[House Report 110-927]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 600
110th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - House Report 110-927
ACTIVITIES REPORT
of the
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
__________
first session
Convened January 4, 2007
Adjourned December 19, 2007
second session
Convened January 3, 2008
Adjourned January 3, 2009
January 2, 2009--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
BOB FILNER, California, Chairman
CORRINE BROWN, Florida STEVE BUYER, Indiana
VIC SNYDER, Arkansas CLIFF STEARNS, Florida
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine JERRY MORAN, Kansas
STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN, South HENRY E. BROWN, Jr., South
Dakota Carolina
HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona JEFF MILLER, Florida
JOHN J. HALL, New York JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
PHIL HARE, Illinois GINNY BROWN-WAITE, Florida
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio
JOHN T. SALAZAR, Colorado BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California
CIRO RODRIGUEZ, Texas DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
JOE DONNELLY, Indiana GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida
JERRY McNERNEY, California VERN BUCHANAN, Florida
ZACHARY T. SPACE, Ohio STEVE SCALISE, Louisiana
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota
DONALD J. CAZAYOUX, Jr., Louisiana
Malcom Shorter, Staff Director
January 4, 2007--Chairman Bob Filner and Ranking Minority Member
Steve Buyer were appointed to the Committee.
January 10, 2007--Reps. Cliff Stearns, Dan Burton of Indiana, Jerry
Moran of Kansas, Richard H. Baker, Henry E. Brown, Jr. of South
Carolina, Jeff Miller of Florida, John Boozman, Ginny Brown-Waite of
Florida, Michael R. Turner, Brian P. Bilbray, Doug Lamborn, and Gus M.
Bilirakis were appointed to the Committee.
January 12, 2007--Reps. Corrine Brown of Florida, Vic Snyder,
Michael H. Michaud, Stephanie Herseth, Harry E. Mitchell of Arizona,
John J. Hall of New York, Phil Hare, Michael F. Doyle, John T. Salazar,
Ciro D. Rodriguez, Joe Donnelly, Jerry McNerney and Zachary T. Space
were appointed to the Committee.
January 18, 2007--Rep. Shelley Berkley (to rank immediately after
Michael F. Doyle) and Timothy J. Walz were appointed to the Committeee.
March 12, 2007--Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana was removed from the
Committee.
March 12, 2007--Rep. Vern Buchanan was appointed to the Committee.
April 1, 2007--Rep. Stephanie Herseth changed her name to Stephanie
Herseth Sandlin.
February 2, 2008--Rep. Richard H. Baker resigned from the Committee
and the U.S. House of Representatives.
May 14, 2008--Rep. Steve Scalise was appointed to the Committee.
June 10, 2008--Rep. Michael F. Doyle resigned from the Committee.
June 10, 2008--Rep. Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr. was appointed to the
Committee.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS
JOHN J. HALL, New York, Chairman
CIRO RODRIGUEZ, Texas DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado, Ranking
PHIL HARE, Illinois MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida
----------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN, South Dakota, Chairwoman
JOE DONNELLY, Indiana JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas, Ranking
JERRY McNERNEY, California JERRY MORAN, Kansas
JOHN J. HALL, New York STEVE SCALISE, Louisiana
----------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine, Chairman
CORRINE BROWN, Florida JEFF MILLER, Florida, Ranking
VIC SNYDER, Arkansas CLIFF STEARNS, Florida
PHIL HARE, Illinois JERRY MORAN, Kansas
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada HENRY E. BROWN, Jr., South
JOHN T. SALAZAR, Colorado Carolina
DONALD J. CAZAYOUX, Jr., Louisiana VERN BUCHANAN, Florida
----------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona, Chairman
ZACHARY T. SPACE, Ohio GINNY BROWN-WAITE, Florida,
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota Ranking
CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ, Texas CLIFF STEARNS, Florida
BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California
----------
February 2, 2008--Rep. Richard H. Baker resigned from the Subcommittees
on Economic Opportunity and Health at the same time he resigned from
the U.S. House of Representatives.
June 11, 2008--Rep. Vern Buchanan was appointed to the Subcommittee on
Health and Rep. Steve Scalise was appointed to the Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity.
July 9, 2008--Rep. Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr. was appointed to the
Subcommittee on Health.
Committee Staff
Malcom A. Shorter, Staff Director (1/22/07)
Kingston E. Smith,\1\ Republican Staff Director and Chief Counsel (7/
26/08)
Kelly F. Craven, Republican Staff Director (1/3/07-4/22/07)
James M. Lariviere, Republican Staff Director (1/3/07-7/25/08)
Tony J. Buckles, Chief of Staff
David M. Tucker,\2\ Chief Counsel
Christopher R. Austin,\3\ Executive Assistant, Subcommittee on Health
(2/20/07-7/24/08)
Geoffrey G. Bestor, Staff Director, Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations
Michael F. Brink, Republican Staff Director, Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity
Jeffrey A. Burdette, Executive Assistant, Subcommittee on Health
Leah M. Caputo, Executive Assistant (1/3/07-4/29/07)
Todd C. Chambers, Executive Assistant, Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations
(6/2/08)
Jonathan A. Clark, Republican Legislative Assistant, Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity
Deborah S. Collier, Republican Legislative Director, Full Committee and
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Geoffrey K. Collver, Staff Director, Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity
(1/3/07-2/28/07)
Kristal L. DeKleer, Communications Director (2/12/07)
Bernadine N. Dotson, Financial Administrator
Dolores A. Dunn, Republican Staff Director, Subcommittee on Health
Sherie D. Ferrigno, Republican Executive Assistant, Full Committee,
Press
Jacqueline Garrick, Professional Staff Director, Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (11/5/07)
Mark F. Heyman, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Health (8/
20/07-6/27/08)
Thaddeus Hoffmeister, Staff Director, Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs (1/3/07-8/29/07)
Diane K. Kirkland, Printing Clerk (2/5/07)
Juan Lara, Staff Director, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity (3/23/
07)
Brian E. Lawrence, Republican Staff Director, Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Communications Director (9/
18/07)
Robert C. McCandless,\4\ Special Counsel to Chairman (6/6/07-8/1/07)
Javier D. Martinez, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity
(2/12/07)
Carol S. Murray, Office Manager
Caitlin R. Ostomel, Administrative Assistant, Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations (2/7/07-5/23/08)
Kristy A. Park, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Health (8/
11/08)
Jeffrey E. Phillips,\5\ Republican Communications Director, Republican
Staff Director, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs (1/3/07-9/29/08)
Kimberly W. Ross,\6\ Staff Director, Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs (2/21/07)
Risa E. Salsburg, Republican Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on
Health
Sharon E. Schultze, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Health
Leonard A. Sistek, Jr., Staff Director, Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations
(1/3/07-2/28/07)
Deborah A. Smith, Legislative Coordinator
Shannon L. Taylor, Committee Clerk (2/5/07)
Dion S. Trahan, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations (1/16/07)
Orfa A. Torres,\7\ Executive Assistant, Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity (5/14/07)
Timothy M. Welter, Republican Professional Staff Member (8/1/08)
Cathleen C. Wiblemo,\8\ Staff Director, Subcommittee on Health (1/29/
07)
Megan A. Williams, Executive Assistant, Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs (3/5/08)
Arthur K. Wu,\9\ Republican Deputy Staff Director, Republican Staff
Director, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Jian Iza C. Zapata,\10\ Executive Assistant (2/12/07)
----------
\1\ Republican Chief Counsel (1/3/07-7/25/08)
\2\ Staff Director, Subcommittee on Health (1/3/07-5/31/07)
\3\ Staff Assistant (2/20/07-4/29/07)
\4\ Special Assistant and Counsel (6/6/07-6/14/07)
\5\ Professional Staff Member (9/23/08-9/29/08)
\6\ Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance
and Memorial Affairs (2/21/07-9/30/07)
\7\ Executive Assistant, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs and Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity (5/14/07-3/2/
08)
\8\ Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Health (1/29/07-5/31/07)
\9\ Republican Staff Director, Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations (1/3/07-7/25/08)
\10\ Executive Assistant, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs and Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity (2/12/07-4/
29/07)
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC, January 2, 2009
Hon. Lorraine Miller,
Clerk, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Ms. Miller: In accordance with clause 1(d) of Rule XI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I submit herewith
the report of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs setting forth
its activities in reviewing and studying the application,
administration, and execution of those laws, the subject matter
of which is within the jurisdiction of our committee.
Sincerely,
Bob Filner,
Chairman
FOREWORD
----------
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs set an aggressive
agenda for the 110th Congress which culminated in the passage
of comprehensive legislation to improve health care and expand
benefits for America's veterans. The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) provides patient care and benefits for veterans
and works to provide a seamless transition for those service
members returning home from battle. There are hundreds of
thousands of new veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom,
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other military operations around
the world. The VA also serves veterans from past conflicts,
including World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Desert Shield, and
Desert Storm. The 110th Congress delivered significant
accomplishments and made progress in meeting the needs of
returning service members while keeping the promises that have
been made to our Nation's heroes of the past, present, and
future.
The 110th Congress oversaw the largest investment in
veterans' health care in American history. This unprecedented
increase in funding included the largest single year increase
in funding of the 77-year history of the VA. As a result,
veterans health care services are more comprehensive,
accessible, and timely. In the past two years, the health care
system has been strengthened for the 5.8 million veterans who
receive health care services from the VA, while providing more
resources in order to specifically address the needs of
veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Congress crafted and passed the greatest overhaul of the
G.I. Bill in more than 20 years--finally providing a G.I. Bill
for the 21st Century veteran. The law fully restores education
benefits for veterans to World War II levels, recognizes the
sacrifice of the 1.8 million Reserve and National Guard troops
by better aligning their education benefits with their length
of service, and allows unused education benefits to be
transferred to spouses and children. The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill
provides tuition to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
based on the tuition of the most expensive four-year public
university in the individual veteran's state.
Addressing the housing needs of veterans was a top priority
in the 110th Congress, as service members and veterans faced
continued stress after returning home following deployment.
Congress passed sweeping legislation to prohibit home
foreclosure for nine months after military service, increase
the loan limit for the VA home loan program, and enable more
veterans to refinance their existing high-risk loans with VA
loans. Congress also focused greater attention on preventing
homelessness and providing increased services for those
veterans already experiencing homelessness. The number of
homeless veterans today is a national disgrace and I anticipate
further enhancement of these services in the 111th Congress.
During this session, Congress took action to clean up the
disgraceful backlog of disability compensation and benefits
claims. Legislation was enacted to provide essential reforms to
bring the claims processing system up-to-date which allows for
more accurate and timely delivery of benefits to veterans,
families, and survivors. As a result of funding increases, VA
has hired 3,000 additional claims processors to address the
backlog. Benefits were also increased during the 110th
Congress.
Oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs is
paramount. The VA does not always provide the services to our
veterans as well as it could--and should. Many times,
bureaucratic obstacles prevent veterans from receiving the care
they need. During this Congress, we increased the resources
available for the VA to be more responsive to veterans' needs.
Vigilant oversight by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
will continue in the 111th Congress in order to ensure that
these increased resources are spent efficiently and
effectively.
Budget and Appropriations--When the new 110th Congress was
sworn in, the VA budget had been frozen for months, straining
its ability to provide health care and benefits to the veterans
who earned them. Congress pledged to never forget about the
cost of the warrior when considering the growing cost of war
and as a result, funding for veterans' programs increased
dramatically during the 110th Congress. Over the two years, an
additional $16.3 billion was provided to the VA for veterans'
health care and services. In Fiscal Year 2008 alone, the
largest increase in veterans' health care and benefits was
enacted in the history of the VA.
The 110th Congress passed three annual VA budgets. The
Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2007 (Public
Law 110-5) provided a $3.4 billion budget increase for the VA
and was signed into law on February 15, 2007. The Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-161) increased
funding for veterans health care and benefits by $6.6 billion,
the single largest increase in the 77-year history of the VA
and was signed into law on December 26, 2008. The Consolidated
Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations
Act of 2009 (Public Law 110-329) provided a $4.5 billion budget
increase and was signed into law on September 30, 2008.
Congress also passed a supplemental appropriations bill to
fund ongoing military operations which included funding to care
for the returning service members. The U.S. Troops Readiness,
Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability
Appropriations Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-28) provided $1.8
billion for veterans, including funding to address the
increased demand for VA services among service members
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including mental health
care, readjustment care, and polytrauma care. The bill was
signed on May 25, 2007.
The increased funding will improve health care and expand
health services provided by the Veterans Health Administration
which expects to treat more than 5.8 million patients in 2009,
including more than 333,275 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan
(40,000 more than 2008). The increased budgets also make needed
investments in advancing mental health care, assisting homeless
veterans, improving VA long-term care, constructing and
modernizing VA facilities, and hiring additional claims
processors to alleviate the backlog of benefits claims.
Major Committee Legislation: Health Care--The Veterans'
Mental Health Care and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008
(Public Law 110-387) addresses the many needs of our veterans
and wounded warriors. This comprehensive health care law
expands mental health services, increases research through the
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, provides
much needed counseling for families of veterans, and
establishes a program to help rural veterans get the health
care they need closer to home. Provisions were included to
prevent homelessness and provide increased services for
veterans experiencing homelessness by expanding and extending a
valuable joint VA andDepartment of Labor program of referral
and counseling services, ensuring that the VA domiciliary program is
capable of meeting the needs of the growing female veteran population,
and providing necessary support to low-income veteran families that
have made the transition to permanent housing.
The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act (Public
Law 110-110) addresses the troubling increase of suicide in our
veteran community. It offers comprehensive services to veterans
and establishes a 24-hour toll-free suicide hotline. In its
first year of operation, the hotline had served more than
30,000 veterans, family members, and friends, and provided
immediate help to individuals who were judged to be at imminent
risk.
Provisions from the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (H.R.
1538) were included in the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181). This legislation
represents a cooperative effort between the Committees on Armed
Services and Veterans' Affairs to address the problems facing
wounded veterans and eliminate the bureaucratic obstacles that
confront returning service members when they transition from
the Department of Defense (DoD) to the VA. This comprehensive
new law provides an additional three years of VA health care
eligibility for returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (for a
total of five years) and expands VA's ability to care for
returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from
traumatic brain injury. The law also provides plans for a
cooperative approach for consolidating the disability and
medical evaluation process for a more seamless transition from
military duty to veteran status.
Major Committee Legislation: Benefits--The Veterans
Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-389) increases
veterans' benefits and also provides essential reforms to bring
the claims processing system up-to-date for more accurate and
timely delivery of benefits to veterans, families, and
survivors. Public Law 110-389 also includes a pilot program
that dramatically alters the way claims are processed for
veterans. Fully-developed claims certified by a Veterans
Service Officer are eligible for expedited processing allowing
veterans to receive their benefit without waiting months and
months. The new law also strengthens a key housing benefit and
makes home loans more accessible to veterans by easing
restrictions on the VA home loan guaranty program, increasing
loan amounts for purchase and refinancing, and eliminating the
equity requirements for refinancing in response to the
declining home values which prohibit many veterans from
qualifying for the benefit.
The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of
2007 (P.L. 110-111) and the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
Living Adjustment Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-324) increased the
rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-
connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity
compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
The 110th Congress passed the Housing and Economic Recovery
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-298) which contained provisions to
address housing needs for veterans. Public Law 110-298
prohibits foreclosure of property owned by a service member for
nine months following a period of military service and provides
funding for a VA grant program that assists disabled veterans
needing to adapt their homes to accommodate their disabilities.
Oversight--During the 110th Congress, the House Committee
on Veterans' Affairs conducted 108 hearings to better
understand the needs of America's heroes on a wide-range of
topics that affect veterans and passed 75 quality veterans
bills to address those needs. The joint hearings process was
reinstated, allowing veterans and military service
organizations to appear before the Senate and House Committees
to offer testimony on the annual budget request for the VA. A
series of symposiums was implemented to raise the level of
awareness on issues important to our Nation's veterans and
their dependents. This unprecedented style of meeting allowed
interested stakeholders an opportunity to present new and
unique ways of addressing veterans' issues and engage in a
dialogue with experts on a wide range of subject matters. The
Committee held a Stakeholder's Summit, two roundtable
discussions on the claims backlog, a symposium on traumatic
brain injury, and a symposium on post-traumatic stress
disorder.
Implementation of Post 9/11 G.I. Bill--When the VA
announced it was outsourcing the administrative implementation
of the new G.I. Bill, the Committee held hearings to get to the
facts. The Committee scrutinized the initial plan and raised
concerns about using a contractor for the project. VA officials
later unveiled a two-part strategy which includes an interim
plan to meet the requirements of benefits delivery by August 1,
2009. A long-term solution to develop a permanent rules-based
automated system was also presented. The Committee will
continue its vigilant oversight over the implementation of this
most important new benefit for our troops and veterans.
New Cooperative Approaches and Continuum of Care--
Transmission of electronic medical records between the Pentagon
and VA is critical for the continuum of care of our wounded
warriors. This Congress mandated that VA and DoD establish
electronic medical records that can be quickly and easily
shared, and made tremendous strides increasing cooperation
between these two federal agencies to improve benefits and
services for active duty service members and veterans. Although
this problem is hardly new, the 110th Congress made significant
progress to accelerate a seamless transition for service
members and veterans.
