Information and Technology.
Mr. Chairman, I thank you for holding this hearing and ask
you to move these nominations as fast as we can through
committee and to the floor of the Senate. Thank you very much
for this opportunity to speak.
Chairman Rockefeller. Thank you, Senator Akaka. Senator
Zell Miller also wants to say a word.
Senator Miller. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I, too,
appreciate your commitment to moving these nominations forward,
and I would like to convey my support for both these very fine
nominees present here today. But I felt like I had to point
this out and say a few words about it. There is no doubt that
Mick Kicklighter is eminently qualified for this position and
comes highly recommended by so many people who have worked with
him. I just do not want it to be overlooked that this is a man
who was born and raised in Glennville, GA, and who is a
graduate of Mercer University in Macon. That also should make
him highly qualified.
Also, I must say this. Last week, one of Georgia's greatest
warriors, one of this Nation's greatest warriors, came by to
see me, Retired Marine General Raymond Davis, and he was
wanting to make sure that this nominee was confirmed, and he
wanted me to do my small part, and when General Davis speaks to
me, General Kicklighter, I salute and try to do what he says.
So welcome here today.
Mr. Kicklighter. So do I, sir.
Senator Akaka. Mr. Chairman, may I excuse myself? I am
chairing another committee, on readiness. So thank you for this
opportunity to be here.
Chairman Rockefeller. Thank you, Senator Akaka. Are there
any other comments?
Senator Nelson?
Senator Nelson. Well, first of all, I want to thank both of
the nominees for being here today and to, as others have,
welcome the families. It is clear that you are both eminently
qualified for the positions for which you have been nominated,
and I look forward to your testimony for these two vital
positions, and am very anxious to see us move on your
nominations so that we can give the Secretary the assistance
that he needs in these important areas.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Rockefeller. Mick, I have pointed out to the
Senator from Georgia that my son's wife's mother was born in
Milledgeville, GA. Do you suppose that will help me with
Senator Miller?
Mr. Kicklighter. I do. Yes, sir.
Chairman Rockefeller. It should, don't you think?
Mr. Kicklighter. Yes, sir. I do.
Senator Miller. It would help you even more to get General
Raymond Davis to support you. [Laughter.]
Chairman Rockefeller. Please, gentlemen, proceed, whichever
you prefer first. Why don't you go ahead, sir?
STATEMENT OF CLAUDE M. (``MICK'') KICKLIGHTER, TO BE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR POLICY AND PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Mr. Kicklighter. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee,
it is truly an honor and a privilege for me to appear before
you today. I would like to begin by thanking Senator Thurmond
and Senator Akaka and Senator Miller for their very strong
endorsement. I have known all three of these men for many, many
years, and they have been an inspiration to me and many
millions of other Americans.
Senator Akaka and Senator Thurmond are World War II
veterans, and we know what a great generation that is. I also
appreciate very much Senator Miller's very kind letter he sent
to the chairman on my behalf, as well. Thank you, Senator
Miller.
I am deeply honored that President Bush would nominate me
to become the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning in
the Department of Veterans Affairs. I feel, with 36 years of
continuous service in the U.S. Army and 9 years as a civil
servant, I feel qualified, and look forward to continue to
serve this great Nation in this position.
This committee knows better than I do the challenges that
face the Department of Veterans Affairs in the future and this
next century. We all know that we must make major reductions in
the time it takes to process claims. We know that we must
provide a world-class health care system that goes across our
Nation, and our veterans must have timely access to that
system. Especially now, when we are losing so many of the
greater generation, we must make sure that we have national
cemeteries and State military cemeteries all across our land to
provide for the burial needs of our veterans. These cemeteries
must and should be maintained in a manner that they are a
memorial to their service and sacrifice to our Nation.
I would like to share with you, if I am confirmed, the
priorities that I would pursue as the Assistant Secretary for
Policy and Planning. First, I would work very hard to make a
good strategic plan even better and provide a road map for the
Department of Veterans Affairs that unifies us so that we can
provide the kind of support to our veterans and their families
that they have a right to expect. The right kind of goals and
objectives will help us to be better stewards of the resources
that you have entrusted to us, to provide that support.
Second, I would welcome the opportunity to help the
Secretary and the Deputy Secretary in developing the policies
that we need to lead us into this next century. I know that the
Secretary is the one who approves policy, but I think policy
and planning has a responsibility for managing the process so
that we move quickly and make adjustments. We also must analyze
the policy, so that we are putting the right kind of policy in
place that will provide the results to the veterans that are
needed.
The next priority would be working hand-in-glove with the
Inspector General to evaluate how well VA programs are
functioning and supporting our veterans. The Inspector General
will primarily look at waste, fraud, and abuse and how well the
system works. It would be our job to look at the programs to
see how well we are delivering services to veterans that were
intended to be delivered and how well we are following
congressional intent.
I would work very hard to ensure that we have a data base
that is timely, accurate, and accessible, and that information
would not only support this committee in its deliberations, but
would support our planners and our decisionmakers. And then
finally, we would look throughout our Nation, both in industry,
in academia, and other government agencies, to look for the
best management practices that should be adopted in VA.
One of the things that we are doing is embracing the
Baldrige criteria. We made some progress, but we need to make
more progress to get the Baldrige criteria adopted throughout
VA. We do benchmarking and look for best practices that we
could bring into the VA on a more rapid basis and
institutionalize those things that we feel would help us be
better stewards and provide better support.
I guess, Mr. Chairman, if I bring anything to this job, it
is the fact that throughout my career I have been a team player
and a team builder, and I would like to help the Secretary and
the Deputy build a strong VA team, starting with building a
strong team within policy and planning. That team would have
strong relations and strong bonds with our board of directors,
the Congress, with the other government agencies, Defense and
Labor. Also, it would have strong bonds with the veterans
service organizations and the veterans offices in all the
States across the Nation.
Sir, as you have heard, it was my great honor to have been
selected in 1991 to help our Nation thank and honor the World
War II veterans, their families, and those who served on the
home front, and especially the families who lost loved ones in
that war. If I learned anything out of that four-and-a-half
year journey, it is how much we truly owe those veterans. Those
men and women came home from that war, they said very little.
