[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2356-S2357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA:
  S. 2796. A bill to require a pilot program on the use of community-
based organizations to ensure that veterans receive the care and 
benefits they need, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce legislation today 
that will help the Department of Veterans Affairs reach out to 
underserved veterans, through collaboration with community 
organizations.

[[Page S2357]]

  The Department of Veterans Affairs is the second largest cabinet 
level Federal department, operating the Nation's largest health care 
system. VA provides benefits and health care to millions of veterans 
and their families every year. Without question, VA helps countless 
veterans through its various programs every day, largely thanks to its 
employees, who make it their mission to serve those who served their 
country honorably.
  Unfortunately, while VA makes a positive impact on the veterans it 
serves, many others are left underserved. Far too often, these are 
veterans already in difficult circumstances, those who could benefit 
most from VA support. For example, veterans from rural areas must do 
without the kind of local support systems urban and suburban veterans 
often enjoy. Many veterans from racial and ethnic minority groups also 
remain underserved by VA, regardless of their physical proximity to 
veterans' programs.
  More must be done for these veterans, who look at VA and see a system 
either out of reach or out of touch. The legislation I have introduced 
today pursues one potential solution: VA partnerships with community 
based organizations.
  If enacted, this bill would require VA to work with community based 
organizations to reach out to veterans who are underserved. Five 
community organizations, chosen by VA, would be selected for pilot 
partnerships. Special consideration would be given to rural communities 
and areas with a high proportion of minorities and other underserved 
veterans. The five pilots, each in partnership with a VA medical 
center, would focus on providing support to their underserved group by 
helping servicemembers transition from military service to veteran 
status, and helping them navigate the complicated veterans' health care 
and benefits system. Also, the pilot programs would reach out to the 
families of veterans, in recognition of the central role that families 
play in helping veterans readjust and reintegrate.
  As Mental Health America, the country's oldest and largest mental 
health nonprofit, has pointed out, America's newest generation of 
veterans is returning from combat with invisible wounds that require 
care. These and other complicated injuries place new challenges on VA 
to provide the quality health care and benefits veterans have earned 
through their service. I hope that through the partnerships outlined in 
this legislation, VA will be better able to provide services to 
veterans who deserve support, yet are underserved.
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