DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Amendments

Armed Forces: prohibit certain demonstrations at cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration and at Arlington National Cemetery (H.R. 5037), S5127, S5129 [24MY]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 5385), H2918, H2920, H2922, H2925, H2927, H2930, H2940, H2962 [19MY]

———making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 5385), consideration (H. Res. 821), H2900 [19MY]

Veterans: increase maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs (S. 1235), S5285 [25MY]

Articles and editorials

GAO Says Government Pesters Wounded Soldiers Over Debts, S6514 [27JN]

Health Care for Veterans $1 Billion Short, S1092 [13FE]

Iraq War May Add Stress for Past Vets—Trauma Disorder Claims at New High, S6515 [27JN]

Number of Troops Needing Help Threatens To Overwhelm Veterans Administration, H2080 [3MY]

Veterans Angered by File Scandal—VA Has Consistently Scored Poorly on Information Security, S6514 [27JN]

Bills and resolutions

Alpena, MI: establish and operate a community-based outpatient clinic (see S. 2598), S3378 [7AP] (see H.R. 5687), H4554 [26JN]

Appropriations: authorize for medical care and to improve the security for personal data of veterans (see S. 3531), S6013 [16JN]

———authorize to improve security for personal data and provide remedial assistance to veterans and other persons who have had personal data stolen (see S. 3592), S6634 [28JN]

Armed Forces: prohibit certain demonstrations at cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration and at Arlington National Cemetery (see S. 2779), S4339 [10MY] (see H.R. 5037), H1319 [29MR]

Awards, medals, prizes: provide enrollment priority in health care services for veterans who are recipients of certain medals for valor (see S. 2708), S3984 [3MY]

Capitol Building and Grounds: permit use of rotunda for a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of Dept. of Veterans Affairs (see H. Con. Res. 427), H3908 [13JN]

Claims: remove certain limitations on attorney representation of claimants for veterans benefits in administrative proceedings (see H.R. 4914), H866 [9MR]

———remove certain limitations on attorney representation of claimants for veterans benefits in administrative proceedings (H.R. 4914) (see S. 2694), S3893 [2MY] (see H.R. 5549), H3496 [7JN]

Credit: provide free credit monitoring and credit reports for veterans and others affected by the theft of veterans' personal data and ensure notification of such thefts (see S. 2970), S4966 [23MY] (see H.R. 5455), H3137 [23MY] (see H.R. 5588), H3787 [12JN]

Crime: establish penalties for unauthorized disclosure of records containing personal information about veterans (see H.R. 5467), H3225 [24MY]

Denver, CO: authorize a major medical facility project in Denver, CO (see S. 2547), S2901 [5AP] (see H.R. 5101), H1562 [5AP]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (see H.R. 5385), H2596 [15MY]

———making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 5385), consideration (see H. Res. 821), H2832 (see H. Res. 821), H2889 [18MY]

Ernest Childers Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Tulsa, OK: designate (see S. 2800), S4553 [15MY] (see H.R. 4744), H273 [14FE]

Health: publish a strategic plan for long-term care (see H.R. 5774), H5128 [12JY]

Health care facilities: authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases (see S. 3421), S5490 [6JN]

———establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in hospitals (see S. 2358), S1644 [2MR]

———establish centers to provide enhanced services to veterans with amputations and prosthetic devices (see S. 2736), S4051 [4MY]

Health care facilties: require notice to Congress and a waiting period prior to any reduction in the hours of operation of medical center emergency rooms (see H.R. 5260), H1979 [2MY]

Health care professionals: recalculate retirement annuities for certain health care professionals performing part-time services (see S. 3598), S6786 [29JN]

———require provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all departmental medical centers (see H.R. 5202), H1851 [26AP]

Housing: increase assistance for disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and provide for annual increases in such assistance (see H.R. 4791), H388 [16FE]

Medicare: reimbursement for services provided to eligible veterans by certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (see H.R. 4992), H1128 [16MR]

Mental health: employ additional categories of mental health professionals (see H.R. 5396), H2641 [16MY]

———enhance counseling and readjustment services (see S. 2500), S2799 [4AP]

———provide services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans and family members with limited English proficiency (see H.R. 5007), H1129 [16MR]