They took off their uniforms, some went to school on the GI
bill, but together they built this great, strong, beautiful,
and free America that we are privileged to wake up in every
morning. It has been said that any nation that forgets its
veterans soon ceases to be a great nation, and I hope you will
honor me with the opportunity to help our Nation to continue to
show our veterans that we will never forget their service.
Sir, in closing, I would like to thank my wife of 47 years
and my family, who have provided tremendous support to me in
our journey, in our service to our country. Mr. Chairman, thank
you very much for the honor of appearing before this committee.
[The prepared statement and biographical information of Mr.
Kicklighter follow:]
Prepared Statement of Claude M. (``Mick'') Kicklighter, To Be Assistant
Secretary for Policy and Planning, Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, thank you for
the privilege and honor to appear before you today.
I am deeply honored by the confidence President Bush has
shown in nominating me to serve as the Assistant Secretary for
Policy and Planning of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
With almost thirty-six (36) years of continuous active
duty, serving in the U.S. Army, followed by nine (9) years as a
civil servant, I believe I have the background and experience
necessary to perform the duties required of this position.
As you well know, there are many important challenges and
opportunities in this new century for the Department of
Veterans Affairs. We must shorten the time it takes to process
claims, and improve the quality of health care while delivering
it in a more timely and accessible manner. We must also ensure
that we have a veteran's cemetery in close proximity to
veterans. These cemeteries must be a fitting memorial to our
Veteran's service and sacrifice to our Nation.
If confirmed, one of my top priorities will be to assist
the Secretary and Deputy Secretary in implementing the
requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of
1993. This will include making a good Strategic Plan even
better. The VA Strategic Plan defines the priorities and future
direction of our department. It clearly states the expected
goals and outcomes of our programs and defines the measures we
will use to assess our progress and accomplishments. The VA
Strategic Plan is an integration of the plans of the Veterans
Health, Benefits, and National Cemetery administrations, and is
an executable road map to the future. It unites, coordinates,
and integrates our efforts to provide the most professional and
timely health care and benefits to Veterans and their families.
The goals and objectives derived from the Strategic Plan will
also help ensure that we are better stewards of the resources
entrusted to us.
A second priority will be to analyze existing policies and
recommend to the Secretary changes that would improve the
delivery of health care, benefits, and services to Veterans.
Also to assist the Secretary in the development of new policies
that would improve our ability to take better care of our
Nation's Veterans, within the resources available.
The third priority will be to continue building a complete,
accessible, and current repository of information and
statistics about Veterans. An accurate and timely source of
Veteran's data and statistics will better support this
Committee in its deliberations. Reliable information will
ensure that the VA speaks with one voice and assists planners
and decision makers in developing and improving the
organization and its programs. With timely, accurate, and
accessible information we can plan for the delivery of improved
support to Veterans.
My fourth priority will be to have an even stronger program
evaluation capability, one that will evaluate how well VA's
programs are meeting intended outcomes and how effectively they
are providing for the current and future needs of Veterans.
When deficiencies are encountered, we will ensure corrective
action is taken in a timely manner.
Finally, if confirmed I will assist the senior leadership
to identify and institutionalize the best management and
business practices available to improve the quality of care and
services for our Nation's Veterans. We will continue to promote
the use of the Baldrige criteria for organizational assessment
throughout the Department. We will support VA organizations and
facilities as they plan and conduct benchmarking studies to
identify and bring into this department the best practices
available.
Based on my experience as a team player and team builder,
if confirmed, I intend to assist Secretary Principi in building
the most dedicated and capable VA team, which in turn, will be
a strong partner with the Congress, the Administration, the
Department of Defense, other Federal agencies, the Veteran
Service Organizations, and the States Department of Veterans
Affairs. The synergism from this strong team effort will
enhance VA's service and support to Veterans.
In 1991, it was a privilege and an honor to have been
selected to lead the team that assisted our Nation in thanking
and honoring our WWII Veterans and their families, and those
that served on the home front, as we commemorated the 50th
anniversary of that war. This four and a half (4\1/2\) year
journey impressed upon me, even more, what we owe these men and
women. They not only saved this Nation, but literally saved the
world. They came home, took off their uniforms, some went back
to school on the GI Bill, and together they built this strong,
free and beautiful America that we are privileged to live in
every day.
It has been said, ``That any Nation that forgets its'
Veterans, soon ceases to be a great Nation.'' If confirmed, I
will do my best to assist this Nation in demonstrating to our
Veterans and their families that they will not be forgotten.
In closing, I would like to thank my wife of 47 years and
my family for the great support that they have always provided
in our journey of service to our nation.
Thank you, again, for the privilege and honor of appearing
before you today.
------
Questionnaire for Presidential Nominees
part i--all the information in this part will be made public
1. Name: Claude Milton Kicklighter, Sr.
2. Address: McLean, VA 22101.
3. Position: Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
4. Date of Nomination: 27 June 2001.
5. Date of birth: 22 August 1933.
6. Place of birth: Glennville, Georgia.
7. Marital status: Married--April, 1954.
8. Full name of spouse: Elizabeth Exley Kicklighter.
9. Names and ages of children: Elizabeth Jane Kicklighter Palmer--
10/12/55; Claude Milton Kicklighter, Jr.--10/01/57; Richard Van
Kicklighter--10/14/58.
10. Education: Institution (including city, state), dates attended,
degrees received, dates of degrees:
George Washington University, Washington, DC; 09/73-08/74; Masters
of Arts Degree in Management of National Resources from the School of
Business Administration; 08/74.
Mercer University, Macon, GA; 01/53-06/55; Bachelor of Arts/
Biology; 06/55.
University of Georgia, Athens, GA; 09/52-12/52; N/A.
Georgia Military College (Junior College), Millageville, GA; 09/51-
06/52; N/A.
Emory-At-Valdosta (Junior College), Valdosta, GA; 08/50-05/51; N/A.
