    [Senate Hearing 118-94]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                             S. Hrg. 118-94

                LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION OF VETERANS OF
                 FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES AND
                 MULTIPLE VSOs: PVA, WWP, NASDVA, MRC,
                 BSF, IAVA, BVA, SWAN, SVA, AMVETS

    =======================================================================

                                 JOINT HEARING

                                  BEFORE THE

                         COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
                              UNITED STATES SENATE

                                    AND THE

                         COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
                         U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 SECOND SESSION

                                   __________

                                 MARCH 6, 2024

                                   __________

          Formatted for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

    [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

            Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov

                                   __________

                       U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
    55-118 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 2024

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                         Jon Tester, Montana, Chairman

    Patty Murray, Washington             Jerry Moran, Kansas, Ranking
    Bernard Sanders, Vermont                 Member
    Sherrod Brown, Ohio                  John Boozman, Arkansas
    Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut      Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
    Mazie K. Hirono, Hawaii              Mike Rounds, South Dakota
    Joe Manchin III, West Virginia       Thom Tillis, North Carolina
    Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona              Dan Sullivan, Alaska
    Margaret Wood Hassan, New Hampshire  Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
    Angus S. King, Jr., Maine            Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
                                         Tommy Tuberville, Alabama

                          Tony McClain, Staff Director
                   David Shearman, Republican Staff Director

                                  ----------

            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                         Mike Bost, Illinois, Chairman

    Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen,       Mark Takano, California, Ranking
        American Samoa                       Member
    Jack Bergman, Michigan               Julia Brownley, California
    Nancy Mace, South Carolina           Mike Levin, California
    Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr., Montana   Chris Pappas, New Hampshire
    Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Iowa       Frank J. Mrvan, Indiana
    Gregory F. Murphy, North Carolina    Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,
    Scott Franklin, Florida                  Florida
    Derrick Van Orden, Wisconsin         Christopher R. Deluzio,
    Morgan Luttrell, Texas                   Pennsylvania
    Juan Ciscomani, Arizona              Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky
    Elijah Crane, Arizona                Delia C. Ramirez, Illinois
    Keith Self, Texas                    Greg Landsman, Ohio
    Jennifer A. Kiggans, Virginia        Nikki Budzinski, Illinois

                           Jon Clark, Staff Director
                      Matt Reel, Democratic Staff Director

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------

                                 March 6, 2024

                                                                       Page

                                    SENATORS

    Hon. Jon Tester, Chairman, U.S. Senator from Montana.............     1
    Hon. Jerry Moran, Ranking Member, U.S. Senator from Kansas.......     4
    Hon. Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska......................    15
    Hon. Margaret Wood Hassan, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire.......    18
    Hon. Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Senator from Alabama.................    19
    Hon. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator from Connecticut...........    21
    Hon. Mazie K. Hirono, U.S. Senator from Hawaii...................    24
    Hon. Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator from North Carolina...............    25
    Hon. Angus S. King, Jr., U.S. Senator from Maine.................    28

                                REPRESENTATIVES

    Hon. Mike Bost, Chairman, U.S. Representative from Illinois......     2
    Hon. Mark Takano, Ranking Member, U.S. Representative from
      California.....................................................     5
    Hon. Julia Brownley, U.S. Representative from California.........    20
    Hon. Chris Pappas, U.S. Representative from New Hampshire........    22
    Hon. Christopher Deluzio, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania..    24
    Hon. Morgan McGarvey, U.S. Representative from Kentucky..........    26
    Hon. Matthew Rosendale, U.S. Representative from Montana.........    27
    Hon. Mike Levin, U.S. Representative from California.............    50
    Hon. Jack Bergman, U.S. Representative from Michigan.............    51
    Hon. Greg Landsman, U.S. Representative from Ohio................    52
    Hon. Frank J. Mrvan, U.S. Representative from Indiana............    53

                           INTRODUCTION OF WITNESSES

    Ryan Gallucci, Executive Director of the VFW Washington Office...     8

    The Honorable Jeff Van Drew, U.S. Representative from New Jersey.     8

                                   WITNESSES
                                    Panel I

    Duane Sarmiento, Commander in Chief, Veterans of Foreign Wars of
      the United States..............................................    10

      accompanied by

      Ryan Gallucci, Executive Director of the VFW Washington Office

      Patrick Murray, National Legislative Director

      Michael Figlioli, National Service Director

      Stanley Borusiewicz, Legislative Committee Chairman

                                 GUEST REMARKS

    The Honorable Elizabeth Dole.....................................    29

                                    Panel II

    Robert Thomas, National President, Paralyzed Veterans of America.    31
    Lt. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, USA (Ret.), Chief Executive
      Officer, Wounded Warrior Project...............................    33
    Dennis Wimer, President, National Association of State Directors
      of Veterans Affairs............................................    35
    Jim Whaley, Chief Executive Officer, Mission Roll Call...........    37
    Kathy Roth-Douquet, Chief Executive Officer, Blue Star Families..    39
    Allison Jaslow, Chief Executive Officer, Iraq and Afghanistan
      Veterans of America............................................    41
    Paul L. Mimms, National President, Blinded Veterans Association..    42
    Lorry M. Fenner, PhD, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), Director of
      Government Relations, Service Women's Action Network...........    44
    Jared Lyon, National President and Chief Executive Officer,
      Student Veterans of America....................................    46
    William ``Bill'' Clark, National Commander, American Veterans....    48

                                    APPENDIX
                              Prepared Statements

    Duane Sarmiento, Commander in Chief, Veterans of Foreign Wars of
      the United States..............................................    61
    Robert Thomas, National President, Paralyzed Veterans of America.    92
    Lt. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, USA (Ret.), Chief Executive
      Officer, Wounded Warrior Project...............................   112
    Dennis Wimer, President, National Association of State Directors
      of Veterans Affairs............................................   151
    Jim Whaley, Chief Executive Officer, Mission Roll Call...........   169
    Kathy Roth-Douquet, Chief Executive Officer, Blue Star Families..   175
    Allison Jaslow, Chief Executive Officer, Iraq and Afghanistan
      Veterans of America............................................   187
    Paul L. Mimms, National President, Blinded Veterans Association..   198
    Lorry M. Fenner, PhD, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), Director of
      Government Relations, Service Women's Action Network...........   213
    Jared Lyon, National President and Chief Executive Officer,
      Student Veterans of America....................................   229
    William ``Bill'' Clark, National Commander, American Veterans....   266

                            Statement for the Record

    The Honorable Elizabeth Dole.....................................   279

      LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION OF VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED
    STATES AND MULTIPLE VSOs: PVA, WWP, NASDVA, MRC, BSF, IAVA, BVA, SWAN,
                                  SVA, AMVETS

                                  ----------

                            WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024

                               U.S. Senate, and
                         U.S. House of Representatives,
                                Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
                                                        Washington, DC.

        The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in Room
    SD-G50, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Jon Tester,
    Chairman of the Committee, presiding.

        Present:

        Senators Tester, Brown, Blumenthal, Hirono, Hassan, King,
    Moran, Boozman, Cassidy, Tillis, Sullivan, and Tuberville.

        Representatives Bost, Bergman, Mace, Rosendale, Miller-
    Meeks, Takano, Brownley, Levin, Pappas, Mrvan, Deluzio,
    McGarvey, Ramirez, Landsman, and Budzinski.

        Also Present: The Honorable Elizabeth Dole.

            OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JON TESTER, CHAIRMAN,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA

        Chairman Tester. I want to welcome everybody to today's
    joint Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing with
    the veteran service organizations. We are going to first kick
    things off hearing from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. A special
    thank you to the VFW members who have traveled from every
    corner of our country to be here, particularly the Montanans in
    attendance, which include Joe Fletcher, Tim Peters, Jack
    Hawley, James Layton, and Fred Hamilton. Thanks for being here,
    fellas.
        I am proud to have recently introduced the Fred Hamilton
    Lost Military Records Act, based on Fred's own experiences, as
    a Montana vet trying to get access to his earned benefits. When
    military treatment records are lost after being transmitted to
    the VA by the Department of Defense this bill would allow the
    VA to consider other documentation when determining
    compensation and pension benefits.
        This is a great example of how Congress relies on the VFW
    to keep us updated on the needs of our veterans and their
    families and how we best support these folks. Historic
    achievements like the PACT Act simply would not have been
    possible without your vision, your leadership, and your
    passion. Thank you.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Tester. And make no mistake about this: it was the
    VSOs and the veterans who put pressure on Congress to do the
    right thing for our toxic-exposed veterans and their survivors.
    You made democracy work, you held us accountable, and you
    flipped the votes to get the job done.
        We now are focused on getting the Major Richard Star Act
    across the finish line, to finally deliver combat-injured
    veterans their full DoD and VA benefits, and passing the
    Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Health Care and Benefits
    Improvement Act to bolster veterans' access to health care
    benefits and services for which they are entitled and for which
    they deserve. We also need to hold claim sharks accountable for
    preying on veterans' hard-earned benefits through the Guard VA
    Benefits Act.
        But just like with the PACT Act, we need your continued
    partnership to be successful. Your advocacy is democracy at
    work, and we are here today to continue taking our cues from
    you on the work ahead. So thank you for being here.
        With that I will turn it over to Chairman Bost.

             OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MIKE BOST, CHAIRMAN,
                   U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM ILLINOIS

        Chairman Bost. Thank you, Chairman Tester. Good morning. I
    want to say a special hello to all of you and a special hello
    to all those from Illinois. And if you are from Illinois you
    know my part of Illinois is way south. But we want to thank you
    for being here. And thank you to our friends on the other side
    of the Capitol for hosting this first joint hearing during the
    second session of the 118th Congress. It is an honor to join my
    friends Chairman Tester, Ranking Member Moran, and Ranking
    Member Takano, in welcoming you to the VSO hearing.
        I would also like to thank VFW's National Commander in
    Chief, Duane Sarmiento--I want to get that right--and his wife,
    Ellen, for being here today.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. I would also like to give a shoutout to the
    Illinois State Commander, Mr. Brett Nila.
        If you are joining us from Illinois, if you would just
    wave, will you. Fantastic. A few in the back there. All right.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. Welcome to Washington, DC, and thank you for
    traveling here from the best state in the union. We knew we
    would get a response.
        As most of you know by now, being a Chairman is not a
    responsibility I take lightly. It is very personal for me and
    my family. Many of you know I am a Marine--oohrah, yes. As a
    third-generation Marine, and my son is a lieutenant colonel at
    this time, and a grandson who is a corporal at this time in the
    Marine Corps. So you can see it is a family thing.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. With that, our family knows, and each one of
    us up here know the sacrifices you have made. And I know that
    at the end of the day, you just want access to the health care,
    benefits, and services you have earned, without a headache.
        The Veterans of Foreign Wars are great advocates for both
    here in DC. and across the country, in every community. You
    have my commitment that we will continue to fight for you and
    the voices you represent, just as hard as you fought for us.
    That is why we want to make sure we do that.
        I am proud of all that we have accomplished together in the
    last few years, as mentioned by the Chairman, including the
    President signing the bipartisan PACT Act into law. This
    legislation is the largest expansion of health care and
    benefits for veterans and their families in recent history, and
    we are going to make sure VA gets it right. And when they make
    mistakes, I will be the first to hold them accountable and get
    answers for you if they have made those mistakes.
        We need all of you to continue to let us know what is
    happening out in the field when it comes to wait times for
    toxic-exposed veterans' health care and other claims decisions.
    As Chairman, a top priority of mine is to hold VA accountable
    for you, the men and women who serve, no matter what. So please
    call or visit our website, or call us to report any waste,
    fraud, or abuse. We need your help in making VA what you
    deserve.
        Looking ahead, I am focused on making improvements where we
    can to modernize the delivery of care and services at the VA.
    We have made great progress in identifying improvements that
    could be made to the Transition Assistance Program, or the TAP,
    through our oversight efforts. The TAP program, I always tell
    people that whenever I got out of the Corps we had a TAP
    program. The colonel tapped me on the shoulder and said, ``Hey,
    I'll see you later,'' and that was it. So we have actually
    improved quite a bit by having it, and we are working on
    legislation to increase accountability at DoD, as well as
    adding separate TAP courses for National Guard, Reservists, and
    military spouses. We will make sure TAP is a worthwhile
    experience for every single servicemember.
        I am also proud to have led the effort to safeguard
    veterans' Second Amendment rights. As Chairman, a veteran, and
    a sportsman, fixing the VA's discriminatory process toward
    veterans was a challenge--and I am going off script here. But I
    am going to tell you, the frustration I felt when I found out
    that a veteran, all they have to do is seek from the VA--and
    having done this for 30 years--all they do is ask for a
    fiduciary, and if they get a fiduciary, they lose their Second
    Amendment rights, without due process. That is ridiculous. It
    has gone on too long. It has discouraged veterans from going to
    seek the VA, and we are hoping we are getting that problem
    fixed now.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. We will be working on that through a budget
    that is hopefully passing today.
        I am proud to say that our efforts have drawn attention to
    this injustice, and they have paid off. The language of my bill
    is currently included in the VA appropriations bill and will
    soon become law. As the VFW knows, fixing this is long overdue.
    I thank Senators Moran and Tester for helping us get this
    provision across the finish line, and I believe that Senator
    Moran introduced that bill the first time back in 2009. So it
    is finally coming to fruition.
        Right now, we are in bipartisan negotiation to get a
    package of veterans' bills to the President's desk, as well.
    This comprehensive package includes many of VFW's priorities,
    like expansions to VA's long-term care services to put veterans
    in control of where they want to live out their days;
    strengthening the Community Care Program; expansions to the VET
    TEC education program; support for homelessness programs to
    ensure VA can continue to lift veterans out of homelessness and
    get them back on track; and so much more. I would like to, with
    my colleagues, get this package done as soon as possible.
        But make no mistake. Our work is nowhere close to being
    finished. On my side of the Capitol, we have held over 50
    oversight hearings, brought in more than 100 VA officials to
    answer to the veterans and taxpayers they serve, and connected
    with over 10,000 veterans and their families through in-person
    and telephone town halls.
        My door is always open and will continue to be always open
    to you, because veterans are still fighting a VA bureaucracy to
    access the benefits they want, when and where they need them,
    dealing with underperforming VA employees who do not have the
    veterans' best interests in mind, and reeling with the impacts
    of Bidenomics and rising costs of living which is, in return,
    causing an increase in homelessness across the country,
    including with our veterans. These might seem like small
    things, but when it comes down to it, they impact veterans
    every single day. And I will ensure that VA gets the budget it
    needs to complete its goals.
        I look forward to meeting that mission alongside all of
    you, and I thank you again for being here today. With that, I
    yield back.
        Chairman Tester. I will now recognize Ranking Member Moran.

                 OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JERRY MORAN,
                RANKING MEMBER, U.S. SENATOR FROM KANSAS

        Senator Moran. Chairman Tester, thank you, and I thank you
    and Chairman Bost for hosting us, and it is good to be here
    with both of you and Ranking Member Takano once again as we do
    our oversight and hear our instructions and suggestions from
    the VFW and many VSO organizations today and tomorrow. I thank
    all of our witnesses for being here, for the members who
    traveled to join us here today, for servicemembers and their
    family members, for veterans, for caregivers, all who are here
    to care and love and see that we do the right thing when it
    comes to those who served our country.
        I highlight the Kansans who are in the office and I
    appreciate the strong relationship and friendship we have. It
    was good to see the VFW in our office yesterday, and DAV
    tomorrow, and others throughout this week.
        None of the work we do here is at all possible without the
    contributions and support, the efforts that are made by the VSO
    community, including those present today. We, in my view, have
    accomplished some major things in recent years. None are
    insignificant, and all are important, but there is more, much
    more, to be done, particularly in making certain that when we
    pass legislation it is not just a high-five and a press
    release. It actually results in the increased well-being and
    welfare of those veterans that we are committed to serving. We
    need to make sure that DC, the Department of Veterans Affairs,
    is implementing correctly, and when we have made errors in our
    legislation we need to make sure those errors are corrected.
        I know that many in this room share priorities together in
    this second session of Congress, including protecting and
    expanding and reinsuring timely access to quality health care,
    both at the VA medical facilities and in the community;
    ensuring proper implementation of the PACT Act to avoid further
    backlog of disability claims; engaging with VA to make certain
    that the PACT Act's presumptive decision process is responsive
    to veterans; increasing and updating benefits for survivors;
    assisting veterans in rural areas with unique challenges they
    face; continuing efforts to prevent veteran suicide;
    strengthening and supporting for transitioning members,
    servicemembers, student veterans, and homeless veterans as well
    as individuals within the caregiver, survivor, Guard, and
    Reserve communities.
        This is a great Committee to serve on. I have served on it
    since my original days in the House, 14 years in the House, 14
    years in the Senate. I have asked for this Committee assignment
    in all of my time in Congress. And I want to take this
    opportunity to continue to express my gratitude for the help by
    those in this room and my commitment to work together this year
    and into the future.
        Thank you all for your tireless advocacy on behalf of
    veterans and survivors across the country. Your efforts are
    critical. They do make a difference, and every American should
    know the value of the veteran service organization, and every
    veteran should see the opportunities to serve other veterans
    through a VSO.
        I look forward to your testimony, and I yield back. Thank
    you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Tester. Thank you, Senator Moran. I will now
    recognize Ranking Member Takano.

