[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 152 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 152

   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Veterans 
   Affairs should request assistance from the Commissioner of Social 
 Security in fulfilling the Secretary's mandate to provide outreach to 
            veterans, their dependents, and their survivors.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 3, 2001

Mrs. Lincoln submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Veterans 
   Affairs should request assistance from the Commissioner of Social 
 Security in fulfilling the Secretary's mandate to provide outreach to 
            veterans, their dependents, and their survivors.

Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a statutory mandate to 
        provide outreach to veterans, their dependents, and their survivors;
Whereas the most recent survey conducted by the VA indicates that many veterans 
        and survivors are unaware of benefits they are eligible to receive;
Whereas recent press reports indicate many veterans are not aware that they are 
        eligible for low-cost prescription medications as part of medical care 
        provided by the VA;
Whereas some VA outreach initiatives, such as the Health Benefits Hotline (1-
        877-222-VETS), are somewhat recent;
Whereas more than 9,000,000 veterans receive Social Security benefits;
Whereas the number of members of the largest group of veterans, the Vietnam Era 
        veterans, who are awarded Social Security disability and retirement 
        insurance benefits will increase over time;
Whereas the Social Security Administration sends more than 45,000,000 cost-of-
        living adjustment notices to its beneficiaries each year;
Whereas the Social Security Administration sends more than 2,000,000 award 
        notices to newly-entitled disability and retirement insurance 
        beneficiaries each year;
Whereas more than 100,000 persons visit the field offices of the Social Security 
        Administration every workday;
Whereas the Social Security Administration has 65,000 employees, most of whom 
        come into contact with the public;
Whereas many Social Security beneficiaries who are veterans could benefit from 
        VA medical care because they do not have prescription drug coverage or 
        are not currently eligible for Medicare; and
Whereas many Social Security beneficiaries are eligible for additional income 
        through the VA's pension and compensation programs: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should request 
        assistance from the Commissioner of Social Security in 
        fulfilling the Secretary's mandate to provide outreach to 
        veterans, dependents, and survivors; and
            (2) such assistance should include--
                    (A) using the December 2002 Social Security cost-
                of-living adjustment notice as a means of publicizing 
                the VA Health Benefits Hotline and the fact that the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides 
                comprehensive health care, including prescription 
                medications, to veterans;
                    (B) using Social Security award notices for 
                retirement insurance and disability insurance benefits 
                to publicize the VA Health Benefits Hotline and the 
                fact that the VA provides comprehensive health care, 
                including prescription medications, to veterans;
                    (C) distributing VA publications that describe the 
                cash, health, and other benefits available through the 
                VA to all Social Security Administration field offices 
                so that these publications may be provided to members 
                of the public who visit such offices; and
                    (D) broadcasting information to all employees at 
                the Social Security Administration who have contact 
                with the public regarding the health care benefits 
                (including the availability of prescription medications 
                as part of treatment) available through the VA, each 
                pension and compensation program of the VA, and other 
                benefits available through the VA so that employees at 
                the Social Security Administration can inform veterans 
                about VA programs.
                                 <all>