Glennville Georgia High School, Glennville, GA; 09/46-05/50;
Diploma--High School Diploma; 05/50
11. Honors and awards: List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary
degrees, military medals, honorary society memberships, and any other
special recognitions for outstanding service or achievement:
Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army General Staff Identification Badge
Order of Aaron and Hur, awarded by the Chaplin's Corp
Argentina Order of May
French Order National Du Merite
Korean Order of National Security Gugseon Medal
Silver Honorary Order of Freedom from the Republic of
Slovenia
Eisenhower Liberation Medal (presented by the U.S. Holocaust
Memorial Council)
The Presidential Citizen Medal, 1995
The Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public
Service, 1996
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service from the
Secretary of the Army, 1998
Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the Department of
Defense, 1999
12. Memberships: List all memberships and offices held in
professional, fraternal, business, scholarly, civic, charitable, and
other organizations for the last 5 years and other prior memberships or
offices you consider relevant:
Elected to the Board of Habitat for Humanity, International
in February 1997. On 17 October 1998 was elected as Chair of
the Board. This is a non-profit, faith-based organization that
builds houses for the needy in 79 countries. I receive no
compensation, except partial reimbursement for expenses.
Falls Church Episcopal Church, 1993 to present
Enterprise Development International, summer 2000 to present
Fort Shafter Officers' Club, 1989 to 1991
Fort Myer Officer's Club, 1991 to present
Association of the United States Army
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lifetime Membership
American Legion, 1991-1995
Disabled American Veterans, Lifetime Membership
Serve on the Board of Directors of the International
Foundation. A non-profit, faith-based organization. July 1995
to present
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, June 2001 to present
13. Employment Record: List all employment (except military
service) since your twenty-first birthday, including the title or
description of job, name of employer, location of work, and inclusive
dates of employment:
(a) Worked as a clerk in my father's grocery store in the summers
while I was attending college. My father also had a farm and I spent
part of my time working as a farmer on the farm. The store was named
The Bargain Corner, located in Glennville, Georgia. Work there each
summer from 1950-1955. I was working for my father until I was
commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery, U.S. Army, 18 October
1955, and entered active duty in the Regular Army.
(b) Retired from active duty 31 August 1991, after 35 years, 10
months of continuous active service. Became a Department of the Army
civil servant on 1 September 1991, as the Director of the Department of
Defense committee to assist our Nation in thanking and honoring the
WWII Veterans and their families, and especially the families that lost
love ones in the war, as our Nation commemorated the 50th Anniversary
of WWII. Employers: Department of the Army. September 1991 to July
1996.
(c) In July 1996 became the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army for
International Affairs. Employer: Department of the Army. July 1996 to
July 1999.
(d) July 1999 became Chief of Staff of Value America, Inc.,
Charlottesville, VA, an E-Commerce company. July 1999 to March 2000.
(e) April 2000 became Deputy Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs,
National Cemetery Administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
April 2000 to October 2000.
(f) In October 2000 the office was transferred to the Office of
Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. In January 2001 I was put in
charge of the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs until a
new Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs was
sworn in on 31 May 2001. October 2000 to June 2001.
14. Military Service: List all military service (including reserve
components and National Guard or Air National Guard), with inclusive
dates of service, rank, permanent duty stations and units of
assignment, titles, descriptions of assignments, and type of discharge:
(a) While a student at Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, I joined
a U.S. Army Reserve (February, 1954) and attended monthly drills at an
Army Reserve unit in Macon, Georgia. As a result of my ROTC training, I
was promoted to the rank of Corporal (E-4) when I enlisted. The
following year, I was promoted to Sergeant (E-5). I continued to attend
drills until I graduated from college and was commissioned a 2nd
Lieutenant in the Army Reserve in June 1955, and at that time, I was
discharged from the U.S. Army Reserve in my enlisted status, and was
provided an Honorable Discharge.
(b) 18 October 1955 I was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the
Regular Army and called to active duty where I served continuously for
35 years and almost eleven months. Was retired with an Honorable
Discharge on 31 August 1991. My official Resume as provided by the
Office of General Officer Management, Department of the Army, Pentagon
6 June 2001, follows and provides the assignments, schools, promotions
and medals I was awarded during my military career.
15. Government experience: List any advisory, consultative,
honorary, or other part-time service or positions with Federal, State,
or local governments other than listed above:
When I left Federal service in July 1999, I was asked to be a
consultant with the Department of the Army, without compensation, and I
accepted the position. I was never asked to perform any service. This
appointment began in October 1999 and expired in October 2000.
16. Published writings: List titles, publishers, and dates of
books, articles, reports or other published materials you have written:
Wrote an article for Jane's Military describing NATO's Central
European Pipeline operation in 1981. Received a check for $200.00,
which I returned to the publisher.
17. Political affiliations and activities
(a) List all memberships and offices held in and financial
contributions and services rendered to any political party or election
committee during the last 10 years:
I attended a dinner in honor of Senator John McCain in the Spring
of 2000. 1 had known Senator McCain while he was on active duty, and a
good friend hosted the dinner. I attended for personal reasons, not
political. My wife and I both attended and contributed $500.00 per
dinner.
(b) List all elective public offices for which you have been a
candidate and the month and year of each election involved: None.
18. Future employment relationships
(a) State whether you will sever all connections with your present
employer, business firm, association, or organization if you are
confirmed by the Senate: N/A.
(b) State whether you have any plans after completing Government
service to resume employment, affiliation, or practice with your
previous employer, business firm, association or organization: N/A.
(c) What commitments, if any, have been made to you for employment
after you leave Federal service? N/A.
(d) (If appointed for a term of specified duration) Do you intend
to serve the full term for which you have been appointed? Yes.
(e) (If appointed for indefinite period) Do you intend to serve
until the next Presidential election? Yes.
19. Potential Conflicts of Interest
(a) Describe any financial arrangements, deferred compensation
agreements, or other continuing financial, business, or professional
dealings which you have with business associates, clients, or customers
who will be affected by policies which you will influence in the
position to which you have been nominated: None.
(b) List any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other
financial relationships which constitute potential conflicts of
interest with the position to which you have been nominated: None.
(c) Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial
transaction which you have had during the last 5 years, whether for
yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that
constitutes as potential conflict of interest with the position to
which you have been nominated: See Ethics Agreement.
(d) Describe any lobbying activity during the past 10 years in
which you have engaged for the purpose of directly or indirectly
influencing the passage, defeat, or modification of any Federal
legislation or for the purpose of affecting the administration and
execution of Federal law or policy: None.
(e) Explain how you will resolve any potential conflicts of
interest that may be disclosed by your responses to the above items.
(Please provide a copy of any trust or other agreements involved.) See
Ethics Agreement.