                 OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MARK TAKANO,
          RANKING MEMBER, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA

        Mr. Takano. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Chairman Tester.
    Before I begin my comments I would like to just take a moment
    to send well wishes to Rick Weidman. Many of us know and have
    worked with Mr. Weidman over the years, and he has been a
    forceful advocate for veterans on behalf of Vietnam Veterans of
    America. Rick, you are in our thoughts, and I look forward to
    your returning to hold us accountable and ensuring that
    Congress properly supports the next generation of
    servicemembers and veterans.
        Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Moran, thank you for
    hosting us here on the Senate side. It is a pleasure to be here
    with my colleague, Chairman Bost, and it is great to see all
    the VSO members and veteran advocates here for our annual
    discussion of priorities.
        The first and most important question, are there any
    Californians in the room? California, in my opinion, is the
    best state. So welcome, and I thank all of you who could not be
    with us in person and who are watching us at home.
        So it is an honor to join all the members of the House and
    Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs to hear directly from
    the commander in chief and representatives of Veterans of
    Foreign Wars. I would also like to welcome the organizations we
    will be hearing from on the second panel. It is great to have
    all of you here, as well, and I look forward to hearing about
    your priorities, and I thank you all for your continued
    advocacy and support for the veteran community.
        As we approach the 2-year anniversary of the Honoring our
    PACT Act, the implementation of that historic legislation
    remains a high priority for both me, personally, and the House
    Veterans' Affairs Committee Democrats at large. We remain
    committed to ensuring that VA has the resources it needs to do
    the job we asked it to do, and that it does that job to the
    best of its ability.
        And I will resist vigorously any attempts to undermine the
    law and shift back to the old funding paradigm of pitting one
    veterans' program against another or against other domestic
    spending priorities by undermining the Toxic Exposure Fund,
    which is used to pay for PACT Act health care and benefits, as
    some have proposed to undermine. Veterans and their families
    deserve better than that, and so I hope VFW and other VSOs will
    join me in opposing any efforts to pull back from the promise
    of the PACT Act.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Takano. Today VA is receiving and processing more
    claims for disability compensation than ever before. The VA has
    opened its doors in extraordinary ways to more toxic-exposed
    veterans so they can get the care they need. The last I looked
    at the dashboard, 720,000 claims have been approved for the
    PACT Act.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Takano. And while the PACT Act continues to be a good-
    news story, the law is not without its challenges, particularly
    with respect to hiring and training of new staff, modernizing
    the aging medical facilities, and enacting information
    technology updates. So as I said, we will continue to monitor
    VA's progress with this law and push the Department harder when
    necessary. And I will work to build on the success of the PACT
    Act to expand coverage for veterans exposed to toxins, both
    abroad and here at home.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Takano. But beyond the PACT Act, however, a great deal
    remains to be done on behalf of veterans during this Congress,
    and among my principal priorities are preserving women
    veterans' health care freedoms, including by ensuring that they
    have access to the full range of reproductive care and
    counseling, including IVF, which Julia Brownley has an
    excellent bill on the Veteran Infertility Treatment Act, which
    would codify access to IVF and remove the service connection
    requirement. So reproductive health care is veterans' health
    care, and we must make it the law.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Takano. Delivering VA for all veterans, irrespective of
    their age, gender, sexual orientation, or race; working to end
    veteran homelessness and food insecurity; ensuring benefits
    parity for America's veterans, whether they be active duty,
    Guard, or Reserve; and rejecting efforts to privatize VA by
    siphoning off more of VHA's budget for private health care.
        Now unfortunately, we have yet to make much progress on
    those issues in the Congress. In fact, we have seen a
    noticeable backslide on a number of key veteran priorities over
    the last year, like veteran homelessness and suicide. We have
    seen issues related to caregivers and survivors get nothing but
    lip service, and we have seen an exponential growth in the
    number and scale of claim sharks, which my colleague, Chris
    Pappas, has been trying to crack down on with his excellent
    GUARD Act.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Takano. But sadly, the legislative response to those
    issues from this Congress has largely been nonexistent.
    Instead, we have spent time chasing scandals where they do not
    exist, complaining about flags and mottos, and arguing about
    whether it is a good thing that VA is open and welcoming to
    veterans from all walks of life. At best, it has been a
    distraction from the more pressing issues at hand, and at worse
    it has been a case of severely misplaced legislative
    priorities.
        However, I commit to those who are watching today that I
    will continue to fight for real, concrete, actionable solutions
    to the problems veterans currently face. Now I trust that I
    will continue to have the VSOs as a partner in that effort. You
    all have been a tremendous force for good, especially when that
    voice is unified toward the same policy goal. We saw that with
    your collective advocacy for the PACT Act, which was
    instrumental in getting that bill over the hump.
        And so I applaud your past efforts, and I encourage your
    future ones, and I will always be your champion. I will add,
    though, that I am less optimistic, albeit still hopeful about
    the willingness or ability of the House majority to do what is
    right and necessary to address key veterans priorities.
        Case in point, I think everyone in this room, probably in
    this country, views ending veteran homelessness as a key
    priority, and I would posit that this is indeed an eminently
    achievable goal. There are policy tools that we know work, know
    work well, and quickly, to reduce homelessness among veterans.
    Yet we have allowed VA's authority to use those tools to
    expire. And in our efforts to renew them through the HOME Act,
    we have continually heard complaints about cost and complexity,
    not to mention that we have seen the cynical ploy of pushing
    through knowingly flawed legislation, that the Senate cannot do
    anything with, to pretend that the issue has been addressed, as
    was the case with both the HOME Act and the Elizabeth Dole Home
    Care Act. And on top of that, the improved versions of both of
    these bills are now being held hostage to the majority's desire
    to privatize more VA health care.
        So I implore my colleagues to reject the politics of
    scandal and the culture war and focus on the real and actual
    problems that veterans face on a daily basis so that we can
    make real, lasting progress. Veterans deserve better than what
    this Congress is currently delivering, and we can do better,
    and we have to muster up the courage to deliver.
        So thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding, and I will
    conclude by simply saying, don't feed the sharks.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Tester. I do not know if the VFW knows this but
    you have got some fine people back here working in Washington,
    DC, and I want to introduce one of them, Executive Director of
    the VFW Washington Office, Ryan Gallucci, to introduce the VFW
    national officers.

                     INTRODUCTION BY RYAN GALLUCCI

        Mr. Gallucci. Thank you, Chairman Tester. Members of the
    Senate House Veterans' Affairs Committees, I am honored to have
    the privilege of introducing the national officers of the
    Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and our
    Auxiliary.
        Mr. Chairman, please allow me to ask those to be introduced
    to please remain standing, and I wish to request the audience
    to hold its applause until all have been introduced.
        From the VFW Auxiliary, our National VFW Auxiliary
    President, Carla Martinez, from Utah; Senior Vice President of
    our Auxiliary, Brenda Bryant, of Missouri; Junior Vice
    President, Lois Callahan, from Arkansas; and the National
    Auxiliary Secretary-Treasurer, Ann Panteleakos, from
    Connecticut; and Commander in Chief's wife, Ellen Sarmiento,
    from New Jersey.
        And VFW national officers, Senior Vice Commander in Chief
    Alfred J. ``Al'' Lipphardt, and his wife Carol, from Georgia;
    Junior Vice Commander in Chief, Carol Whitmore, and her husband
    Brad, from Iowa; Junior Vice Commander in Chief Designee, Tim
    Peters, from Montana; Adjutant General Dan West, from Texas;
    Quartermaster General Marc Garduno, from Delaware; Assistant
    Adjutant General Brian Walker, from Tennessee; Chaplain David
    Frei, from Idaho; Judge Advocate General J. Douglas Whitaker,
    from Mississippi; Chief of Staff Carey Pritchett, from New
    Jersey; Inspector General Peter J. Mascetti, from Germany;
    Surgeon General Curtis ``Doc'' Bohlman, from Oklahoma.
        Now joining the VFW Commander in Chief here on the dais,
    Chairman of the VFW National Legislative Committee Stanley
    Borusiewicz, from Connecticut; Director, VFW National
    Legislative Service, Patrick D. Murray, from Rhode Island; I
    will skip over Representative Van Drew and our Commander in
    Chief; Director of VFW National Veteran Service, Michael
    Figlioli, from Massachusetts.
        Finally, I would like to recognize the tenth class of VFW
    SVA legislative fellows, our past Auxiliary Presidents and past
    VFW Commanders in Chief who are with us, as well as, I do not
    know if they came in, but Tonya Star, the widow of Major
    Richard Star, and Senator Elizabeth Dole, a champion for our
    nation's caregivers.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Tester. Thank you all for being here.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Tester. Now I want to recognize Representative
    Jeff Van Drew to introduce VFW Commander Sarmiento.

                 INTRODUCTION BY THE HON. JEFF VAN DREW

        Mr. Van Drew. Thank you, Chairman. Chairmen, Senators, my
    colleagues in the House of Representatives, it is an honor to
    be here, and it is my honor to introduce Duane Sarmiento, a
    good New Jersey name, right?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Absolutely. Yes, sir.
        Mr. Van Drew. He is a distinguished man, a distinguished
    individual, a man who has spent most of his life dedicated to
    serving his nation, a fellow native of my South Jersey, a
    Commander in Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Duane
    Sarmiento is a great man.
        He was born and raised in New Jersey. Duane enlisted in the
    United States Navy in 1988. He served on active duty from 1988
    to 1997, and in the United States Reserve from 2002 to 2006.
    During his time on active duty, Duane deployed in support of
    Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, where he earned his
    VFW eligibility. In recognition of his service, he received
    that Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Combat Action Ribbon, the
    Navy Good Contact Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with
    three campaign stars, Saudi Arabian Medal for the liberation of
    Kuwait, and the Kuwaiti Medal for the liberation of Kuwait
    again, and numerous other medals and ribbons, too many to name
    here today.
        Following his military service, Duane chose to continue
    serving his community of Gloucester County in the State of New
    Jersey. He served as a police officer with the Greenwich
    Township Police Department, and later the Gloucester County
    Sheriff's Department. Yes, he has done a lot of stuff.
        Upon his retirement from law enforcement, Duane served his
    fellow veterans in Gloucester County as the County Director of
    Veterans Affairs. He held that position until his election as a
    VFW national officer. Duane joined the VFW in 1990, at Post
    5579, in Gibbstown, New Jersey, where he maintains his gold
    legacy life membership. He has served in elected and appointed
    positions in the post, district, department, and national
    levels, to include his election as a State Commander of VFW
    Department of New Jersey from 2018 to 2019.
        On July 27, 2023, Duane was elected as the 115th Commander
    in Chief of our nation's most established combat veterans
    organization, the VFW. Since his election, Duane has continued
    connecting with and understanding the experiences of veterans,
    active servicemembers, and their families. Not only has he
    traveled across the country, visiting their families in almost
    all of the 50 states, but has also visited veterans and our men
    and women in uniform living and serving overseas in Europe,
    Central America, and Southeast Asia.
        Duane has made it his mission to advance the VFW's three
    pillars of advocacy, assistance, and camaraderie. He is
    committed to serving those who serve and embrace them, and
    advocating for them wherever he travels. That is why he is here
    to testify on their behalf today.
        You know, just a few brief words on veterans. I served in
    the VA as a dentist, and I saw broken hearts, broken bodies,
    broken minds, and broken souls. There are no words, there are
    no proclamations, there are no resolutions, there are no awards
    that we can give them to suffice for what they have done and
    what they are willing to do.
        I will be happy one day when we do not hear the words
    unemployed veterans, homeless veterans, veterans without health
    care, veterans that do not have educational opportunities,
    veterans with a higher suicide rate than anybody else in the
    United States of America, and veterans and active military that
    do not have to have woke policies forced upon them. We need a
    strong military and strong support for our veterans, period.
        Duane represents that. I am proud to introduce him. God
    bless you, Duane, God bless this VFW, God bless this Committee
    for the work it does. Thank you.
        Chairman Tester. Thank you, Congressman, for that
    introduction.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Tester. Congressman Sarmiento, I will now turn it
    over to you for the VFW's----
        Unidentified Voice. You called him Congressman.
        Mr. Van Drew. He would be in my district. He would be me.
    He probably could.
        Chairman Tester. He has not told you that he just filed
    yesterday?
        [Laughter.]
        Mr. Van Drew. I have got to check. Come on, Duane. You did
    not tell me.
        Chairman Tester. I will tell you one thing, when I called
    you Congressman I got Bost's attention, I will tell you that.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Tester. Commander Sarmiento, I will now turn it
    over to you for VFW's opening statement. Thank you all for
    being here, and we look forward to your statement.

                                PANEL I

                                  ----------

      STATEMENT OF DUANE SARMIENTO ACCOMPANIED BY RYAN GALLUCCI,
      PATRICK MURRAY, MICHAEL FIGLIOLI, AND STANLEY BORUSIEWICZ;
             VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES

        Mr. Sarmiento. Chairmen Tester and Bost, Ranking Members
    Moran and Takano, thank you for the opportunity to represent
    the 1.4 million members of the VFW and our Auxiliary here
    today.
        The 117th Congress passed the PACT Act, which was a
    generational bill that provided care and benefits for veterans
    of all eras. I would like to take this moment to show you just
    who the VFW represents and why the PACT Act was so important to
    us. It provided expanded care for Vietnam veterans exposed to
    Agent Orange. Could my Vietnam veterans please stand.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. It provided expanded care for Gulf War
    veterans exposed to Sarin and other unknown chemicals and
    toxins. Could my Gulf War veterans please stand.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. And it provided new presumptive conditions
    and care for veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa,
    Eastern Europe, and other areas where they were exposed to burn
    pits and other airborne hazards. Could my Post-9/11 veterans
    please stand.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. Thank you. This is who the VFW is and who
    your work is helping today.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. The men and women in this room are a cross-
    section of the VFW, a cross-section of our veteran population,
    and a cross-section of America. This is why I call upon you as
    our leaders in Washington, DC, to continue fighting for those
    who served, are still serving, and to every day meet the
    challenge.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. Now let's talk about claim sharks.
        [Chorus of boos.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. With the passage of the PACT Act, the VFW
    saw an increase in online advertisements from predatory claim
    sharks that targets veterans' earned VA benefits. They argue
    that the high fees they charge make them more effective in
    assisting veterans than the free services offered by VA-
    accredited veteran service organizations. That is false. They
    say that there is no way for them to seek VA accreditation.
    That is also false. Anyone can seek accreditation. But they
    refuse to do so because they would no longer be able to charge
    exorbitant fees, especially for work they did not do.
        Companies that prey upon veterans and disregard the law
    must be held accountable, not rewarded with legislation and
    legalize their predatory behavior.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. It is distasteful that these claim sharks
    take money from veterans, but it is absolutely disgusting that
    they take money from survivors.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. The VFW strongly supports the GUARD VA
    Benefit Act, which would only reinstate penalties for charging
    veterans unauthorized fees for VA claims. Claim sharks are
    spending millions of dollars to lobby against the GUARD Act
    here in DC, stalling a Federal fix. So instead, we are working
    in the states to enforce the law. New Jersey and New York have
    already made claim sharks illegal, and bills are moving forward
    through legislatures all around the country. The claim sharks
    have fought our bills in every state and continue to try to buy
    influence. But we will never give up because we have the law
    and the moral high ground on our side.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. This is why it is so important to the VFW
    because VA claims are the gateway to lifesaving care and
    benefits. We invest heavily in our professional service program
    at two dozen military bases. Every year, VFW-accredited
    representatives assist approximately 20,000 servicemembers with
    their benefits delivery at discharge or BDD claims before they
    leave the military, meaning they can receive benefits almost
    immediately upon separation for free.
        Unfortunately, access to accredited representatives for BDD
    is inconsistent. That is why the VFW highly recommends the
    passage of the TAP Promotion Act, which would ensure all
    servicemembers have direct access to accredited representatives
    during TAP classes. The VFW commends the VA for starting down
    this path in January, but this only reinforces the need to make
    this the law.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. Transition is an important milestone in a
    servicemember's life, and the VFW believes we need to do
    everything we can to support that journey. That is why the VFW
    works with like-minded organizations like Onward Ops, USO
    Pathfinder, and Wounded Warrior Project to offer data-driven
    resources for transitioning servicemembers. We have also
    partnered with Columbia University to produce a report on
    transition that will come from real-time experiences from those
    exiting the military.
        Recently transitioned former junior enlisted veterans have
    higher rates of homelessness, unemployment, and suicide than
    other veterans. We must do everything we can to help ease that
    transition, especially for those who are at higher risk. Trying
    to stop suicide or homelessness is meaningless if we ignore the
    root causes. The VFW urges Congress to pass the Not Just a
    Number Act to direct VA to report on all its programs and
    veterans in crisis. Preventing crisis requires looking at more
    than, ``When was your last mental health appointment? ''
        We need to look at all VA benefits to know what actually
    works instead of fumbling to react when it is too late. VA's
    own research shows that factors like financial stability,
    housing, and jobs protect against crisis. But if veterans have
    problems accessing benefits like the GI Bill, why would they
    trust the VA with their health care? After years of sounding
    this alarm, VFW is optimistic that VA may finally be listening,
    but we can do more.
        After the Navy I spent 20 years as a police officer. If you
    have got the gun in your mouth, it is too late. We need to
    understand what happens before a veteran gets to that point.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. Next, we need to make sure our veterans
    receive the full benefits they have earned. Year after year,
    and Congress after Congress, the VFW has advocated to fix
    concurrent receipt, and this year is no different, because
    Congress has yet to finish the work it started and promised to
    finish 20 years ago. Our government says it holds veterans in
    high regard, yet we keep using them as a way to save money.
        Military retirement and VA disability are two fundamentally
    different benefits, earned for two entirely different reasons,
    yet the law calls this double-dipping. The Major Richard Star
    Act gained overwhelming bipartisan and bicameral support from
    the 117th Congress, yet not enough to send it to the
    President's desk. The VFW fears the 118th Congress will end up
    with the same result.
        We must pass the Richard Star Act so veterans receive the
    full benefits they have earned through their blood and sweat
    and service to our country.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. Another inequity that demands the attention
    of Congress is how we treat our veterans living overseas. I am
    Filipino-Italian American from New Jersey. I know it is an odd
    mix.
        [Laughter.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. I still have many friends and family who
    live overseas. Many are veterans who have earned care and
    benefits through their service. We know there will never be the
    same level of care outside the U.S., but what many overseas
    veterans face is indifference and apathy. Common services like
    direct deposit are not available to overseas veterans. In many
    countries, services like medical care and postal service for
    veterans are being reduced. These are not just veterans who
    retired for a better beach. Many of these veterans are still
    employees who work for the Department of Defense or State,
    supporting interests in the military mission. Cutting off
    service for overseas veterans should be viewed as a national
    security risk, which is why we need to enact common sense
    reforms for veterans living outside the U.S.
        This is why the VFW calls on Congress to undertake
    substantial reform to the VA Foreign Medical Program. I want to
    thank my Congressman, Jeff Van Drew, for his interest in our
    efforts.
        The current foreign medical program is literally a riddle
    wrapped in a puzzle because experiences vary widely depending
    on where you are and who you know. We have to provide
    consistent access to care and support to veterans overseas. VFW
    welcomes the opportunity to discuss these issues with you.
        Lastly, I close my remarks. I feel it is necessary to
    remind everyone of our sacred obligation to make sure we never
    leave a fallen comrade behind. Former President Calvin Coolidge
    stated, `` The nation which forgets its defenders will itself
    be forgotten.'' That not only applies to the men and women who
    made it back home from the fighting overseas but also those who
    never made it home. We must continue to fully fund and
    prioritize DoD's critical mission to make sure all
    servicemembers who went missing or prisoners of war are
    recovered and returned with honor, in their final resting place
    on U.S. soil.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. Moreover, it is imperative that DoD properly
    recognize the dangerous service of all Americans overseas. I
    have had the chance to visit with servicemembers around the
    world over this last year, whether it is alongside DPAA on a
    mountain in Laos, or alongside decision-makers and care
    providers at SHAPE or Landstuhl. I have heard firsthand about
    the needs of today's force, which is why those who are fighting
    terrorism in the Middle East or deterring aggression on the
    eastern flank of NATO deserve proper recognition for their
    service on behalf of a grateful nation.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. Chairmen Tester and Bost, Ranking Members
    Moran and Takano, your Committees have done so much over recent
    years to serve our veterans, culminating with the PACT Act. The
    VFW thanks you for all your hard work and work yet to come.
    Thank you for the opportunity to share the VFW's priorities as
    we enter our next 125 years in service to our veterans. We are
    eager to answer any questions you may have.
        [Cheers and applause.]