National Association of State Veterans Homes: tribute (see S. Res. 417), S2689 [31MR] (see H. Con. Res. 347), H389 [16FE]

National cemeteries: establish a national cemetery for veterans in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado (see S. 2387), S1893 [8MR] (see H.R. 4907), H790 [8MR]

National Veterans Awareness Week: designate (see S. Res. 507), S5779 [13JN]

Office of Veterans Identity Protection Claims: establish to reimburse persons for injuries suffered due to unauthorized use, disclosure, or dissemination of stolen identifying information (see S. 3555), S6283 [21JN] (see H.R. 5520), H3308 (see H.R. 5520), H3360 [25MY]

Pensions: improve program (see H.R. 5119), H1677 [6AP]

Presidential appointments: abolish term limits for the Under Sec. for Health and the Under Sec. for Benefits and simplify appointment process (see S. 2634), S3420 [24AP]

Privacy: enhance protection of records containing personal identifying information that is required by law to be confidential and privileged from disclosure except as authorized by law (see H.R. 5577), H3723 [9JN]

———establish a personal identification number for each veteran to help preserve confidentiality of information on veterans (see H.R. 5490), H3307 (see H.R. 5490), H3359 [25MY]

———protect privacy of veterans and spouses of veterans affected by security breach (see S. 3176), S5229 [25MY] (see S. 3486), S5659 [8JN]

———take certain actions to mitigate effects of the breach of data security (see H.R. 5487), H3306 (see H.R. 5487), H3359 [25MY]

Rural areas: establish an Assistant Sec. for Rural Veterans and improve care provided to veterans living in rural areas (see S. 2433), S2312 [16MR]

Taxation: extend period of limitation to file claims for refunds on account of disability determinations by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (see S. 2503), S2799 [4AP] (see H.R. 4727), H224 [8FE]

Transportation: eliminate the deductible and change the method of determining the mileage reimbursement rate for the beneficiary travel program (see S. 3276), S5341 [26MY]

Veterans: enhance services provided by veterans' centers and clarify and improve the provision of bereavement counseling (see H.R. 5221), H1915 [27AP]

———ensure appropriate payment for the cost of long-term care provided to veterans in State homes (see S. 2762), S4155 [8MY] (see H.R. 5671), H4519 [22JN]

———expand and make permanent the benefit for governmental markers for marked graves of veterans at private cemeteries (see H.R. 5499), H3307 (see H.R. 5499), H3359 [25MY]

———expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of combat-related compensation with service-connected disability benefits (see S. 2385), S1893 [8MR]

———expand eligibility for governmental markers for marked graves of veterans at private cemeteries (see S. 3069), S5227 [25MY]

———expand eligibility for governmental markers for marked graves of veterans at private cemeteries and provide governmental markers or memorial headstones for certain deceased dependents of veterans (see H.R. 5038), H1319 [29MR]

———improve health care for rural veterans (see H.R. 5524), H3423 [6JN]

———improve information security (see H.R. 5464), H3225 [24MY]

———increase rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans (see S. 2562), S3211 [6AP] (see H.R. 4843), H563 [2MR]

———provide annual cost-of-living adjustments in rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans (see S. 3068), S5227 [25MY]

———provide that World War II merchant mariners who were awarded the Mariners Medal are provided the same eligibility for Dept. of Veterans Affairs health care as Purple Heart recipients (see H.R. 5758), H5046 [11JY]

———require a program to improve the provision of caregiver assistance services (see S. 2753), S4051 [4MY]

Explanations

Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act (S. 1235), S5291-S5294 [25MY], H2976-H2979 [22MY]

Letters

Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act: Ian Allison and Henry Van Gemert, Just Compensation Committee, E114 [8FE]

Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act: Representative Buyer, Committee on Veterans' Affairs (House), H2200 [9MY]

———Representative Sensenbrenner, Committee on the Judiciary (House), H2200 [9MY]

Rural veterans health care improvement: James D. Randles, Military Order of the Purple Heart, E1025 [6JN]

———John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., E1025 [6JN]

———Steve Robertson, American Legion, E1025 [6JN]

Veterans health care funding: Dennis Cullinan, VFW, S2094 [14MR]