20. Testifying before the Congress
(a) Do you agree to appear and testify before any duly constituted
committee of the Congress upon the request of such committee? Yes.
(b) Do you agree to provide such information as is requested by
such a committee? Yes.
Chairman Rockefeller. Thank you very much for the very
proud and fine statements, sir.
Dr. Gauss?
STATEMENT OF JOHN A. GAUSS, PH.D, TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY, AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER,
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Mr. Gauss. Chairman Rockefeller, Senator Specter, members
of the committee, it is indeed an honor to appear before you
today as President Bush's nominee for Assistant Secretary for
Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer of the
Department of Veterans Affairs. I would like to thank President
Bush for nominating me, Secretary Principi for requesting my
nomination, and the committee for such expeditious scheduling
of this hearing.
Secretary Principi is a man of vision for our Nation's
veterans, and I look forward to helping him achieve his vision
if confirmed. During his testimony in front of Congress in
January of 2001, the Secretary noted that information
technology offers a means to break down bureaucratic barriers
that interfere with quick and effective service. That same
technology offers opportunities for breaking down walls between
various elements of government. It also offers the opportunity
to eliminate barriers within the VA itself.
Today, VA has several obstacles to overcome to achieve the
Secretary's vision in the area of information security,
fragmented networks, integrating them into one VA-wide network,
one VA registration for our veterans, and there are troubled
ongoing programs within the department. I believe that I am
qualified to help the Secretary break down those barriers and
overcome those obstacles. Having recently retired from 32 years
of active duty in the Navy, I have been dedicated to the
defense of our Nation and to serving our men and women in
uniform. It would be a high honor and distinct privilege to
continue serving those same men and women in their military
afterlife.
While on active duty, I was responsible for providing
sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines with the best possible
information technology to enable them to accomplish any
assigned combat mission. Information technology proved to be a
force multiplier by substantially reducing the decision cycle
time for those in command, thereby creating a more effective
combat force. If confirmed, I stand committed to you, the
Secretary, and the President that I will approach the
information technology problems at VA with the same dedication
as when I was serving on active duty, and I commit to make
information technology that same force multiplier, but in
providing effective and prompt service for our veterans.
I do not have a tactical plan here today. However, from a
strategic point of view, there are five areas I plan to attack
immediately if confirmed: First, complete the enterprise
architecture road map for the future. Where should the VA be
headed in this century? Two, integrate the disparate wide-area
telecommunications networks to improve overall performance and
responsiveness for our veterans. Third, implement a strong
information security infrastructure to protect the privacy of
our veterans and the financial information of the agency,
which, Mr. Chairman, you mentioned in your opening remarks.
Four, create a program management oversight process to help the
information technology program managers deliver their products
such that they meet requirements, are delivered on time, and
come in on budget. Fifth, establish information technology
metrics to continually measure our ability to meet our
veterans' needs. Finally, I recognize the importance of the
critical oversight role of both this committee and the House
Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Both committees have provided leadership and support to VA
and to veterans programs. You have my commitment to work with
you to achieve the goal of serving our veterans in a timely and
effective manner. In closing, it is truly an honor for me to be
here today. I stand ready to serve and look forward to any
questions you may have.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
[The prepared statement and biographical information of Mr.
Gauss follow:]
Prepared Statement of John A. Gauss, Ph.D, To Be Assistant Secretary
for Information and Technology, and Chief Information Officer,
Department of Veterans Affairs
Chairman Rockefeller, Senator Specter, and members of the
Committee, it is indeed an honor to appear before you today as
President Bush's nominee for Assistant Secretary for Information and
Technology, and Chief Information Officer of the Department of Veterans
Affairs. I would like to thank President Bush for nominating me to
serve in this position; Secretary Principi for requesting my
nomination; and, the Committee for such expeditious scheduling of this
hearing. Secretary Principi is a man of vision for our nation's
Veterans, and I look forward to helping him achieve his vision, if
confirmed.
In his testimony before Congress on 18 January 2001, Secretary
Principi stated, and I quote, ``Information technology can offer a
means to break down the bureaucratic barriers that interfere with quick
and efficient service to veterans as well as the walls dividing VA from
her sister departments in the Federal government and, totally
unacceptably to me, barriers within VA itself.'' Today, VA has several
obstacles to overcome in order to achieve the Secretary's vision in the
areas of information security, fragmented networks, one VA
registration, and troubled ongoing programs such as VETSNET.
I believe that I am qualified to help the Secretary break down
those barriers and overcome those obstacles. Having recently retired
from 32 years of active duty in the United States Navy, I have been
dedicated to the defense of our nation and serving our men and women in
uniform. It would be a high honor and distinct privilege to continue
serving those same men and women in their military afterlife. While on
active duty, I was responsible for providing our sailors, soldiers,
airmen, and marines with the best possible information technology to
enable them to accomplish any assigned combat mission. Information
technology proved to be a force multiplier by substantially reducing
the decision cycle time for those in command, creating a more effective
combat force. If confirmed, I stand committed to you, the Secretary,
and the President that I will approach the information technology
problems at VA with the same dedication as when I was on active duty,
and make information technology a ``force multiplier'' in providing
effective prompt service to our Veterans.
I do not have a tactical ``battle plan'' today; however, from a
strategic perspective, there are five areas I plan to attack
immediately:
(1) Complete the Enterprise Architecture road map to the future;
(2) Integrate disparate telecommunications networks to improve
performance and responsiveness for our Veterans;
(3) Implement a strong information security infrastructure to
protect the privacy of our Veterans;
(4) Create a program/project management process to oversee and help
the VA information technology program/project managers deliver products
that meet requirements, are delivered on time, and stay within budget;
and,
(5) Establish information technology metrics to continuously
measure our ability to meet our Veterans' needs.
Finally, I recognize the importance of the critical oversight role
of both this committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Both
committees have provided leadership and support to VA and to Veterans'
programs. You have my commitment to work with you to achieve the goal
of serving our Veterans in a timely and effective manner.
In closing, it is truly an honor for me to be here today. I stand
ready to serve and look forward to any questions you may have. Thank
you very much.