Acknowledgments--Special thanks are in order for my
distinguished colleagues who guided and developed the key
measures of the 110th Congress. I would like to thank Honorable
Steve Buyer, the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, for
his dedication to our Nation's veterans and their loved ones. I
want to thank the Chairs and Ranking Minority Members of the
Subcommittees for all of their highly effective work: Honorable
John J. Hall and Honorable Doug Lamborn of the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs; Honorable Stephanie
Herseth Sandlin and Honorable John Boozman of the Subcommittee
Economic Opportunity; Honorable Michael H. Michaud and
Honorable Jeff Miller of the Subcommittee on Health; and
Honorable Harry E. Mitchell and Honorable Ginny Brown-Waite of
the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Our legislative success was only possible due to the
cooperation of our counterparts in the Senate, Honorable Daniel
Akaka, Chairman, and Honorable Richard Burr, Ranking Member, of
the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. On behalf of
veterans and their families, I would also like to thank the
Honorable Larry Craig, former Ranking Member, who is retiring.
I would like to thank the Senate Committee and their expert
professional staff for their work to better the lives of
veterans.
Finally, I want to thank the staff of the House Committee
on Veterans' Affairs for their hard work and dedication to our
Nation's veterans and their families.
George Washington had it right 200 years ago when he said,
``The willingness with which our young people are likely to
serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly
proportional as to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier
wars were treated and appreciated by their country.'' If we get
this right, we are not only helping our veterans but also
supporting the troops fighting today.
Bob Filner,
Chairman
C O N T E N T S
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Page
Jurisdiction of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs......... 1
Veterans programs:
Department of Veterans Affairs............................... 2
Veterans Health Administration........................... 3
Medical care......................................... 3
Medical and prosthetic research...................... 4
Veterans Benefits Administration......................... 5
Compensation and pension............................. 5
Education............................................ 5
Home loan assistance................................. 6
Insurance............................................ 6
Vocational Rehabilitation............................ 6
National Cemetery Administration......................... 6
Department of Labor.......................................... 7
American Battle Monuments Commission......................... 7
Arlington National Cemetery.................................. 8
Rules of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs...................... 8
Legislation enacted into law:
Public Law 110-45, Redesignate the Federal building in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the ``Raymond G. Murphy
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center,'' 7/5/2007.. 14
Public Law 110-110, Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention
Act, 11/5/2007............................................. 15
Public Law 110-111, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2007, 11/5/2007.......................... 16
Public Law 110-112, Designate the VAMC in August, Georgia, as
the ``Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center,'' 11/8/2007................................ 17
Public Law 110-117, Designate the VAMC in Asheville, North
Carolina, as the ``Charles George Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center,'' 11/6/2007........................ 17
Public Law 110-118, Name the VA medical facility in Iron
Mountain, Michigan, as the ``Oscar G. Johnson Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Facility,'' 11/16/2007............ 17
Public Law 110-145, Designate the VAOPC in Green Bay,
Wisconsin, as the ``Milo C. Huempfner Department of
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic,'' 12/21/2007........... 18
Public Law 110-156, Designate the VAOPC in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
as the ``Ernest Childers Department of Veterans Affairs
Outpatient Clinic,'' 12/26/2007............................ 18
Public Law 110-157, Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity
Act, 12/26/2007............................................ 18
Public Law 110-168, Authorize major medical facility project
to modernize inpatient wards at the VAMC in Atlanta,
Georgia, 12/26/2007........................................ 20
Public Law 110-292, Name the VAOPC in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as
the ``Euripides Rubio Department of Veterans Affairs
Outpatient Clinic,'' 7/30/2008............................. 20
Public Law 110-302, Designate the VAOPC in Wenatchee,
Washington, as the ``Elwood `Bud' Link Department of
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic,'' 8/12/2008............ 20
Public Law 110-304, Name the VAMC in Miami, Florida, as the
``Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center,'' 8/12/2008........................................ 21
Public Law 110-324, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2008, 9/24/08............................ 21
Public Law 110-332, Designate the VA Clinic in Alpena,
Michigan, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel Clement C. Van
Wagoner Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic,'' 9/30/08... 22
Public Law 110-387, Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care
Improvements Act of 2008, 10/10/08......................... 22
Public Law 110-389, Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of
2008, 10/10/08............................................. 26
Public Law 110-410, Designate the Department of Veterans
Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as
the ``Michael A. Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs
Outpatient Clinic,'' 10/14/08.............................. 30
Activities of the Committee...................................... 30
Activities of the Subcommittees:
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs... 47
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity......................... 59
Subcommittee on Health....................................... 73
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations................. 90
Summary of action by the Committee............................... 104
Hearings and Executive Sessions.................................. 105
Committee Web sites.............................................. 115
Oversight Plan for 110th Congress................................ 116
Report on the budget proposed for fiscal year 2008............... 124
Report on the budget proposed for fiscal year 2009............... 157
Messages from the President and other Executive communications... 199
Statistical data--war veterans and dependents.................... 209
Union Calendar No. 600
110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-927
======================================================================
ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS FOR THE 110TH CONGRESS
_______
January 2, 2009--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Filner, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, pursuant to Clause
1(d) of the Rule XI, submitted the following
R E P O R T
JURISDICTION
Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives
establishes the standing committees of the House and their
jurisdiction. Under that rule, all bills, resolutions, and
other matters relating to the subjects within the jurisdiction
of any standing committee shall be referred to such committee.
Clause 1(s) of Rule X establishes the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs as follows:
(1) Veterans' measures generally.
(2) Cemeteries of the United States in which veterans
of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in
the United States or abroad (except cemeteries
administered by the Secretary of the Interior).
(3) Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and
education of veterans.
(4) Life insurance issued by the Government on
account of service in the Armed Forces.
(5) Pensions of all the wars of the United States,
general and special.
(6) Readjustment of service members to civil life.
(7) Servicemembers' civil relief.
(8) Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment
of veterans.
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs was established on
January 2, 1947, as a part of the Legislative Reorganization
Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 812), and was vested with jurisdiction
formerly exercised by the Committee on World War Veterans'
Legislation; Invalid Pensions; and, Pensions. Jurisdiction over
veterans' cemeteries administered by the Department of Defense
was transferred from the Committee on Interior and Insular
Affairs on October 20, 1967, by H. Res. 241, 90th Congress. The
Committee during the 110th Congress had 28 members; 16 members
in the majority and 12 members in the minority.
VETERANS PROGRAMS
Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responsible for
providing Federal health care and benefits to veterans and
their families. The Department is headed by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and is the second largest of the 15 cabinet
departments. The VA operates nationwide programs for health
care, financial assistance and burial benefits.
The Department of Veterans Affairs was established on March
15, 1989, succeeding the Veterans Administration, which had
been formed in 1930, consolidating several government agencies
that provided services to veterans. At that time, VA had 54
hospitals and 31,600 employees, and the nation had 4.7 million
veterans. Today, VA employs more than 235,000 men and women who
serve a large portion of the nation's 23.4 million veterans.
About half of VA's male employees are themselves, veterans.
Health care is available to nearly 8 million patients that
are enrolled for health care in 153 medical centers, nearly 750
community-based outpatient clinics, and hundreds of other sites
of care. Annually, the Department's inpatient facilities treat
more than 800,000 patients, and its outpatient clinics register
more than 75 million visits. In addition, VA has become a
health care industry leader in research, rehabilitation, use of
technology and patient safety.
Approximately a quarter of the nation's population is
potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they
are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans. The
Department provides $39.8 billion in disability compensation,
death compensation and pensions to 3.7 million people. More
than 554,000 spouses, children and parents of deceased veterans
also receive VA benefits. In addition to guaranteeing home
loans valued at over $220 billion, VA supervises the
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and the Veterans' Group
Life Insurance programs. Together, these programs provide some
$1.3 trillion in insurance to 4 million service members and
veterans, plus 3.1 million family members.
The Department maintains 125 national cemeteries in 39
states and Puerto Rico. With the largest national cemetery
expansion since the Civil War underway, by 2010, VA will serve
90 percent of veterans with a national or state veterans
cemetery within 75 miles of their homes. The Department also
manages the Presidential Memorial Certificate program, which
provides next of kin or loved ones with certificates signed by
the President to commemorate honorably discharged, deceased
veterans.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Medical Care
Perhaps the most visible of all VA benefits and services is
health care. From 54 hospitals in 1930, VA's health care system
now includes 153 medical centers, with at least one in each
State other than New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, District of
Columbia and Hawaii. VA operates more than 1,400 sites of care,
including 153 hospitals, 852 ambulatory care and community-
based outpatient clinics, 135 nursing homes, 50 residential
rehabilitation treatment programs, currently 225 Veterans
Centers and 5 mobile outpatient clinics. VA health care
facilities provide a broad spectrum of medical, surgical and
rehabilitative care.
More than 5.6 million people received care in VA health
care facilities in 2008. By the end of FY 2007, approximately
32 percent of all veterans had enrolled with VA for health
care; 69 percent of these enrolled veterans were treated by VA.
In 2007, VA inpatient facilities treated 800,000 patients. VA's
outpatient clinics registered more than 75 million visits.
VA manages the largest medical education and health
professions training program in the United States. VA
facilities are affiliated with 107 medical schools, 55 dental
schools and more than 1,200 other schools across the country.
Each year, about 83,000 health professionals are trained in VA
medical centers. More than half of the physicians practicing in
the United States had some of their professional education in
the VA health care system.
VA's medical system serves as a backup to the Defense
Department during national emergencies and as a Federal support
organization during major disasters.
During the last 6 years, VA has put its health care
facilities under 21 networks, which provide more medical
services to more veterans and family members than at any time
during VA's long history.
VA has experienced unprecedented growth in the medical
system workload over the past few years. The number of patients
treated increased by 90 percent from 4.1 million in 2001 to
more than 7.8 million in 2008.
To receive VA health care benefits, most veterans must
enroll. The VA health care system had 7.8 million veterans who
were enrolled as of July 2008. When they enroll, they are
placed in priority groups or categories that help VA manage
health care services within budgetary constraints and ensure
quality care for those enrolled.
Some veterans are exempted from having to enroll. People
who do not have to enroll include veterans with a service-
connected disability of 50 percent or more, veterans with a
service-connected disability of 50 percent or more, veterans
who were discharged from the military within one year but have
not yet been rated for a VA disability benefit and veterans
seeking care for only a service-connected disability.
Veterans with service-connected disabilities receive
priority access to care for hospitalization and outpatient
care.
Since 1979, VA's Readjustment Counseling Service has
operated Vet Centers, which provide psychological counseling
for war-related trauma, community outreach, case management and
referral activities, plus supportive social services to
veterans and family members. There are currently 225 Vet
Centers.
Since the first Vet Center opened, approximately 2 million
veterans have been helped. Every year, the Vet Centers serve
over 130,000 veterans and provide more than 1 million visits to
veterans and family members.
Vet Centers are open to any veteran who served in the
military in a combat theater during wartime or anywhere during
a period of armed hostilities. Vet Centers also provide trauma
counseling to veterans who were sexually assaulted or harassed
while on active duty, and bereavement counseling to the
families of service members who die on active duty.
VA provides health care and benefits to more than 100,000
homeless veterans each year. While the proportion of veterans
among the homeless is declining, VA actively engages veterans
in outreach, medical care, benefits assistance and transitional
housing. VA has made more than 307 grants for transitional
housing, service centers and vans for outreach and
transportation to state and local governments, tribal
governments, non-profit community and faith-based service
providers.
Programs for alcoholism, drug addiction and post-traumatic
stress disorder have been expanded in recent years, along with
attention to environmental hazards.
Indispensable to providing America's veterans with quality
medical care are more than 134,000 volunteers in VA's Voluntary
Service who donate 13 million hours each year to bring
companionship and care to hospitalized veterans.
Research
In 2007, estimated funding for VA research is $510 million.
Another $442 million from VA's medical care account will
support research efforts. Funding from non-VA sources, such as
the National Institutes of Health, other government agencies
and pharmaceutical companies, will contribute another $961
million to VA research. VA currently supports approximately
3,200 research staff, and its Career Development program
provides young scientists and opportunity to develop skills as
clinician-researchers.
While providing high quality health care to the nation's
veterans, VA also conducts an array of research on some of the
most difficult challenges facing medical science today. VA has
become a world leader in such research areas as aging, women's
health, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental
health issues. VA research has improved medical care for
veterans and the nation.
VA researchers played key roles in developing the cardiac
pacemaker, the CT scan, radioimmunoassay and improvements in
artificial limbs. The first liver transplant in the world was
performed by a VA surgeon-researcher. VA clinical trials
established the effectiveness of new treatments for
tuberculosis, schizophrenia and high blood pressure. The
``Seattle Foot'' developed in VA allows people with amputations
to run and jump. VA contributions to medical knowledge have won
VA scientists many awards, including the Nobel Prize and the
Lasker Award.
Nearly 70 percent of VA researchers are practicing
physicians. Because of their dual roles, VA research often
immediately benefits patients. Functional electrical
stimulation, a technology using controlled electrical currents
to activate paralyzed muscles, is being developed at VA
clinical facilities and laboratories throughout the country.
Through this technology, paraplegic patients have been able to
grasp objects, stand and even walk short distances.
Special VA ``centers of excellence'' throughout the nation
conduct research in rehabilitation, health services and medical
conditions, including AIDS, alcoholism, schizophrenia, stroke
and Parkinson's disease. Multi-center clinical trials
investigate the best therapy for various diseases. Current
projects include testing aspirin therapy for heart patients,
surgical treatment to reduce the risk of stroke and treatment
options for prostate cancer.
VA investigators continue to make major contributions to
the understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder and Agent
Orange exposure, both research areas resulting from the Vietnam
War. VA has conducted a number of Gulf War-related research
projects and has two environmental hazards research centers
focusing on the possible health effects of environmental
exposures among Gulf War veterans.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Compensation and Pension
Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to
veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred or
aggravated during active military service. Veterans with low
incomes who are permanently and totally disabled may be
eligible for monetary support through VA's pension program. In
FY 2008, VA provided $38.9 billion in disability compensation,
death compensation and pension to 3.7 million people. About 3.1
million veterans received disability compensation or pensions
from VA. Also receiving VA benefits were 554,700 spouses,
children and parents of deceased veterans. Among them are
170,144 survivors of Vietnam-era veterans and 235,000 survivors
of World War II veterans.
Education and Training
Since 1944, when the first GI Bill began, more than 21.8
million veterans, service members and family members have
received $83.6 billion in GI Bill benefits for education and
training. The number of GI Bill recipients includes xx million
veterans from World War II, 2.4 million from the Korean War and
8.2 million post-Korean and Vietnam era veterans, plus active
duty personnel. Since the dependent's program was enacted in
1956, VA also has assisted in the education of more than
784,078 dependents of veterans whose deaths or total
disabilities were service-connected. Since the Vietnam-era,
there have been approximately 2.7 million veterans, service
members, reservists and National Guardsmen who have
participated in the Veterans' Educational Assistance Program,
established in 1977, and the Montgomery GI Bill, established in
1985.
In 2008, VA helped pay for the education or training of
336,527 veterans and active-duty personnel, 106,092 reservists
and National Guardsmen and 80,079 survivors.
Home Loan Assistance
From 1944, when VA began helping veterans purchase homes
under the original GI Bill, through September 2008, more than
18.4 million VA home loan guarantees have been issued, with a
total value of $967 billion. VA ended FY 2008 with almost 2.1
million active home loans, reflecting amortized loans totaling
$220.8 billion.
In FY 2008, VA guaranteed 180,000 loans valued at $36.1
billion. VA's programs for specially adapted housing helped
about 1,018 disabled veterans with grants totaling more than
$36.3 million last year.
Insurance
VA operates one of the largest life insurance programs in
the world. VA directly administers six life insurance programs.
In addition, VA supervises the Servicemembers' Group Life
Insurance and the Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs.
These programs provide $1.3 trillion in insurance coverage to 4
million veterans, active-duty members, reservists and
Guardsmen, plus 3.1 million spouses and children.
The Traumatic Injury Protection program under
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance provides coverage for
losses incurred due to traumatic injuries. Benefit amounts
range from $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the loss. This
program covers 2.4 million members.
In 2007, the VA life insurance programs returned $354
million in dividends to 1 million veterans holding some of
these VA life insurance policies, and paid an additional $1.1
billion in death claims and other disbursements.
Vocational Rehabilitation
VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
provides services to enable veterans with service-connected
disabilities to achieve maximum independence in daily living,
and, to the maximum extent feasible, to obtain and maintain
employment. From FY 1999 through 2008, 86,893 program
participants achieved rehabilitation by obtaining and
maintaining suitable employment. Additionally, during that same
period, 21,108 participants achieved rehabilitation through
maximum independence in daily living.
NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION
VA's National Cemeteries
In 1973, the Army transferred 82 national cemeteries to VA,
which now manages them through its National Cemetery
Administration. Currently, VA operates 125 national cemeteries
in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument
sites.
In 2007, VA national cemeteries conducted 100,000
interments. That number is likely to increase to 111,000 in
2010. In 2008, VA provided 360,455 headstones or markers for
veterans' graves. Since taking over the veterans cemetery
program in 1973, VA has provided more than 9.9 million
headstones and markers.
Between 2001 and 2007, VA opened six new national
cemeteries serving Atlanta, GA; Detroit, MI; Oklahoma City, OK;
Pittsburgh, PA; Sacramento, CA; and Palm Beach, FL. By the end
of 2009, VA plans to open six additional national cemeteries
near Sarasota, FL; Jackson, FL; Birmingham, AL; Columbia, SC;
Bakersfield, CA; and Southeastern Pennsylvania (see page 7).
VA administers the Presidential Memorial Certificate
program, which provides gold embossed certificates signed by
the president to commemorate honorably discharged, deceased
veterans. They are sent to the veteran's next of kin and loved
ones. VA provided 511,353 certificates in 2008.
