AAMC President Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., testified May 16 before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs (VA) on the nomination of Michael Kussman, M.D., as the new VA under secretary for health. Dr. Kirch praised Kussman for his willingness to work with the AAMC's VA Deans Liaison Committee and publicly thanked the VA for their decision to support graduate medical education with an additional 2,000 residency positions over the next five years. Dr. Kirch also stressed the importance of the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program and urged Kussman, the administration and Congress to increase funding for VA research.  The committee is scheduled to vote on Kussman's nomination on May 22.  For more information, please visit www.aamc.org/advocacy/library.