______
Questionnaire for Presidential Nominees
part i--all the information in this part will be made public
1. Name: John A. Gauss.
2. Address: Arlington, Va. 22207.
3. Position: Assistant Secretary (Information and Technology) for
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
4. Date of Nomination: 17 July 2001.
5. Date of birth: 28 September 1947.
6. Place of birth: Salem, Mass
7. Marital status: Married.
8. Names and ages of children: Stepson: Clark Crawford, Age 32;
Stepdaughter: Beverly Crawford, Age 34.
9. Education: Institution (including city, state), dates attended,
degrees received, dates of degrees:
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; 09/65-06/69; BS (Engineering
Physics); 06/69
Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA; 09/76-03/80; MSEE, Ph.D.
(EE); 03/80
10. Honors and awards: List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary
degrees, military medals, honorary society memberships, and any other
special recognitions for outstanding service or achievement:
United States Navy; NROTC Scholarship; 1965
Department of Defense; Defense Distinguished Service Medal;
07/97
Department of the Navy; Distinguished Service Medal; 05/01
Department of the Navy; Legion of Merit; 07/94
Department of the Navy; Legion of Merit; 10/92
Department of the Navy; Legion of Merit; 08/89
Department of the Navy; Meritorious Service Medal; 08/91
Department of the Navy; Navy Achievement Medal; 09/82
Department of the Navy; National Defense Service Medal; 09/90
Department of the Navy; National Defense Service Medal; 07/69
Department of Defense; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; 12/96
Department of the Navy; Vietnam Service Medal; 11/72
11. Memberships: List all memberships and offices held in
professional, fraternal, business, scholarly, civic, charitable, and
other organizations for the last 5 years and other prior memberships or
offices you consider relevant:
Lifetime member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics
Association (AFCEA)
Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE)
12. Employment Record: List all employment (except military
service) since your twenty-first birthday, including the title or
description of job, name of employer, location of work, and inclusive
dates of employment:
Consultant to the Department of Veterans Affairs: July 2001.
13. Military Service: List all military service (including reserve
components and National Guard or Air National Guard), with inclusive
dates of service, rank, permanent duty stations and units of
assignment, titles, descriptions of assignments, and type of discharge:
On 01 July 1969, I was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States
Navy and retired as a Rear Admiral (Upper Half) on 30 June 2001.
Assignments included Division Officer and Department Head on USS
Patterson (FF-1051); Operations Officer on USS Flint (AE-32); Executive
Officer and Navigator on USS Conserver (ARS-39); Air ASW Project
Officer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, White Oak Md; Surface Ship
Chief Engineer for the TOMAHAWK Weapons System at the Cruise Missiles
Project Office; Program Manager for Navy Command and Control Systems
Afloat at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command; Program Director
for Navy Command Systems at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems
Command; Commander of the Joint Interoperability and Engineering
Organization, and Deputy Director for Engineering at the Defense
Information Systems Agency; Director of Allied Interoperability and
Fleet Requirements in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; and,
Commander of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command until
retirement. See attached DD-214.
14. Government experience: List any advisory, consultative,
honorary, or other part-time service or positions with Federal, State,
or local governments other than listed above: None.
15. Published writings: List titles, publishers, and dates of
books, articles, reports or other published materials you have written:
Aligned for the Future, Sea Power Magazine, March 2001 edition.
16. Political affiliations and activities
(a) List all memberships and offices held in and financial
contributions and services rendered to any political party or election
committee during the last 10 years: None.
(b) List all elective public offices for which you have been a
candidate and the month and year of each election involved: None.
17. Future employment relationships
(a) State whether you will sever all connections with your present
employer, business firm, association, or organization if you are
confirmed by the Senate: N/A.
(b) State whether you have any plans after completing Government
service to resume employment, affiliation, or practice with your
previous employer, business firm, association or organization:
I intend to remain as a member of AFCEA and IEEE.
(c) What commitments, if any, have been made to you for employment
after you leave Federal service? None.
(d) (If appointed for a term of specified duration) Do you intend
to serve the full term for which you have been appointed? N/A.
(e) (If appointed for indefinite period) Do you intend to serve
until the next Presidential election? Yes.
18. Potential Conflicts of Interest
(a) Describe any financial arrangements, deferred compensation
agreements, or other continuing financial, business, or professional
dealings which you have with business associates, clients, or customers
who will be affected by policies which you will influence in the
position to which you have been nominated:
See Part II, paragraphs 7 & 8.
(b) List any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other
financial relationships which constitute potential conflicts of
interest with the position to which you have been nominated:
See Part II, paragraphs 7 & 8. Also, see attached Ethics Agreement.
(c) Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial
transaction which you have had during the last 5 years, whether for
yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that
constitutes as potential conflict of interest with the position to
which you have been nominated: None.
(d) Describe any lobbying activity during the past 10 years in
which you have engaged for the purpose of directly or indirectly
influencing the passage, defeat, or modification of any Federal
legislation or for the purpose of affecting the administration and
execution of Federal law or policy: None.
(e) Explain how you will resolve any potential conflicts of
interest that may be disclosed by your responses to the above items.
(Please provide a copy of any trust or other agreements involved.)
See attached Ethics Agreement.
19. Testifying before the Congress
(a) Do you agree to appear and testify before any duly constituted
committee of the Congress upon the request of such committee? Yes.
(b) Do you agree to provide such information as is requested by
such a committee? Yes.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell
to John A. Gauss
Question 1. The 2001 VA Performance Plan Means and Strategies
states that it is working on developing a strategy to improve timely
access to patient information and records by speeding up development of
the Government Computer-based Patient Records (GCPR) program. As I
understand, this is an interagency program designed to share military
DoD, VA and Indian Health Service Records.
Are you familiar with the program? If not, could you look into it
and report back to me on what plans you might have to implement and
utilize the program? And, as Assistant Secretary would you be committed
to working toward DoD-VA information sharing initiatives?
Answer. I am familiar with the GCPR program. Ideally, the GCPR
program would be able to exchange patient information between DoD, VA
and Indian Health Service (IHS) medical systems in such a manner that a
physician would have a single medical record to examine. Unfortunately,
there are different data definitions used by each system. Further, due
to the nature of the current DoD Composite Health Care System (CHCS I),
two-way transmission is not possible at this time.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has developed a capability
whereby a physician can access patient records from any VA Hospital.