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Sarmiento appears on page 61
    of the Appendix.]

        Chairman Tester. Look what you have started. So for the
    information of the folks on the dais, there will be 3-minute
    rounds, and there are going to be a lot of questions to be
    asked, so try to keep it to that.
        I am going to start out, Commander, asking you about mental
    health. Look, Senator Boozman and I introduced the Not Just a
    Number Act. It requires the VA, as you pointed out in your
    opening statement, to more closely examine the association
    between veterans and their benefits and suicide. This bill
    would have the VA look at the veterans' use of disability
    compensation, education, employment benefits, home loans,
    foreclosure assistance, and housing assistance programs.
        So my question to you is this. How could this analysis of
    veterans' use of VBA programs improve VA suicide prevention
    efforts?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Chairman, we fully support this. You know,
    what happens is, and just like I said, when a veteran commits
    suicide it is like when was his last appointment. We need to
    look at the total package with VHA and VBA, what benefits were
    they receiving. Because when it is too late, if we are worrying
    about when their last mental appointment was, it is too late.
    We have to say what is the root causes here.
        You know, suicide and homelessness, I have got to be quite
    honest, Mr. Chairman. A lot of the root causes are the same.
    You know, when you say we would like to have zero veteran
    homelessness, zero veteran suicide, you know, I think in a
    perfect world you are right, that is going to happen. I can
    tell you, as a police officer, if we can save one, if we can
    look in and help out with their transition, because what causes
    the transition? Financial stability, jobs. That is the stat we
    will never know because if they have that they never get to the
    endpoint.
        But when we look back on the data and see what they
    received, that is when we can start making a change. And if we
    can save one out of five, two out of five, that is a home run.
    That is a home run. And that goes the same for homelessness. It
    is the sustained root causes. Because--and I will be done, but
    now you have got me rattled, and I apologize.
        Chairman Tester. It is Okay. You did good. Thank you.
        Look, my friend, Tim Peters, who is sitting right over
    there, who is the VFW's Junior Vice Designee, informed me some
    time ago that veterans are being denied earned VA benefits
    because the Federal Government lost their military records,
    through no fault of their own. We recently introduced
    legislation to address this, named after a Montana veteran by
    the name of Fred Hamilton, who I believe is here today.
        Could you tell me, I know the VA supports this bill, could
    you please discuss how this Fred Hamilton Lost Records Act
    would improve the claims process for veterans?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Absolutely. I would love to. And Fred is in
    the room. I truly believe that, or I know that.
        So the Fred Hamilton which you bring up, I mean, veterans
    are being denied a claim because the VA lost their records.
    This is a no-brainer. I mean, I get it. The government is big
    and bureaucratic. The bureaucracy of the government, I
    understand, and I understand there has got to be tweaks to be
    made. And I appreciate you putting this in, and I hope this
    Committee forwards this out. Because when you get down to the
    bottom line of this, a veteran puts a claim in, they get their
    medical record and service record, and they deny it because
    they lost it. That does not even make sense to me.
        But thank you for taking the initiative on this, and I know
    this is a no-brainer for the Committee, sir.
        Chairman Tester. Thank you, Commander. Chairman Bost.
        Chairman Bost. First off, let me say that there are some
    times that each one of us, when we deal with government, a lot
    of things do not make sense to us, okay. That being said, we
    know the VFW is a staunch supporter of VA's Community Care
    Network, but we know some veterans are still waiting too long
    to get the care they want. What do you think the VA needs to do
    to improve Community Care access?
        Mr. Sarmiento. That is an excellent question, Chairman. It
    is a balancing act with the VA. I use all VA health care. I
    truly do. Everything I do, I use the VA, and there are some
    times I get farmed out to Community Care. But it is balancing
    act. You cannot have too much of one. The VA Secretary was just
    briefing us, saying it is, in some places, up to 40 percent are
    getting sent out, and even he agrees that is not right. It is
    more of a balancing act.
        Because what happens is--and I talk to veterans all the
    time--you get sent out to Community Care, you are on the hook
    to pay the bill, even though the VA sent you, because you are
    the one getting the late notices--where is my money, where is
    my money--and you are being drug into court because the VA sent
    you out.
        There is a fine line here. We have to find it, do this
    balancing act with it. I mean Community Care, we are supportive
    of it. It does help care, especially in rural areas, sir. But
    for the veterans that sit there and be billed, with late
    notices, time after time after time, it creates undue stress.
    And I am hoping that we can find this balancing act.
        Chairman Bost. You know, I was pleased to be working with
    Senator Moran, Senator Tester, Speaker Johnson, and we were
    able to get the language of my bill, H.R. 705, to protect
    Second Amendment rights for veterans, included in the
    appropriations bill, which we will consider this week. And I am
    grateful the VFW passed support of this issue. Is this
    something that the VFW will continue to support?
        Mr. Sarmiento. I absolutely guarantee the VFW will continue
    to support this. What it does--and you know, and sir, you
    brought it up in the beginning--veterans are not asking for
    anything special. All we are asking for is due process, that
    every other agency or any other person that goes to any other
    service in the Federal Government gets, not a VA administrator
    deciding we are taking your guns. All we want is due process.
    However that plays out, then so be it. But that is all we are
    asking for, and thank you for spearheading this.
        Chairman Bost [presiding]. Well, thank you, and my time is
    running short, and there are a lot of others. Senator Sullivan,
    I think you are recognized. There you are.

                           HON. DAN SULLIVAN,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA

        Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to ask my
    fellow Alaskans, if they are in the audience, if you can stand
    and be recognized. Here we go. And I think they get the award
    for traveling the furthest. Maybe a little bit of a dispute
    with the Hawaiians. But we also get the award--no offense on
    Alaska--more veterans per capita. That is a fact. So how about
    a round of applause.
        [Applause.]
        Senator Sullivan. All right. And then I was just going to
    mention, I retired from the Marine Corps last month after 30
    years, and so now I take one title, U.S. Marine, which I am
    very proud of, and now another very distinguished title, an
    American veteran. So I am very excited about that.
        [Applause.]
        Senator Sullivan. Commander, I want to thank you and your
    team and all the other VSOs. Last year you might remember I
    really, really focused on this Camp Lejeune issue. It was a
    priority of so many of our VSOs. We had sick families at Camp
    Lejeune. We gave them the legislation to get funded, to get
    better. Unfortunately, we had some law firms that wanted to
    make sure they got the money and not the sick Marines.
    Everybody came out against that. We finally got an Executive
    order saying that there is a cap on attorney's fees, 20 to 25
    percent, period. The Attorney General of the United States has
    said if a law firm charges sick Marines more than that they
    will be civilly or criminally liable. Okay?
        [Applause.]
        Senator Sullivan. Really important. Some of these law firms
    are charging 60 and 70 percent contingency fees. It is
    disgusting.
        So can I ask you very quickly, and I know when the other
    VSOs come up, can you make sure that we are still getting the
    word out to our veterans that there is now a cap, and this is
    really important. Even if they have already signed a contract
    with a law firm, 70 percent, I have asked the Attorney General,
    that is null and void. And if that law firm tries to charge a
    family of sick Marines, they could be criminally liable.
        So can you, and are you getting the word out so none of our
    Marines and their families are getting ripped off by these
    unscrupulous law firms?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Sir, we are absolutely getting the word out.
    We raised the alarm on this last year.
        Senator Sullivan. I know you did.
        Mr. Sarmiento. I want to thank you for spearheading this.
    We put out to our people, our VFW actually partnered with some
    law firms that already gave us the reduced rate, because before
    this was passed, you are right, 60, 70 percent. It is insanity.
        Senator Sullivan. Crazy.
        Mr. Sarmiento. Absolute insanity. And we are glad this has
    been codified into law. And sir, thank you for being a member
    of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
        Senator Sullivan. I am, yes.
        [Applause.]
        Senator Sullivan. Well, Commander, I have a reputation on
    this Committee of going way over my time, and I think it ticks
    off a lot of my Senate colleagues. I do not want to tick off
    the House colleagues. So with one second left I am going to
    yield back, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Bost. Thank you. Ranking Member Takano, you are
    recognized.
        Mr. Takano. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commander
    Sarmiento, I know you are not a Member of Congress, but in the
    event you become one I know you are going to join the
    Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
        So with that let me just say, I want to thank the VFW for
    your support for the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, and
    I am happy to report that Mr. Levin introduced the bill
    yesterday with Senators Moran and Tester, and I am happy to
    support it again this Congress. And I absolutely echo your
    written testimony--your written testimony--that it is beyond
    time that the National Guard and Reserve servicemembers receive
    GI Bill eligibility for the entirety of their time in uniform.
        So my question to you is this. To be absolutely clear and
    blunt to the other members of these two Committees, when you
    say in your written testimony that the time is now for parity,
    are you calling for Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity to be
    passed in this Congress?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Chairman Takano, yes, we are.
        Mr. Takano. Well, let's get it done.
        Mr. Sarmiento. Absolutely.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Takano. Now let me go on. Your testimony discusses how
    the social determinants of health are intertwined with veteran
    suicide prevention work, and you highlight homelessness and
    financial instability, unemployment, and justice involvement.
    And I agree with your push to see better data transparency out
    of VA to address these issues.
        And I guess what I would ask is how you would respond to
    politicians who drag their feet in paying for programs in this
    space or try to cut and defund social safety nets. What are
    they doing to veterans?
        Now, as a follow-up, well, let me just ask you about that.
    What do you think about politicians trying to cut or defund
    social safety net programs?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Mr. Chairman, I am going to turn that over
    to our subject matter expert, Pat Murray.
        Mr. Murray. Mr. Chairman, sorry, Ranking Member, a lot of
    these issues require funding, upfront funding and full funding,
    so that these programs can continue all year long without
    interruptions. The start, stop, start, stop of funding affects
    them, which ultimately trickles down and affects veterans. We
    need to make sure that these programs continue to be fully
    funded all year round, going forward.
        Mr. Takano. And that includes the social safety net
    programs like SNAP.
        Mr. Murray. Yes, sir.
        Mr. Takano. Thank you. Now, as a follow-up, talking about
    homelessness programs, Congress, these two committees that are
    sitting in front of you here today, have failed to extend much-
    needed pandemic-era authorities that were proven to be
    effective in reducing housing insecurity while also connecting
    homeless veterans to health care appointments and job
    interviews.
        Your testimony mentions H.R. 3848, the HOME Act, which
    would address these problems. Do you have any thoughts on how
    Congress should proceed and the effects of the delays in
    getting this bill to the President's desk on having housing-
    insecure veterans?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Congressman, we are hoping that this moves
    forward. As you know, the HOME Act increases the maximum rate
    of per diem to VA providers. It creates services for shelters,
    food, clothing, I mean, basic necessities of Americans, and
    especially those that are vulnerable.
        We fully support this, and we want to get this passed, get
    it signed, do whatever it is we have to do. And we talked about
    the steps of where do we stop homelessness, this is the
    beginning steps. These are root causes of all those issues. We
    are fully behind this.
        Mr. Takano. Well, thank you very much. Let's get it done
    this Congress. Thank you.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. Senator Hassan is now recognized.

                       HON. MARGARET WOOD HASSAN,
                    U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE

        Senator Hassan. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and to
    you and Chairman Tester and our Ranking Members, thank you for
    this hearing. Commander, thank you for your testimony. To all
    the Granite State VFW and Auxiliary members here, thank you for
    your service. I am very proud of our veterans in New Hampshire.
    And to all the veterans who are here today, regardless of what
    state you are from, thank you for being here. And to our
    Vietnam vets in particular, welcome home. I cannot say that
    enough.
        [Applause.]
        Senator Hassan. Commander, in your testimony you mentioned
    claim sharks, people who are not accredited benefits agents but
    who nonetheless offer to, quote, ``help veterans file their
    benefits claims,'' and then they charge enormous fees. I am a
    strong supporter of the GUARD VA Benefits Act that would help
    crack down on claim sharks who target veterans. But can you
    just please discuss a little bit more the important role that
    accredited agents play in helping veterans access benefits and
    how these claim sharks undermine this important work?
        Mr. Sarmiento. I would absolutely love to. The importance
    of the VSOs, any veteran service organizations, number one, it
    is free. The claim sharks are breaking the law. Ever since the
    PACT Act was signed, we never even heard of a claim shark.
    There have been hustlers and grifters ever since currency was
    invented, and as soon as the PACT Act came out all of a sudden
    we have got attorneys that want to get involved, to sit there
    and prey upon family members that just lost a veteran, to sit
    there and prey on a vulnerable veteran. That is a shark. That
    is why we call them a shark. And it is against the law.
        All we are asking is to reinstitute penalties, put the
    penalties back. Look, I am from New Jersey. I get it. We have
    got the crime in DC--I have got the same in New Jersey. If they
    said carjacking is illegal but there is no penalty, I would
    have to walk everywhere I go in the State of New Jersey. That
    is what I mean. I mean, I hate to use an oxymoron like that,
    but truly, all we are asking is put the penalty back. They prey
    upon us.
        It was totally amazing that before the PACT Act was signed
    you never heard about this.
        Senator Hassan. Right. Right.
        Mr. Sarmiento. They saw the money. They smelled the blood,
    and that is why we are against this, ma'am.
        Senator Hassan. All right. Well, thank you very much for
    that very clear explanation.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Hassan. Very, very clear. I want to move on to one
    quick topic before my time is up. You mentioned also,
    Commander, the need for the VA to provide easily accessible
    health care and counseling for women veterans at all VA
    locations. To help address issues faced by women veterans this
    Committee has worked on a bipartisan basis to pass into law
    several key pieces of legislation--the Deborah Sampson Act that
    eliminated some of the barriers to care that women veterans
    encounter, and the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act that
    expanded eligibility for breast cancer screening. We need to
    continue building on this work.
        I am out of time, but I would love it if, in the course of
    this discussion this morning, if you can just touch on how we
    can increase access to care for women veterans and fully
    integrate them into the VA care.
        Mr. Sarmiento. Ma'am, Pat Murray has testified in front of
    several subcommittees and committees. I am going to pass this
    on to him to make sure you get exactly the answer you want.
        Senator Hassan. With the Chair's indulgence.
        Mr. Sarmiento. Oh, I am sorry. Is that how it works, sir?
        Senator Hassan. Yes. Thank you. That would be great.
        Chairman Bost. Yes, go ahead.
        Senator Hassan. Yes, go ahead.
        Mr. Murray. Ma'am, one of the things that we are seeing is
    preventive care. It is critically important. Things like
    prenatal vitamins. Veterans who are pregnant are not treated
    that they are pregnant until they actually are positive. Having
    access to prenatal vitamins is incredibly important to prepare
    healthy bodies for that future next step.
        Senator Hassan. Right. Thank you very much. Thanks, Mr.
    Chair.
        Chairman Bost. Senator Tuberville.