VA also administers the State Cemetery Grants Program,
which encourages development of state and tribal government
veterans cemeteries. VA provides up to 100 percent of the funds
to develop, expand or improve veterans cemeteries operated and
maintained by the states. More than $344 million has been
awarded for 72 operation veterans cemeteries in 36 states, Guam
and Saipan. Five state cemeteries are under construction. In
2008, state cemeteries that received VA grants buried 25,000
eligible veterans and family members.
Department of Labor
VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) of the
Department of Labor provides employment and training services
to eligible veterans through non-competitive Jobs for Veterans
State Grants Program. Under this grant program, funds are
allocated to State Workforce Agencies in direct proportion to
the number of veterans seeking employment within their state.
American Battle Monuments Commission
The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), created by
an Act of Congress in 1923, is a Federal agency responsible for
the construction and permanent maintenance of military
cemeteries and memorials on foreign soil, as well as certain
memorials in the United States. Its principal functions are to
commemorate, through the erection and maintenance of suitable
memorial shrines, the sacrifices and achievements of the
American armed forces where they have served since April 6,
1917; to design, construct, operate, and maintain permanent
American military burial grounds and memorials in foreign
countries; to control the design and construction on foreign
soil of U.S. military monuments and markers by other U.S.
citizens and organizations, both public and private; and to
encourage U.S. government agencies and private individuals and
organizations to maintain adequately the monuments and markers
erected by them on foreign soils. ABMC also provides
information and assistance, on request, to relatives and
friends of the war dead interred or commemorated at its
facilities.
In performance of its functions, ABMC administers, operates
and maintains 24 permanent American military cemetery memorials
and 22 monuments, memorials, markers and separate chapels in 14
foreign countries, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Gibraltar, and three memorials in the United States.
When directed by Congress, ABMC develops and erects national
military monuments in the United States, such as the Korean War
Veterans Memorial and most recently, the World War II National
Memorial.
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington Mansion and 200 acres of ground immediately
surrounding it were designated as a military cemetery on June
15, 1864, by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. With more than
300,000 people buried, Arlington National Cemetery has the
second largest number of people buried of any national cemetery
in the United States. Arlington National Cemetery is
administered by the Department of the Army.
Veterans from all the Nation's wars and conflicts are
buried in the cemetery, from the American Revolution through
Operation Iraqi Freedom. The cemetery conducts approximately
6,400 burials each year. In addition to in-ground burial, the
cemetery has a large columbarium for cremated remains. Seven
courts are currently in use, each with 38,500 niches. Arlington
is the site of many non-funeral ceremonies, and approximately
3,700 such ceremonies are conducted each year. Arlington is
expected to continue to provide burials through the year 2060
with its recently approved capital investment plan.
RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
Rule 1--General Provisions
(a) Applicability of House Rules.--The Rules of the House
are the rules of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and its
subcommittees so far as applicable, except that a motion to
recess from day to day, and a motion to dispense with the first
reading (in full) of a bill or resolution, if printed copies
are available, are non-debatable privileged motions in
Committees and subcommittees.
(b) Subcommittees.--Each subcommittee of the Committee is a
part of the Committee and is subject to the authority and
direction of the Committee and to its rules so far as
applicable.
(c) Incorporation of House Rule on Committee Procedure.--
Rule XI of the Rules of the House, which pertains entirely to
Committee procedure, is incorporated and made part of the rules
of the Committee to the extent applicable. Pursuant to clause
2(a)(3) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, the Chairman of
the full Committee is directed to offer a motion under clause 1
of Rule XXII of the Rules of the House whenever the Chairman
considers it appropriate.
(d) Vice Chairman.--Pursuant to clause 2(d) of Rule XI of
the Rules of the House, the Chairman of the full Committee
shall designate the Vice Chairman of the Committee and a Vice
Chairman of each subcommittee established under Rule 5(a)(1).
Rule 2--Regular and Additional Meetings
(a) Regular Meetings.--The regular meeting day for the
Committee shall be at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each
month in such place as the Chairman may designate. However, the
Chairman may dispense with a regular Wednesday meeting of the
Committee.
(b) Additional Meetings.--The Chairman of the Committee may
call and convene, as he considers necessary, additional
meetings of the Committee for the consideration of any bill or
resolution pending before the Committee or for the conduct of
other Committee business. The Committee shall meet for such
purpose pursuant to the call of the Chairman.
(c) Notice.--The Chairman shall notify each member of the
Committee of the agenda of each regular and additional meeting
of the Committee at least 24 hours before the time of the
meeting, except under circumstances the Chairman determines to
be of an emergency nature. Under such circumstances, the
Chairman shall make an effort to consult the ranking minority
member, or in such member's absence, the next ranking minority
party member of the Committee.
Rule 3--Meetings and Hearings Generally
(a) Open Meetings and Hearings.--Meetings and hearings of
the Committee and each of its subcommittees shall be open to
the public unless closed in accordance with clause 2(g) of Rule
XI of the Rules of the House.
(b) Announcement of Hearing.--The Chairman, in the case of
a hearing to be conducted by the Committee, and the
subcommittee Chairman, in the case of a hearing to be conducted
by a subcommittee, shall make public announcement of the date,
place, and subject matter of any hearing to be conducted on any
measure or matter at least one week before the commencement of
that hearing unless the Committee or the subcommittee
determines that there is good cause to begin the hearing at an
earlier date. In the latter event, the Chairman or the
subcommittee Chairman, as the case may be, shall consult with
the ranking minority member and make such public announcement
at the earliest possible date. The clerk of the Committee shall
promptly notify the Daily Clerk of the Congressional Record and
the Committee scheduling service of the House Information
Resources as soon as possible after such public announcement is
made.
(c) Wireless Telephone Use Prohibited.--No person may use a
wireless telephone during a Committee or subcommittee meeting
or hearing.
(d) Media Coverage.--Any meeting of the Committee or its
subcommittees that is open to the public shall be open to
coverage by radio, television, and still photography in
accordance with the provisions of clause 4 of House rule XI.
(e) Requirements for Testimony.--
(1) Each witness who is to appear before the
Committee or a subcommittee shall file with the clerk
of the Committee, at least 48 hours in advance of his
or her appearance, a written statement of his or her
proposed testimony. Each witness shall, to the greatest
extent practicable, also provide a copy of such written
testimony in an electronic format prescribed by the
Chairman. Each witness shall limit any oral
presentation to a summary of the written statement.
(2) Pursuant to clause 4 of Rule XI of the Rules of
the House, in the case of a witness appearing in a non-
governmental capacity a written statement of proposed
testimony shall include a curriculum vitae and a
disclosure of the amount and source (by agency and
program) of any Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) or
contract (or subcontract thereof) received during the
current fiscal year or either of the two preceding
fiscal years by the witness or by an entity represented
by the witness.
(f) Calling and Questioning Witnesses.--
(1) Committee and subcommittee members may question
witnesses only when they have been recognized by the
Chairman of the Committee or subcommittee for that
purpose, and only for a 5-minute period until all
members present have had an opportunity to question a
witness. The 5-minute period for questioning a witness
by any one member may be extended only with the
unanimous consent of all members present. The
questioning of witnesses in both Committee and
subcommittee hearings shall be initiated by the
Chairman, followed by the ranking minority party member
and all other members alternating between the majority
and minority. Except as otherwise announced by the
Chairman at the beginning of a hearing, members who are
present at the start of the hearing will be recognized
before other members who arrive after the hearing has
begun. In recognizing members to question witnesses in
this fashion, the Chairman shall take into
consideration the ratio of the majority to minority
members present and shall establish the order of
recognition for questioning in such a manner as not to
disadvantage the members of the majority.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1)
regarding the 5-minute rule, the Chairman after
consultation with the ranking minority member may
designate an equal number of members of the Committee
or subcommittee majority and minority party to question
a witness for a period not longer than 30 minutes. In
no event shall the Chairman allow a member to question
a witness for an extended period under this rule until
all members present have had the opportunity to ask
questions under the 5-minute rule. The Chairman after
consultation with the ranking minority member may
permit Committee staff for its majority and minority
party members to question a witness for equal specified
periods of time.
(3) When a hearing is conducted by the Committee or a
subcommittee on any measure or matter, the minority
party members on the Committee shall be entitled, upon
request to the Chairman of a majority of those minority
members before the completion of the hearing, to call
witnesses selected by the minority to testify with
respect to that measure or matter during at least one
day of the hearing thereon.
(g) Subpoenas.--Pursuant to clause 2(m) of Rule XI of the
Rules of the House, a subpoena may be authorized and issued by
the Committee or a subcommittee in the conduct of any
investigation or series of investigations or activities, only
when authorized by a majority of the members voting, a majority
being present.
Rule 4--Quorum and Record Votes; Postponement of Proceedings
(a) Working Quorum.--A majority of the members of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum for business and a majority
of the members of any subcommittee shall constitute a quorum
thereof for business, except that two members shall constitute
a quorum for the purpose of taking testimony and receiving
evidence.
(b) Quorum for Reporting.--No measure or recommendation
shall be reported to the House of Representatives unless a
majority of the Committee was actually present.
(c) Record Votes.--A record vote may be demanded by one-
fifth of the members present or, in the apparent absence of a
quorum, by any one member. With respect to any record vote on
any motion to amend or report, the total number of votes cast
for and against, and the names of those members voting for and
against, shall be included in the report of the Committee on
the bill or resolution.
(d) Prohibition Against Proxy Voting.--No vote by any
member of the Committee or a subcommittee with respect to any
measure or matter may be cast by proxy.
(e) Postponing Proceedings.--Committee and subcommittee
chairmen may postpone further proceedings when a record vote is
ordered on the question of approving a measure or matter or on
adopting an amendment, and may resume proceedings within two
legislative days on a postponed question after reasonable
notice. When proceedings resume on a postponed question,
notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous
question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to
further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the
question was postponed.
Rule 5--Subcommittees
(a) Establishment and Jurisdiction.--
(1) There shall be four subcommittees of the
Committee as follows:
(A) Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs, which shall have legislative,
oversight and investigative jurisdiction over
compensation; general and special pensions of
all the wars of the United States; life
insurance issued by the Government on account
of service in the Armed Forces; cemeteries of
the United States in which veterans of any war
or conflict are or may be buried, whether in
the United States or abroad, except cemeteries
administered by the Secretary of the Interior;
burial benefits; the Board of Veterans'
Appeals; and the United States Court of Appeals
for Veterans' Claims.
(B) Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity,
which shall have legislative, oversight and
investigative jurisdiction over education of
veterans, employment and training of veterans,
vocational rehabilitation, veterans' housing
programs, readjustment of servicemembers to
civilian life, and servicemembers civil relief.
(C) Subcommittee on Health, which shall have
legislative, oversight and investigative
jurisdiction over veterans' hospitals, medical
care, and treatment of veterans.
(D) Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations, which shall have oversight and
investigative jurisdiction over veterans'
matters generally, and over such matters as may
be referred to the subcommittee by the Chairman
of the full Committee for its oversight or
investigation and for its appropriate
recommendations. The subcommittee shall only
have legislative jurisdiction over such bills
or resolutions as may be referred to it by the
Chairman of the full Committee.
(2) Each subcommittee shall have responsibility for
such other measures or matters as the Chairman refers
to it.
(b) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of a
subcommittee shall not affect the power of the remaining
members to execute the functions of that subcommittee.
(c) Ratios.--On each subcommittee, there shall be a ratio
of majority party members to minority party members which shall
be consistent with the ratio on the full Committee.
(d) Referral to Subcommittees.--The Chairman of the
Committee may refer a measure or matter, which is within the
general responsibility of more than one of the subcommittees of
the Committee, as the Chairman deems appropriate. In referring
any measure or matter to a subcommittee, the Chairman of the
Committee may specify a date by which the subcommittee shall
report thereon to the Committee.
(e) Powers and Duties.--
(1) Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold
hearings, receive evidence, and report to the full
Committee on all matters referred to it or under its
jurisdiction. Subcommittee chairmen shall set dates for
hearings and meetings of their respective subcommittees
after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee
and other subcommittee chairmen with a view toward
avoiding simultaneous scheduling of Committee and
subcommittee meetings or hearings whenever possible.
(2) Whenever a subcommittee has ordered a bill,
resolution, or other matter to be reported to the
Committee, the Chairman of the subcommittee reporting
the bill, resolution, or matter to the full Committee,
or any member authorized by the subcommittee to do so
shall notify the Chairman and the ranking minority
party member of the Committee of the Subcommittee's
action.
(3) A member of the Committee who is not a member of
a particular subcommittee may sit with the subcommittee
during any of its meetings and hearings, but shall not
have authority to vote, cannot be counted for a quorum,
and cannot raise a point of order at the meeting or
hearing.
(4) Each subcommittee shall provide the Committee
with copies of such record votes taken in subcommittee
and such other records with respect to the subcommittee
as the Chairman of the Committee deems necessary for
the Committee to comply with all rules and regulations
of the House.
Rule 6--General Oversight Responsibility
(a) Purpose.--Pursuant to clause 2 of Rule X of the Rules
of the House, the Committee shall carry out oversight
responsibilities. In order to assist the House in--
(1) Its analysis, appraisal, evaluation of--
(A) The application, administration,
execution, and effectiveness of the laws
enacted by the Congress, or
(B) Conditions and circumstances which may
indicate the necessity or desirability of
enacting new or additional legislation, and
(2) Its formulation, consideration and enactment of
such modifications or changes in those laws, and of
such additional legislation, as may be necessary or
appropriate, the Committee and its various
subcommittees, consistent with their jurisdiction as
set forth in Rule 5, shall have oversight
responsibilities as provided in subsection (b).
(b) Review of Laws and Programs.--The Committee and its
subcommittees shall review and study, on a continuing basis,
the applications, administration, execution, and effectiveness
of those laws, or parts of laws, the subject matter of which is
within the jurisdiction of the Committee or subcommittee, and
the organization and operation of the Federal agencies and
entities having responsibilities in or for the administration
and execution thereof, in order to determine whether such laws
and the programs thereunder are being implemented and carried
out in accordance with the intent of the Congress and whether
such programs should be continued, curtailed, or eliminated. In
addition, the Committee and its subcommittees shall review and
study any conditions or circumstances which may indicate the
necessity or desirability of enacting new or additional
legislation within the jurisdiction of the Committee or
subcommittee (whether or not any bill or resolution has been
introduced with respect thereto), and shall on a continuing
basis undertake future research and forecasting on matters
within the jurisdiction of the Committee or subcommittee.
(c) Oversight Plan.--Not later than February 15 of the
first session of a Congress, the Committee shall meet in open
session, with a quorum present, to adopt its oversight plans
for that Congress for submission to the Committee on House
Administration and the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, in accordance with the provisions of clause 2(d) of
Rule X of the Rules of the House.
(d) Oversight by Subcommittees.--The existence and
activities of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
shall in no way limit the responsibility of the other
subcommittees of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for
carrying out oversight duties.
Rule 7--Budget Act Responsibilities
(a) Budget Act Responsibilities.--Pursuant to clause
4(f)(1) of Rule X of the Rules of the House, the Committee
shall submit to the Committee on the Budget not later than six
weeks after the President submits his budget, or at such time
as the Committee on the Budget may request--
(1) Its views and estimates with respect to all
matters to be set forth in the concurrent resolution on
the budget for the ensuing fiscal year that are within
its jurisdiction or functions; and
(2) An estimate of the total amounts of new budget
authority, and budget outlays resulting therefrom, to
be provided or authorized in all bills and resolutions
within its jurisdiction that it intends to be effective
during that fiscal year.
Rule 8--Records and Other Matters
(a) Transcripts.--There shall be a transcript made of each
regular and additional meeting and hearing of the Committee and
its subcommittees. Any such transcript shall be a substantially
verbatim account of remarks actually made during the
proceedings, subject only to technical, grammatical, and
typographical corrections authorized by the person making the
remarks involved.
(b) Records.--
(1) The Committee shall keep a record of all actions
of the Committee and each of its subcommittees. The
record shall contain all information required by clause
2(e)(1) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House and shall
be available for public inspection at reasonable times
in the offices of the Committee.
(2) There shall be kept in writing a record of the
proceedings of the Committee and each of its
subcommittees, including a record of the votes on any
question on which a recorded vote is demanded. The
result of each such record vote shall be made available
by the Committee for inspection by the public at
reasonable times in the offices of the Committee.
Information so available for public inspection shall
include a description of the amendment, motion, order
or other proposition and the name of each member voting
for and each member voting against such amendment,
motion, order, or proposition, and the names of those
members present but not voting.
(c) Availability of Archived Records.--The records of the
Committee at the National Archives and Records Administration
shall be made available for public use in accordance with Rule
VII of the Rules of the House. The Chairman shall notify the
ranking minority member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3
or clause 4 of Rule VII of the Rules of the House, to withhold
a record otherwise available, and the matter shall be presented
to the Committee for a determination on written request of any
member of the Committee.
(d) Availability of Publications.--Pursuant to clause
2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, the Committee
shall make its publications available in electronic form to the
maximum extent feasible.
LEGISLATION ENACTED INTO LAW
------
Public Law 110-45
Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
(S. 229)
Title: To redesignate a Federal building in Albuquerque,
New Mexico, as the ``Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center''.
Public Law 110-45 will:
Redesignate the Federal building in Albuquerque, New
Mexico, as the ``Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center''.
Legislative History:
Apr. 12, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Jun. 25, 2007: Passed the House by unanimous voice
vote.
Jul. 5, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-45.
------
Public Law 110-110
Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act
(H.R. 327, AS AMENDED)
Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a
comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of
suicide among veterans.
Public Law 110-110 will:
--Direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to
develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce
the incidence of suicide among veterans.