———several veterans organizations, S2081 [14MR]

———Steve Robertson, American Legion, S494 [2FE], S1090 [13FE]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: prohibit certain demonstrations at cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration and at Arlington National Cemetery (H.R. 5037), H2187, H2199-H2208 [9MY], H2555 [11MY], H3208-H3211 [24MY], E774 [10MY]

———prohibit funding to approve demonstrations at Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs cemeteries during funeral services, H1089 [16MR]

Benefits: repeal the offset from surviving spouse annuities under the military Survivor Benefit Plan for amounts paid as dependency and indemnity compensation, H2549, H2550 [11MY]

———repeal the offset from surviving spouse annuities under the military Survivor Benefit Plan for amounts paid as dependency and indemnity compensation (H.R. 808), E1305 [28JN]

Capitol Building and Grounds: permit use of rotunda for a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of Dept. of Veterans Affairs (H. Con. Res. 427), H4926-H4928 [10JY]

Congress: accomplishments of the 109th Congress, H3346-H3348 [25MY]

Credit: provide free credit monitoring and credit reports for veterans and others affected by the theft of veterans' personal data and ensure notification of such thefts, H3148 [24MY]

———provide free credit monitoring and credit reports for veterans and others affected by the theft of veterans' personal data and ensure notification of such thefts (H.R. 5455), H3501 [8JN], H3646 [9JN]

———provide free credit monitoring and credit reports for veterans and others affected by the theft of veterans' personal data and ensure notification of such thefts (H.R. 5588), H3803 [13JN]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: establish offsets for funding for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services through reductions in tax cuts, H2931 [19MY]

———making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 5385), H2902-H2944 [19MY], E968 [26MY]

———making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 5385), consideration (H. Res. 821), H2894-H2902 [19MY]

———prohibit funding to promulgate regulations without consideration of effect on competitiveness of U.S. business, H2940 [19MY]

Diseases: cooperate with NIH in facilitating research on managing medical issues associated with hepatitis C, H2930 [19MY]

Ernest Childers Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Tulsa, OK: designate (H.R. 4744), E152 [14FE]

Families USA (organization): study on Medicare prescription drug plans, E1254 [23JN], E1310 [28JN]

Funding, H3482 [7JN]

Health: tribute to health care and services provided to veterans, E484 [30MR]

Health care professionals: allow anesthesiologist assistants to provide care at departmental medical facilities, H2926 [19MY]

Housing: provide adaptive housing assistance to disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member and make direct housing loans to Native American veterans, H2981 [22MY]

Howard, Harriett: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee Female Volunteer of the Year award recipient, E967 [26MY]

Jack C. Montgomery Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Muskogee, OK: designate (H.R. 3829), H2208, H2209 [9MY]

John H. Bradley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Appleton, WI: dedication, E1108 [9JN]

Medicare: reimbursement for services provided to eligible veterans by certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (H.R. 4992), H1983 [3MY]

Mental health: provide services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans and family members with limited English proficiency (H.R. 5007), H3146 [24MY]

Merchant marine industry: provide a monthly monetary benefit to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (H.R. 23), E113 [8FE]

Milwaukee, WI: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Zablocki Medical Center spinal cord injury unit upgrades funding, H2927, H2928 [19MY]

New Orleans, LA: VA Medical Center reconstruction funding, H1084, H1085 [16MR]

Not This Time Vets (organization): tribute, E285 [7MR]

Office of Veterans Identity Protection Claims: establish to reimburse persons for injuries suffered due to unauthorized use, disclosure, or dissemination of stolen identifying information (H.R. 5520), E1000 [26MY]

Radioactive substances: study health effects of exposure to depleted uranium munitions, H2531, H2532 [11MY]

Taxation: extend period of limitation to file claims for refunds on account of disability determinations by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (H.R. 4727), E119 [8FE]

Veterans: change effective date for paid-up coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (H.R. 968), E1305 [28JN]

———expand eligibility for governmental markers for marked graves of veterans at private cemeteries and provide governmental markers or memorial headstones for certain deceased dependents of veterans (H.R. 5038), E445 [29MR]