                         HON. TOMMY TUBERVILLE,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM ALABAMA

        Senator Tuberville. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for
    being here today. My State of Alabama, do we have anybody here?
    We have got a few. Thank you very much.
        Real quickly, under the Trump administration there was an
    evaluation of a lot of people in the VA. It is not just about
    money. It is not about buildings. It is about people who work
    in those buildings. Four thousand people were fired for cause.
    This Administration has allowed them to come back, with back
    pay, and work in the VA. It is a disgrace. Do your job or you
    do not work in the VA. You deserve great care, great care, not
    average care.
        [Applause.]
        Senator Tuberville. Now, unfortunately, the VA has lost its
    way under this Administration. They have gotten caught up in
    the border crisis caused by President Biden and his open border
    policies. While the VA should be leveraging every available
    resource to ensure timely and quality care to veterans, a
    section of the VA Financial Service Center helps process health
    care claims for illegal aliens. VA Community Care providers are
    used by the DHS to provide care for illegal aliens.
        Do you approve, Mr. Chairman, of the Biden administration
    using the VA and our taxpayer dollars to assist with health
    care claims, processing illegal aliens at ICE detention
    centers?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Senator, it is our understanding, from even
    going to Chairman Bost's committee, and speaking to the VA
    Secretary, that there are 10 VA employees on the border
    processing ICE financial claims. They have been doing this
    since 2002. Obviously, we are against any--if VA is using
    resources, medical resources on undocumented immigrants, we are
    against that. But from our understating, and if I am answering
    your question, Senator--I want to make sure I am
    understanding--that we have 10 people--I should not say
    ``we,''--the VA has 10 people down on the border doing medical
    billing process, and it is not taking away anything from
    veterans in the VA, sir.
        Senator Tuberville. So that being said, my bill, 3490, the
    No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act, would stop any of this
    from happening. Would you support that?
        Mr. Sarmiento. I do not believe we have seen that. We have?
    It is something that, if you would like to speak to our staff
    here in DC, sir, we sure would be willing.
        Senator Tuberville. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Bost. Representative Brownley.

                          HON. JULIA BROWNLEY,
                  U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA

        Ms. Brownley. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, VFW,
    for being here. I love the energy in this room and your
    determination and commitment and advocacy for getting all of
    this legislation done for our nation's veterans. So thank you
    very, very much.
        Mr. Commander, I wanted to thank you for your support for
    the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, and I know that your people
    testified, or sent a statement for the record, in front of the
    House VA Committee, and you wrote about how important this bill
    is, particularly for our veterans who are experiencing early
    onset of dementia, which I think is extremely important. I
    think the Elizabeth Dole bill is very important for our aging
    veterans. I think the Elizabeth Dole bill is very important for
    our disabled veterans.
        So if you could just speak a little bit about why this bill
    is important and why veterans cannot afford to wait any longer
    for its enactment.
        Mr. Sarmiento. Thank you, ma'am. The VFW believes it is
    imperative that we pass this piece of legislation on the
    caregivers, because it is so important. Look around at all the
    blue hats out here, whether they are male or female. They are
    family members. They were caregivers before that term even came
    about.
        So we support this legislation. We want this to pass. We
    are hoping that nobody--sometimes what happens, as you know
    better than I do, when we change regulations or we change the
    law those already on it are getting kicked off, that we be
    mindful of that, and we are more than willing to work with you
    to be sure that does not happen. But we are on board with this.
        Ms. Brownley. Well, thank you very much. I think Ms. Dole
    is going to be here later in this meeting. You know, this is an
    important bill, and at the end of the day it is what veterans,
    I believe, want. And we know that the health outcomes are far
    better with veterans being taken care of in their homes versus
    in institutionalized care. So I really, really do appreciate
    your advocacy around this.
        I have very little time left, but I just wanted to address
    the issues around the challenges, really, that all veterans are
    experiencing in terms of accessing survivor benefits. And VFW
    talked about where Congress should be practicing better
    oversight around this issue.
        I just wanted to say that after we had a hearing in the
    House I followed up with Under Secretary Jacob and his team
    regarding this issue, and the DIC application and the fact that
    it is 20 pages long, very onerous. I looked at it. I mean, I
    cannot do my taxes by myself. God forbid that I could fill out
    this form by myself.
        So I think there are a lot of changes that need to be made,
    and again, I am running out of time but appreciate your
    advocacy around this and really working and engaging with VBA
    to make sure that they follow suit on this. The Under Secretary
    has promised me that they are looking at regulatory or
    statutory changes in this area.
        So thank you.
        Chairman Bost. Senator Blumenthal, you are recognized.

                        HON. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL,
                     U.S. SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT

        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all
    for being here.
        As a law enforcement commander, as a law enforcement
    officer for many years, I appreciated your very direct comments
    on the need for effective enforcement. And let me talk about
    the PACT Act in that regard. Too often there is exploitation of
    our veterans. I have introduced a measure called the GUARD VA
    Benefits Act. It is bipartisan, with Senator Graham and Senator
    Tester. I wonder if I could ask for the VFW's support for that
    measure, to make sure that individuals accredited by the VA and
    supported by VSOs are not exploited by individuals promising
    them that they will get them benefits when all they need to do
    is apply for those benefits directly.
        Mr. Sarmiento. Sir, we stand behind you about a billion
    percent. As a matter of fact, we would love to give you one of
    our claim shark pins if you would like to wear it, that says
    ``Don't Feed the Sharks.'' We are behind that 1000 percent.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. I was speaking earlier about we have always
    got hustlers and grifters, always. That is why we are against
    this. We provide free--not just us but all the VSOs--provide
    free. Those people sit there and they will tell you they have a
    magic wand, ``I will guarantee you benefits. You are going to
    get X amount of dollars.'' But when the magic don't happen, pay
    me. That is what they want. ``Pay me. We have got a contract.''
        Senator Blumenthal. I would be happy to wear the pin, and I
    also want to thank the VFW and other VSOs for their support for
    the Afghan Adjustment Act. I have been helping to lead that
    effort. Two of my sons, one a Marine and the other a Navy SEAL,
    know firsthand how our at-risk Afghan allies remain in
    jeopardy, and our veterans have been at the tip of the spear in
    championing measures that will enable us to give those Afghan
    at-risk allies a path forward in this country. I am going to
    give you a chance to comment in the time that I have left.
        Mr. Sarmiento. You know, we have been supporting this for
    several years, since it was brought to the forefront. Earlier
    on, when the OIF and OEF vets brought it up, there plenty of
    Afghanistan veterans in this room. They know. They worked
    alongside our allies. Of course we want to support them the
    best way we can. You know, right or wrong how we left, we ain't
    here to debate that. But they were our allies, and we are
    behind this.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you. I want to thank the VFW for
    all of its service, very often underappreciated by our
    veterans, but just absolutely vital. And to everyone in this
    room and to the many who are not here today, thank you for your
    continuing service. After you wear the uniform you continue to
    make this country the greatest in the world. Thank you to all
    of you. And I do not know if we have anyone from Connecticut
    here, but thank you all.
        [Applause.]
        Senator Blumenthal. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Bost. Representative Pappas.

                           HON. CHRIS PAPPAS,
                 U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE

        Mr. Pappas. Thank you very much, Chairman Bost. I just want
    to recognize all the veterans from the ``Live Free or Die''
    State of New Hampshire who are joining us here today. I met
    with them last night in my office. I am really appreciative of
    the priorities that you bring to me each and every time. Also I
    am also appreciative of the Claim Shark pin that you gave me
    last night. So thanks very much for all of your work. I wear it
    proudly.
        And Commander, I do not want to beat a dead shark here, but
    I do want to continue to highlight the need for the GUARD VA
    Benefits Act. And no one could say it better than you did in
    your opening testimony, and I just applaud VFW for your
    continued work here in going after these unaccredited
    representatives that are engaging in predatory practices and
    are taking advantage of our veterans.
        It is really important, especially as we sit in this big
    room, with so many folks that have served our country in a
    variety of different ways, to understand that we work for you,
    that VA works for you, and that it is so critical that we have
    protections and teeth to the law to make sure that no one is
    ripping off our veterans. We have got to make sure that we
    strengthen the accreditation process and ensure that everyone
    is going through it who is assisting veterans with their
    claims.
        I have talked to a number of constituents that have been
    caught up in this. They have reported that they have been
    paying an arm and a leg to these claim sharks companies for
    things and services that are offered for free by VSOs,
    including VFW.
        It is one of the reasons why I am continuing to push, in a
    bipartisan, bicameral fashion, for this GUARD VA Benefits Act.
    As you said, Commander, this would just reinstate the criminal
    penalties, which were taken away somehow a few years back, and
    would make sure that anyone who is assisting veterans with
    claims has to go through this accreditation process and abide
    by the law.
        And it is really important that there is some enforcement
    capability here, because right now when a claim shark company
    is charging veterans whatever they want, there is no recourse.
    This can be reported and flagged for VA, but there is no way
    that the government can go after these bad actors. So that is
    what this is all about.
        Commander, maybe I could get at this from a different way.
    There is a competing proposal that is on the table, a bill
    called the PLUS Act, and it has support from a lot of these
    claim shark companies and lobbyists who have been having a
    flurry of meetings here on the Hill. Could you talk a little
    bit about concern that the VFW has for that legislation?
    Because I see this as legitimizing predatory practices and
    opening the tent to those who are currently violating the law.
    But maybe I could get your take on that bill.
        Mr. Sarmiento. So the PLUS Act that you mentioned, you
    know, the major competing companies that are the sharks wrote
    the bill, and what is pretty offending, at least not from a
    veteran, not for you but that read this, is they wrote it in a
    way that, yes, we will make it illegal for the other people but
    it is okay for us, but if anybody comes behind us, we are good.
    And they put in a law for those that have not jumped on board
    yet, and you get grandfathered in, that it is illegal for them,
    and yes, put them in jail, or whatever you do to them.
        Everybody here knows. I am preaching to the choir.
    Everybody has got their pins on and we love it. We know how
    important this is. We know the money they are throwing at this.
    Look, we are veterans. We do not have no money to do that. We
    are thankful you allow us to come here and speak and give us
    our feeling and give us what our beliefs are. You allow us to
    come into your offices and talk to you and your staff
    personally. That is what we do. But we do not have money to
    throw at this like they have got.
        And I want to thank you for holding the line. Thank you so
    much for that.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Pappas. Well, thank you. I appreciate your advocacy on
    the state level, but we cannot let Congress off the hook. We
    need to pass this at the Federal level.
        I yield back, Mr. Chair.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. Senator Hirono, you are recognized.

                         HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII

        Senator Hirono. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Aloha to all of
    you who are here, all the veteran organizations. Thank you very
    much for all that you do for our country and what you have
    done.
        I particularly, of course, want to give a big shoutout to
    the veterans who have come all the way from Hawaii. They
    probably came before this, from Hawaii. Where are you guys? All
    right. A big shoutout to you.
        And I know that we cover a lot of issues for the veterans,
    but I have to say that I sit on five committees in the Senate,
    and the Veterans Committee is one that really is characterized
    by bipartisanship. And that is why we are able to get a lot
    done that reflects our support for the veterans. And especially
    as we see more women who are serving now and more female
    veterans, and the particular, I think, needs of the women
    veterans are being met by all of you. And I know that all of
    you--by the way, where are the women who are going to be
    testifying? A big shoutout to you folks--that there is support
    all around to make sure that we are meeting the particular
    health care and other needs of the women veterans.
        So thank you very much for all of you being here, and thank
    you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Bost. Thank you. Representative Deluzio.

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER DELUZIO,
                 U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM PENNSYLVANIA

        Mr. Deluzio. Mr. Chairman, thank you. Well, I am excited to
    see some fellow VFW members in the crowd. I suspect I have got
    some Pennsylvanians in the House. Anybody here? Okay. There we
    go.
        We can beat the dead shark. I am game with that. Commander,
    I am surprised you are able to keep from swearing, talking
    about these guys. I heard ``hustlers'' and ``grifters.''
        I will ask an easy question, and I know the answer because
    I used a VSO when I did my claims with the VA. What do you
    charge?
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. Sir, free.
        Mr. Deluzio. Exactly right. And look, I think that is an
    important message that my fellow veterans maybe do not know.
    There are folks that will help you do this for free. It is not
    just the VFW. There are plenty of VSOs who will serve veterans
    and will help them navigate benefits they have earned. That is
    what we are talking about. That is part of the obligation this
    country has to everyone who wears the uniform, peace, war,
    whatever. You have earned those benefits. It comes from your
    service. No one should hesitate coming to the VA to get it.
        So that is all I wanted to say. I am with you in this
    fight. We have got to take on these sharks. We have got
    bipartisan buy-in, and I hope to get this done, and we are with
    you as long as it takes.
        Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. Senator Tillis.

                           HON. THOM TILLIS,
                    U.S. SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA

        Senator Tillis. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks to
    everybody here. I have to do the obligatory. If you live in or
    have spent some time in North Carolina, can you raise your
    hand? Thank you.
        Thank you all for being here. Just very brief. Commander,
    in your opening statement, I was here for that, we were talking
    about veteran suicide, and I think you are right. You were
    saying if you could reduce one out of five, that is four a day,
    two out of five is 10 a day. It is a big number over time.
        The concern that I have is that the majority of them are
    not connected to the VA. More than half of them are not
    connected to the VA today. And one of the things that I have
    been trying to preach, and hopefully, I think that you all have
    reviewed it and you are okay with it, the Veterans Bill of
    Rights, which is for these people who are going out there and
    convincing them, these attorneys basically taking exorbitant
    fees to actually represent them for Camp Lejeune Toxics Act.
        I want them to read a statement to them, or give them a
    statement that says do you realize that you do not have to pay
    a dime to apply for this? Do you realize that there are VSOs
    out there that will do it for free? Do you realize that you
    have congressional offices that are also tasked with doing this
    every day? Until you have exhausted all these possibilities,
    which will not cost you a dime and net you more benefits, do
    you really want to sign this agreement with an attorney?
        I am going to try to do my best to get that done quickly. I
    want to do it to protect the veteran and not to have these
    people rip off qualified veterans. But I also want to do it
    because I believe, in my heart of hearts, with all of this
    advertising--these damn ads are driving me crazy--but with all
    this advertising that is going on right now, maybe it is a way
    to actually get some of those people who are not connected to
    the VA connected. If they see that they have these rights, if
    they see that they can call a congressional office, what do you
    think about a Veterans Bill of Rights, and what do you all
    think we should do just to get it done?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Sir, I am going to pass this off to Pat
    Murray, our Legislative Director.
        Mr. Murray. Senator, we support this proposal fully. I
    think what we can it done, bring it down to the floor, hotline
    it, I don't know, after lunch. But what we want to do is
    continue banging that drum, that it is not just ``the'' free
    option. There is an entire network out there.
        Senator Tillis. A hundred percent.
        Mr. Murray. It is VSOs. It is county, state, it is
    everybody.
        Senator Tillis. Well, that is why--and a Bill of Rights,
    that is what I am saying. You know, we can work on the wording,
    but here are all the resources you have as a veteran, that you
    should exhaust before you sign a retainer for a law firm that
    is more interested in what they get at the end of the day than
    doing right by the veterans.
        Mr. Murray. Sir, you are absolutely right. There is an
    abundance of choice already out there, and we want veterans to
    go to that first.
        Senator Tillis. Well, we would like you all's feedback on
    maybe some of the details of the Bill of Rights, but I think it
    helps us, I think it puts these folks in their place, and I
    think it gets more veterans connected, which gets to a key
    problem that I want, is fewer men and women taking their lives
    every day. We need to help them. Thank you all.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. Representative McGarvey.

                         HON. MORGAN MCGARVEY,
                   U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM KENTUCKY

        Mr. McGarvey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If we have any
    veterans here who were ever stationed in or live in Kentucky,
    we are glad to have you all here, so thank you for being here.
        Commander Sarmiento, thank you so much. People sometimes
    tell me they have a hard time understanding what is going on in
    Washington. I hope they listen to your testimony because there
    is no doubt. We appreciate both your thoughtfulness and your
    candor in that regard.
        I am truly inspired listening to so many of these stories,
    observing the strength and the passion with which you all
    advocate for our nation's veterans, the men and women who are
    willing to put on a uniform and sacrifice everything to keep
    this country safe. Your expertise empowers us and the Committee
    members to work together and to do all we can to ensure access
    to the benefits and the services that veterans and their
    families have earned. So again, I thank you guys for being
    here.
        You mentioned in your testimony today several quality-of-
    life issues which I like to call social determinants of health,
    that affect veterans and their families. It is issues like
    transitioning out of the military, food security, housing,
    employment, transportation, childcare--the list goes on and on
    and on. I believe this Committee and the VA can and must do
    better to address social determinants, which we know are
    significantly tied to health outcomes. These issues do not
    exist in silos. They all affect veterans' health. So I think we
    have got to start treating them that way.
        Commander Sarmiento, I am getting to my question here. The
    existing benefits and approaches are often disparate and
    require veterans or spouses to navigate several separate and
    unconnected programs, which can be confusing and overwhelming.
    It seems our current system does not approach health from a
    holistic perspective. Do you think it would improve veteran
    health if the VA treated resources like transportation,
    childcare, employment, and stable access to food and housing as
    part of a holistic approach to veterans' health?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Yes. Sir, the simple answer is absolutely
    yes. And we talked about the TAP Promotion Act. When you do the
    transition, once that Act is in, now you are exiting the
    military. It starts there. Then it transfers off to a handoff
    to the VA. And if we can get everybody talking and on the same
    page, it is a win-win. Sometimes you are right and government
    gets siloed. The VA is here, the DoD is here, other people are
    here, and I do not work for you, you do not work for me. If we
    can just get people talking and ease the transition of
    everything you said, it is simple. It sounds simple, I know,
    though you know better than me. It sounds simpler than it is,
    but we are willing to work on this, and we believe starting
    with the TAP Promotion Act, when you are exiting the military,
    to do the handoff to the VA.
        Mr. McGarvey. Thank you, sir. I appreciate all your all's
    service, and Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        Chairman Bost. Thank you. Representative Rosendale, you are
    recognized for 3 minutes.