For the near term, GCPR is designed to accept a daily, one-way
transmission of DoD patient data. GCPR can then be connected to the VHA
medical systems and present patient data as if it were just another VA
Hospital, except the data will be presented in a DoD format. In the
mid-term, when the DoD next generation medical system (CHCS II) comes
on line, we will work with DoD to make this type of data exchange two-
way. As an adjunct to the DoD-VA mid term efforts, we will pursue the
mid term solution with IHS beginning in FY02.
For the long term, we need to standardize our medical data
definitions across government health care systems to enable the
ultimate goal of an integrated patient record to be achieved. VHA has
been working closely with the IHS to ensure that IHS can capitalize on
advancements made between DoD and VA medical system data exchange.
The near term phase of GCPR is in the final stages of development.
Once the capabilities of the near term GCPR are proven, VA will deploy
GCPR to obtain the near term benefits discussed above. As we prove this
capability, and as CHCS II deploys, we will develop a detailed plan to
achieve the mid term solution with IHS participating as a full partner.
As the VA Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, I am
committed to working with ail government agencies to define and share
information that will enhance the operation of all interested parties.
Examples of the type of mutually beneficial data sharing I will pursue
are listed below.
1. Improved data transfer from DoD to the Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) through automated transfer of medical record
information at the time of a service member's separation or discharge
to expedite determining medical and disability benefits eligibility.
2. Improved data transfer from DoD to VBA through enhanced
automated transfer of personnel and payroll data to improve servicing
GI loans and insurance conversions. This can be accomplished through
effectively implementing electronic interfaces from the Defense
Integrated Military Human Resource System (DIMHRS) and Defense
Personnel Records Imaging System (DPRIS) to appropriate VA's benefits
systems.
3. Shared ordering of pharmaceuticals and medical/surgical supplies
through information technology solutions may enable DoD and VA to
improve service to both active duty members and veterans, and could
potentially save money for both Departments.
4. Improved data standardization efforts between DoD and VA could
offer further opportunities to improve service and reduce cost.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tim Hutchinson to John
A. Gauss
Question 1. A strong relationship between the Department of Defense
and the Department of Veterans Affairs is critical in ensuring that our
veterans receive the care and service that they deserve. Do you believe
that it is important that the DoD and VA continue to build on efforts
to share resources and solutions?
Answer. I believe it is essential that the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) find ways to provide
the best possible service to our military men and women, both while on
active duty and following their service to our country. This would
include sharing resources and solutions where it made sense to do so.
There are several examples where VA and DoD could make significant
improvements in service to our active duty members and our veterans.
They include:
1. Improved data transfer from DoD to the Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) through automated transfer of medical record
information at the time of a service member's separation or discharge
to expedite determining medical and disability benefits eligibility.
2. Improved data transfer from DoD to VBA through enhanced
automated transfer of personnel and payroll data to improve servicing
GI loans and insurance conversions. This can be accomplished through
effectively implementing electronic interfaces from the Defense
Integrated Military Human Resource System (DIMHRS) and Defense
Personnel Records Imaging System (DPRIS) to appropriate VA's benefits
systems.
3. Improved data sharing of medical records will greatly enhance
clinical care to our veterans. This type of data sharing could
facilitate workload balancing between DoD and VA hospitals that are
geographically collocated and thereby provide better medical service to
both active duty members and veterans.
4. Shared ordering of pharmaceuticals and medical/surgical supplies
through information technology solutions may enable DoD and VA to
improve service to both active duty members and veterans, and could
potentially save money for both Departments.
5. Improved data standardization efforts between DoD and VA could
offer further opportunities to improve service and reduce cost.
Question 2. The Government Computer-based Patient Record Initiative
(GCPR) is aimed at improving interoperability between the information
systems of the VA and DoD. Can you comment on the recent GAO report
criticizing the DoD and VA for mismanagement of the GCPR program?
Answer. GCPR started as an initiative to implement direction
contained in Presidential Review Directive 5. Ideally, the GCPR program
would be able to exchange patient information between DoD, VA and
Indian Health Service (IHS) medical systems in such a manner that a
physician would have a single medical record to examine. Unfortunately,
the detailed technical requirements for achieving this vision were
never formally established. In addition, the Program Manager for GCPR
was not empowered by all sponsoring activities involved with GCPR to
make the necessary program management decisions.
In my opinion, the process for overseeing programs in their
execution phase needs improvement across all VA Information Technology
programs. In my opening statement at my confirmation hearing, I
discussed five near term strategies that I would pursue, if confirmed.
1. Complete the Enterprise Architecture road map to the future;
2. Integrate disparate telecommunications networks to improve
performance and responsiveness for our veterans;
3. Implement a strong information security infrastructure to
protect the privacy of our veterans;
4. Create a program/project management process to oversee and help
the VA information technology program/project managers deliver products
that meet requirements, are delivered on time, and stay within budget;
and,
5. Establish information technology metrics to continuously measure
our ability to meet our veterans' needs.
Four of these five strategies apply to GCPR and are in the process
of being implemented. Specifically, the GCPR program manager is
required to re-baseline the program to address a near term, mid term
and long term solution to the patient record problem. This rebaselining
will be approved by me and must occur prior to the expenditure of
FY2002 funding. Once rebaselined, I will conduct periodic in-process
reviews to ensure that cost, schedule and performance requirements are
maintained.
Unfortunately, there are different data definitions used by the
DoD, VA and IHS medical systems. Further, due to the nature of the
current DoD Composite Health Care System (CHCS I), two-way transmission
is not possible at this time. In view of these facts, the strategy for
rebaselining is to evolve GCPR as follows. The Veterans Health
Administration (VHA) has developed a capability whereby a physician can
access patient records from any VA Hospital. For the near term, GCPR is
designed to accept a daily, one-way transmission of DoD patient data.
GCPR can then be connected to the VHA medical systems and present
patient data as if it were just another VA Hospital, except the data
will be presented in a DoD format.
In the mid-term, when the DoD next generation medical system (CHCS
II) comes on line, we will work with DoD to make this type of data
exchange two-way. As an adjunct to the DoD-VA mid term efforts, we will
pursue the mid term solution with IHS beginning in FY02.
For the long term, we need to standardize our medical data
definitions across government health care systems to enable the
ultimate goal of an integrated patient record to be achieved.