———health care funding, H261 [14FE], H1021 [15MR], H1569-H1576, H1589-H1593, H1603 [6AP], H2693, H2743 [17MY], H2914-H2917 [19MY], H2982 [22MY], H3236 [25MY], E247 [1MR]

———health care funding through repeal of certain tax breaks, H2922, H2925 [19MY]

———improve health care for rural veterans (H.R. 5524), E1024 [6JN]

———increase maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs (S. 1235), H2970-H2982 [22MY], E929 [23MY]

———increase rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans (H.R. 4843), H4528-H4530 [26JN], E264 [2MR], E1283 [27JN]

———provide for prosthetic and orthotic care for injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, H1013 [15MR]

———theft of veterans' personal records, H3230, H3232 [25MY]

Veterans' Right To Know Commission: establish (H.R. 4259), E982 [26MY]

Remarks in Senate

Armed Forces: improve collection of survivors' benefits, S6511 [27JN]

———improve the Transition Assistance Program provided for members being discharged, released from active duty, or retiring, S6453 [23JN]

———prohibit certain demonstrations at cemeteries, funeral homes, houses of worship, and other locations where deceased veterans are honored and buried, S6516, S6520, S6521, S6524, S6525, S6538, S6539, S6544, S6546 [27JN]

———prohibit certain demonstrations at cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration and at Arlington National Cemetery (H.R. 5037), S5129, S5130 [24MY], S6486 [26JN], S6538 [27JN]

Awards, medals, prizes: provide enrollment priority in health care services for veterans who are recipients of certain medals for valor (S. 2708), S3989 [3MY]

Capitol Building and Grounds: permit use of rotunda for a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of Dept. of Veterans Affairs (H. Con. Res. 427), S7360 [11JY]

Claims: remove certain limitations on attorney representation of claimants for veterans benefits in administrative proceedings (H.R. 4914) (S. 2694), S3896 [2MY]

Credit: provide free credit monitoring and credit reports for veterans and others affected by the theft of veterans' personal data and ensure notification of such thefts, S6224 [21JN]

———provide free credit monitoring and credit reports for veterans and others affected by the theft of veterans' personal data and ensure notification of such thefts (S. 2970), S4968 [23MY], S5217 [25MY]

Ernest Childers Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Tulsa, OK: designate (S. 2800), S4555 [15MY]

Gulfport, MS: Armed Forces Retirement Home reconstruction funding, S3874-S3878 [2MY]

Health care facilities: authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases (S. 3421), S5492 [6JN]

———establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in hospitals (S. 2358), S1651 [2MR]

———establish centers to provide enhanced services to veterans with amputations and prosthetic devices (S. 2736), S4057-S4059 [4MY]

Health care professionals: recalculate retirement annuities for certain health care professionals performing part-time services (S. 3598), S6788 [29JN]

Housing: provide adaptive housing assistance to disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member (S. 1947), S5294 [25MY]

Jack C. Montgomery Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Muskogee, OK: designate (H.R. 3829), S5219 [25MY], S5394 [26MY]

John H. Bradley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Appleton, WI: designate (H.R. 1691), S2050 [13MR]

Mental health: enhance counseling and readjustment services (S. 2500), S2802 [4AP]

National Association of State Veterans Homes: tribute (S. Res. 417), S2696 [31MR]

National Veterans Awareness Week: designate (S. Res. 507), S5811 [13JN], S7442 [12JY]

Presidential appointments: abolish term limits for the Under Sec. for Health and the Under Sec. for Benefits and simplify appointment process (S. 2634), S3424 [24AP]

———nominations considered and confirmed en bloc, S7173 [29JN]

Privacy: protect privacy of veterans and spouses of veterans affected by security breach (S. 3176), S5252 [25MY]

———protect privacy of veterans and spouses of veterans affected by security breach (S. 3486), S5670 [8JN]

Research: funding, S5425 [5JN]

Rural areas: establish an Assistant Sec. for Rural Veterans and improve care provided to veterans living in rural areas (S. 2433), S2324 [16MR], S6556 [27JN]

Taxation: extend period of limitation to file claims for refunds on account of disability determinations by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (S. 2503), S2804 [4AP]

Transportation: eliminate the deductible and change the method of determining the mileage reimbursement rate for the beneficiary travel program (S. 3276), S5594 [7JN]