                        HON. MATTHEW ROSENDALE,
                    U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM MONTANA

        Mr. Rosendale. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank
    you, everyone, for coming in and attending today, Commander
    Sarmiento and the rest of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
    United States for coming to Washington, DC, to testify today. I
    look forward to having representatives from the Montana chapter
    of the VFW in my office later today, and I always appreciate
    your perspectives and insight on all the veterans' issues.
        In your written testimony today you stated, ``Adapting a
    value-based health care model would allow for a patient-
    centered system that aligns with the VA's whole health care
    approach.'' I am helping lead the charge on a bill that I would
    establish a pilot program to allow veterans to receive a health
    savings account and use the money to obtain medical services
    through a direct primary care arrangement. The legislation
    would make it easier for veterans to see their doctor and spend
    money on preventative measures to improve their health before
    getting sick.
        I was the insurance commissioner in Montana from 2016 until
    2020, and I am proud to say that I was able to get authorized
    direct primary care agreements between private individuals and
    doctors, physicians, for a very low cost. And not only have we
    received incredible response from the patients themselves but
    from the doctors that are delivering that care. They have a
    much more close and intimate relationship with the physicians.
    So it has been working out extremely well for everyone involved
    and has been able to address some of these issues that are
    chronic conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes, so
    that we make sure that we have a good maintenance program in
    place.
        What I would like to ask, Commander Sarmiento, is what
    ideas do you have to make the care at the VA more patient-
    centric?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Our Executive Director is definitely a
    little better at this than I am. I am going to pass it off to
    Ryan so I do not sit here with an answer and try to dance
    around you. Obviously, you want your question answered.
        Mr. Rosendale. Perfect.
        Mr. Gallucci. Well, thank you, commander in chief, and
    thank you, Mr. Rosendale, for the question. The VFW has had a
    lot of discussion on this very issue. Now first, to be
    perfectly frank, when Phoenix happened almost a decade ago we
    were out there saying, look, community care is part of VA care,
    and that is very important.
        What we have seen over the last 10 years is we have had the
    CHOICE Program, and now you have the MISSION Act, you have had
    other programs here or there.
        Here is what I am concerned about. The Secretary talks
    about how much VA is spending on community care, but you look
    at how much of that is emergency room care. That is the most
    expensive and most fractured care that a veteran can receive.
    Some of the things that we have talked about with Dr. Elnahal
    and VHA and even the Secretary is you need to lean on your
    third-party administrators. You need to lean on your third-
    party administrators heavily so that you are integrating this
    community care into VA care when a veteran has chosen VA as
    their care provider.
        We are pushing that very hard because the last thing we
    need is veterans showing up at emergency room receiving that
    fractured care. We think there are ways to do this, and would
    be eager to work with you and the Committees to address that.
        Mr. Rosendale. Thank you very much, and again, I think we
    can establish this relationship. We have a maintenance program
    that we can avoid crisis situations for our veterans in the
    future.
        Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield back.
        Chairman Bost. Senator King.

                        HON. ANGUS S. KING, JR.
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM MAINE

        Senator King. Commander, I wish you would quit beating
    around the bush, man.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator King. We have gotten less bullshit from you today
    than any witnesses I have ever heard.
        [Applause.]
        Senator King. And, man, we see a lot of that.
        Anyway, it seems to me one of the themes here is common
    sense. Richard Star Act. You earn two separate benefits, you
    should get them, period. Richard Star, common sense.
        [Applause.]
        Senator King. Here is the other one. I am on Armed Services
    and Veterans' Affairs, so I see this from both sides. One of
    the first hearings I was in in Armed Services 10 years ago, I
    made the statement, I said, ``Why don't we spend as much money
    on transition as we do on recruiting? '' In other words, let's
    take care of those veterans when they are coming out.
        And, of course, the third common sense is the GUARD Act.
    Why are we allowing people to take money out of the pockets of
    veterans when you guys can do it more effectively for free?
        So let me talk about transition for a minute. Transition is
    statistically one of the most dangerous moments for veterans.
    That is where there is a high level of suicide, a high level of
    homelessness. It is a real problem. So a couple of bills. The
    Welcome Home Veterans Act. One of the problems is when you sign
    all that paperwork at the TAP there is one little box about
    opting in to notify the state veteran agency. I want to change
    that to an opt out, because right now only 13 percent of
    veterans are known to their state agency. My vision is let's
    get the names to the state agency, they get the names to the
    VA. I want a couple of you guys or women meeting the veteran at
    the airport when they arrive home.
        [Applause.]
        Senator King. So do you support the Welcome Home Veterans
    Act?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Yes, we do, sir. That is a common sense
    approach to a problem that probably got incurred by just, not
    oversight, but overlooked. It was just overlooked. To opt out.
    That is a no-brainer.
        Senator King. And then we will get people's names so they
    can be met and get the services they need right away.
        The second one is the TAP Promotion Act. You have already
    mentioned that. Make VA-accredited representatives like
    yourself at the TAP Day before people leave. You are for that,
    I take it.
        Mr. Sarmiento. We are all in on the TAP Promotion Act.
        Senator King. That is good. All right. The third one is the
    Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act, so a combat veteran can
    enroll in the VA health care before they leave their service,
    so they could get the care they need from the VA on day one.
    Are you in on that one?
        Mr. Sarmiento. Yes, sir, we are in on that one, as well.
        Senator King. Well, you have got it, man. Let's get this
    done. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. I want to thank Senator King for saying what
    we all feel. Of course, there is a statement in deep southern
    Illinois. We appreciate you putting the cabbage down where the
    hogs can eat it.
        [Laughter.]
        Mr. Sarmiento. What does that make us, Mr. Chairman?
        Chairman Bost. Well, I thought Chairman Tester demoted you
    by calling you Member of Congress.
        But we do want to say thank you to the VFW for sharing this
    2024 legislative priorities, and to all the veterans and
    families and caregivers and survivors that are in attendance
    here today.
        Now we are going to switch over to our next panel, which
    will be Elizabeth Dole, and Senator Dole is going to address
    us. But we are going to take a 15-minute break, and then we
    will reconvene.
        [Recess.]
        Chairman Bost. Well, we would like to welcome everybody
    back, and before we begin the second panel I would like to take
    a moment, if we can, to recognize a very special guest, and
    allow her to give a few remarks. Senator Elizabeth Dole,
    welcome. Thank you.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. We want to thank you for being with us
    today, for your tireless work to provide veterans and their
    caregivers the support they deserve. And the floor is yours.

                   REMARKS BY THE HON. ELIZABETH DOLE

        Ms. Dole. Chairman Tester, Chairman Bost, Ranking Member
    Moran, Ranking Member Takano, Congressman Brownley, thank you
    for that wonderful, warm welcome, and thank you for inviting me
    to speak in support of legislation that I believe to be a
    lifeline for America's veterans and their caregivers.
        I am grateful to our many partners here today showing their
    support for this important legislation, particularly my good
    friend, General Mike Linnington. Mike, I know this is your last
    hearing as CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project. Thank you for
    being a transformative leader and advocate, a true partner, and
    for the immeasurable difference you have made in the lives of
    so many veterans and caregivers.
        [Applause.]
        Ms. Dole. Serving as a United States Senator was one of the
    greatest honors of my life, and my beloved husband Bob served
    in these chambers for 35 years. While we never thought
    Washington should attempt to fix all the nation's problems, we
    firmly believed that some of America's greatest challenges
    could only be solved with the leadership, power, and resources
    entrusted to you, our elected representatives.
        I am truly honored that the omnibus of veterans bills and
    the Act for Veteran Caregivers are named for me, though I
    certainly do not feel worthy. I am even more grateful for the
    promises they hold for those who protect our freedom and our
    security and their caregivers. The resources, reforms, and
    improvements contained in this legislation are precisely the
    types of advancements that only this body can provide. And I do
    not see how we can be a nation that truly cares for our
    military and veteran communities if we wait another day to get
    this legislation passed.
        [Applause.]
        Ms. Dole. The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, in particular,
    is bipartisan legislation that will make it possible for
    severely injured veterans to spend more time recovering at home
    with their families, rather than at an institutional setting.
        I think of Americans like Lara and Tom Garey, and their
    son, Trey, from Texas. Tom was an Air Force veteran who
    tragically passed away last year due to his service-connected
    ALS. Like so many veterans, Tom wanted to be home with his
    family for as long as possible. As his condition deteriorated,
    Lara had to fight to get the appropriate support in their home
    so Tom could continue to enjoy family movie nights and even
    attend his son, Trey's, makeshift high school graduation in
    their living room. He would have missed all of this if he had
    been housed in the closest medical facility, which was 2 hours
    away.
        By easing access to necessary programs and services, this
    legislation will make the very difficult path of the Gareys and
    so many others much easier. It will allow veterans and
    caregivers to focus on the things that really matter.
        You know, Bob and I always said that the most meaningful
    change happens when our leaders work across the aisle. At a
    time when compromise and consensus are hard to come by, you,
    your colleagues, and your staff have done it. You have come
    together to create a significant package of legislation that
    will impact thousands of veterans' and caregivers' lives for
    the better.
        Now I urge you to remain united, to continue to put
    veterans and caregivers first, and to pass these bills. This
    community has earned it, and they desperately need your
    bipartisan leadership to accomplish it.
        Thank you all for your consideration, and a special thanks
    to the MSO and VSO leaders we work with every day to support
    our nation's veterans, their caregivers, and their military
    children.
        Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. Thank you, Senator Dole.
        Now on our second panel we have multiple veteran service
    and advocacy organizations that are represented and assist in a
    diverse cross-section of veterans from around the country.
        First, we will start with Robert Thomas, the National
    President of Paralyzed Veterans of America.
        Up next we have General Mike Linnington, Chief Executive
    Officer of Wounded Warrior Project, and as was mentioned, I
    hear he will be retiring at the end of this month, so we want
    to take a minute to say thank you for his hard work.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. General, you have been working greatly on
    advocacy on behalf of the nation's wounded warriors, and for
    all your work you should be celebrated, and the Committee
    really does appreciate what you have done.
        Next we have Dennis Wimer, President of the National
    Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.
        Next up is Jim Whaley, Chief Executive officer for Mission
    Roll Call.
        Next up is Kathy Roth-Douquet, Chief Executive Officer of
    Blue Star Families.
        Next up, Allison Jaslow, Chief Executive Officer for Iraq
    and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
        Next also we have Paul Mimms, National President for the
    Blinded Veterans Association.
        And next, Colonel Lorry Fenner, Director of Government
    Relations for the Service Women's Action Network.
        We also have on the panel Jared Lyon, National President
    and Chief Executive Officer of the Student Veterans of America.
        And last but definitely not least we have William ``Bill''
    Clark, National Commander of AMVETS.
        Thank you for being here.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. Mr. Thomas, you are recognized for your
    opening statement.

                                PANEL II

                                  ----------

            STATEMENT OF ROBERT THOMAS, NATIONAL PRESIDENT,
                     PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

        Mr. Thomas. Chairman Tester, Chairman Bost, and members of
    the Committees, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you
    today on behalf of the tens of thousands of veterans with
    spinal cord injuries and disorders who heavily rely on the
    benefits and health care available through the VA.
        The VA is the best health care provider for veterans with
    catastrophic disabilities. The Department's system of care
    provides a coordinated, lifelong continuum of services. There
    is no comparable private system of care in the community. Thus,
    preserving and strengthening VA's specialty care system remains
    the highest priority for PVA, and it should be for you.
        Despite the Veterans Health Administration's hiring
    successes last fiscal year and the flexibility gained by
    workforce provisions approved by previous Congress, staffing
    levels within the SCI/D system of care are not improving. We
    continue to see the same staffing deficiencies at the SCI/D
    centers year after year, which affects everything from the
    quality of care received to employee safety and well-being at
    these facilities. We are extremely concerned with the VHA's
    decision to severely limit hiring in 2024. I urge you to
    monitor the hiring practices closely so veterans are not
    adversely affected.
        Another pressing need for PVA's members is increased access
    to VA's home and community-based services. As eloquently
    discussed by Senator Elizabeth Dole, passing her namesake
    legislation, the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, would make
    critically needed improvements to VA's home and community-based
    services, such as lifting the Department's cap on the amount
    they can pay for home care, increasing access to the Veteran-
    Directed Care Program, and improving support to caregivers and
    veterans.
        The story of Andrew, an Air Force veteran who has ALS, and
    his wife Lisa, illustrates why this legislation must pass now.
    Andrew is currently bedbound, paralyzed, vent-dependent, and
    non-verbal. Lisa has had to work hard to secure the equipment
    and services needed to keep her husband alive and comfortable
    at home. Recently, they had to give up the Veteran-Directed
    Care in lieu of the Family Caregiver Program because expenses
    related to Andrew's care were projected to exceed the cap later
    this year. This unnecessary disruption in the continuity of his
    care highlights the urgent need to eliminate the cap.
        I understand the provisions of the Elizabeth Dole Home Care
    Act are included in a larger package of legislation that is
    currently being considered by Congress. I cannot stress enough
    how important it is to get these provisions enacted into law
    now. Andrew and his family cannot wait longer for the care he
    needs.
        Other veterans with SCI/D need to receive care at a
    specialized, long-term care facility. Despite the grave need,
    the Department's capacity to provide such care is extremely
    limited. There are currently only six VA SCI/D long-term care
    facilities. Thus, veterans continue to remain in acute settings
    for months or years, at a significantly greater cost because
    other placements, including the community, are simply not
    available.
        We call on Congress to mitigate the shortage of long-term
    care beds by funding the six construction projects identified
    in my written statement and ensure existing facilities are
    fully staffed.
        Finally, neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction are
    common conditions among veterans with SCI/D, and they can lead
    to complications, rehospitalizations, and even death.
    Therefore, managing them requires ongoing specialized
    attention. The VA could train and reimburse designated
    caregivers to provide this critical care. The Department's
    current Bowel and Bladder Program is fraught with problems like
    reimbursement delays, it lacks due process for the veteran, and
    unlike virtually all other VA payments it imposes tax burdens
    on family caregivers.
        Harry Robinson, caregiver for his wife, PVA National Vice
    President Ann Robinson, pays about $3,500 a year in self-
    employment taxes out of his reimbursement for providing her
    with life-sustaining care. Allowing family members to provide
    bowel and bladder care leads to better outcomes for the
    veterans and saves the VA money. But Congress must reduce the
    burden of providing care for veterans' caregivers. Codifying
    the Bowel and Bladder Program will allow Congress to address
    the tax burden and make other needed improvements.
        In closing, I would like to note that these are just a few
    of the many issues affecting catastrophically disabled
    veterans. Others include the need for improved travel support
    to help veterans receive needed medical care, increasing HISA
    grant rates to provide critical housing modifications, and
    better access to inpatient mental health care and substance use
    disorder treatment for veterans with SCI/D. Information about
    these and other issues of importance to paralyzed veterans are
    included in my written statement.
        Thank you again for this opportunity to share our views and
    your commitment to paralyzed veterans and their caregivers. I
    will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Thomas appears on page 92 of
    the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Thank you, Mr. Thomas.
        General Linnington, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

    STATEMENT OF LT. GEN. MICHAEL S. LINNINGTON, USA (RET.), CHIEF
               EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT

        Mr. Linnington. Good morning, Chairmen Tester and Bost,
    Ranking Members Moran and Takano, distinguished Committee
    members. Thank you for today's hearing.
        Let me thank Senator Dole for her gracious remarks. She
    remains a friend, a mentor, a role model, and really the
    epitome of a selfless servant leader, so thank you, Senator
    Dole, for your remarks.
        I would like to begin by thanking many of you and your
    staffs for meeting with our Wounded Warrior Project alumni this
    week to discuss our highest legislative priorities. These men
    and women, in the black polos behind me, are the best
    messengers for insight about how we can assist Post-9/11
    veterans in your states and districts.
        Wounded Warrior Project has been serving wounded warriors
    across the country for more than 20 years, interacting with
    thousands of warriors daily and helping them lead healthy,
    fulfilled, and empowered lives in the communities you
    represent. They are the voice of Post-9/11 veterans on Capitol
    Hill, and we are humbled to bring them to Washington, DC, with
    us this week.
        My remarks today will be short, capturing the highlights of
    our written testimony submitted last week and in support of our
    2024 lege priorities. Our priorities are informed by our
    unwavering commitment to honor and empower wounded warriors,
    commitment that led us to provide over 66,000 hours of mental
    health treatment in our last fiscal year alone. That drove us
    to deliver more than 240,000 hours of in-home and local care
    for the most severely wounded warriors, increasing their
    independence, and what inspired us to run over 7,800 events
    across the country, connecting warriors and their families to
    each other and the resources they need to thrive in the
    communities where they live and work.
        And while we empower millions, we also recognize far too
    many Post-9/11 veterans are continuing to struggle with mental
    health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD
    related to their service. For some, Wounded Warrior Project has
    been a critical stop on their journey of healing and recovery,
    and importantly, a critical link to VA resources designed to
    help those with the greatest mental and brain health needs.
        It is why our first call to action is improving access to
    VA's Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment
    Programs, or RRTP. As we shared at previous oversight hearings,
    VA's MISSION Act-derived access standards do not extend to
    these critical inpatient programs. Instead, veterans and their
    advocates are left to interpret a VHA directive that, in our
    judgment, provides little predictability about the course of
    their treatment and their options for care along the way.
    Unless Congress or VA acts to address this policy gap many of
    our veterans will continue to face obstacles in connecting to
    the care they need, placing them at heightened risk for
    negative outcomes the longer they wait for treatment.
        We appreciate the Committees' oversight on this issue and
    the introduction of legislation including the Making Community
    Care Work for Veterans Act, the Veterans' Health Act, and the
    Veteran Care Improvement Act, that would address this issue.
    Ensuring that a single solution is included in the forthcoming
    Elizabeth Dole Omnibus Act is indeed our highest priority.
        Our second legislative priority pertains to helping women
    veterans with access to care and employment. Continued
    oversight of the Deborah Sampson Act implementation is still
    critical, particularly on matters relating to women's health
    staffing and childcare that make VA a more attractive option
    for care. Exploring new opportunities, like extended clinic
    hours and cultural competency training for all VA staff will
    also help. In that vein, we encourage support for H.R. 5785,
    the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Improvement Act, which
    would expand education opportunities for all veterans but be
    particularly impactful for women veterans.
        Sadly, the unemployment rate for Wounded Warrior Project
    women warriors is four times higher than the U.S. veteran
    population, and nearly half reported living paycheck to
    paycheck. We can do more, surely, to help these women find
    good-paying jobs in the growing STEM fields, and supporting
    H.R. 5785 would help make an underutilized VA program more
    accessible to women.
        Similarly, we are prioritizing warriors' financial well-
    being, and join many of our VSO colleagues and Members of
    Congress by offering our strongest support for the Major
    Richard Star Act, which would end the oft-cited military
    retirement pay against VA disability compensation for veterans
    who were medically retired for combat-related injuries before
    they reached 20 years of service. This is one of the most well-
    known bills in Congress and in the veteran community, and I
    appreciate Chairman Tester's press conference yesterday with
    several of the VSO/MSO partners in support of this legislation.
    And certainly Tonya Star's presence was also notable.
        I would also like to highlight, however, a few less-known
    bills that would help place more veterans into Federal jobs
    that value their military experience. The GROW for our Veterans
    Act, the Employing Veterans to Feed America Act, and the
    Veterans Border Patrol Training Act would create new and
    creative opportunities for veterans at the Departments of
    Interior, Ag, Homeland Security, and they all have our full
    support.
        Finally, as I close I would like to share that working with
    Congress and your Committee has made our work of honoring and
    empowering wounded warriors even more impactful. Looking back
    on our collaboration on legislation like the MISSION Act, which
    expanded the caregiver program to all generations, the John
    Scott Hannon Act, which expanded VA's investment in community
    organizations that help prevent veteran suicide, and the PACT
    Act, which represents the largest expansion of health care and
    benefits for toxic-exposed veterans all give me hope, hope that
    anything is possible when we work together in honoring those
    who have served and sacrificed on our behalf.
        And I, too, look forward to your questions.

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Linnington appears on page
    112 of the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Thank you, General.
        Mr. Wimer, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

     STATEMENT OF DENNIS WIMER, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
                  STATE DIRECTORS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

        Mr. Wimer. Thank you, Chairman Tester, Chairman Bost,
    Ranking Members Moran and Takano, and distinguished members of
    the Committees on Veterans' Affairs. And I would like to thank
    Representative Mrvan from Indiana for being on this Committee
    and being here today. Thank you, sir.
        My name is Dennis Wimer, and I am the President of the
    National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs. I
    also have the honor to serve as the Director of the Indiana
    Department of Veterans Affairs.
        NASDVA was founded 78 years ago to bring together the VA
    state directors, commissioners, and secretaries from all 50
    states, 5 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, with
    the mission to foster effective representation for those
    claiming entitlements due to their honorable service, to
    provide a medium for the exchange of ideas and information, and
    facilitate discussion, and to successfully advocate for our
    nation's veterans, their families, survivors, and caregivers.
        State Departments of Veterans Affairs are comprehensive
    service providers. We serve our respective veterans as the
    primary intersection on veterans' issues between the United
    States Department of Veterans Affairs and our respective state
    and territory governments, as well as with veteran service
    organizations, community partners, and nonprofit entities. In
    doing so, we closely partner with Federal VA to deliver both
    Federal and State services while conducting aggressive outreach
    and advocacy for our nation's 18-plus-million veterans.
        The collaborative relationship between the VA and NASDVA
    was just recently reinforced with the renewal of the Memorandum
    of Understanding signed last week with Secretary Denis
    McDonough at our Mid-Winter Training Conference here in DC.
    Secretary McDonough told us, VA and our veterans have no better
    partner than NASDVA. It is our privilege to be partners with
    all of you.
        As an association we applaud Congress' concerted efforts to
    improve VA funding for health care benefits, claims and appeals
    processing, and homeless veterans programs. We specifically ask
    that you support the cohort of 50,000-plus combat-injured
    veterans who are medically retired prior to 20 years of
    service, to receive their earned retired pay without offset of
    VA disability compensation.
        Your passage of the PACT Act was a monumental piece of
    legislation. NASDVA supports current emphasis on the
    implementation and the hiring of adequate VA staff to address
    the resulting increases in medical examinations and services
    and disability claims processing. States perform a vital role
    interfacing with the veterans to inform and help with their
    individual needs and claims. It will take time to address the
    resulting backlog.
        NASDVA applauds Congress' renewed attention on VA's aging
    infrastructure, on caregiver support, and on women veterans
    issues. Also, we applaud VA increasing its digital connection
    with veterans, particularly for health appointments,
    prescriptions, and claim status. We also agree with your
    efforts to hold VA fully accountable for development and
    evolutionary upgrades to the VA's electronic health record
    modernization. It is essential for future health care
    transformation.
        We also recommend continued emphasis by the VA to ensure
    veterans are provided timely community care referrals and
    appointments. Reimbursements to providers for community care
    services should also be prompt.
        In promoting our state and territories' collective veteran
    suicide efforts, NASDVA recommends additional resources be
    provided through the Governor's and Mayor's Challenge on
    Veteran Suicide Prevention.
        For our state veteran homes, both NASDVA and the National
    Association of State Veterans Homes recommend increased funding
    for the VA State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program and
    an increase in per diem to enhance care in view of the national
    shortages of health care professionals. The Build America, Buy
    America Act is presenting some challenges in the acquiring of
    certain materials for the construction of homes, where they are
    not available or more costly. For those state veteran home
    projects granted prior to enactment of the law, we are seeking
    waivers from VA under provisions stated in the law, where items
    are unavailable or too costly.
        Additionally, VA's current Veterans Cemetery Grants Program
    budget does not allow the NCA to adequately cover both the
    establishment of new state or tribal cemeteries, while giving
    priority to the expansion and improvement of existing
    cemeteries. Both state veteran nursing homes and state veteran
    cemeteries provide essential health care and memorial services
    to honor those who have served in the defense of our nation.
        To serve eligible American and Alaska Native veterans,
    NASDVA applauds the MOU between the VA and Indian Health
    Service and supports the rule by VA to waive the copayments
    incurred by these veterans. The recent passage of legislation
    for the National Association of Indian Veterans as a charter
    VSO gives proper recognition for these deserving warriors.
        NASDVA commends VA's emphasis on ending homelessness among
    veterans, especially women veterans with children. NASDVA
    recommends continued funding for specialized homeless programs
    and commends VA and HUD for increasing the number and value of
    HUD VASH vouchers.
        It is a significant challenge, as we have heard, for
    transitioning servicemembers to connect with earned state
    services, benefits, and support. NASDVA applauds the Veterans
    Benefit Administration allowing accredited VSOs and states to
    have a 45-minute inclusion in the DoD Transition Assistance
    Program. It is also important that we be allowed to receive
    information and connect with servicemembers retiring and
    separating who are coming to our respective states.
        It is extremely important that we recognize and honor the
    service of our Guardsmen and Reservists, particularly with the
    increased and vital role they perform, not only at the State
    level but in the overall defense of our nation.
        Finally, it is important to highlight that NASDVA's
    membership are government-to-government partners with Federal
    VA, and that we are second only to Federal VA in delivery of
    earned benefits and services.
        Distinguished Committee members, we sincerely respect and
    appreciate your work to improve the well-being of our nation's
    veterans. With your help and your continued support we can
    ensure that our veterans remain a national priority. Thank you.

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Wimer appears on page 151 of
    the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Mr. Wimer, thank you.
        Mr. Whaley, you are now recognized for 5 minutes.

           STATEMENT OF JIM WHALEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
                           MISSION ROLL CALL

        Mr. Whaley. Chairmen Tester and Bost, Ranking Members Moran
    and Takano, and distinguished members of the House and Senate
    Veterans' Affairs Committees, on behalf of Mission Roll Call, a
    national nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) and roughly the 1.4 million
    veterans we support, thank you for the opportunity to testify
    today.
        My name is Jim Whaley. I recently came on board as Mission
    Roll Call's Chief Executive Officer. I am a retired U.S. Army
    officer, married to an Army veteran, and a father of three
    daughters, two of which are currently serving overseas on
    active duty, and the other serving active-duty soldiers and
    their families at a nonprofit. My family and I are committed to
    the cause of serving those who served, which is why I was drawn
    to the vision of Mission Roll Call.
        Mission Roll Call brings a unique and dynamic process to
    veteran advocacy. We seek to give veterans an unfiltered voice
    and give policymakers an unbiased view of how veteran community
    feels about issues under consideration by this body.
        Mission Roll Call is a new organization that uses the power
    of technology to represent and advocate for our veterans and
    their families. We are a movement providing veterans with a
    powerful, unified voice that is heard by our nation's leaders
    and communities. We are apolitical and represent the concerns
    that our veterans have across the nation. We believe that every
    veteran has a voice that needs to be heard.
        Almost half of all 18 million veterans within this country
    are not associated with any veteran service organization or the
    VA, which means when our leaders are talking about veteran
    issues half of our voices are not being heard.
        On a regular basis, we ask relevant and timely questions
    through polls and then share that with elected officials,
    policymakers, and the media. We believe using the opinions of
    veterans and their families is a powerful tool to bring to the
    attention of the American people and demand action by decision-
    makers in government.
        We have had over 260,000 veterans and their families
    respond to our polls, and we expect to double that number this
    year. Our polls address the subjects that are of interest to
    our members, the veterans and their families. Our recent polls
    range from addressing the level of support from the Veterans
    Administration, suicide prevention, mental health issues, food
    insecurity concerns, and the continuing struggle for a
    successful transition to civilian life, as well as the upcoming
    Presidential election. We will share the direct impact of the
    polls and petitions with all of you.
        We also want the country to know our veterans and what is
    important to them. So we are traveling the country in person
    and virtually, to speak with veterans and share their stories.
    Our strength is in our numbers and our voice being amplified
    over many social media platforms.
        Through our Service-to-Service Initiative we will provide
    our veteran community access through podcasts, videos, and
    articles to address the challenges and concerns they are
    experiencing and give them access to success stories, programs,
    and insightful discussion from other veteran support
    organizations, business leaders, and veteran entrepreneurs.
        Ensuring successful transitions, providing necessary
    healthcare and benefits, and stopping suicide are all more than
    just moral imperatives. Success or failure in these areas has a
    direct effect on national security.
        In one of our recent surveys we asked the American people
    if they would recommend military service to a young friend or
    family member. Only 35 percent of those adults without a
    military connection responded positively. Among those who would
    not recommend it, nearly 40 percent cited transition issues, 60
    percent cited insufficient veteran benefits and concerns about
    VA healthcare.
        Fewer than 1 percent of Americans serve on active duty in
    any given year, and of the estimated 18 million veterans in the
    U.S., 80 percent report having an immediate family member who
    has served. Taken together, this means military service has
    become a family business being shouldered by a shrinking
    minority of American families.
        We need to understand that the quality of life of those on
    active duty, where 24 percent suffer from food security
    challenges according to the DoD, coupled with the lack of
    confidence in VA support, is a national security threat in an
    ever-dangerous world.
        Congress and the VA play an important part to make sure
    veterans have the support, and the VSOs in this room play a
    major part in ensuring they have the community. We must work
    collaboratively across party lines and in conjunction with a
    coalition of veteran support groups to ensure success. Together
    we can help veterans continue their service after the military,
    in their communities, states, and in their country. Mission
    Roll Call is proud to be a part of this effort and we look
    forward to working with you in the future.
        Thank you for the opportunity, and I am open to any
    questions.

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Whaley appears on page 169
    of the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Thank you. Ms. Roth-Douquet.

                    STATEMENT OF KATHY ROTH-DOUQUET,
              CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BLUE STAR FAMILIES

        Ms. Roth-Douquet. Thank you, Chairmen Tester and Bost,
    Ranking Members Moran and Takano, members of the Committee.
    Thank you for the opportunity, our first opportunity at Blue
    Star Families, to present our priorities.
        We are the nation's largest and fastest-growing military
    and veteran family support organization. Many of you have loved
    ones who serve or have served in the military, so you are a
    Blue Star family, and we are delighted to see you. We are
    growing to 15 chapters across the states, 275,000 members. Our
    programs touch 1.5 million individuals each year.
        Our annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey, which is
    developed with Syracuse University's IVMF, is the largest and
    most comprehensive of its time for active Guard and Reserve
    veterans and their families. Today I want to share with you
    some of our main topics of concern relevant to the Committee--
    suicide prevention, toxic exposure, education, and transition.
        In terms of suicide prevention, there is a clear need for
    support, mental health support, for veterans, and given the
    barriers to accessing mental health resources and the tendency
    of veteran families to turn to informal sources, it is very
    important that we elevate the less-formal mental health
    supports such as wellness centers, chaplains, and especially
    friends and families, because this is how people live. These
    supports do not replace mental health care but they can support
    and extend if families and friends are educated and resourced
    about how to talk to someone about their mental health.
        So we were very pleased that in 2022, Blue Star Families
    was awarded the Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant.
    While most suicide prevention programs for the VA focus only on
    the veteran and are eligible only to the veteran, this is
    really a revolutionary program because it is a national program
    that focuses on the family members as key points of
    intervention, and it is working.
        This matters because the family member is often the one who
    sees the crisis. Often the veteran is not willing to raise
    their hand for help. Excluding anyone but the veteran is a
    mistake. So with our grant we provide a community-based
    outreach prevention program--it is called Support Circles--we
    empower the friends and families, loved ones of veterans, to
    recognize and intervene before the struggle becomes a crisis.
    It is an upstream solution.
        This program offers facilitated, non-clinical, closed-group
    cohorts for supporters of veterans. Over 8 weeks the
    participants engage in both virtual and in-person sessions,
    which foster peer-based connections. They receive evidence-
    based training, resources and referral. Every participant also
    develops a crisis plan in the event their loved one becomes
    suicidal. A comprehensive evaluation by the University of
    Alabama concluded that the first year went very well.
    Participants are very satisfied with the program and reported
    that they would recommend it. It offers a safe space for
    families to share experiences and insights.
        And the program works. The evaluation clearly shows that
    the participants feel better equipped to make a difference in
    suicide prevention. This essential shift creates a proactive
    and supportive community that breaks down barriers, reduces
    stigma, and achieve upstream prevention of suicide.
        Blue Star Families recommends the VA facilitate grantee
    networking opportunities to enable the sharing of best
    practices, instead of the existing one-way updates from the VA.
    We encourage oversight of the Fox Grant-funded programs to
    assess the effectiveness of those grantees, and we recommend
    reauthorizing the most effective solutions.
        And finally, we recommend authorization of this program or
    a similar one at DoD, to provide currently serving families the
    same approach to suicide prevention. Every one of those
    servicemembers becomes a veteran. If we can get upstream that
    prevents a lot.
        Then on the PACT Act. The PACT Act marked a huge victory
    for our community. The impact is staggering, and it is personal
    for me. My Chief of Staff, Jenny Aiken, tragically lost her 35-
    year-old Army husband, Captain Cooper Aiken, who had
    transitioned to veteran status when he got ill. They were sure
    he would beat his cancer, but they did not. The family would
    have been in financial crisis, literally bankruptcy, if the
    PACT Act had not passed.
        While VA outreach on the PACT Act is commendable, we
    encourage DoD to ensure that all transitioning servicemembers
    are informed of this new benefit and why they should enroll in
    the VA, even if they are not suffering symptoms. We call on you
    to strengthen the PACT Act, provide new VA authorities when
    needs arise, and stand against any attempt to weaken the law.
        In terms of education, thank you for your work on the GI
    Bill and closing the 90/10 loophole. Please oppose all efforts
    to undo the hard-fought gains for our community to protect
    these generous benefits.
        And lastly, with transition, our 2023 survey showed that
    half of veterans described their transition as difficult or
    very difficult, and it is all about time. For those who had
    less than 6 months, they had a difficult transition. Those with
    1 to 2 years had a successful transition. Early engagement with
    TAP is critical.
        Thank you so much for having me.

        [The prepared statement of Ms. Roth-Douquet appears on page
    175 of the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Ms. Jaslow, you are recognized for 5
    minutes.