The near term phase of GCPR is in the final stages of development.
Once the capabilities of the near term GCPR are proven, VA will deploy
GCPR to obtain the near term benefits discussed above.
I believe the actions we are taking with the oversight of GCPR are
prudent and will lead to achieving the intended results.
Chairman Rockefeller. Thank you, Dr. Gauss and Mr.
Kicklighter. I want to ask you a question that is hard to
answer, probably impossible to answer, but which will help me
understand you both better. We have been through a tax cut that
will last 10 years. Spending on all fronts is going to be a
terrible worry. I worry about the VA and what money will be out
there 2 or 3 or 5 years from now. You are policy and planning,
and you are technology IT. When a policy planner sits down to
take a plan and refine it, you are working within the world of
what you want to have happen. There is no other way you can do
it, and you complete that plan to the best of your ability, and
it is a substantial move forward. So that is part one.
Part two, the VA is the second largest agency in the
Federal Government, and there are a lot of people, many of them
at fairly high levels, who have been there for a very long
time, who say:
Oh, you know, Claude Kicklighter is here and he has got a
very high position, but he is going to be here for a number of
years, and I will be here after he goes.
And that brings in, in talking to both of you, the
immutable question of how does a new person coming into
office--not new, either of you, in your fields or this work,
but new in your positions--when you run up against the
resistance of people who, one, because they are human beings,
resist change even though they might know change is for the
better.
Second, the whole question in a large bureaucracy of what
gets decided, approved, at the top, to getting it to filter
down--the example I always use and then I will stop my
question, it is already long--is there is something in health
care which administers Medicaid and Medicare called HCFA, the
Health Care Financing Administration. Congress has set up a
brilliant system wherein, when a new person goes in to head
those 4,000 consummate bureaucratic detail experts, that we
only allow them to take five people with them, which is like
saying to him or her, ``You cannot get the job done, because
you will not be able to take what you want to do and enforce it
down through the bureaucracy.'' Now, that is a little different
situation. You are not under a stricture, but you are under a
much--4,000 to 200,000-plus people is a big difference.
So my question is how do you programmatically,
psychologically, in terms of your personality, in terms of your
determination that you now have to change things and make them
better and work better for veterans--you both expressed that
very clearly and eloquently--what do you do when you come up
against the inevitability of that? How do you handle it?
Mr. Kicklighter. Let me try to answer that, Mr. Chairman.
One thing is clear, in policy and planning, I have met some
very capable people, including senior leadership and other
employees. Certainly I would not try to operate without taking
full advantage of the great talent that is there. But the main
challenge would be always to take a look and see what is the
support, whether it be health care benefits or cemeteries, what
is the health care that you want to provide to the veterans in
Hometown America, and then try to develop the programs that
will provide that needed support. And it has to be work between
both the planners, the policy people, and the financial
management folks, and all the administrations. In the case of
health care, it would be working with the health care
administration. But as a team, to analyze and to see, within
the constraints of what resources are available, what is the
best possible support that you can provide to the veteran or VA
employees in the field? Now, there may be some tough calls that
the senior leadership has to make, and it may be some tough
calls that must come back to the Congress. Our job would be to
try to focus on providing the best support possible to the
greatest needs of our veterans and their families. That
requires a lot of team effort--building the team--analyzing and
making sure that you have good data. You know that the results
that you have planned for the veterans, and you must analyze,
to ensure you are achieving the kind of results you intended,
and you do this by checking, consulting with our board of
directors, staffers here in the Congress, with veterans service
organizations, with the States. We need to get as much input as
we can as rapidly as we can to ensure we are building the best
program possible to support the veterans. There maybe
restraints that might not give the veterans everything you
intended.
Chairman Rockefeller. My time has expired and I am going to
followup on that question with Dr. Gauss and also with you on
my second round of questions.
Senator Specter?
Senator Specter. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Gauss, as
Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, how would
your service in the United States Navy be of assistance?
Mr. Gauss. Senator, for the past 21 years, I was an
engineering duty officer, managing acquisition of weapons
system and information technology systems, working in the
predominantly civil service environment. My last job was
command of a Navy 400-person organization; 300 were military,
over 8,000 were civil servants. So I have a lot of experience
in the technology domain and in management of our senior civil
servants and junior civil servants over the past 21 years, and
I believe that is directly translatable to this job, should I
be confirmed.
Senator Specter. Well, when we talk about technology, we
are talking about the application of the rapidly moving
mechanisms for bringing the information age to bear. Would you
characterize your background with the Navy as putting you on
top of these issues?
Mr. Gauss. Yes, sir, I would.
Senator Specter. I note you have a Ph.D. in electrical
engineering. To what extent is that a qualification, in your
judgment, to being Assistant Secretary for Information and
Technology?
Mr. Gauss. Sir, because the technology is moving as fast as
you noted, it is important to have a full understanding of what
the risks are for making decisions on which technology to
choose and how you manage that for moving into the future. So
that educational background, coupled with experience
background, helps in making those types of risk management
decisions.
Senator Specter. Mr. Kicklighter, as a lieutenant general
in the Army, a similar question: how would that experience be
applicable to the duties and responsibilities of Assistant
Secretary for Policy and Planning?
Mr. Kicklighter. Well, sir, most of my military career has
been formulating policy and doing planning, and producing
results from the policy development and the planning. I feel
like that kind of experience very adequately prepares me for
this job.
Senator Specter. I note, Mr. Kicklighter--we call you
Mister now, instead of General, and Dr. Gauss, we call you
Doctor now, instead of Admiral--I note the presence of ``sir''
as you talk. I do not think that deference is necessary for
just mere Senators. My chief of staff is a West Point grad. I
have quite a number of West Point and Annapolis grads in my
organization. Do you think the Secretary is overdoing it a
little in bringing two top-notch secretaries in like you, Mr.
Kicklighter, and Dr. Gauss, with military backgrounds?
Mr. Kicklighter. No, sir, I do not.
Senator Specter. That is not a trick question. [Laughter.]
Mr. Kicklighter. As you may recall in my opening remarks, I
think probably some of the most formidable and challenging and
rewarding time of my career is the four-and-a-half years I
spent in helping our Nation thank and honor our World War II
veterans. I got to know very personal and up close that great
generation. It had a tremendous impact on me and my respect for
veterans, and I feel that dedication and affection that I bring
to this job from that 4\1/2\ years.