--Require the VA to provide education and training
for VA staff, contractors, and medical personnel who
have interaction with veterans.
--Direct VA to regularly screen and monitor all
veterans who receive medical care in the VA health care
system for risk factors for suicide and to provide for
referral of veterans at risk for suicide for
appropriate counseling and treatment.
--Direct VA to provide for referral of veterans at
risk for suicide for appropriate counseling and
treatment.
--Require VA to designate a suicide prevention
counselor at each VAMC.
--Mandate VA to research the best practices for
suicide prevention among veterans, including best
practices for helping veterans who have experienced
military sexual trauma.
--Require VA to work with HHS, NIH, CDC, and the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service
Administration when conducting research.
--Require VA to conduct mental health research on
veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma.
--Require VA to provide for the availability of 24-
hour mental health care for veterans.
--Provide for a toll-free hotline to be available at
all times.
--Provide outreach and education for veterans and
their families to promote mental health.
--Create a peer support-counseling program where
veterans can volunteer as peer counselors to assist
other veterans with mental health and readjustment
problems.
--Require the VA to report within 90 days of
implementation on status, timeline and costs for
complete implementation within two years, and
recommendations for further legislation to improve
suicide prevention programs.
Cost: CBO estimates that implementing this bill will have
little, if any, cost because VA already has or soon will
implement all the specific requirements of the bill. Enacting
the bill would not affect direct spending or receipts.
Legislative History:
Mar. 13, 2007: Subcommittee on Health Markup.
Mar. 15, 2007: Ordered reported, as amended, by the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar. 20, 2007: Reported, as amended, H. Rept. 110-55.
Mar. 21, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays:
423-0 (Roll No. 174)
Sep. 27, 2007: Passed the Senate with an amendment by
Unanimous Consent.
Oct. 23, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays:
417-0 (Roll No. 987)
Nov. 5, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-110.
------
Public Law 110-111
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007
(H.R. 1284)
Title: To increase, effective as of December 1, 2007, the
rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected
disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity
compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
Public Law 110-111 will:
Increase rates of Disability Compensation and Dependency
and Indemnity Compensation:
Amounts to be Increased--
Wartime disability compensation
Additional compensation for benefits
Clothing allowance
Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving
spouse
Dependency and indemnity compensation to children
Determination of Increase--
Percentage--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each
dollar amount described in subsection (b) shall be increased by
the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts
payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
401 et seq.)
Rounding--Each dollar amount increased under paragraph (1),
if not a whole dollar amount, shall be rounded to the next
lower whole dollar amount.
Legislative History:
Mar. 13, 2007: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance
and Memorial Affairs Markup.
Mar. 15, 2007: Ordered reported by the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs.
Mar. 20, 2007: Reported, H. Rept. 110-56.
Mar. 21, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays:
418-0 (Roll No. 176)
Oct. 18, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Nov. 5, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-111.
------
Public Law 110-112
Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
(H.R. 1808)
Title: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, as the ``Charlie Norwood
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.
Public Law 110-112 will:
Designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
in Augusta, Georgia, as the ``Charlie Norwood Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.
Legislative History:
Oct. 23, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays:
417-0 (Roll No. 988)
Oct. 31, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Nov. 8, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-112.
------
Public Law 110-117
Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
(H.R. 2546)
Title: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center in Ashville, North Carolina, as the ``Charles
George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.
Public Law 110-117 will:
Designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
in Ashville, North Carolina, as the ``Charles George Department
of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.
Legislative History:
Jun. 25, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays:
381-0 (Roll No. 550)
Nov. 1, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Nov. 6, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-117.
------
Public Law 110-118
Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility
(H.R. 2602)
Title: To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical
facility in Iron Mountain, Michigan, as the ``Oscar G. Johnson
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility''.
Public Law 110-118 will:
Name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility in
Iron Mountain, Michigan, as the ``Oscar G. Johnson Department
of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility''.
Legislative History:
Jun. 25, 2007: Passed the House by unanimous voice
vote.
Nov. 7, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Nov. 16, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-118.
------
Public Law 110-145
Milo C. Huempfner Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
(H.R. 2408)
Title: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs
Outpatient Clinic in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the ``Milo C.
Huempfner Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic''.
Public Law 110-145 will:
Designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient
Clinic in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the ``Milo C. Huempfner
Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic''.
Legislative History:
Oct. 23, 2007: Passed the House by unanimous voice
vote.
Dec. 13, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Dec. 21, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-145.
------
Public Law 110-156
Ernest Childers Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
(H.R. 366)
Title: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs
Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the ``Ernest Childers
Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.''
Public Law 110-156 will:
Designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient
Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the ``Ernest Childers Department
of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.''
Legislative History:
Jun. 25, 2007: Passed the House by unanimous voice
vote.
Dec. 18, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Dec. 26, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-156.
------
Public Law 110-157
Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007
(H.R. 797)
Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
compensation benefits for veterans in certain cases of
impairment of vision involving both eyes, and for other
purposes.
Public Law 110-157 will:
--Allow veterans who receive veteran's disability
compensation for impairment of vision in one eye to be
eligible to receive additional disability compensation
for impairment of vision in the eye that is not
service-connected, where the impairment in each eye is
to a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or of a peripheral
field loss of 20 degrees or less (the definition of
``legal blindness'' adopted by all 50 states and the
Social Security Administration.)
--Authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), until
September 30, 2011, to match and compare VA's needs-
based pension benefits data, parents' dependency and
indemnity compensation data, health-care services data,
and unemployability compensation data with the National
Directory of New Hires maintained by HHS, for the
purpose of determining eligibility for such benefits
and services (as recommended by GAO study GAO-06-309).
--Extend authorization of the veterans' work study
program until 2010.
--Authorize VA to furnish, in lieu of a headstone or
marker, a medallion or other device to signify a
deceased's status as a veteran to be affixed to a
headstone or marker purchased at private expense.
--Repeal the two-year limit during which a state can
request a reimbursement for interment costs related to
the unclaimed remains of a veteran and would make the
repeal retroactive to October 1, 2006, and authorize VA
to provide up to $5 million per year for establishing,
expanding, improving, operating, and maintaining state
veterans cemeteries.
--Repeal the December 31, 2007, termination date of
the VA's authority to furnish a government headstone or
marker for the grave of certain veterans buried in
private cemeteries, notwithstanding that the grave is
marked by a headstone or marker furnished at private
expense.
Cost: The Congressional Budget Office has indicated that
the text of the resolution (making amendments to H.R. 797)
would result, overall, in cost savings of $8 million over 5
years and $1 million over 10 years.
Legislative History:
Mar. 15, 2007: Ordered reported, as amended, by the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar. 20, 2007: Reported, as amended, H. Rept. No.
110-57.
Mar. 21, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays:
424-0 (Roll No. 175)
Nov. 2, 2007: Passed the Senate with an amendment
under unanimous consent.
Dec. 11, 2007: House agreed to Senate amendment with
amendments pursuant to H. Res. 855.
Dec. 17, 2007: Senate agreed to House amendments to
Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec. 26, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-157.
------
Public Law 110-168
Modernization Project at Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
in Atlanta, Georgia
(S. 1396)
Title: A bill to authorize a major medical facility project
to modernize inpatient wards at the Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Public Law 110-168 will:
Allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a
major medical facility project for modernization of inpatient
wards at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in
Atlanta, Georgia, in an amount not to exceed $20,534,000.
Legislative History:
Dec. 13, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Dec. 19, 2007: Passed the House by Unanimous Voice
Vote.
Dec. 26, 2007: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-168.
------
Public Law 110-292
Euripides Rubio Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
(H.R. 4289)
Title: To name the Department of Veterans Affairs
outpatient clinic in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the ``Euripides
Rubio Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.''
Public Law 110-292 will:
Name the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the ``Euripides Rubio Department of
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.''
Legislative History:
Jun. 24, 2008: Passed the House by voice vote.
Jul. 11, 2008: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Jul. 30, 2008: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-292.
------
Public Law 110-302
Elwood `Bud' Link Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
(H.R. 2245)
Title: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs
outpatient clinic in Wenatchee, Washington, as the Elwood
``Bud'' Link Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
Public Law 110-302 will:
Designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient
clinic in Wenatchee, Washington, as the Elwood ``Bud'' Link
Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
Legislative History:
Jun. 26, 2008: Passed the House by voice vote.
Aug. 1, 2008: Passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Aug. 12, 2008: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-302.
------
Public Law 110-304
Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
(H.R. 4918)
Title: To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical
center in Miami, Florida, as the ``Bruce W. Carter Department
of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.''
Public Law 110-304 will:
Name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in
Miami, Florida, as the ``Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center.''
Legislative History:
Jun. 26, 2008: Passed the House by voice vote.
Aug. 1, 2008: Passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Aug. 12, 2008: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-304.
------
Public Law 110-324
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008
(S. 2617)
Title: To increase, effective as of December 1, 2008, the
rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected
disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity
compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans
Public Law 110-324 will:
Increase rates of Disability Compensation and Dependency
and Indemnity Compensation:
Amounts to be Increased--
Wartime disability compensation
Additional compensation for benefits
Clothing allowance
Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving
spouse
Dependency and indemnity compensation to children
Determination of Increase--
Percentage--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each
dollar amount described in subsection (b) shall be
increased by the same percentage as the percentage by
which benefit amounts payable under title II of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.)
Rounding--Each dollar amount increased under
paragraph (1), if not a whole dollar amount, shall be
rounded to the next lower whole dollar amount.
Legislative History:
Jun. 26, 2008: Ordered reported, as amended, by the
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jul. 24, 2008: Reported, as amended, S. Rept. 110-
430.
Jul. 30, 2008: Passed the Senate, as amended, by
Unanimous Consent.
Sept. 10, 2008: Passed the House by the Yeas and
Nays: 418-0 (Roll No. 579)
Sept. 24, 2008: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-
324.
------
Public Law 110-332
Lieutenant Colonel Clement C. Van Wagoner Department of Veterans
Affairs Clinic
(S. 2339)
Title: A bill to designate the Department of Veterans
Affairs clinic in Alpena, Michigan, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel
Clement C. Van Wagoner Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''
Public Law 110-332 will:
Designate the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in
Alpena, Michigan, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel Clement C. Van
Wagoner Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''
Legislative History:
Dec. 13, 2007: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Sep. 17, 2008: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays:
412-0 (Roll No. 603).
Sep. 30, 2008: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-332.
------
Public Law 110-387
Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008
(S. 2162)
Title: To improve the treatment and services provided by
the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-
traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for
other purposes.
Public Law 110-387 will:
--Pay tribute to Justin Bailey, who, after redeploying from
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), died in a VA domiciliary
facility while receiving care for Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder.
--List findings of Congress on Substance Use Disorders and
Mental Health.
--Define ``full continuum of care'' with respect to substance
use disorders and require that all VA medical centers
provide ready access to a full continuum of care for
substance use disorders.
--Require the Secretary to ensure that treatment for
substance use disorders and a co-morbid mental health
disorder is provided concurrently through a health
professional with training and expertise in the treatment
of both disorders, by separate services for each disorder,
or by a team of experienced clinicians.
--Require the Secretary to carry out a two-year pilot program
to test the feasibility and advisability of providing
assessment, education and treatment via the Internet to
veterans with substance use disorders at VA medical centers
that have established ``Centers for Excellence for
Substance Abuse Treatment and Education'' or ``Substance
Abuse Program Evaluation and Research Centers.''
--Require the Inspector General at the VA to conduct a review
of all residential mental health care facilities, including
domiciliary facilities not later than six months after the
enactment of this Act and another review not later than two
years after completing the first review.
--Require the Secretary to implement a 3-year pilot program
in at least 3 VISNs providing peer outreach, peer support,
readjustment and mental health services to OEF/OIF veterans
through contracts with community mental health centers and
the Indian Health Services.
--Direct the Secretary to carry out a program of research
into co-morbid PTSD and substance use disorder through the
National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
--Extend authorization for the Special Committee on Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder through 2012.
--Clarify VA's authority to provide marriage and family
counseling within authorized mental health services and
remove the requirement that counseling must be initiated
during the veterans' hospitalization and is essential to
permit the discharge of the veteran from the hospital.
--Direct the Secretary to carry out, through a non-VA entity,
a three-year pilot program (with an authorized one-year
extension) to assess the feasibility and advisability of
providing readjustment and transition assistance to
veterans and their families in cooperation with ten Vet
Centers.
--Amend the federal veterans' benefits provisions to repeal a
requirement that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs adjust
the amounts deducted from payments or allowances made by
the VA for beneficiary travel expenses in connection with
health care whenever the payment or allowance is adjusted.
Require the Secretary to use the mileage reimbursement rate
for the use of privately owned vehicles by government
employees on official business.
--Require the Secretary to reimburse a veteran for the costs
of emergency treatment received in a non-VA facility prior
to transfer to a VA facility.
--Require the Secretary to establish a pilot program that
allows a highly rural veteran, residing in five VISNs and
who is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment at the
start date of the pilot, to receive health care in
facilities other than VA.
--Direct the Secretary to designate at least four but not
more than six VA health care facilities as locations for
epilepsy centers of excellence.
--Establish the qualifications for peer specialist appointees
as follows: (1) A veteran who has recovered or is
recovering from a mental health condition; and, (2)
Certified as having met the criteria for such position.
--Require the VA to establish up to seven consolidated
patient accounting centers (CPACs) within the next five
years.
--Eliminate a rule prohibiting VA from conducting widespread
testing for HIV infection in the population of veterans who
use VA health care facilities.
--Authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand
the health care benefits provided to the children, born
with spina bifida, of certain veterans.
--Prohibit the VA from collecting copayments for hospice
care.
--Direct the VA to develop and implement a comprehensive
policy on the management of pain experienced by veterans
enrolled for health care services provided by the VA.
--Increase authorization of appropriations for comprehensive
service programs from $130 million to $150 million.
--Revise provisions establishing a demonstration program of
referral and counseling services for at-risk veterans
transitioning from institutional living to: (1) remove the
``demonstration'' designation; (2) require the program to
be carried out in at least 12 (currently, six) locations;
and, (3) extend the program through fiscal year 2012.
--Require the Secretary to ensure that VA domiciliary care
programs are adequate, with respect to capacity and safety,
to meet the needs of women veterans.
--Direct the Secretary to provide financial assistance to
private nonprofit organizations or consumer cooperatives to
provide and coordinate supportive services for very low-
income (less than 50 percent of the median income for the
area) veteran families residing in permanent housing.
--Authorize medical facility projects for fiscal year 2009
major medical facility projects as follows:
$54,000,000 to construct a facility to replace
a seismically unsafe acute psychiatric inpatient
building in Palo Alto, California.
$66,000,000 to construct a state-of-the-art
polytrauma healthcare and rehabilitation center in San
Antonio, Texas.
$225,900,000 to make seismic corrections at a
VA medical center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
--Modify authorization for major medical facility
construction projects previously authorized as follows:
$625,000,000 for restoration, new
construction, or replacement of the medical care
facility for the VA medical center at New Orleans,
Louisiana.
$568,400,000 for the replacement of the VA
medical center at Denver, Colorado.
$131,800,000 for an outpatient clinic in Lee
County, Florida.
$136,700,000 to correct patient privacy
deficiencies at the VA medical center in Gainesville,
Florida.
$600,400,000 to construct a new VA medical
center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
$656,800,000 to construct a new VA medical
center in Orlando, Florida.
$295,600,000 to consolidate campuses at the
University Drive and H. John Heinz III Divisions in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
--Authorize fiscal year 2009 major medical facility leases as
follows:
$4,326,000 for an outpatient clinic in
Brandon, Florida.
$10,300,000 for a community-based outpatient
clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
$5,826,000 for an outpatient clinic in Eugene,
Oregon.
$5,891,000 to expand an outpatient clinic in
Green Bay, Wisconsin.
$3,731,000 for an outpatient clinic in
Greenville, South Carolina.
$2,212,000 for a community-based outpatient
clinic in Mansfield, Ohio.
$6,276,000 for a satellite outpatient clinic
in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
$5,106,000 for a community-based outpatient
clinic in Southeast Phoenix, Mesa, Arizona.
$8,636,000 for interim research space in Palo
Alto, California.
$3,168,000 to expand a community-based
outpatient clinic in Savannah, Georgia.
$2,295,000 for a community-based outpatient
clinic in Northwest Phoenix, Sun City, Arizona.
$8,652,000 for a primary care annex in Tampa,
Florida.
$3,600,000 for an outpatient clinic in Peoria,
Illinois.
--Authorize appropriations:
$345,900,000 for the aforementioned list of
major medical facility projects authorized for fiscal
year 2009.
$1,493,495,000 for the aforementioned list of
major medical facility construction projects previously
authorized.
$70,019,000 for the aforementioned list of
major facility leases authorized for fiscal year 2009.
--Increase the threshold for major medical facility leases
requiring Congressional approval from $600,000 to
$1,000,000.
--Authorize the city of Aurora, Colorado, to donate non-
Federal land on the Fitzsimons campus for use by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a veterans'
medical facility no later than 60 days after the enactment
of this section.
--Require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a
report on facilities administration no later than 60 days
after the date of the enactment of this section.
--Require an annual report on outpatient clinics no later
than the date on which the budget for the next fiscal year
is submitted to the Congress under section 1105 of title
31.
--Name the VA spinal cord injury center in Tampa, Florida,
``Michael Bilirakis Department of Veterans Affairs Spinal
Cord Injury Center.''
--Repeal the December 31, 2008, sunset on the inclusion of
non-institutional extended care services in the definition
of medical services.
Sec. 802--Extend the recovery audit authority for fee basis
contracts and other medical services contracts in non-VA
facilities from September 30, 2008, under current law to
September 30, 2013.