    STATEMENT OF ALLISON JASLOW, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, IRAQ AND
                    AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA

        Ms. Jaslow. Chairman Tester, Chairman Bost, Ranking Members
    Moran and Takano, and members of the Committee, on behalf of
    Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and our over 425,000
    members and supporters, thank you for the opportunity to
    represent the nation's Post-9/11 generation veterans here with
    you today.
        Now you and your staff are well briefed on our priorities
    for the remainder of this Congress, which are also included in
    my written testimony, so I wanted to use this time to level-set
    on behalf of my generation of veterans and on behalf of America
    at large.
        War changes you. Heck, even the act of making your will at
    22 does, as I had to do on my way to Iraq almost 20 years ago.
    It can change you in some really terrible ways. For instance,
    one of my Basic course buddies served with the Army Special
    Forces after we graduated. He was then asked to deploy over and
    over again, as our nation's leaders chose to overly rely on our
    special operators Post-9/11. And now, after repeatedly
    experiencing the horrors of battle, he has to sleep in a
    separate bedroom from his wife. Why? Because his night terrors
    are too much for her to handle.
        War can also change you in expected ways. Not everyone
    joins the military just to serve their country like I did.
    Serve their country they will, but maybe they just wanted to
    fast-track out of the less-than-ideal circumstances they were
    born into. Maybe they just wanted something as simple as a
    reliable meal three times a day, and perhaps they were willing
    to put on a uniform to do it.
        And they get orders to deploy, to fulfill your commitment
    to support and defend the Constitution of the United States
    against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Whether you are the
    most patriotic citizen when you signed up or not, when you are
    asked to put it all on the line for what we have for America
    that changes you too.
        Many of us who served Post-9/11 are now out of uniform. We
    are trying to live life in a country we risked our lives for,
    and enjoy the way of life we fought for just the same. But many
    of us are struggling with what we see before us in our country
    today.
        In a recent member survey of IAVA veterans, 74 percent told
    us they were dissatisfied with the way democracy is working in
    this country, while only 12 percent said they were satisfied.
    IAVA veterans, on the whole, are therefore even less satisfied
    in the American people at large, whose satisfaction, Gallup
    recently reported, had sunk to 28 percent, as this debate
    continues to dominate our national discourse. To me that has
    less to do with a system that has passed stress tests time and
    time again, but our leadership.
        When I was in the Army, our Army values, as some other vets
    who are in attendance here today can validate, spelled out
    leadership--loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor,
    integrity, and personal courage. I may have left the Army 15
    years ago, but I still carry those Army values with me today,
    and wake up every day trying to live by them.
        And what I want to encourage each and every one of you,
    more than anything, to do today, and in this most important
    year in our nation's history, is to follow our example. Instead
    of pandering to our community, instead of promising to meet our
    every demand, how about you show us you are willing to also put
    it all on the line for what we have here in America. How about
    you demonstrate selfless service, honor, and personal courage?
    Because that is what we really need from you more than anything
    else, more than any benefit we may have earned and deserve.
        Like many other combat vets, I will never be the same after
    going to war. My perspective on life has been reshaped forever,
    and my perspective on what we have here in the United States
    has also changed. I am also fortunate enough to have made it
    home to a newfound appreciation for our country. But like many
    vets, I have buddies who were not as lucky. They gave their
    lives and their families lost a loved one for what we have
    here. And you need to show up for them as much as you show up
    for us.
        When a fellow platoon leader lost is life during my first
    deployment in Iraq, executing the very moves that I would have
    made if I had been assigned the mission he got on that fateful
    day, I made a promise to myself, that I would live a life
    worthy of his sacrifice.
        And so again, in closing, I will encourage all of you who
    serve in this body, that regularly disappoint the American
    people, that cannot figure out a way to fulfill its most basic
    responsibility of funding the government, to not just profess
    that you will do right by our veterans, our troops, and their
    families, to not just promise to help us achieve our
    legislative priorities, but to show us that you share a
    commitment to this country and are willing to work across lines
    of difference to protect and defend what we are so lucky to
    have here, and, by God, that you are willing to live a life
    that is worthy of the fallen sacrifice.
        Thank you for your time.
        [Applause.]

        [The prepared statement of Ms. Jaslow appears on page 187
    of the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Thank you, Ms. Jaslow.
        Mr. Mimms, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

            STATEMENT OF PAUL L. MIMMS, NATIONAL PRESIDENT,
                      BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION

        Mr. Mimms. Thank you, Chairman Tester, Chairman Bost,
    Ranking Member Takano, Ranking Member Moran, and distinguished
    members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for Congress. The
    Blinded Veterans Association is honored and thanks you for the
    opportunity to present our legislative agenda for the coming
    year.
        The Blinded Veterans Association was formed in 1946, and so
    I want to point you to March 28, which is the anniversary of
    the formation of the Blinded Veterans Association in 1945, by
    some blinded veterans at Old Farms Hospital in Connecticut.
    This is our 79th year of operation.
        As for our legislative priorities, I want to list most of
    them, and give you reasons for some of them.
        One of our priorities is the establishment of a Federal
    Advisory Committee on Equal Access. I will just tell you now, a
    lot of our priorities hang on this committee coming into
    fruition.
        We also support, as many others, the formation and the
    continuing development and furtherment of services for
    America's women veterans. They are, by most knowledge, the
    largest sector of growth in the veteran population, and they
    need the help.
        I want to ask for the enhancement and the continued support
    for adequate protection for guide and service dog handlers on
    VA property. I know personally of incidents where veterans have
    gone to VA with their service dogs, and they have been attacked
    by dogs that are not service dogs, and they have been taken out
    of service, those dogs. We are talking about a $50,000-plus
    investment in that dog and the cessation of that veteran's
    access.
        I want to ask for continuation of the funding for VA blind
    rehab services. Right now, recently, the population of veterans
    that were served by VA blind rehab services more than doubled,
    from around 40,000 to over 81,000. And now, in the wings, we
    have 1.2 million low-vision veterans, veterans whose visual
    acuity is no better than 20/70, as opposed to those that are
    legally blind, with a visual acuity no better than 20/200. And
    so as that population and the demands on that service continue
    to grow, we definitely need increased funding in order for them
    to continue and provide adequate service to America's blind and
    low-vision veterans.
        I want to ask for better mental health care, as many others
    have too. Suicide is on the rise, and it is not lessening, by
    any means, among the population of veterans who have lost what
    is considered to be the most important sensory system that we
    have, our eyesight. And so I want to comment that blinded
    veterans, we served like every other veteran, and yet when we
    come back, where we are now, we cannot even see the country for
    which we fought.
        And so I ask for the preservation of ocular health service.
    We are not in favor of optometrists who are not qualified to do
    so to perform internal eye surgery, invasive eye surgery. They
    are not qualified, and it threatens the health and safety of
    our blinded veterans. And I ask that you work with us to see
    that that does not happen.
        I want to ask for increased, if you will, support for
    honoring our veterans that were disabled on active duty. So we
    support the act that would make sure they do not have to take
    an offset in their disability pay because they take retirement
    pay. They served honorably, and they deserve to be compensated
    honorably after their service.
        I will say here that the Federal Advisory Committee that I
    mentioned, on that hangs almost all of our priorities for us.
    With that committee, hopefully we have a seat at the table, of
    course, and we can have the opportunity to present what are,
    for us, unique shortcomings in VA service. To us it is a shame
    that the organization, the administration, that is supposed to
    represent and present us blind veterans with sensitive, caring,
    informed medical care falls short. And so there is not a reason
    for us to fall short.
        But the VA, like so much of the rest of the world, is a
    very visual environment, and we are asking that you help us in
    pursuing erasure, and if not that then at least diminishment of
    the visual barriers and obstacles that exist in the VA system.
    And we are not talking about billion dollars to do this. A lot
    of, we are already talking about common sense approaches to the
    problems, and some of the solutions do not cost any more than a
    few thousand dollars.
        The VA took the unit out of their new employee orientation.
    That would simply take 5 to 15 minutes to show new employees
    how to guide a blind patient to and from a clinical visit or
    around the medical center. They do not deem that to be
    important. Well, I have been bouncing off door frames, run into
    doors. I have had people that grab my dog's harness or leash,
    or my cane, or simply just pull on my sleeve to lead me through
    a clinic. And if you would like to take that behavior and apply
    it to yourself.
        I think you understand my contention that for many of us
    blind veterans it is very difficult for us to leave a visit at
    the VA medical center and get home with our self-respect and
    dignity and the respect that VA has for us intact.
        So I am asking that, Chairman Takano--I am sorry--Chairman
    Tester, Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Takano, Ranking Member
    Moran, and the distinguished members of the Committee, support
    us in the pursuit of our legislative priorities for the coming
    year. And with that I thank you for this opportunity to
    present, and I welcome your questions.
        [Applause.]

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Mimms appears on page 198 of
    the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Mr. Mimms, thank you.
        Colonel Fenner, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

       STATEMENT OF LORRY M. FENNER, PHD, COLONEL, USAF (RET.),
       DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, SERVICE WOMEN'S ACTION
                                NETWORK

        Ms. Fenner. Good afternoon, Chairmen, Ranking Members,
    other distinguished members of the Committee. I am proud to
    represent Service Women's Action Network here today. We are a
    national nonprofit of almost 10,000 members who advocate and
    support currently serving women and women veterans.
        First, we thank Congress for recent legislation, from PACT
    to Deborah Sampson, MAMMO, Protecting Moms Who Served, and
    more. As we continue to work with you on your oversight and new
    legislation we really appreciate when your staffs help share
    the reports that you require so that we can help you some more.
    We also thank the VA for quickly implementing the PACT Act and
    for its expansion, and some other new policies.
        The VA has steadily improved benefits processing and care.
    We are still processing the new VA Equity Action Plan and other
    recently released reports, but we know the devil is in the
    details of the implementation of that, and your oversight will
    be critical.
        We also thank the other VSOs here. We partner with them.
    They make constructive recommendations. They improve many
    lives. If we had more time I would echo all of these concerns.
    Instead, I will focus on very few of the women's complex and
    intersecting challenges that we hear from our members and
    partners every day, and you have our longer testimony.
        We feel invisible or worse. Women face a lack of respect
    often because they did not receive recognition for their
    contributions. This underpins almost every other issue. More
    creative outreach is required to those of us who have been
    insulted, neglected, ignored, especially our elderly, or those
    who are afraid of, or angry at, the VA.
        We do thank the VA for passing the very old and outdated
    new motto. We ask now that you pass the Jax Act Plus to
    recognize all the lioness, female engagement, and cultural
    support teams.
        [Applause.]
        Ms. Fenner. Sexual assault and harassment at the VA must be
    eliminated. It is devastating that we have to add VST to MST.
    The now more than three reporting systems have to be
    rationalized and made consistent nationally to start to get at
    this problem.
        MST claims processing and care must be less traumatizing.
    Congress must pass the SAVES Act. The VA and DoD should
    collaborate even more in the TAPs program that includes
    portions for MST survivors from their transition from service
    to veteran status, and the VA must continue to improve its
    processing of upgrading characters of discharge. ``Bad paper''
    discharges are related to a host of collateral issues that come
    with MST and other challenges.
        Women's health care must be continually assessed and
    improved. With the increasing number of women veterans, the
    range of care they need and the issues that keep them away from
    the VA must be addressed. This includes reproductive health
    care, fully implement the final IVR, eliminate copays for FDA-
    approved contraception, expand eligibility for ART including
    IVF beyond the newly promised policy, expand targeted research
    rather than just classifying women and minorities as ``lesser
    included cases,'' and also abide by Section 1557 of the ACA.
        Now the new DAV report that you will hear about tomorrow,
    and maybe some of you already have, shows that the increase in
    suicides among women veterans is horrific. We applaud the DAV
    for their research and VA's research and task force efforts,
    and we welcome, as well, the commitment to work closely with
    the Women Veterans VSO Working Group. VA must specifically name
    this as a number one priority, allowing Congress to fence
    funding for the program.
        The bottom line is culture change. Further and significant
    culture change at the VA is required in order to make
    meaningful progress. We appreciate congressional actions and VA
    initiatives, but these efforts must be constant and continual
    because these problems have persisted forever. Adding new laws
    and policies and making operational change do help on the
    margins, but they will not meet the promise of the nation to
    all veterans. Thank you.
        [Applause.]

        [The prepared statement of Ms. Fenner appears on page 213
    of the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Thank you, Colonel.
        Mr. Lyon, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

    STATEMENT OF JARED LYON, NATIONAL PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                  OFFICER, STUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA

        Mr. Lyon. Chairmen Tester and Bost, Ranking Members Moran
    and Takano, members of the Committee, thank you for allowing
    Student Veterans of America to present on our annual
    legislative priorities for 2024.
        SVA recently finalized a new strategic plan, reinforcing
    our commitment to equity for student veterans. Despite being
    exceptionally successful in higher education, veterans face
    unique challenges post military service. Our aim is to
    collaborate with these Committees to alleviate these barriers,
    ensuring a prosperous transition to civilian life.
        SVA chapters are the breathing heart of our mission. Higher
    education research shows that what leads to ultimate success
    for students is a sense of belonging on campus. This is no less
    true for student veterans, and our chapters provide that sense
    of belonging through the shared experience, peer support that
    veterans need after separation from military service.
        With that being said, if you are here today with Student
    Veterans of America, would you please stand or raise your hand
    to be recognized?
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Lyon. Thanks, you all. In the current academic year,
    SVA chapter leaders are leading active and engaged chapters on
    a network that now spans 1,647 chapters throughout the globe.
    They are working with student organizations across the world.
    They are hosting networking and career events. Our chapter
    leaders are leading programs to improve mental health or train
    suicide prevention. They are volunteering in their local off-
    campus communities, they are sponsoring new sports teams, and
    they are doing all this while advocating for their members on
    national, state, and local levels.
        SVA chapters help one another and those in their community
    during challenging times, and as a result they are creating a
    sense of belonging for veterans making the difficult transition
    into higher education.
        Before proceeding, SVA would like to thank the members for
    their work on the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Health
    Care and Benefits Improvement Act, as we continue to support
    making VET TEC permanent and expanding VSOC, Veteran Success on
    Campus. And as a personal note, I would just like to thank
    Senator Dole. Her and her late husband, Senator Bob Dole, have
    served as inspirations and mentors to me, and I had the
    opportunity to serve as an usher at Senator Bob Dole's funeral.
    Senator Elizabeth Dole, I could not think of a better namesake
    for your lasting legacy in our community. Thank you, ma'am.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Lyon. Further, we would also like to express our
    gratitude for yesterday's introduction of the Guard and Reserve
    GI Bill Parity Act of 2024. As a long-standing policy priority
    for SVA, we are encouraged to see progress here.
        In the time that remains I will briefly outline three of
    our highest policy priorities and the voices of our community,
    today's student veterans, military-connected students, students
    who are family members, caregivers, and survivors, all of whom
    are earning their degrees to better their lives and the
    potential for themselves and their families.
        First, SVA is committed to being an ally of the VA while
    driving accountability measures for VA's efforts to modernize
    its systems and improve customer support in the overall
    experience for users of the GI Bill. The GI Bill is the gateway
    to the VA, and a seamless GI Bill process is key to
    establishing trust and confidence in the agency with every
    veteran served by VA. We urge the Committees and VA to assess
    how these changes can affect GI Bill users. Delays in benefits
    could hinder veterans' education and their mental and emotional
    health.
        Second, SVA is currently investigating the significant
    potential for veterans to experience disparities in their
    economic outlook when compared to their civilian peers.
    Disparities exist, even amongst those veterans with higher
    education degrees, despite earning more annually, and highlight
    the unique challenges faced by veterans in achieving economic
    stability and prosperity. The causes can be attributed to
    variance in employment opportunities, delays in getting wealth
    value from the job market due to military service, and
    obstacles stemming from the military transition experience.
        The prospect of economic disparities for veterans may serve
    as a disincentive for military service and our all-volunteer
    force. Understanding the complex dimensions of these inequities
    is crucial for informing policies and interventions that are
    aimed at fostering economic opportunity and the transition for
    veterans.
        Third, SVA calls for comprehensive review and update to
    monthly housing allowance calculations and gaps in disparities
    such as those related to VR&E, break pay, overseas
    institutions, and online instruction. It is worth noting that
    the DoD has implemented emergency BAH rate corrections for the
    last 2 years to address the financial burden of rising housing
    costs facing servicemembers. Student veterans are facing these
    same financial burdens and rising housing costs in the United
    States, and data shows that despite the generous GI Bill,
    student veterans are taking on student loan debt just to cover
    living expenses. Whether it be the lower subsistence rates for
    VR&E compared to Post-9/11 MHA, the lack of payment periods
    between academic terms, the flat rate for overseas learnings,
    or the inequities in MHA for distance learners, student
    veterans and their families feel the disconnect.
        Thank you for your time, your attention, and devotion to
    the cause of veterans and higher education. At SVA, we know
    that investing in veterans is not only the right thing to do,
    but it also means investing in the future of American
    leadership.
        Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
        [Applause.]