Senator Specter. How about being Chairman of the Board of
Habitat for Humanity? Does that give you some special insights?
Mr. Kicklighter. Well, as you know, it is a faith-based
ministry that is trying to eliminate poverty housing, and we
certainly want to eliminate poverty housing for our veterans
and any other American.
Senator Specter. Dr. Gauss, do you think that this heavy
emphasis on military background is sort of counter-balanced by
one man from the Army and one man from the Navy?
Mr. Gauss. Yes, sir. [Laughter.]
Senator Specter. Dr. Gauss, a simple yes would have been
sufficient. [Laughter.]
You men have outstanding records. I think Secretary
Principi is lucky to have you. I know Chairman Rockefeller and
the rest of us want to get you on the job. That is why Senator
Rockefeller has expedited this hearing--whoops. My red light
went on. I will stop right there. Thank you.
Chairman Rockefeller. Senator Nelson?
Senator Nelson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
General Kicklighter, you mentioned that your second
priority in your written testimony, if confirmed, would be to
analyze existing policies and recommend to the Secretary
changes that would improve the delivery of health care benefits
and services to the veterans, and you also indicated that you
do not have a tactical approach necessarily, more strategic in
nature.
Mr. Kicklighter. Yes, sir.
Senator Nelson. And I wondered--so my question truly is
tomorrow, when you speak to Secretary Principi, what are you
going to talk about? What are you going to make in the way of
recommendations to him as to how to develop a tactical approach
to analyzing these existing policies and make the
recommendations as it relates to efficiency and the delivery of
health care?
Clearly, everybody in the veterans community continues to
look for improvements in this area. Do you have anything in
mind as to what you might ask tomorrow?
Mr. Kicklighter. Senator, I have had good guidance from
both the Secretary and the Deputy about what they expect me to
do in this job, and I do not expect to go back to them tomorrow
and tell them what I plan to do. But I do plan to get back to
them very soon, and I would like to tell you that a procedure
that they have put in place for managing policy development is
something called the Strategic Management Council. The Council
is chaired by the Deputy and is co-chaired by the Assistant
Secretary for Policy and Planning and Assistant Secretary for
Financial Management. It meets on a biweekly basis and it looks
at the policy we have, looks at analyzing, making improvements,
and developing existing and new initiatives.
I think that is going to serve us extremely well. It will
move decisionmaking along very rapidly. It will give us
feedback on policy that needs to be corrected, and I would tell
the Secretary that I would like to see the procedure work.
Decisions on policy, as you well know, Senator, rest with the
Secretary. But this procedure will bring to the Secretary very
quickly the kind of decisions that we need to make on policy,
and if they need to come to Congress for policy decisions, they
will be done.
Senator Nelson. As you mentioned, being interested both in
being involved as a team player, but also a team builder, that
a great deal of the Secretary's views may, in fact, be shaped
by your recommendations or by this policy group.
Mr. Kicklighter. Yes, sir. As you know, Senator, I have not
performed in this job and, if confirmed, I eagerly await the
opportunity to get into it and learn as much as I can very
rapidly, and then become a very active player. But I want to
make sure I have got a full deck of knowledge and the
recommendations that I am making are sound and based on good
analysis and recommendations from the staff there.
Senator Nelson. Thank you.
Dr. Gauss, privacy is one of the biggest issues, and you
have already referenced the importance of having information
technology at your fingertips. Have you thought of any ways--
are you going to be directing your efforts toward protecting
the privacy of veterans' health care records so that they
somehow do not get viewed on the Internet? Obviously, everybody
is worried about making sure that your personal records,
personnel records--in this case, medical records--are
maintained with strict privacy.
Mr. Gauss. Yes, sir. It was one of the five areas that I
mentioned that I would like to attack immediately, should I be
confirmed. Protecting information with this technology is
somewhat complex. It involves protecting your communications,
your computers, your applications and your data. I would like
to work with the rest of the staff at VA to propose to the
Secretary a wide-reaching information assurance policy with
some changes in how we build our technology.
Senator Nelson. So you have already had your chance to take
at least a brief look, where you have made up your mind that
there may be some areas where you can make some improvements?
Mr. Gauss. Oh, yes, sir. Absolutely.
Senator Nelson. Very good. Thank you very much.
Thank you, both.
Chairman Rockefeller. Senator Nelson, is that it?
Senator Nelson. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Rockefeller. I want to point out that--and I do
this delicately, having three formidable Senators looking at me
rather carefully--that we, in fact, have a quorum and we can
move to our bills, or we can do what any decent chairman would
do, which would be to call on the three of you.
Senator Murray. That would be decent. [Laughter.]
Senator Wellstone. Do what comes easy to you. Do not be
decent. [Laughter.]
Senator Specter. Mr. Chairman, I notice a waiver of rights.
[Laughter.]
Senator Wellstone. But that is because we have two
excellent people. We look forward to working with you.
Chairman Rockefeller. All right. With that--and I will
followup with post-hearing questions--I think all of us will
followup; I certainly will, because I did not get all that I
wanted, obviously, from my questions. Therefore, we will
followup with questions regardless of what happens here, anyone
who wants to, and I know you will reply promptly. But I will
declare this part of the hearing at an end. We will now move to
the second part of our agenda. So you can both be seated, and I
thank you very, very much.
Mr. Kicklighter. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Gauss. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[Whereupon, at 3:20 p.m., the committee proceeded to other
business.]
A P P E N D I X
----------
Prepared Statement of Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, U.S. Senator From
Colorado
Mr. President, thank you for holding this hearing on the
nominations of Mick Kicklighter and John Gauss.
Mr. Kicklighter, I understand you come highly recommended by
Senator Thurmond for the position of Assistant Secretary for Policy and
Planning. That is a good recommendation.
And, Mr. Gauss, your experience in communications, computers and
intelligence systems for the Navy makes you highly qualified to be
Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology.
Secretary Principi's commitment to our veterans has been
encouraging. His own appointment is a powerful sign that our Department
of Veterans Affairs is being run by someone who truly has the welfare
of our veterans at heart. Now, I believe it is important that we move
ahead with these nominations and give Secretary Principi some help in
tackling the tough job ahead.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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