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Doctor Stone and our other witnesses for your service to our veterans obviously with the Mister Suburban's line of questions and mister stubby line of questions there are there is work to do there are problems, but I do wanna just note for the record my appreciation and my colleagues appreciation for the President's budget request 240 - three billion dollars a 10 point two percent increase above above that that the the 2020 2020 enacted enacted levels I'll I'll note. The testimony that you provided again that the VA's budget has increased more than 60 billion dollars, or 30 - three percent since 2017. under this administration's leadership and the fact that the 2020 - one request would support 404008 Hundred and 30 - five full-time equivalent employees at the VA and increase of nearly 15000 above 2020 more than a third and then more Our veterans, I think that is an indication of the commitment that the Trump administration has to the VA and I think it also dispels the myth that this administration is interested in privatization. I think that that those those basic facts run totally contrary to this narrative that somehow this administration is moving towards privatization clearly not when you have that much of a significant increase in funding and employment at the Department and I I put. Shape this administration's a promises made and promises kept approach to our veterans, but as my colleagues have noted, there are challenges that remain as we all know the opioid epidemic is an issue that has touched every community in the United States and especially in my home state of Kentucky. According to the CDC, Kentucky is among the top 10 States with the highest opioid prescribing rates. I was encouraged to read your testimony the efforts that the VA is taking to reduce the reliance on opioid medication for pain management. you note that all. Turn of therapies like whole health that are important to components of the VA's pain management strategy. as you know, I've been a strong advocate of these alternative therapies like acupuncture equine assisted therapy, adaptive sports and in the 20 - one a budget request I will note that unfortunately funding for the the VA's Whole Health initiative did not increase and neither did funding for the adaptive sports program. my question is The funding stagnant if this is, in fact, an effective method of getting veterans off of opioids. sure you've recognized that accurately that we've we've led the nation in reduction of opioid use our actual opioid use disorder patients have actually from 18 to 19 actually went down. we just had a had a session in which we took a look at the use of whole health in the reduction of opioids opioids and and and other other other pain pain pain medicines medicines medicines medicines medicines and and and and. and found found found found that that that that if if if if we we we we. added added. added a a whole whole. health. Techniques Tai Chi various cognitive efforts yoga what we found was an additional 30 - eight percent reduction in pain medicines Now what you're seeing in the budget is we really believe it's time instead of having a sitting off to the side that we integrate into our packed team models, our care team models the capability to do this this work and and that's that's where where although although you you see see it it it it's A budget it is actually a reflection of an evolution in how we're approaching whole health techniques well, thanks for your efforts on opioid avoidance and just note for the record my interest in the whole health and the adaptive sports and all of those alternatives the appeals backlog obviously we appreciate the 20 - four million dollar increase for the board of Veterans appeals above the 2020 enacted budget. we know that you you are have I Intentions to address the pending legacy appeals but I will tell you from my casework that despite the Appeals Modernization Act and it has helped we know that appeals modernization has helped we still though, have a problem with the legacy the legacy appeals. in our case work, we're seeing three -year delays. can you tell us what is the biggest factor causing that delay and what what are we learning? And when are we gonna get to those those legacy legacy appeals appeals because because because that's that's that's that's impacting impacting impacting impacting my my my veterans. veterans Sure the Zion Act As you point out, it's a great success, so let me talk a little bit in the details over at the Veterans Benefits Administration, We process legacy appeals and those are generally resolved, but some can go to the board of veterans appeals. The increase you describe is for more judges and more support to actually process their way through that. so we are experiencing the last sort of part of the new beginning. If you will you're right, this is a big focus. I know that the board is thinking about not just in person hearings, but. Hearings and every kind of way to work that off, I believe they said This will be done by 2020 - two, but I'll be happy to arrange for them to come and talk to you about it, but they know this is a very important effort. Thank you. I'm I'm over my time and I appreciate your service and your work you're back thank