    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [August 13, 2007]
    [Pages 1071-1072]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Visit to the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical
    Center
    August 13, 2007

        Thanks for coming. It's an honor for me to be here with Senator Bob
    Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala, Secretary Jim Nicholson and Deputy Secretary Gordon England. I appreciate the opportunity to come to a building
    full of compassion, a place of expertise, where people are dedicating
    their time and efforts to help those on active duty and those who have
    served before.
        Any time there is any doubt in anybody's mind that our veterans are
    not getting excellent care, then we in Government have a duty to deal
    with those doubts. I have asked Secretary Gates and Secretary Nicholson to
    review their respective Departments and the interface of their
    Departments--the Defense Department and the Veterans Department--to make
    sure that any doubt as to whether or not a veteran or one on active duty
    gets the best care is--does so.
        I also asked Senator Dole and Secretary
    Shalala to lead a nonpartisan, independent
    Commission to identify areas where we can do better and, more
    importantly, come up with solutions as to how to deal with those
    problems. The Commissioners conducted a very serious and lengthy review
    of our military and veterans health care systems, and they submitted
    recommendations to me at the end of July. After Senator Dole and
    Secretary Shalala briefed me on their recommendations, I then directed
    Secretaries Gates and Nicholson to study and, more importantly, implement the
    recommendations, so we can ensure our severely wounded servicemembers
    that--and their families that they will receive the best possible care.
        We've got great health care for our wounded. We just want to make
    sure that the system is seamless and that the families are treated with
    the utmost of care during these difficult moments. Secretaries
    Gates and Nicholson and their Departments are working hard to make sure
    their Agencies talk to each other and collaborate. Equally importantly,
    they're looking at the recommendations that the Dole-Shalala Commission put
    forward, and they're implementing them. In other words, the Commission
    did really good work. The Commission's recommendations are solid, and
    therefore, to the extent that we can move without congressional law, we
    will do so. And not only will we do so, we will keep the Commissioners
    abreast of the progress we are making.

    [[Page 1072]]

        Secondly, we want to work with Congress. When they come back in
    September, we want to work with Congress to pass that which is necessary
    to make sure that the Dole-Shalala Commission's recommendations are fully implemented.
    In other words, there are some aspects of the Commission recommendations
    that require congressional approval. We believe it's important for
    Congress to listen to the Commission. We believe the recommendations
    make a lot of sense, and we would ask for the Congress to pass those
    recommendations as quickly as possible, so I can sign them into law.
        There's an amazing--there's a lot of amazing things taking place
    here in this facility. For example, we saw information technology,
    health care records that are being passed seamlessly from the Department
    of Defense to the VA to make sure that the care providers here have got
    up-to-date access for each patient. We saw volunteers helping the
    wounded learn to regain balance and confidence through kayaking
    programs. I saw physical therapists--I heard physical therapists talk
    about their patients with the kind of care and compassion that obviously
    requires a big heart and strong commitment.
        The commitment of this Government is this: Anybody who is sent into
    harm's way deserves the best possible care. We're dedicated to this
    goal. If we find problems, we'll solve the problems. For those who are
    providing the care, we thank you. For the soldiers who are receiving the
    care, we owe you the best. And for the families who stand by them, we
    thank you for your patience.
        God bless our troops. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:07 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    former Sen. Robert J. Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human
    Services Donna E. Shalala, Cochairs, President's Commission on Care for
    America's Returning Wounded Warriors; and Secretary of Defense Robert M.
    Gates.