--Provide permanent authority for the provision of hospital
care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans
who participated in certain chemical and biological testing
conducted by the Department of Defense.
--Extend the expiring collections authorities for the
following:
Health care copayments, which expire on
September 30, 2008, under current law, to September 30,
2010; and,
Medical care cost recovery, which expires on
October 1, 2008, under current law, to October 1, 2010.
--Extend the authority to provide nursing home care to
veterans with service-connected disability, which expires
on December 31, 2008, under current law, to December 31,
2013.
--Provide permanent authority to establish research
corporations.
--Extend the requirement to submit an annual report on the
committee on care of severely chronically mentally ill
veterans through 2012.
--Provide a permanent requirement for the biannual report by
the women's advisory committee on the needs of women
veterans including compensation, health care,
rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and programs
administered by the VA.
--Extend the pilot program on improvement of caregiver
assistance services for a three-year period through fiscal
year 2009.
--Provide for a number of amendments, technical in nature, to
title 38.
Legislative History:
Nov. 14, 2007: Ordered reported, as amended, by the
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr. 8, 2008: Reported, as amended, S. Rept. 110-281.
Jun. 3, 2008: Passed the Senate, as amended, by
Unanimous Consent.
Jun. 4, 2008: Referred to House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs.
Sept. 24, 2008: Passed the House, as amended, by
voice vote.
Sept. 27, 2008: Senate agreed to the House amendment
and passed the bill by Unanimous Consent.
Oct. 10, 2008: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-387.
Provisions of H.R. 1527, H.R. 2623, H.R. 2818, H.R. 2874,
H.R. 3819, H.R. 4053, H.R. 4264, H.R. 5554, H.R. 5729, H.R.
5856, and H.R. 6445, H.R. 6802, and H.R. 6832 are included in
this legislation.
------
Public Law 110-389
Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008
(S. 3023)
Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
and enhance compensation and pension, housing, labor and
education, and insurance benefits for veterans, and for other
purposes.
Public Law 110-389 will:
--Require VA to promulgate regulations that specify
the information and evidence required in the Veterans
Claims Assistance Act (VCAA) notices sent to claimants.
--Authorize the United States Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit to review VA adoption or revision
of the Schedule for Rating Disabilities in the same
manner as other actions of the Secretary are reviewed.
--Eliminate the requirement that severance pay for a
disability incurred in a combat zone be deducted from
disability compensation from VA.
--Require VA to submit a report to Congress
describing its progress in addressing the causes for
any unacceptable variances in compensation payments to
veterans between its 57 Regional Offices.
--Extend VA authority through December 31, 2012, to
use appropriated funds for the purpose of contracting
with non-VA providers to conduct disability
examinations.
--Add osteoporosis diagnosed in veterans who have
previously been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) to the list of disabilities presumed to
be service-connected in former prisoners of war.
--Codify various provisions for temporary ratings for
qualified veterans and service members within 365 days
of application who have stabilized medical conditions.
--Allow a qualified dependent survivor to substitute
for the deceased veteran and to pursue the claim for
benefits at the point the claim had progressed at the
time of the claimant's death and submit additional
evidence.
--Require VA to report to Congress the results of
studies examining the appropriate compensation to be
provided to veterans for loss of earning capacity and
loss of quality of life caused by service-related
disabilities and examining long-term transition
payments to veterans undergoing rehabilitation.
--Require VA to establish an 18-member Advisory
Committee on Disability Compensation to consist of
leading experts who will guide the Secretary on
revising and readjusting the VA Schedule for Rating
Disabilities.
--Require VA to conduct two pilot programs: one for
expediting fully-developed claims; and another for the
development and use of a checklist as part of the VCAA
notices.
--Create a new office within VA to focus on assisting
survivors. The office shall have the authority to
explore the delivery of benefits and investigate issues
to ensure that VA is meeting its mission to care for
widows and orphans.
--Require the Comptroller General to report to
Congress on the adequacy of Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation (DIC) to replace income and maintain
survivors of veterans who die from service-connected
disabilities.
--Require VA to contract for an annual quality
assurance assessment that measures a statistically
valid sample of VBA employees and their work product
for accuracy, consistency, and reliability, and to
track trends.
--Require VA to redevelop its certification exam to
test appropriate VBA employees and managers and to
include appropriate input from interested stakeholders
in its development.
--Require VA to conduct a study and report to
Congress on VBA's work credit system focusing on
improving the quality, performance, accuracy of claims,
and information technology.
--Require an information technology plan for all
aspects of the VBA disability claims processing system,
which shall include web portals, rule-based expert
systems, and decision support software and ensures the
reduction of claims processing time.
--Require VA to evaluate the use of medical
professionals to assist VBA employees and to focus on
improving communication between the VBA and VHA.
--Reform of the USERRA complaint process.
--Modify and expand reporting requirements with
respect to enforcement of Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
--Train executive branch human resources personnel on
employment and reemployment rights of members of the
uniformed services.
--Report on the employment needs of Native American
veterans living on tribal lands.
--Strikes ``may use'' and inserts ``shall use, in any
case in which the court determines it is appropriate''
for equity powers.
--Waive residency requirement for Directors for
Veterans' Employment and Training.
--Modify the special unemployment study to cover
veterans of Post 9/11 Global Operations.
--Modify the period of eligibility for Survivors' and
Dependents' Educational Assistance of certain spouses
of individuals with service-connected disabilities
total and permanent nature.
--Repeal the requirement for a report to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs on prior training.
--Modify waiting period before affirmation of
enrollment in a correspondence course.
--Change programs of education at the same
educational institution.
--Repeal certification requirement with respect to
applications for approval of self-employment on-the-job
training.
--Coordinate approval activities in the
administration of education benefits.
--Waive the 24-month limitation of program of
independent living services and assistance for veterans
with a severe disability incurred in the Post 9/11
Global Operations period.
--Increase the cap of the number of veterans
participating in the independent living program from
2,500 to 2,600.
--Report on measure to assist and encourage veterans
in completing vocational rehabilitation.
--Require the Secretary to submit a longitudinal
study of the Department of Veterans Affairs on
vocational rehabilitation programs.
--Report on inclusion of severe and acute post-
traumatic stress disorder among conditions covered by
traumatic injury protection coverage under
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI).
--Treat stillborn children as insurable dependents
under SGLI.
--Define eligibility for SGLI coverage for Ready
Reservists and members the Individual Ready Reserve and
modify termination dates of SGLI coverage between
dependents and separating service members.
--Allow administrative costs for the Service-Disabled
Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) program to be paid for by
premiums instead of from the VA's General Operating
Expenses account.
--Temporarily increase the maximum loan guaranty
amount for certain housing loans guaranteed by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
--Report on the impact of mortgage foreclosures on
veterans.
--Require regular updates to the handbook for design
furnished to veterans eligible for specially adapted
housing assistance by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs.
--Enhance refinancing of home loans by veterans.
Increase the maximum percentage of loan to value of
refinancing loans to 100 percent.
--Extend certain veterans home loan guaranty
programs.
--Temporarily increase the number of authorized
judges of the United States Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims.
--Protect privacy and security concerns in court
records.
--Recall retired judges of the United States Court of
Appeals for Veterans Claims.
--Annual reports on workload of the United States
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
--Strike the $30 cap on the amount of registration
fees that may be charged to individuals admitted to
practice before the Court.
--Allow the Secretary to award grants to the United
States Paralympics, Inc. and conduct oversight of the
use of the grant, to help execute, establish and manage
an adapted sports program for disabled veterans and
disabled members of the Armed Forces.
--Establish a Department of Veterans Affairs Office
of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events
to carry out programs and events.
--Require the Comptroller General report, due on the
last day of fiscal year 2012, to include among other
things: the use of the grant provided by the Department
of Veterans Affairs to the United States Paralympics,
Inc. and the number of veterans who have benefitted
from such grant activities carried out by the Office of
National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events.
--Grant VA the authority to terminate the collection
of VA debts from service members who die while on
active duty in the armed forces and to provide a refund
to those estates.
--Extend VA authority to obtain income information
from the IRS or the SSA until September 30, 2011.
--Require VA to fund through 2011 the preservation
and marking of the research material from the
Affordable Family Health Services as recommended by the
Institute of Medicine (IOM).
--Require VA to contract with IOM to conduct a study
to identify any increased risks for multiple sclerosis
and other neurological diseases, as a result of service
in the Southwest Asia theater of operations or in the
Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters.
--Allow termination or suspension of contracts for
cellular telephone service for certain service members.
--Provide penalties for violation of interest rate
limitation under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
--Extend the sunset date on the advisory committee
for five years from the current date of expiration,
until December 31, 2014.
--Allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
advertise to promote awareness of benefits under laws
administered by the Secretary.
--Extend the eligibility for memorial headstones or
markers to a deceased veteran's remarried surviving
spouse, without regard to whether any subsequent
remarriage has ended.
Legislative History:
Jun. 26, 2008: Ordered reported, as amended, by the
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sept. 9, 2008: Reported, as amended, S. Rept. 110-
449.
Sept. 16, 2008: Passed the Senate, as amended with an
amendment to the title, by Unanimous Consent.
Sept. 24, 2008: Passed the House, as amended, by
voice vote.
Sept. 27, 2008: Senate agreed to the House amendment
and passed the bill by Unanimous Consent.
Oct. 10, 2008: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-389.
Provisions of H.R. 67, H.R. 674, H.R. 3298, H.R. 3681, H.R.
3889, H.R. 4255, H.R. 5664, H.R. 5892, H.R. 6221, H.R. 6225,
H.R. 6731, and H.R. 6832 are included in this legislation.
------
Public Law 110-410
Michael A. Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
(H.R. 1594)
Title: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs
Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as the Michael A.
Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
Public Law 110-410 will:
Designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient
Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as the ``Michael A. Marzano
Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.''
Legislative History:
Sep. 17, 2008: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays:
410-0 (Roll No. 604).
Sep. 30, 2008: Passed the Senate by Unanimous
Consent.
Oct. 14, 2008: Signed by the President, P.L. 110-410.
ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
First Session
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 327, Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide
Prevention Act; H.R. 797, Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity
Act of 2007; and, H.R. 1284, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
Living Adjustment Act of 2007
On March 15, 2007, the full Committee met and marked up
three bills which were ordered reported favorably to the House
by voice vote: H.R. 327 (see H. Rept. 110-55); H.R. 797, as
amended (see H. Rept. 110-57); and, H.R. 1284 (see H. Rept.
110-56).
On March 21, 2007, the House agreed to suspend the rules
and pass: H.R. 327, as amended, by a vote of 423-0 (Roll No.
174); H.R. 797, as amended, by a vote of 424-0 (Roll No. 175);
and, H.R. 1284 by a vote of 418-0 (Roll No. 176).
On September 27, 2007, the Senate passed H.R. 327 with an
amendment by unanimous consent.
On October 18, 2007, the Senate passed H.R. 1284 without
amendment by unanimous consent.
On October 23, 2007, the House agreed to suspend the rules
and agree to the Senate amendment on H.R. 327 by a vote of 417-
0 (Roll No. 987).
On November 2, 2007, the Senate struck all after the
enacting clause of H.R. 797 and substituted the language of S.
1163, as amended, and passed by unanimous consent.
On November 5, 2007, H.R. 327, as amended, became Public
Law 110-110 and H.R. 1284 became Public Law 110-111.
On November 30, 2007, sent letter to the Committee on Ways
and Means requesting a waiver of consideration to subsection
(a) of section 301 of the amendment to H.R. 797.
On December 4, 2007, the Committee on Ways and Means waived
consideration of the amendment to H.R. 797.
On December 11, 2007, the House agreed to Senate amendment
with amendments pursuant to H. Res. 855 (H.R. 797).
On December 17, 2007, the Senate agreed to House amendments
to Senate amendment of H.R. 797 and passed by unanimous
consent.
On December 26, 2007, H.R. 797, as amended, became Public
Law 110-157.
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 1642, Homeless Veterans Housing at
Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center Promotion Act
On April 18, 2007, the full Committee met and marked up
H.R. 1642, ordered reported favorably to the House by voice
vote.
On May 7, 2007, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass the bill by voice vote.
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 612, Returning Servicemember VA
Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007; H.R. 67, Veterans Outreach
Improvement Act of 2007; H.R. 1660, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans
in the southern Colorado region; H.R. 1470, Chiropractic Care
Available to All Veterans Act; H.R. 2199, Traumatic Brain
Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007;
H.R. 2219, Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline Act of 2007;
and, H.R. 2239, Early Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment Benefits Act
On May 15, 2007, the full Committee met and marked up six
bills which were ordered reported favorably to the House by
voice vote: H.R. 612, as amended; H.R. 67, as amended; H.R.
1660, as amended; H.R. 1470; H.R. 2199, as amended; and, H.R.
2239, as amended. The Committee referred H.R. 2219 back to the
Subcommittee on Health for further consideration.
On May 23, 2007, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass: H.R. 612, as amended, by a vote of 419-0 (Roll No. 411);
H.R. 67, as amended, by a vote of 421-0 (Roll No. 410); H.R.
1660, as amended, by voice vote; H.R. 1470 by a vote of 421-1
(Roll No. 412); H.R. 2199, as amended, by a vote of 421-0 (Roll
No. 413); and, H.R. 2239, as amended, by a vote of 414-0 (Roll
No. 414).
On December 6, 2007, provisions of H.R. 612 and provisions
of section 2 of H.R. 2199 were included in P.L. 110-181, the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2008.
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 2623, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to prohibit the collection of copayments for all hospice
care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs; H.R.
2874, Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007; H.R. 1315,
Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2007; H.R. 760, Filipino
Veterans Equity Act of 2007; and, H.R. 23, Belated Thank You to
the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007
On July 17, 2007, the full Committee met and marked up five
bills which were ordered reported favorably to the House: H.R.
2623, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-267) by voice vote; H.R.
2874, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-268) by voice vote; H.R.
1315, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-266) by voice vote; H.R.
760, as amended by a vote of 15-12; and, H.R. 23, as amended
(see H. Rept. 110-269, Part I) by voice vote.
On July 30, 2007, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass: H.R. 2623, as amended, by voice vote; H.R. 2874, as
amended, by voice vote; H.R. 1315, as amended, by voice vote;
and, H.R. 23, as amended, by voice vote.
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 3882, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to change the length of the obligated period of service
on active duty required for receiving certain education
benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and
for other purposes
On November 7, 2007, the full Committee met and marked up
H.R. 3882, as amended, which was ordered reported to the House
by voice vote.
Second Session
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 2790, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to establish the position of Director of Physician
Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for Health; H.R. 3819, Veterans Emergency Care
Fairness Act of 2007; H.R. 5729, Spina Bifida Health Care
Program Expansion Act; H.R. 5554, Justin Bailey Veterans
Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008;
H.R. 5856, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility
Authorization and Lease Act of 2008; H.R. 3681, Veterans
Benefits Awareness Act of 2007; H.R. 3889, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the vocational
rehabilitation programs administered by the Secretary; H.R.
4883, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide
for a limitation on the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of
property owned by a servicemember during the one-year period
following the servicemember's period of military service; H.R.
4884, Helping Our Veterans to Keep Their Homes Act of 2008;
H.R. 4889, The Guard and Reserves Are Fighting Too Act of 2008;
H.R. 5664, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update at least once every six
years the plans and specifications for specially adapted
housing furnished to veterans by the Secretary; H.R. 5684,
Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008; H.R. 5826,
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008;
and H.R. 5892, Veterans Disability Benefits Claims
Modernization Act of 2008
On April 30, 2008, the full Committee met and marked up 14
bills which were ordered reported favorably to the House: H.R.
2790, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-642) by en bloc voice vote;
H.R. 3819 (see H. Rept. 110-638) by en bloc voice vote; H.R.
5729, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-645) by voice vote; H.R.
5554, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-639) by en bloc voice vote;
H.R. 5856 (see H. Rept. 110-648) by en bloc voice vote; H.R.
3681, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-644) by voice vote; H.R.
3889, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-640) by voice vote; H.R.
4883, as amended, by voice vote; H.R. 4884, as amended, by
voice vote; H.R 4889, as amended, by en bloc voice vote; H.R.
5664, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-641) by en bloc voice vote;
H.R. 5684, as amended, by voice vote; H.R. 5826 (see H. Rept.
110-643) by voice vote; and, H.R. 5892 (see H. Rept. 110-789)
by voice vote.
On May 20, 2008, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass: H.R. 2790, as amended, by voice vote; H.R. 5729, as
amended, by voice vote; H.R. 5554, as amended, by voice vote;
H.R. 3681, as amended, by voice vote; H.R. 3889, as amended, by
voice vote; and, H.R. 5664, as amended, by voice vote.
On May 21, 2008, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass: H.R. 3819, as amended, by a vote of 412-0 (Roll No. 347);
H.R. 5856 by a vote of 416-0 (Roll No. 349); and, H.R. 5826 by
a vote of 417-0 (Roll No. 348).
On July 30, 2008, provisions of H.R. 4883 and H.R. 4884 are
included in P.L. 110-289, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act
of 2008. House agreed to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 5892,
as amended, by a vote of 429-0 (Roll No. 538).
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 2818, to provide for the establishment of
Epilepsy Centers of Excellence in the Veterans Health
Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs
On June 11, 2008, the full Committee met and marked up H.R.
2818, as amended, which was ordered favorably reported to the
House by voice vote (see H. Rept. 110-722). H.R. 2192 was
pulled from the agenda for further consideration.
On June 24, 2008, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass H.R. 2818, as amended, by voice vote.
