IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 261 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 18, 2009 Mr. Frelinghuysen submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Department of Veterans Affairs should not retreat from its responsibility to support those veterans with combat wounds or service-connected disabilities.

Whereas President Abraham Lincoln promised … to care for him who bore the brunt of battle, his widow and his orphan …; Whereas it is the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan; Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs emphasizes that it will provide veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned—and to do so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship; Whereas one of the ways the Nation provides support for the men and women who fight overseas is to ensure that veterans’ programs are effective and reliable at home; Whereas the President is said to be considering a proposal that would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to recover or collect charges from a veteran’s private health insurance provider for hospital care and medical services furnished by the Department for a service-connected disability; Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs is currently authorized to recover or collect from third-party insurers of veterans charges for hospital care and medical services furnished by the Department for non-service connected conditions; and Whereas expanding this policy to bill a veteran’s personal insurance for care that the Department of Veterans Affairs has a responsibility to provide would break the solemn compact between a veteran and the Government: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that— (1)the President should not formally propose a change in policy as significant as the proposal to authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to charge a veteran’s private health insurance provider for hospital care and medical services furnished by the Department for a service-connected disability; and (2)the Department of Veterans Affairs should acknowledge its responsibility for financing the health care of veterans with service-connected disabilities and combat wounds.