[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H3623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPANSION OF MANDATE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-VETERANS AFFAIRS JOINT 
                          EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that would 
greatly expand the mandate of the Department of Defense-Veterans 
Affairs Joint Executive Committee. This committee would be tasked to 
oversee the realm of collaborative efforts of not just health, but also 
benefits and other areas to promote increased resource sharing between 
the two departments.
  While statutory authority to allow resource sharing has existed for 
more than 20 years, the latest figures tell us that the level of 
sharing between the VA and DOD remains relatively low. The Federal 
Government can and must do more to increase resource sharing whenever 
and wherever feasible.
  This bill would allow the Joint Executive Committee to identify 
changes in policies, to improve services, efficiencies and 
opportunities for collaboration in order to deliver benefits and 
services to beneficiaries of both departments. Inefficiencies and 
duplication not only waste taxpayer dollars, they shortchange military 
personnel, retirees and veterans seeking the services offered by VA and 
DOD.
  I believe the expansion of this Joint Executive Committee would 
facilitate necessary discussions and decisions that will ultimately 
lead to greater efficiencies within and between the two departments. I 
would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) of the 
Veterans Affairs Committee for his cooperation in developing this very 
important piece of legislation. It is time that these departments seize 
the opportunity and take full advantage of the benefits that come from 
sharing their extensive resources.

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