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 6445, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from
collecting certain copayments from veterans who are
catastrophically disabled; H.R. 1527, Rural Veterans Access to
Care Act; H.R. 2192, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
establish an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans
Affairs; H.R. 4255, United States Olympic Committee Paralympic
Program Act of 2008; H.R. 6225, Injunctive Relief for Veterans;
H.R. 6221, Veteran-Owned Small Business Protection and
Clarification Act of 2008; H.R. 674, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to repeal the provision of law requiring
termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans as
of December 31, 2009
On July 16, 2008, the full Committee met and marked up
seven bills which were ordered reported favorably to the House
by voice vote: H.R. 6445, as amended to include H.R. 6114, H.R.
6122, H.R. 6366, and H.R. 6439 (see H. Rept. 110-786); H.R.
1527, as amended (see H. Rept. 110-817); H.R. 2192, as amended
(see H. Rept. 110-773); H.R. 4255, as amended (see H. Rept.
110-774); H.R. 6225, as amended to include H.R. 2910, as
amended, H.R. 3298, as amended, H.R. 6070 (see H. Rept. 110-
778); H.R. 6221, as amended to include H.R. 6224 and H.R. 6272
(see H. Rept. 110-785); and, H.R. 674 (see H. Rept. 110-772).
On July 29, 2008, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass H.R. 2192, as amended, by a vote of 398-0 (Roll No. 536).
On July 30, 2008, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass H.R. 6445, as amended, by a vote of 421-0 (Roll No. 541);
On July 31, 2008, the House agreed to suspend the rules and
pass: H.R. 4255, as amended, by voice vote; H.R. 6225, as
amended, by voice vote; H.R. 6221, as amended, by voice vote;
and, H.R. 674 by voice vote.
On September 10, 2008, the House agreed to suspend the
rules and pass H.R. 1527, as amended, by a vote of 417-0 (Roll
No. 578).
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 6897, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to make certain payments to eligible persons
who served in the Philippines during World War II
On September 17, 2008, the full Committee met and marked up
H.R. 6897, as amended, which was ordered favorably reported to
the House by voice vote.
On September 23, 2008, the House agreed to suspend the
rules and pass H.R. 6897, as amended, by a vote of 392-23 (Roll
No. 624).
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
First Session
Full Committee Hearing--The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget
Request for Fiscal Year 2008
On February 8, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing on
the proposed VA budget for FY 2008. The Administration
requested a budget proposal for the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs of $86.75 billion--$44.98 billion for entitlement
programs and $41.77 billion for discretionary programs. The
Administration requested an increase for VA medical care of
$1.9 billion over the level provided in the Joint Funding
Resolution for 2007 and an increase of $56 million for mental
health initiatives.
The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, was accompanied by senior
officials of the Department for his testimony to the Committee
in support of the President's proposed budget. Also,
representatives of major veterans service organizations
presented their views on the proposed budget. Finally,
representatives of the Independent Budget presented their
proposal for the FY 2008 veterans' budget. See The U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Year
2008, Serial No. 110-1.
Full Committee Meeting--Stakeholders Roundtable
On February 12, 2007, the full Committee held a roundtable
meeting to discuss important issues facing veterans and to
develop a legislative agenda for the 110th Congress.
Staff of the Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies;
Members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs; and, veterans
service organizations provided ideas for the Committee's
agenda.
Full Committee Hearing--Equity for Filipino Veterans
On February 15, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing on
H.R. 760, ``The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007.''
Filipino service members played a critical role in the victory
in the Pacific during World War II, serving under the direct
command of General Douglas MacArthur. In 1946, Congress
mandated that Filipino soldiers were not to be considered
active military for the purposes of veterans' benefits.
A number of witnesses delivered testimony before the
Committee, including the following Members of Congress: Michael
Honda, Madeleine Bordallo and Mazie Hirono. Also testifying at
the hearing: Under Secretary for Benefits of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Ronald R. Aument; Charge
d'Affaires Embassy of the Philippines, Victor Soretta; and,
representatives from Filipino veterans associations and
veterans service organizations. See Equity for Filipino
Veterans, Serial No. 110-3.
Site Visit to San Diego, California
From February 21-23, 2007, majority staff and Chairman Bob
Filner traveled to San Diego, California, to attend an event at
the Veterans Village of San Diego with U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson. The Veterans
Village of San Diego is dedicated to extending assistance to
needy and homeless veterans of all wars and their families by
providing housing, food, clothing, substance abuse recovery,
job training and job search assistance.
Site Visit to Los Angeles, California
From April 2-3, 2007, majority staff and Chairman Bob
Filner visited the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center and met
with staff from the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System
(GLA) as well as local veterans organizations. Topics discussed
at these meetings included future plans for the site and
housing issues.
Specifically, Enhanced Use Lease at Sepulveda, updating
health care equipment, accounting for income derived by movie
studios and other outside sources, and well as spending for
other ancillary services for veterans were discussed. In
addition, staff attended a public forum on Veterans' Healthcare
with other guests, including the VA GLA Chief of Staff. These
panels discussed a variety of issues dealing with research at
the West Los Angeles VA facility, as well as issues facing
veterans. Lastly, staff attended another public forum at an
American Legion Post addressing a variety of veterans issues.
Present were representatives of The American Legion, AMVETS,
VFW, VA GLA Health Care System, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Filipino American
Service Group, Inc., and the Korean American Veterans
Association, to name a few.
Site Visit to Nashville, Tennessee
On April 11, 2007, majority and minority staff of the
Committee visited the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Regional Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Staff met with key
personnel including the Veterans Service Center management team
and received a tour of the facility that included an
explanation of VA's adjudication process. The staff also
received an extensive briefing from VBA personnel on the
progress of VETSNET. VETSNET is an information technology
program that VBA has created to assist in payments to veterans
once a disability rating has been assigned. VETSNET is intended
to provide a greater amount of statistical and other
information that will assist VBA staff in examining
productivity requirements of each regional office. Nashville is
a test site for the VETSNET suite of applications and all
awards were populated in VETSNET at the Nashville office at the
time of the visit. The staff was encouraged by the work being
done by VBA to finally implement this IT application after many
years of delay.
Full Committee Hearing--H.R. 23, the ``Belated Thank You to the
Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007''
On April 18, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing on
H.R. 23, to thank the Merchant Mariners of World War II. The
United States Merchant Mariners played a critical role in the
U.S. victory during World War II, delivering troops, tanks,
food, airplanes, fuel and other needed supplies to every
theater of the war. The Merchant Mariners were the necessary
link between the supplies and equipment that were manufactured
in the United States and used overseas. The Merchant Mariners
took part in every invasion from Normandy to Okinawa and
suffered the highest casualty rate of any of the branches of
the Armed Forces. Despite their service, the United States
Merchant Marines were not included in the 1944 G.I. Bill of
Rights. In 1988, they were finally granted veteran status, but
some portions of the G.I. Bill have never been made available
to the Merchant Marines and the lost benefits can never be
recouped.
A number of witnesses delivered testimony before the
Committee, including Merchant Mariners and the Director of
Compensation and Pension Service of the Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr.
Bradley G. Mayes. See H.R. 23, the ``Belated Thank You to the
Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007,'' Serial No.
110-12.
Full Committee Hearing--The Results of the President's Task Force on
Returning Global War on Terror Heroes
On May 9, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
examine the report of the President's Task Force on Returning
Global War on Terror Heroes. President Bush created the
Interagency Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes
on March 6, 2007. The Task Force was given 45 days to review
all government services upon which veterans and service members
rely when they return home. The membership of this Task Force
consisted of the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Defense,
Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban
Development, and Education, plus the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration, and the Director of the Office of Personnel
Management.
The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, accompanied by Honorable
Patrick W. Dunne, RADM (Ret.), Assistant Secretary for Policy,
Planning and Preparedness, provided testimony. See The Results
of the President's Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror
Heroes, Serial No. 110-22.
Full Committee Meeting--PTSD Health Care Symposium
On May 16, 2007, the full Committee held a symposium on
mental health care. The purpose of the meeting was to get
different perspectives on the provision of mental health care,
delivery methodologies of care for post-traumatic stress
disorder, and recommendations of possible solutions.
Members of the Committee and the following provided
valuable insight: Robert L. Bray, Ph.D., LCSW, CTS, TFTdx,
Thought Field Therapy Center of San Diego; Linda Rosenberg,
President and CEO, National Council for Community Behavioral
Healthcare; James Henry Scully, Jr., M.D., Medical Director,
American Psychiatric Association; Saul Rosenberg, Ph.D.,
Clinical & Forensic Psychology; Beth Hudnall Stamm, Ph.D.,
AABC, Director of Telehealth and Principal Investigator,
Institute of Rural Health, Idaho State University; John Melia,
Executive Director and Founder, Wounded Warriors Project; and,
Sally Satel, M.D., American Enterprise Institute.
Full Committee Meeting--VA Disability Claims Roundtable: Looking for a
Solution
On May 23, 2007, the full Committee held a U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Roundtable to discuss
various ideas to reduce the claims backlog and improve the
current process.
The following joined the Members of the Committee to find
new and unique ways of looking at the claims backlog: the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Government Accountability
Office; Congressional Research Service; American Federation of
Government Employees; National Veterans Legal Services Program;
Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America; National Association of
County Veterans Service Officers; Paralyzed Veterans of
America; John F. Kennedy School of Government; Veterans
Assistance Program; Vietnam Veterans of America; Commission on
the Future for America's Veterans; and, Disabled American
Veterans.
Full Committee Joint House and Senate Meeting on Issues Facing Veterans
in Rural Areas of the Appalachia, Dover, Ohio
On May 29, 2007, the full Committee held a meeting in New
Philadelphia, Ohio, with the Senate Committee on Veterans'
Affairs to discuss issues facing rural veterans. Researchers
have studied the rural health care experience, including a
number of articles that looked at VA rural health care. Three
studies have found that veterans living in rural areas tend to
be slightly older, and more likely to qualify in priority group
5 which are non-service connected, zero percent service
connected, and low income. These same veterans were also less
likely to be employed. The studies agree that rural veterans
had slightly more physical health problems but fewer mental
health conditions--as compared to suburban and urban veterans.
Local veterans service organizations; Harrison Community
Hospital; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
presented testimony. See Issues Facing Veterans in Rural Areas
of the Appalachia, Senate Hearing Print Serial No. 110-146.
Full Committee Hearing--Priority Group 8 Veterans
On June 20, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing on
Priority Group 8 veterans. The hearing focused on the impact of
the decision on veterans and the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) health care system to ban enrollment of Priority
Group 8 veterans. The Committee also discussed whether the VA
should continue this enrollment ban and the effect of
potentially bringing Priority Group 8 veterans back into the VA
health care system.
Stephanie J. Woolhandler, M.D., M.P.H., of the Harvard
Medical School; several veterans service organizations; and,
the Honorable Michael J. Kussman, M.D., M.S., M.A.C.P., Under
Secretary for Health of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
provided testimony. See Priority Group 8 Veterans, Serial No.
110-29.
Full Committee Field Hearing--The Future of VA Health Care in South
Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana
On July 9, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
explore the challenges faced by VA and other health care
facilities to provide high quality, safe health care to
veterans and other citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana. On the
morning of August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall
near the Louisiana-Mississippi border, causing significant
destruction to a 90,000 square mile area of the Southeastern
United States. In the three-state area of Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama, VA facilities affected included the
Gulfport, Mississippi, and New Orleans medical centers; New
Orleans regional benefits office; five community-based
outpatient clinics along the Gulf Coast; and, the Biloxi VA
National Cemetery. The hurricane had a major impact on the
overall health care delivery system in Southeastern Louisiana
and nearly two years later, the delivery of health care remains
in flux as leaders struggle to come to some agreement on both
the best location and the best partnerships to forge in order
to provide timely, safe, high-quality health care to veterans
and others.
Interested stakeholders testified on the planning and
future of VA health care in Southeastern Louisiana: the Mayor
of the City of New Orleans; the Secretary of the Louisiana
Department of Health and Hospitals; LSU Health Care Services
Division, Acting Chief Medical Officer; Tulane University,
Interim Senior Vice President for Health Sciences; veterans
service organizations; and, the Deputy Director of VISN 16 of
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See The Future of VA
Health Care in South Louisiana, Serial No. 110-32.
Full Committee Meeting--Traumatic Brain Injury Symposium
On July 18, 2007, the full Committee held a Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI) Symposium to explore new and innovative ideas in
the treatment, access and delivery of care to those who suffer
from a TBI. TBI is considered by many to be the signature
injury of the war. Among veterans and service members from OEF/
OIF treated at Walter Reed for injuries of any type,
approximately 65 percent have TBI as a primary or co-morbid
diagnosis.
The following joined the Members of the Committee to
provide open discussion to the treatment, access and delivery
of care: National Academy of Neuropsychology; Brain Injury
Association of America; University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation;
Brain Matters, Inc.; Wounded Warriors Project; Northeast Center
for Special Care; Weill Medical College of Cornell University;
Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury; Division
of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Columbia University Medical
Center; and, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Full Committee Hearing--Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Personality
Disorders: Challenges for the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs
On July 25, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
examine how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
addresses the military diagnosis of Personality Disorder. In
the last sixyears, the military discharged over 22,500 service
members due to Personality Disorders. The Committee found that once a
service member is diagnosed with a Personality Disorder, he or she has
a much more difficult time receiving benefits and treatment at the VA.
A number of witnesses provided testimony including the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Brooke Army Medical Center,
American Enterprise Institute, and the Medical University of
South Carolina. See Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and
Personality Disorders: Challenges for the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, Serial No. 110-37.
Site Visit to San Antonio, Del Rio, Laredo, Roma, Donna, Brownsville,
and South Padre Island, Texas
From August 3-7, 2007, majority staff toured the burn unit,
the Warrior and Family Support Center at Brooke Army Medical
Center, and visited the Center for the Intrepid. In addition,
staff met with local officials and veterans groups, such as
Webb County Veterans, Zapata County & Starr County Veterans,
and Rio Grande Valley Veterans regarding health care
accessibility.
In particular, legislation was discussed regarding whether
the needs of veterans for acute inpatient hospital care in 24
counties comprising Far South Texas shall be met through: (1) a
public-private venture to provide such services and long-term
care to veterans in an existing facility in Far South Texas;
(2) a project for construction of a new full-service, 50-bed
hospital with a 125-bed nursing home in Far South Texas; or,
(3) a sharing agreement with a military treatment facility in
Far South Texas. These recommendations were eventually drafted
into H.R. 538, the South Texas Veterans Access to Care Act of
2007, introduced by the Honorable Solomon P. Ortiz.
Disabled American Veterans Convention--New Orleans, Louisiana
From August 12-14, 2007, majority and minority staff spoke
at the ``Service & Legislative Seminar'' of the Disabled
American Veterans Convention to discuss the legislative
priorities of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Site Visit to New Orleans, Louisiana
On August 15, 2007, minority staff toured the old New
Orleans U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
and temporary outpatient clinic that VA operates at that
location. In addition, staff also toured the proposed downtown
New Orleans site that the city has offered to the VA as a
replacement site for the hospital, as well as an alternate site
in Jefferson Parish. VA officials stated that the VA will
continue to lease space in various locations around New Orleans
to provide outpatient services until at least 2012, when the
new hospital is projected to be operational.
The American Legion Convention--Reno, Nevada
From August 25-26, 2007, majority and minority staff spoke
at the ``Legislation & Rules'' segment at The American Legion
Convention to discuss the legislative priorities of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Full Committee CODEL to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and
Germany
Chairman Bob Filner led a Congressional delegation to visit
the combat theaters of operation to observe the medical
evacuation routes of wounded service members from August 20 to
August 26, 2007. Accompanying Chairman Filner were Subcommittee
on Economic Opportunity Ranking Member, John Boozman; Chief of
Staff of the Committee, Tony Buckles; the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, The Honorable R. James
Nicholson; and, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Thomas Bowman.
The purpose of the delegation was to obtain a
familiarization with the current situation in both areas of
conflict--Iraq and Afghanistan--with particular interest in the
casualty evacuation and processing methods from injury to
return to the United States. Briefings were provided on the
transition of medical records between medical facilities;
treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Traumatic
Brain Injuries (TBI); and, initiatives to address preparation
of personnel returning to the United States from a combat zone.
The delegation gathered several findings. Medical treatment
of our troops is setting the standard for trauma medicine
throughout the world. In addition, the management and sharing
of medical records has advanced significantly with the
electronic sharing of medical records between commands and
agencies progressing at a rapid pace. Moreover, PTSD and TBI
both are being vested with command emphasis in stressing the
need for an understanding, identification, and treatment of
these two injuries in theater and at the home station.
It was also found that civil considerations focus on the
absence of adequate success on the part of the civil
authorities and government agencies to make political progress
at the national level in Iraq. Moreover, Department of Defense
personnel are being asked to perform numerous tasks normally
not associated with war fighting such as roles that exist for a
wide range of ``other government agencies''--in Iraq and
Afghanistan--to assist in the nation building aspects of
bringing stability to both regions. Lastly, specific attention
was drawn to the threat being generated in a ``cyber war''
being waged by terrorist organizations throughout the world and
how resources should be allocated to engage and defeat this new
front in the war on terror.
Full Committee Hearing--State of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs
On September 18, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
appraise the current state of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). The Secretary provided testimony on the programs
within the VA that address the issues facing today's veterans,
including the Advisory Committee on Operation Enduring Freedom
and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans, VET Centers, Mental
Health Initiatives and the transformation of the Information
Technology structure. The Secretary also addressed the
challenges at the VA, including the backlog of disability and
pension claims. The issue of health care delivery was also
discussed during the hearing to include the need for VA to rise
to the challenge of addressing access to care issues,
especially in the areas of Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-
traumatic Stress Disorder, and specialized services.