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Lyon appears on page 229 of
    the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Thank you, Mr. Lyon.
        Mr. Clark, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

                  STATEMENT OF WILLIAM ``BILL'' CLARK,
                 NATIONAL COMMANDER, AMERICAN VETERANS

        Mr. Clark. Chairmen and Ranking Members, distinguished
    members of the House and Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
    I am honored to speak to you on behalf of AMVETS and present
    our legislative priorities for this year.
        First, we thank you and your staff for your time, efforts,
    and attention throughout the 118th Congress. Having caring
    staff, many of them veterans, working with us to solve complex
    challenges facing our community makes a significant difference.
        AMVETS has consistently presented veteran suicide as our
    top priority for 6 years, yet rates continue to rise as
    evidenced by VA data. Repeated declarations that ``enough is
    enough'' is enough. It falls short of prompting real change.
    Our veterans, their families, and communities suffer as a
    result of this inaction and lack of urgency. We implore
    Congress to truly embrace innovative solutions to significantly
    reduce these numbers.
        The $16 billion currently funneled into existing programs
    has proven ineffective in combatting veteran suicide. Echoing
    the Journal of the American Medical Association's
    recommendation from 8 years ago, AMVETS believes that exploring
    new and novel approaches is imperative. We commend the recent
    funding of innovative nonprofits through grants, and urge the
    VA to closely examine these programs' successes for potential
    scaling.
        However, investment in these innovative efforts remains
    insufficient. In sectors like pharmaceuticals and
    biotechnology, R&D investment is often 10 to 15 percent of
    revenue. However, the VA funding for innovative alternate
    approaches represents about 1 percent of VA mental health
    budget. AMVETS proposes that the VA allocate 10 percent of its
    mental health budget to establish a new program aimed at
    enhancing the mental wellness of transitioning servicemembers.
    This program should focus on preemptive measures to maintain
    physical and mental readiness and add and adopt positive
    strategies for trauma management to lower the risk of future
    suicides.
        Additionally, we recommend increasing the funding for
    nonprofit grants to 5 percent of the VA's mental health budget.
    This increase would bolster the VA's capacity to identify and
    expand upon inventive interventions, potentially reducing
    suicide rates significantly.
        We recognize the shared concern for veterans' welfare among
    the Members of Congress and appreciate your past support. Yet
    we urge you to channel your empathy into actions that
    transcends bureaucratic interests and prioritizes veterans'
    well-being. Without a shift toward a more proactive and
    innovative approach we risk having another 36,000 veterans
    commit suicide. AMVETS calls for renewed urgent commitment in
    saving lives and ensuring veterans lead fulfilling lives.
        AMVETS has many other priorities for this Congress,
    including passing the Major Richard Star Act and increasing the
    dependency and indemnity compensation for our military
    survivors.
        Our survivors should not be punished for choosing to
    remarry, and we encourage all of you to support the Love Lives
    On Act.
        AMVETS and others are advocating for legislation to allow
    all congressionally chartered veteran nonprofits to receive
    tax-deductible donations. Currently, if organizations like
    AMVETS allows honorably discharged, non-wartime-era veterans to
    become members we can no longer receive tax deductible gifts,
    which I am sure you all agree makes no sense at all. The VSO
    Equal Tax Treatment Act rectifies this issue. We are grateful
    to Congressmen Wenstrup and Panetta for their advocacy in
    getting the legislation passed out of the Ways and Means
    Committee.
        We also ask Congress to oversee and support the successful
    completion of the electronic health care record at VA
    facilities so our veterans receive the modernized care they
    deserve. We need all hands on deck here. Failure is not an
    option, and the days of being a political football need to end.
        Despite significantly increasing funds for ineffective
    mental health models at the VA, urgent attention is needed also
    for optometry, the third most-used specialty. Optometrists
    delivering over 70 percent of VA's eye care face low pay and
    potential political challenges to their scope of practice. Poor
    conditions deter recruitment and retention, driving
    optometrists away, and making the VA an employer of last
    resort. Consequently, the VA risks incurring higher costs
    through community care, against veterans' preferences.
        By working together we can ensure that our veterans receive
    the care, recognition, and opportunities they deserve, laying a
    strong foundation for a more resilient and supportive society
    for all who have served.
        Thank you, and I look forward to any questions.

        [The prepared statement of Mr. Clark appears on page 266 of
    the Appendix.]

        Chairman Bost. Thank you, Mr. Clark.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Bost. I would like to now recognize myself for 3
    minutes for some questions.
        Mr. Clark, in your testimony you mentioned promoting
    readiness and recruiting efforts for the next generation of
    veterans. Do you think improving the TAP program could help
    with retention and recruiting of future generations of
    servicemembers?
        Mr. Clark. I absolutely do. I think it is the way of the
    future, and I think also there are other initiatives we could
    follow that are out there and that would help increase the
    recruitment of new members, new servicemembers, sir.
        Chairman Bost. Thank you. Ms. Roth-Douquet, in your
    testimony you mentioned the GI Bill benefit and that it is a
    great retention tool for veterans and their families. What are
    some ways we can continue to improve the GI Bill, from what the
    families talk about?
        Ms. Roth-Douquet. Well, continuing to allow for the
    transferability of the GI Bill to loved ones is very key. We
    see, in our survey, that the majority of currently serving
    veterans plan to transfer their GI Bill to their child or their
    spouse, and we find a tremendous amount of pride that that
    servicemember has in being able to provide that education for
    their children. So maintaining that and also continuing to work
    against the for-profit schools that erode the benefit.
        Chairman Bost. Well, I am going to tell you, my son is very
    happy to hand his off to his son. He is doing that right now,
    and I think the school that he is qualified for is really
    fantastic, and his parents are just so happy that it is going
    to be taken care of that way.
        Also then, Mr. Mimms, what can you do to ensure that your
    members have equal access to employment after-service?
        Mr. Mimms. I do not know that that is going to happen in
    our lifetime. But the thing that we have to do is constantly
    work on the obstacles and barriers between people with
    disabilities and employment. That has been in place for years,
    and it still has not risen much for the 30 percent rate of
    unemployment.
        So technology, for me, as a blind person, has erased a lot
    of the barriers and obstacles, and I actually had a successful
    career with the VA after I went back to college and got my
    degree. Technology helped me get the degree, technology helped
    me get the job that I got, and it helped me do what I think is
    a very good job while I had it.
        So we need to invest in what will erase these obstacles.
    You know, if it costs a billion dollars, what do we get back?
    We get back billions of dollars in effort from qualified people
    who are giving the best of what they have and what they can do.
    You cannot put a price on it and say it is comparative and so
    it is not worth it because it costs too much.
        Chairman Bost. I appreciate that. My time is almost expired
    so Representative Levin, you are recognized.

                            HON. MIKE LEVIN,
                  U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA

        Mr. Levin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank
    everybody here for their service, and a particular shoutout to
    everybody from California, if you are out there. All right. You
    are out there. It really is an honor to be part of this
    Committee and to represent our great Marines and Sailors at
    Camp Pendleton.
        I wanted to just go through a few pieces of legislation,
    and Mr. Lyon, I will begin with you. SVA has long supported
    efforts to create GI Bill Parity for Guard and Reserve
    Servicemembers, and we are so grateful for your advocacy on
    this issue which helped us pass the Guard and Reserve GI Bill
    Parity Act in the House last Congress.
        Can you speak just briefly on the importance of this change
    and the need for our communities to get the bill enacted into
    law this Congress?
        Mr. Lyon. Yes, sir, and thank you for your ardent support
    of just making sure that every day in uniform counts. And, you
    know, when we look at the evolving needs of our country, there
    should be no difference in the way one serves from active duty,
    Guard, or Reserve. So by being able to create this parity we
    are making sure that there is true equity in those that choose
    to serve during the all-volunteer force.
        Mr. Levin. Thank you so much for that.
        General Linnington, I will turn to you. I am proud to have
    the Wounded Warrior Project's support for H.R. 1786, the Get
    Rewarding Outdoor Work for Our Veterans, or GROW, Act. This
    bill seeks to ensure that veterans, especially those who have
    recently returned to civilian life, can obtain rewarding
    careers in conservation, resource management, and environmental
    protection at the Department of Interior.
        Can you please describe the impact that working in the
    great outdoors on conservation projects can have on veterans'
    overall well-being?
        Mr. Linnington. Congressman, thank you for that
    legislation. I think it is really important. I think we all
    know the importance of mind-body connection. Veterans, as you
    know, are very comfortable in the outdoors. They have been
    trained. They are very, very comfortable, especially in
    conservation and working with the Department of the Interior.
        In our surveys we know that financial strain is always a
    concern for veterans, unemployment and financial strain. And
    your legislation that you proposed not only alleviates the
    financial strain but it gets our veterans that are in isolation
    into the outdoors where not only are they comfortable but they
    value that camaraderie that comes with serving.
        So we really support the legislation. Of course, it was in
    my opening statement, and we speak more about it in our written
    testimony. But thank you for sponsoring that legislation.
        Mr. Levin. Thank you, and I have got to go quick because I
    only have 3 minutes.
        Colonel Fenner, in your testimony you called for VA to
    expand eligibility for assisted reproductive technology,
    including IVF, to help our veterans serve families when they
    face infertility challenges. I was deeply disappointed by the
    Alabama Supreme Court's recent decision against women's
    personal health decisions to help create families. We must
    enshrine the right to access IVF into law so that everyone who
    wants to start a family can do so.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Levin. Thank you. And I am out of time, but I will just
    say this is very important for our military and veteran
    families as well, and I urge my colleagues to pass the Veteran
    Families Health Services Act, which will enshrine this coverage
    into law.
        And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        Chairman Bost. Thank you. General Bergman, you are
    recognized for 3 minutes.

                           HON. JACK BERGMAN,
                   U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM MICHIGAN

        Mr. Bergman. Thank you, Chairman, and I would like to thank
    all of you. By the way, any Michiganders in the crowd? All
    right. At least there are a couple of us everywhere. I would
    like to thank everybody for your testimony today and for all
    the work that your organizations have done on behalf of our
    nation's veterans, because we would not be a nation without our
    veterans.
        I also greatly appreciate all your advocacy and the support
    that has helped us advance some extremely important veterans
    bills in the House. For example--and I know Senator Dole is
    sitting here--the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act and Gerald's Law
    that you championed and became reality, we could not have done
    it without you, so thank you.
        You know, when you only have 3 minutes you do not waste
    time, but as a Marine I do not waste time anyway, so let's get
    right to the heart of one thing. You know, Mr. Thomas, I
    greatly appreciate being able to hear PVA's perspective on the
    issues facing paralyzed veterans. I would also like to thank
    you for PVA's work with my office and your endorsement of H.R.
    6373, the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices, or
    Veterans STAND Act, which I recently introduced along with
    Chairman Bost, Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Brownley, and
    Congresswoman Debbie Dingell from Michigan.
        We introduced this bill to make it easier for veterans with
    spinal cord injuries and disorders to be evaluated and receive
    assistive technology that they are already clinically eligible
    for.
        Could you just speak, Mr. Thomas, just a little bit about
    what that means to be assisted with new technologies?
        Mr. Thomas. Thank you for that question. So any time that
    we can get any new assistive technology that can help us either
    ambulate, wheel around, function in our homes, it is a great
    thing to have. We know that technology is changing on a daily
    basis, and having new equipment is great.
        Also in your bill we see that it also goes in to talk about
    individuals having annual exams. We feel as though all members
    with SCI/D should have an annual exam yearly.
        Mr. Bergman. You know, and time is short, but you ended
    with a perfect point. Just because we are doing something one
    way today, that does not mean two things could occur. That
    veteran could have issues, plus or minus, depending on how it
    is going, but also the introduction of new and appropriate
    technologies to advance, to continue to advance the personal
    capabilities, especially when it comes to spinal cord injuries.
        So I am honored to be with all of you today. Thank you all
    for being here. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I will yield back
    5 seconds.
        Chairman Bost. Thank you, General. Representative Landsman.

                          HON. GREG LANDSMAN,
                     U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM OHIO

        Mr. Landsman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for
    being here and your incredibly important, helpful testimony. I
    have one question, well, two if I can get to it. But I would
    love to hear, obviously from you, Mr. Lyon, first, but anyone
    else who wants to jump in, we have a really wonderful VA in
    Cincinnati, and one of the things that we are struggling with
    is how we get young people, younger veterans--and many of you
    spoke to how important time is as it relates to any of these
    efforts.
        And so I am curious. What is the one thing you would say to
    a young person that we need to be communicating more to get
    them in? What is the most compelling selling point to get
    somebody engaged in learning about what they are eligible for?
    And then as it relates to engaging young people and getting
    veterans in earlier, what is the one thing that we should be
    doing that we are not?
        Mr. Lyon. Thank you very much for the question. I will do
    my best to answer it succinctly. When we look at the
    transitioning force, the vast majority of those individuals
    will have served in the military for 6 years or less. The vast
    majority of that population will be of the prior rank, like
    myself, E-5 or below. Those individuals, at over 70 percent
    rate, their likely transition strategy includes education and
    training. What I would say to them is they do not realize that
    it is that high, and you belong in higher education, and it is
    for you.
        Second, what we could be doing that we are not is
    understanding that the GI Bill and all VA education benefits
    serve as the front door for the VA. Chronically, the VA
    struggles to reach out to veterans under the age of 45, and the
    transitioning force is under the age of 30. If we use those VA
    education benefits to reach out to the population and both let
    them know what they are eligible for by making it easy but also
    let them know that the Federal Government is an employment
    opportunity, we can fill gaps in two unique ways. Thank you for
    the question.
        Mr. Landsman. Thank you, education and jobs. And on our end
    a piece of advice. I mean, one of the things that seems simple
    enough is we have talked about getting the VA on the website
    and then to spend some money on digital to make sure that it is
    popping up in front of folks. Just a simple, very quick
    benefits, like here is who I am, what am I eligible for. And it
    does not say you are 100 percent eligible for these things, but
    by and large you are probably eligible for these things, click
    here to learn more.
        Mr. Lyon. In Cincinnati, specifically, you could literally
    support the VetSuccess on Campus, so that is VSOC, or then also
    the VA VITAL Program to ensure full access to all that VBA and
    VHA has, but also conduct outreach from that local Cincinnati
    location to every educational institution around you. The
    likelihood that you will find veterans there is better than
    almost anywhere else.
        Mr. Landsman. Thank you. I yield back. Thank you.
        Chairman Bost. Thank you. And we want to thank everyone for
    being here today.
        Let me say this, as Chairmen. As members, all of us, and
    especially as Chairmen and Ranking Members, understand that we
    are going to work to try to move as many of our priorities as
    we can, and even in this environment we are going to try to
    move them. But our job is not only to move legislation and do
    that, but our job is also to make sure we do the oversight that
    we have to, to make sure the VA is delivering on those things
    that we pass, and realize that they are law, not suggestion.
    Sometimes that is some problems we have when you are dealing
    with the second-largest bureaucracy in the world.
        And let me say this. From my position as Chairman I will
    fight for you every day. As I said at the start, it is very
    personal to me. But I want to thank you for sharing your
    priorities, and it is clear we have a lot of work to do.
        And we are going to deviate from adjourning and Mr. Mrvan,
    you are recognized for 5 minutes, or 3 minutes.

                           HON. FRANK MRVAN,
                    U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM INDIANA

        Mr. Mrvan. Chairman Bost, 3 minutes, yes. I will be
    concise. Thank you, Chairman Bost, Chairman Tester, Ranking
    Member Takano, and Ranking Member Moran, for holding this
    hearing today. I would also like to thank the VSO presence here
    today to tell us about their respective organizations and
    legislative priorities for 2024.
        I want to first recognize one of the witnesses on this
    panel who is a leader in veterans' advocacy from my home State
    of Indiana, President and National Association of State
    Directors of Veterans Affairs, Dennis Wimer. The National
    Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs is an
    essential voice for veterans at both the state and Federal
    level. They are responsible for facilitating cooperation
    amongst the VA directors in each state to provide uniform,
    equal, efficient, and effective services to veterans and their
    family members.
        As further testament to Mr. Wimer's commitment to Indiana
    veterans, on top of his duties as President of the National
    Association of States Directors of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Wimer
    also serves as the Director of Indiana Department of Veteran
    Affairs.
        On Monday, I was privileged to spend the entire day with
    Director Wimer and the Dole vets, Assistant Secretary James
    Rodriguez, meeting with the service providers and businesses
    that assist veterans with career exploration, training, and job
    placement, as well as supportive services for veterans
    experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Together we saw the
    WorkOne facility in Hammond, the Homeless Veterans
    Reintegration Program in Gary, Indiana, and the Indiana/
    Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters' Joint
    Apprenticeship Training Center in Merrillville, and Operation
    Charlie Bravo in Crown Point.
        I thank you for taking the time to come to my district to
    see the incredible programs we have assisted veterans in
    northwest Indiana. Thank you for your service and your
    commitment to helping veterans in Indiana and across our
    country, and thank you for being here to testify today.
        With that I would also like to ask a question. I would like
    to take this time to ask Mr. Lyon about the education-related
    benefits available to veterans' survivors and dependents. Today
    I introduced the Gold Star Family Education Parity Act, which
    would sunset Chapter 35 and enroll survivors and dependents
    into Chapter 33, ensuring they have the access to the superior
    education benefits provided under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
        Mr. Lyon, do you believe Chapter 35 is an adequate benefit,
    or is it time to modernize for Gold Star families?
        Mr. Lyon. When we look at the issues--sir, thank you,
    first, for the question and the nuanced understanding of our
    population and community it is greatly appreciated. When we
    look at the needs for Gold Star family members, those survivors
    are often forgotten. We umbrella-term the population and
    suggest that military connected is enough to define folks that
    have lost their connection to the military, often in very
    tragic circumstances.
        By looking at comprehensive reform, we have the ability to
    ensure that not only is no one left behind goes for those in
    the uniform but also for the family members that they do leave
    behind. And I would assume that everybody on this panel would
    agree that we hold it as a sacred obligation to support them
    deeply. Reform is desperately needed. Thank you, sir.
        Mr. Mrvan. Mr. Lyon, thank you for your opinion.
        [Applause.]
        Mr. Mrvan. And with that I yield back, Chairman Bost.
        Chairman Bost. Thank you. So obviously it is clear that we
    have a lot of work to still do in the year ahead, and we will
    continue to look to each of you to kind of be the guiding
    lights to help us do those things that we need to do and make
    sure that we provide for those who have given their service to
    this country.
        We will keep the record open now for a week, for any future
    input that you would want to make. And with that we are
    adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 1:13 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]

                                A P P E N D I X

                              Prepared Statements

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                              Statement for the Record

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