Veterans: eliminate phase-in period for concurrent receipt of military retired pay with service-connected disability benefits for the severely disabled, S6359 [22JN]

———ensure appropriate payment for the cost of long-term care provided to veterans in State homes (S. 2762), S4158 [8MY]

———expand and enhance health care, mental health, transition, and disability benefits, S6594 [28JN]

———expand and enhance health care, mental health, transition, and disability benefits (S. 13), S6526 [27JN]

———expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of combat-related compensation with service-connected disability benefits (S. 2385), S1894 [8MR]

———health care funding, S431-S433 [1FE], S493, S494 [2FE], S1116 [13FE], S1831 [7MR], S2075-S2083, S2094, S2095 [14MR], S2244, S2258 [16MR], S3560-S3564 [26AP], S5823, S5830 [14JN], S6511 [27JN]

———health care funding through reductions in National Civilian Community Corps funding, S3874 [2MY], S4013, S4016 [4MY]

———health care funding through repeal of certain tax breaks, S1090-S1094 [13FE]

———improve benefits for World War II Filipino veterans, S2267 [16MR]

———improve treatment provided to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, S3787 [1MY]

———increase maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs (S. 1235), S5285-S5295 [25MY]

———increase rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans (S. 2562), S3219 [6AP]

———qualified mortgage bond program expansion, S1113 [13FE]

———require a program to improve the provision of caregiver assistance services (S. 2753), S4075 [4MY]

———theft of veterans' personal records, S4957 [23MY]

Reports

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Major Construction Projects: Committee on Appropriations (House), H2927 [19MY]

Reports filed

Consideration of H.R. 5385, Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Military Construction, Quality of Life Functions, and Services: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 821) (H. Rept. 109-472), H2832, H2889 [18MY]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Military Construction, Quality of Life Functions, and Veterans' Services: Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 5385) (H. Rept. 109-464), H2596 [15MY], H2640 [16MY]

Nomination of Daniel L. Cooper To Be Under Sec. of Veterans Affairs for Benefits: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (Senate), S3703 [27AP]

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (House) (H.R. 4843) (H. Rept. 109-521), H4519 [22JN]

Rulings of the Chair

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 5385), H2922, H2926, H2929, H2931, H2932, H2936, H2937, H2938 [19MY]

Statements

Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act: Senator Craig, E113 [8FE]

Delivery of Health Care at VA: Jim Nicholson, Dept. of Veterans Affairs, E484 [30MR]

Tables

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 5385), H2904-H2911 [19MY]

Priority list of pending State home construction grant applicants for fiscal year 2006, S1093 [13FE]

Testimonies

Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act: David F. Forte, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University, H2206 [9MY]

Texts of

H. Con. Res. 427, permit use of Capitol rotunda for a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs establishment, H4926 [10JY]

H. Res. 821, consideration of H.R. 5385, Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services, H2894 [19MY]

H.R. 3829, Jack C. Montgomery Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Muskogee, OK, H2208 [9MY]

H.R. 4843, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, H4528 [26JN]

H.R. 5037, Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, H2199 [9MY], H3209 [24MY]

S. 1235, Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act, S5285-S5291 [25MY], H2970-H2976 [22MY]

S. 2385, Combat-Related Special Compensation Act, S1895 [8MR]

S. 2433, Rural Veterans Care Act, S2324-S2326 [16MR]

S. 2500, Healing the Invisible Wounds Act, S2803 [4AP]

S. 2562, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, S3219 [6AP]

S. 2694, Veterans' Choice of Representation Act, S3897 [2MY]

S. 2736, establish centers to provide enhanced services to veterans with amputations and prosthetic devices, S4058 [4MY]

S. 2753, require a program to improve the provisions of veteran caregiver assistance services, S4076 [4MY]

S. 2762, Veterans Long-Term Care Security Act, S4159 [8MY]

S. 3176, Veterans Privacy Protection Act, S5252-S5254 [25MY]

S. 3421, Dept. of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases authorization, S5493 [6JN]

S. Res. 417, tribute to National Association of State Veterans Homes, S2691, S2697 [31MR]

S. Res. 507, National Veterans Awareness Week, S5811 [13JN], S7442 [12JY]