The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, and The Honorable Michael J.
Kussman, M.D., M.S., M.A.C.P., Under Secretary for Health; The
Honorable Daniel L. Cooper, RADM (Ret.), Under Secretary for
Benefits; The Honorable William F. Tuerk, Under Secretary for
Memorial Affairs; Paul J. Hutter, Acting General Counsel; and,
Robert J. Henke, Assistant Secretary for Management provided
testimony to the Committee. See State of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, Serial No. 110-42.
Full Committee Hearing--Findings of the President's Commission on Care
for America's Returning Wounded Warriors
On September 19, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
address the findings and recommendations of the President's
Commission on Care for America's Returning WoundedWarriors. The
Commission was established in March 2007 and was charged with the task
of examining the effectiveness of returning wounded service members'
transition from deployment in support of the Global War on Terror to
returning to productive military service or civilian society, and
recommend needed improvements. The Commission issued its final report
in July 2007 and offered six recommendations to improve and modernize
the structure of veterans' benefits programs.
The Honorable Donna E. Shalala and The Honorable Bob Dole
served as co-chairs of the Commission and appeared before the
Committee to provide further detail about their research and
findings. See Findings of the President's Commission on Care
for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, Serial No. 110-43.
Full Committee Hearing--The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Information Technology Reorganization: How Far Has VA Come?
On September 26, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
explore the progress of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
in its efforts to be the ``gold standard'' of information
security among federal agencies and in centralizing its IT
efforts. In October 2005, VA began a major information
technology transformation and consolidation in the realm of
information privacy and security. A 2006 security breach
focused the attention of veterans and Congress when a laptop
containing personal data of millions of veterans was lost. In
December 2006, Congress directed VA to implement a centralized
IT security program, provide credit monitoring to veterans
whose private information was disclosed and provide Congress
with immediate reports of any significant disclosure of
personal information. The realignment program is predicted to
be completed by July 2008.
Witnesses from the U.S. Government Accountability Office
and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided testimony
to the Committee. See The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Information Technology Reorganization: How Far Has VA Come?,
Serial No. 110-47.
Full Committee Hearing--Funding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
of the Future
On October 3, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
examine alternative options to the current funding process for
veterans' health care at the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). Currently there are nearly 25 million veterans in
the United States. The VA health care system has an enrolled
veteran population of nearly 8 million and expects to treat 5.7
million in the current year. In 2008, the number of veterans
receiving treatment is expected to rise to 5.8 million, and
will include an estimated 263,000 veterans of Operations
Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Many veterans
service organizations have supported mandatory funding for VA
health care, and have in the past year proposed advanced
appropriations for VA health care.
The Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform, The
Brookings Institution, the Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
provided testimony on the funding process for the VA. See
Funding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of the Future,
Serial No. 110-49.
Full Committee Hearing--Findings of the Veterans' Disability Benefits
Commission
On October 10, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
review the findings of the Veterans' Disability Benefits
Commission. The Commission was established in the National
Defense Authorization Act of 2004 out of concern for a variety
of issues pertinent to disabled veterans, disabled service
members, their survivors, and their families. The Commission is
comprised of 13 members, 12 of whom are veterans and nine of
whom are combat veterans. The Commission convened more than 50
public business sessions with interested stakeholders that
included receipt of public comments, statements and testimony.
The final report was released on October 3, 2007, and is a
culmination of work performed by the Members of the Commission
and its staff, advisors and experts with analytical support
from the Institute of Medicine and the Center for Naval
Analysis Corporation. The Commission issued 114 recommendations
for updating and improving the system of providing benefits and
services to our nation's veterans.
The Chairman of the Veterans' Disability Benefits
Commission, James Terry Scott, LTG, USA (Ret.) testified before
the Committee. See Findings of the Veterans Disability Benefits
Commission, Serial No. 110-52.
Full Committee Hearing--Long-Term Costs of Current Conflicts
On October 17, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
examine the long-term costs of the current conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan. The hearing focused on how the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) is addressing and preparing for the
added costs of caring for these veterans, especially in the
area of medical care for post-traumatic stress disorder and
traumatic brain injuries. The Committee also focused on the
ability of the VA to treat these veterans in the coming years
while not forgetting the needs of veterans from previous
conflicts.
Witnesses from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the
Congressional Research Service, and the Congressional Budget
Office provided testimony before the Committee. See Long-Term
Costs of Current Conflicts, Serial No. 110-54.
American Ex-Prisoners of War Conference--Springfield, Illinois
From October 18-19, 2007, minority staff spoke at the
``Legislative Outlook Seminar'' of the American Ex-Prisoners of
War Conference to discuss the legislative priorities of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Full Committee Hearing--Stopping Suicides: Mental Health Challenges
Within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
On December 12, 2007, the full Committee held a hearing to
examine mental health care provided by the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA). The hearing focused on how best the VA
should address the mental health care needs of returning active
duty forces, including the National Guard and Reserves. There
are approximately 25 million veterans in the United States and
5 million veterans currently receive health care through the
Veterans Health Administration (VHA). VHA estimates that there
are approximately 1,000 suicides per year among veterans
receiving care through VHA and as many as 5,000 suicides per
year among all living veterans. VA has reported that of the
263,909 separated OEF/OIF veterans who have obtained VA health
care since FY 2002, 38 percent have received a diagnosis of a
possible mental disorder. Of that population, 48 percent have a
possible diagnosis of PTSD.
The Committee heard testimony from Mike and Kim Bowman; two
authors of books dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder
and suicide; veterans service organizations; Office of the
Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See Stopping
Suicides: Mental Health Challenges Within the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs, Serial No. 110-61.
Second Session
Full Committee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget
Request for Fiscal Year 2009
On February 7, 2008, the full Committee held a hearing on
the proposed VA budget for FY 2008. The VA requested an
increase for VA Medical Care of $2 billion, for a total of
$42.2 billion, including collections. The Independent Budget
recommended an additional $1.6 billion.
The Honorable James B. Peake, M.D., Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, was accompanied by senior
officials of the Department for his testimony to the Committee
in support of the President's proposed budget. Also,
representatives of major veterans service organizations
presented their views on the proposed budget. Finally,
representatives of the Independent Budget presented their
proposal for the FY 2008 veterans' budget. See U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for fiscal Year 2009, Serial
No. 110-67.
Full Committee Hearing--Ending Homelessness for our Nation's Veterans
On April 9, 2008, the full Committee held a hearing to
examine the effectiveness of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs homeless programs. Research tells us that veterans are
over represented in the homeless population. VA operates a wide
variety of homeless veterans programs designed to provide
outreach, supportive services, health care as well as
counseling and treatment for mental health and substance use
disorders. They rely heavily on their partnerships with the
community and faith based organizations to provide these
services. The hearing focused on the need to improve direct
service programs designed to help veterans with self-
sufficiency and prevention programs that identify vulnerable
veterans and service members.
Witnesses from veterans service organizations, the
Congressional Research Service, several homeless outreach
providers, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided
testimony. See Ending Homelessness for our Nation's Veterans,
Serial No. 110-80.
Full Committee Hearing--The Truth About Veterans' Suicides
On May 6, 2008, the full Committee held a hearing to learn
the truth about veterans' suicides in an attempt to get a
better idea of the scope of the problem and what the VA is
doing to address the problem.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Interim Head and
Associate Professor of Biostatistics,Department of Epidemiology
and Biostatistics,University of Georgia; Distinguished
Professor Emeritus, Past Director of Suicide Center, Adjunct
Professor of Psychiatry, and Adjunct Professor of Family
Medicine, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine,
Columbia, South Carolina; Professor and Chair of Texas Tech
University; and, the Office of the Inspector General of the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provided testimony. See
The Truth about Veterans' Suicides, Serial No. 110-86.
Full Committee Hearing--Implementing the Wounded Warrior Provisions of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
On June 11, 2008, the full Committee held a hearing to
examine the progress that has been made in implementing the
wounded warrior provisions in the National Defense
Authorization Act of 2008. The hearing also explored barriers
to implementation and analyzed what additional actions need to
be taken by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs to enhance the care given to
wounded service members and veterans.
Witnesses from the RAND Corporation, the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Defense, provided
testimony before the Committee. See Implementing the Wounded
Warrior Provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2008, Serial No. 110-91.
National Association of County Veterans Service Officers--Charleston,
South Carolina
From June 19-20, 2008, minority staff spoke at the
``Legislative Panel'' to address issues facing our nation's
veterans and their families, as well as to provide an overview
of legislative issues for the 110th Congress.
Full Committee Hearing--Why Does the VA Continue to Give a Suicide-
Inducing Drug to Veterans with PTSD?
On July 9, 2008, the full Committee conducted an oversight
hearing in response to recent events concerning a smoking
cessation study at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA). The hearing focused on the risks to veterans enrolled in
the study and the failure to properly alert study participants
of the latest relevant safety information about pharmaceutical
drugs used in ongoing research.
Witnesses from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the
Food and Drug Administration, Office of the Inspector General
of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Pfizer Inc., among
other witnesses, delivered testimony before the Committee. See
Why Does the VA Continue to Give a Suicide-Inducing Drug to
Veterans with PTSD?, Serial No. 110-96.
Full Committee Meeting--Commission on the Future for America's Veterans
On July 30, 2008, the full Committee held a closed meeting
with the Commission on the Future for America's Veterans. The
purpose of the roundtable discussion was to allow the members
of the Commission on the Future for America's Veterans to
present their findings and recommendations.
Members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and members
of the Commission participated in the roundtable discussion.
Disabled American Veterans Convention--Las Vegas, Nevada
From August 9-11, 2008, majority and minority staff spoke
at the ``Service & Legislative Seminar'' of the Disabled
American Veterans Convention to discuss the legislative
priorities of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Site Visit to Las Vegas, Nevada
On August 12, 2008, minority staff conducted a site visit
to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction
site for the future VA Health Care complex in North Las Vegas.
The tour was led by the Honorable Shelley Berkley and the
Honorable Jon Porter with the Secretary of the VA, The
Honorable James B. Peake, M.D., also in attendance. The future
937,000 square foot facility, which is slated to open in 2011,
will serve southern Nevada's 250,000 veterans.
Full Committee Meeting--CRISIS: The VA Shreds Veterans' Confidence
On November 19, 2008, the full Committee held a roundtable
to discuss the recent reports of documents being shredded at VA
regional offices.
The following joined the Members of the Committee to
provide open discussion on the possible solutions to the
problem of shredding documents: veterans service organizations;
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; American Federation of
Government Employees; National Veterans Legal Services Program;
and the National Organization of Veterans Advocates, Inc.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND MEMORIAL
AFFAIRS
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
First Session
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 1284 and H.R. 797
On March 13, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up H.R.
1284, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act
of 2007, introduced by the Honorable John J. Hall on March 1,
2007, and H.R. 797, the Blinded Veterans Paired Organ Act of
2007, introduced by the Honorable Tammy Baldwin on February 5,
2007. Both bills were forwarded to the full Committee by voice
vote.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 67, H.R. 1435, H.R. 1444 and
H.R. 1490
On April 17, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a legislative
hearing on H.R. 67, the Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of
2007, introduced by the Honorable Mike McIntyre on January 4,
2007; H.R. 1435, the Department of Veterans Affairs Claims
Backlog Reduction Act of 2007, introduced by the Honorable Joe
Baca on March 9, 2007; H.R. 1444, the Interim Benefit Payments
for Certain Remanded Claims, introduced by the Honorable John
J. Hall on March 9, 2007; and, H.R. 1490, the Service
Connection Presumption for Certain Claims, introduced by the
Honorable Joe Donnelly on March 13, 2007.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from Members of Congress
on their respective bills; representatives of the veterans'
service field; veterans' service organizations; North Carolina
Central University School of Law; National Organization of
Veterans Advocates; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R. 67, H.R. 1435, H.R.
1444 and H.R. 1490, Serial No. 110-11.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 1660
On April 24, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up H.R.
1660, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish
a national cemetery for veterans in the southern Colorado
region, introduced by the Honorable John T. Salazar. H.R. 1660
was forwarded to the full Committee by unanimous consent.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 67
On May 8, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up H.R. 67,
the Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2007, introduced by
the Honorable Mike McIntyre. This bill would require the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with state and local
governments, through grant opportunities, to reach out to
veterans and their families to ensure receipt of benefits for
which they are eligible and assist them in completing their
benefit claims. H.R. 67 was forwarded to the full Committee by
unanimous consent.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 156, H.R. 585 and H.R. 704
On June 19, 2007, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing to consider three bills: H.R. 156, which would change
the date of eligibility for Disability and Indemnity
Compensation (DIC) payments to survivors of former Prisoners of
War (POWs) to include those who died before September 30, 1999,
introduced by the Honorable Tim Holden; H.R. 585, which would
expand the Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
(TSGLI) to provide retroactive payments to all qualifying
service members who served since October 7, 2001, regardless of
location, introduced by the Honorable Stephanie Herseth
Sandlin; and, H.R. 704, which would reduce from 57 to 55 the
age after which the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a
deceased veteran shall not result in termination of DIC
payments otherwise payable to that spouse, introduced by the
Honorable Gus M. Bilirakis.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from The Honorable Tim
Holden; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; several
veterans' service organizations; Wounded Warrior Project; and,
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. See Legislative
Hearing on H.R. 156, H.R. 585 and H.R. 704, Serial No. 110-28.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 674, H.R 1273, H.R. 1900, H.R.
1901, H.R. 2346, H.R. 2696, and H.R. 2697
On July 31, 2007, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on the following bills: H.R. 674, which would repeal
the sunset provisions in current law eliminating the VA
Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, introduced by the
Honorable Luis Gutierrez; H.R. 1273, which would extend
eligibility for a $300 plot allowances to certain populations
of veterans buried in private cemeteries, introduced by the
Honorable Shelley Berkley; H.R. 1900 and 1901, which would
extend eligibility for low-income pension benefits to veterans
who received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or who served
during specified time periods, respectively, both introduced by
the Honorable Nick Rahall; H.R. 2346, which would direct the
Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a process to
determine whether a geographic area is sufficiently served by
the veterans' cemeteries located there, introduced by the
Honorable Vito Fossella; H.R. 2696, which would increase burial
benefits and authorize additional grants to be awarded for
state cemeteries, introduced by the Honorable Doug Lamborn;
and, H.R. 2697, which would extend eligibility for Veteran's
Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) to members of the Armed Forces,
introduced by the Honorable Doug Lamborn.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from Members of Congress;
veterans service organizations; International Cemetery,
Cremation and Funeral Association; and, the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R. 674, H.R
1273, H.R. 1900, H.R. 1901, H.R. 2346, H.R. 2696, and H.R.
2697, Serial No. 110-40.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 1137, H.R. 3047, H.R. 3249, H.R.
3286, H.R. 3415, H.R. 3954, and H.R. 4084
On November 8, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a
legislative hearing on H.R. 1137, which would increase the
Medal of Honor special pension, introduced by the Honorable
Henry Brown on February 16, 2007; H.R. 3047, The Veterans
Claims Processing Innovation Act of 2007, introduced by the
Honorable Doug Lamborn on July 16, 2007; H.R. 3249, The
Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2007, introduced by
the Honorable Shelley Berkley on July 31, 2007; H.R. 3286,
which would alter the time period for which a veteran must be
rated totally disabled to receive certain death benefits,
introduced by the Honorable Bob Filner on August 1, 2007; H.R.
3415, which would authorize domestic memorial markers for
individuals buried in American Battle Monument Commission
cemeteries, introduced by the Honorable James Langevin on
August 3, 2007; H.R. 3954, Providing Military Honors for our
Nation's Heroes Act, also introduced by the Honorable Bob
Filner on October 24, 2007; and H.R. 4084, the VeteransQuality
of Life Study Act of 2007, introduced by the Honorable John J. Hall on
November 6, 2007.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from veterans service
organizations and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1137, H.R. 3047, H.R. 3249, H.R.
3286, H.R. 3415, H.R. 3954, and H.R. 4084, Serial No. 110-60.
Second Session
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 5892
On Thursday April 24, 2008, the Subcommittee met and marked
up H.R. 5892, introduced by the Honorable John J. Hall on April
24, 2008. A bill to comprehensively modernize the Veterans
Benefits Administration's (VBA) system by which it adjudicates
claims for service-connected disability compensation submitted
by disabled veterans or their survivors. H.R. 5892 was
forwarded to the full Committee by voice vote.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 1197, H.R. 3008, H.R. 3795, H.R.
4274, H.R, 5155, H.R. 5448, H.R. 5454, H.R. 5709, H.R. 5954,
H.R. 5985, and H.R. 6032
On June 12, 2008, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 1197, Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2007,
introduced by the Honorable Gus M. Bilirakis; H.R. 3008, Rural
Veterans Services Outreach and Training Act, introduced by the
Honorable David Wu; H.R. 3795, You Were There, You Get Care Act
of 2007, introduced by the Honorable Bob Filner; H.R. 4274,
Gold Star Parents Annuity Act of 2007, introduced by the
Honorable James T. Walsh; H.R. 5155, Combat Veterans Debt
Elimination Act of 2008, introduced by the Honorable Carol
Shea-Porter; H.R. 5448, Full Faith in Veterans Act of 2008,
introduced by the Honorable Thomas H. Allen; H.R. 5454, to
establish a presumption of service connection of amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS) for purposes of the laws administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, introduced by the
Honorable Henry E. Brown, Jr.; H.R. 5709, Veterans Disability
Fairness Act, introduce by the Honorable Zachary T. Space; H.R.
5954, to provide veterans for presumptions of service
connection for purposes of benefits under laws administered by
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for diseases associated with
service in the U.S. Armed Forces and exposure to biological,
chemical, or other toxic agents as part of Project 112,
introduced by the Honorable Mike Thompson; H.R. 5985,
Compensation for Combat Veterans Act, introduced by the
Honorable Bruce L. Braley; and, H.R. 6032, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability
compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson's Disease,
introduced by the Honorable Bob Filner. This hearing examined
these bills which focused on establishing presumptions for
service connected injuries.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from Members of Congress
on their respective bills; Institute of Medicine, National
Academy of Sciences; Congressional Research Service; veterans'
service organizations; a disabled veteran on behalf of The ALS
Association; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1197, H.R. 3008, H.R. 3795, H.R.
4274, H.R, 5155, H.R. 5448, H.R. 5454, H.R. 5709, H.R. 5954,
H.R. 5985 and H.R. 6032, Serial No. 110-92.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
First Session
Subcommittee Hearing--The Impact of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation
Enduring Freedom on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Process
On March 13, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
impact of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom
(OIF/OEF) on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Claims Process. The purpose of this hearing was to examine
whether the VA benefits claims process is properly equipped to
handle the influx of service members returning from OIF/OEF.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Government
Accountability Office; John F. Kennedy School of Government;
Veterans for America; Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America;
National Association of County Veterans Service Officers;
VoteVets; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See The
Impact of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom
(OIF/OEF) on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Claims
Process, Serial No. 110-8.
Subcommittee Hearing--Helping Those Left Behind: Are We Doing Enough
for the Parents, Spouses and Children of Veterans?
On April 24, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing
addressing benefits for relatives of veterans and to explore
whether the federal government is effectively and efficiently
providing the families of veterans with the benefits earned
through the service of their loved ones.
In addition to the testimony provided by the Honorable Brad
Ellsworth, who spoke on behalf of a caregiver of a child of a
veteran, and the Honorable Tom Latham, the Subcommittee heard
the experiences of several dependants currently affected by the
veterans' benefits process. The Subcommittee also heard
testimony from representatives from the Gold Star Wives of
America; National Military Families Association; National
Veterans Legal Services Program; and, the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See Helping Those Left Behind: Are We Doing
Enough for the Parents, Spouses and Children of Veterans?,
Serial No. 110-16.
Subcommittee Hearing--Veterans Cemeteries: Honoring Those Who Served
On May 8, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine
several issues relating to memorial benefits and veterans'
cemeteries including policies for headstones and markers,
funding issues, burial and plot allowances, and delays in
internment due to high volume of demand.
The Director of the National Park Service; the
Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery; the Executive
Director of the American Battle Monuments Commission; AMVETS;
National Funeral Directors Association; National Association of
State Directors of Veterans Affairs; the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs provided testimony. See Veterans Cemeteries:
Honoring Those Who Served, Serial No. 110-19.
Subcommittee Hearing--The Challenges Facing the U.S. Court of Appeals
for Veterans Claims
On May 22, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight hearing
to examine the challenges and issues surrounding the U.S. Court
of Appeals for Veterans Claims with a particular focus on a
measure to decrease the backlog and increase efficiency to
provide a swifter appeals process for veterans.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from Chief Judge William
P. Greene, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; Bart
Stichman, Joint Executive Director of the National Veterans
Legal Services; Robert Chisholm, Former President of the
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates; Brian Lawrence,
Assistant National Legislative Director of the Disabled
American Veterans; and, The Honorable James P. Terry, Chairman,
Board of Veterans' Appeals. See The Challenges Facing the U.S.
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Serial No. 110-24.
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and
Subcommittee on Health Joint Hearing--Issues Facing Women and
Minority Veterans
On July 12, 2007, the Subcommittees conducted a joint
hearing on issues facing women and minority veterans. This
hearing addressed the centers within the VA intended to ensure
that women and minority veterans encounter no disparities in
treatment or access to benefits, health care and other
services. The Subcommittees also examined if appropriate
outreach exists to ensure the inclusion of women and minorities
in VA programs.
The Honorable Heather Wilson; Advisory Committee on Women
Veterans; veterans' service organizations; and, interested
stakeholders provided testimony. See Joint Hearing on Issues
Facing Women and Minority Veterans, Serial No. 110-33.
Subcommittee Hearing--Board of Veterans' Appeals Adjudication Process
and the Appeals Management Center
On September 25, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on
the adjudication process, policies and current backlog of the
Board of Veterans' Appeals adjudication process and the Appeals
Management Center. The purpose of this hearing was to examine
these entities and assess whether the processes currently in
place were helping reduce the veterans' claims backlog and
improve the experience of veteran claimants.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from veterans service
organizations; National Veterans Legal Services Program;
National Organization of Veterans Advocates; the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Board of Veterans'
Appeals. See Board of Veterans' Appeals Adjudication Process
and the Appeals Management Center, Serial No. 110-46.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Personal Costs of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs Claims Backlog, New Windsor, New York
On October 9, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
impact of the VA disability claims backlog, the impact of the
extended wait times on the personal lives and financial well-
being of veterans, and to address the performance of the New
York City regional office, which was behind the national
average.
This hearing focused on four local veterans and their
experiences with filing a disability benefits claim with the
VA: Alex Lazos, John Rowan on behalf of veteran Ted Wolf, Eddie
Senior, and Eddie Ryan. The Subcommittee also heard testimony
from the Orange County Veterans Agency; Vietnam Veterans of
America; The American Legion; and, Michael Walcoff, Associate
Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Personal Cost of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Backlog, New Windsor, NY,
Serial No. 110-51.
Site visit to St Petersburg, Florida
From December 9-10, 2007, majority and minority staff
attended the St. Petersburg Veterans Service Center Manager
Training Conference (VSCM). The VSCM training is a bi-annual
event attended by managers from each of the Veterans Benefits
Administration service centers. The purpose of the training is
to inform managers of new VA policies and practices,
legislation, and court decisions. By attending this conference,
staff members were able to gain valuable knowledge of efforts
being made by the VA to better train their employees.
Site Visit to Baltimore, Maryland
On December 11, 2007, the majority staff attended an
informational briefing and tour with the Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) Training Academy Director and several
staff members to examine VA's standardized training regimen and
practices. Staff also met with employees attending training as
well as those employees providing training assistance and
supervision. The visit provided greater insight on challenges
and successes of the VBA's efforts to establish more structured
and mandatory training requirements including, but not limited
to, online training.
Site Visit to Baltimore, Maryland
On December 18, 2007, majority staff traveled to Baltimore
for an oversight visit at the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Regional Office (RO). The visit to the Baltimore RO
gave staff the opportunity to review the claims processing in
place within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and to
see how those processes are operationalized in the field.
The Baltimore RO operates all five of the VBA business
lines (compensation and pension, vocational rehabilitation and
employment, home loan, education, and insurance). Additionally,
it has 140 FTE with about 100 in the Service Center, of those
staff, there are 23 Rating Veterans Service Representatives
with 11 still in training status. There is a rating inventory
of 6,100 cases which is 1.5 percent of the national workload.
There are approximately 1,000 new claims a month and
approximately 800 claims ready to be rated; therefore, about
200 will be brokered to another RO. Some claims have upward of
30 issues. The Baltimore backlog is at 132 days. Approximately
10 percent (100 cases) of their decisions are appeals with 50
percent (50 cases) of those going to the Board and 20 percent
(5-8 cases) are remanded. Overall the Baltimore RO seems to be
doing fairly well. The staff is continuously trying to revamp
and improve their claims processing system for a more efficient
and effective way of processing claims.
Second Session
Site Visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On January 25, 2008, majority and minority staff had the
opportunity to visit the Philadelphia U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs Regional Office (RO). The visit gave staff the
opportunity to review operations at the Insurance Center and
tour the RO.
In addition to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a RO in
Pittsburgh. The Philadelphia RO services 40 of the eastern
counties and seven counties in New Jersey with approximately
7,300 pending claims to be rated. It operates all five of the
Veterans Benefits Administration business lines (compensation
and pension, vocational rehabilitation and employment, home
loan, education, and insurance). In addition, the Pension
Maintenance Center serves constituents residing in 21 eastern
states of the United States, Puerto Rico, and all foreign
countries with the exception of Central and South America.
Overall the Philadelphia RO is trying to implement a system to
better process claims in the most effective way.
Subcommittee Hearing--The Use of Artificial Intelligence to Improve the
VA's Claims Processing System
On January 29, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
examine the issues surrounding the use of artificial
intelligence technology in hopes of improving the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) claims processing system. For several
years the VA has come under harsh scrutiny with the paper based
and labor intensive way it processes claims. With the use of
artificial intelligence, it could potentially reduce the
800,000 pending claims backlog and the 183-day processing time.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from many different people
including veterans; the Wounded Warrior Project; Carnegie
Mellon University; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine;
QTC Medical Services, Inc.; Stratizon Corporation; Unum; the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and, several veterans'
service officers. See the Use of Artificial Intelligence to
Improve VA's Claims Processing System, Serial No. 110-66.
Subcommittee Hearing--Examining the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Processing System
On February 14, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
examine the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims
processing system at VA's 57 regional offices (RO). The hearing
looked at ways to handle the thousands of backlogged claims
that are currently being processed by the RO. There are nearly
650,000 claims that have not been processed. Additionally, the
hearing served as a way to highlight the problems in the
appeals process, beginning with the failure to develop and
adjudicate original claims within the RO.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from, among others, the
CNA Corporation; Committee on Medical Evaluation of Veterans
for Disability Benefits Board on Military and Veterans Health,
Institute of Medicine; U.S. Government Accountability Office;
National Veterans Legal Services Program; American Federation
of Government Employees; veterans' service organizations;
Wounded Warrior Project; the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard
University. See Examining the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Claims Proceeding System, Serial No. 110-70.
Subcommittee Hearing--The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Schedule
for Rating Disabilities
On February 26, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
examine the changes needed to improve the disability rating
system and to find ways to ensure that veterans are adequately
compensated for their losses. Through studies done by the
Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, they found that the
Rating Schedule is out-of-date in certain areas, does not
always use the most up-to-date medical knowledge, and does not
include certain factors when rating veterans.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Defense; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; veterans'
service organizations; Veterans' Disability Benefits
Commission; Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Medical
Evaluation of Veterans for Disability Benefits; IOM Committee
on Evaluation of the Presumptive Disability; Center for Health
Research and Policy; American Academy of Disability Evaluating
Physicians; NationalVeterans Legal Services Program; and, the
IOM Committee on Mental Healthcare for Veterans and Military Personnel
and Their Families. See the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Rating
Disability, Serial No. 110-71.
Site Visit to Newark, New Jersey
On March 27, 2008, majority and minority staff visited the
Newark U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office
(RO). The visit gave staff the opportunity to review the claims
processes in place within the Veterans Benefit Administration
(VBA) and to see how those processes are carried out in the
field.
The Newark RO is a smaller office and operates all five of
the VBA business lines (compensation and pension, vocational
rehabilitation and employment, home loan, education, and
insurance). The RO has 95 FTE with about 63 in the Veterans
Service Center of those staff, there are about 29 Rating
Veterans Service Representatives (RVSR), with about ten new
employees in training status. Their rating inventory is 3,450
cases, which is less than 1 percent of the national workload.
There are approximately 500 new claims a month. Additionally,
there are approximately 650 claims that are ready to rate;
therefore, about 250 will be brokered to another RO. Their
backlog is at 142 days, but that is down from 159 days last
year. Their accuracy rating is at 83 percent below the 90
percent target. Approximately 21 percent of their decisions are
avoidable remands, which is a slight increase from last year's
19.8 percent and their 17 percent target. Currently, there were
three remands on station; 70-80 percent of those cases are sent
to the Appeals Management Center. Overall the Newark RO is
improving its overall claims processing system.
Subcommittee Hearing--Legislative Hearing on the Veterans Disability
Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008
On April 10, 2008, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing to comprehensively modernize the Veterans Benefits
Administration's system by which it adjudicates claims for
service-connected disability compensation submitted by disabled
veterans or their survivors. The current backlog of disability
claims is approximately 650,000 and VA expects to receive one
million additional compensation and pension claims by the end
of 2008. Currently, the average time it takes for VA to process
a claim is 183 days, up from 177 days in 2006. The Subcommittee
examined the growing backlogs at both the Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims and the Board of Veterans Appeals.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Court of
Appeals for Veterans Claims; veterans' service organizations;
the National Veterans Legal Services Program; the Board of
Veterans Appeals; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
See Legislative Hearing on the Veterans Disability Benefits
Claims Modernization Act of 2008, Serial No. 110-81.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Is the VA Cemetery Construction Policy
Meeting the Needs of Today's Veterans and their Families?,
Colorado Springs, Colorado
On May 2, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
policy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for
constructing cemeteries. The hearing examined VA's current
policy regarding the construction of new national cemeteries.
VA has determined that new national cemeteries will be
established in areas with an un-served veteran population
threshold of 170,000 within a 75-mile service radius.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Gold Star Wives
in Colorado; an Iraq war widow; El Paso County National
Cemetery Committee; El Paso County Board of Veterans; The
American Legion Department of Colorado; Colorado stakeholders;
and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See the Is the VA
Cemetery Construction Policy Meeting the Needs of Today's
Veterans and their Families?, Serial No. 110-85.
Subcommittee Hearing--Examining the Effectiveness of the VBA Outreach
Efforts
On May 22, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
investigate the programs and strategic plan developed by the
Veterans Benefits Administration to conduct outreach to
veterans, families, and survivors to educate them on the
Federal Benefits available to them and the application
processes.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the National
Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs; National
Association of County Veteran Service Officers; veterans'
service organizations; the Ad Council; the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; and, the U.S. Department of Defense. See
Examining the Effectiveness of the Veterans Benefits
Administration Outreach Efforts, Serial No. 110-89.
Site visit to Seattle, Washington
From August 13-15, 2008, majority and minority staff
traveled to the Veterans Benefits Administration Leadership
Conference in Seattle to attend informational sessions convened
by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) leadership. Staff
was afforded the opportunity to hear from veterans assembled by
VA, as well as leadership personnel from VBA field operations.
Break-out sessions were conducted on recent studies pertaining
to state variances of disability payments, the Veterans'
Disability Benefits Commission and related Institute of
Medicine Study findings, OIF/OEF priority processing needs,
attorney representation, VA succession planning, and education,
insurance and loan guaranty issues. The visit was productive as
it allowed Committee staff to talk directly to VBA leadership
and to receive insightful information on recently released and
pending reports regarding improving the disability claims
processing system.
Site Visit to Western Pacific
From August 24-30, 2008, majority and minority staff
attended a staff delegation site visit to the Western Pacific.
The purpose of this trip was to assess how the relocation from
Japan to Guam of approximately 8,000 Marines and sailors, 3,000
soldiers and airman, along with 9,000 family members from 2010
until 2014 could potentially affect the Veterans Benefits
Administration's (VBA) claims processing workload and its need
to realign its transition activities. A particular focus of the
visit was on the VBA Transition Assistance program, the
Disabled Transition Assistance Program, and the Benefits
Delivery at Discharge program for the region, especially for
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
veterans. The trip gave the staff the opportunity to talk to
veterans, active duty military, and veterans' service
organizations to see what type of potential impact this
transition would have on the military.
Subcommittee Hearing--Examining the Effectiveness of the Veterans
Benefits Administration's Training, Performance Management and
Accountability
On September 18, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
investigate how well the VA trains its newly-hired Veterans
Service Representatives and Rating Veterans Service
Representatives. New employees are to follow a national
standardized training curriculum at one of the 57 Regional
Offices to which they are assigned. This hearing focused on how
well these employees are being trained, what improvements need
to be made to the training process, and how effective the
training is after completion.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Government
Accountability Office; a Decision Review Officer, Cleveland
Regional Office; National Veterans Legal Services Program;
Human Resources Research Organization; U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs and, several veterans' service organizations.
See Examining the Effectiveness of the Veterans Benefits
Administration's Training, Performance Management and
Accountability, Serial No. 110-105.
Site Visit to Winston-Salem, North Carolina
On November 6, 2008, majority and minority staff had the
opportunity to visit the Winston-Salem U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs Regional Office (RO) in North Carolina. The
staff had the opportunity to review the Benefits Delivery at
Discharge (BDD) program and paperless pilot project being
conducted at the RO.
The Winston-Salem RO operates all five of the VBA business
lines (compensation and pension, vocational rehabilitation and
employment, home loan, education, and insurance). There are 525
FTE with 437 in the Service Center and of that number; there
are 70 Rating Veterans Service Representatives (RVSR) with many
in trainee status. There is a rating inventory of 20,022 cases
and approximately 6,000 claims that are ready to rate;
therefore, about 600 will be brokered to another RO since the
station is having capacity issues and does not have enough
RVSRs to adjudicate the ready to rate claims. (This is the
highest amount of ready to rate claims in a RO visited by the
Subcommittee to date). They do not broker the BDD claims and
some of the newer claims have upward of 30 issues. They are
making about 4,000 rating decisions a month. The overall
accuracy rate for the RO is 88.8 percent--below its 90 percent
target for FY 2008. The national accuracy target is 90 percent,
however, their accuracy target is expected to increase as more
FTE are trained. It takes the RO 197 days to complete a claim,
the target is 174 days. Approximately 15 percent of their
decisions are on appeal and 15 percent are remanded.
The Winston-Salem RO is one of two centralized regional
offices that are processing BDD claims from 23 other ROs that
have multiple intake sites at military installations. (Salt
Lake City, Utah, is the other BDD facility.) The BDD claims
take the Winston-Salem RO an average of 86 days to complete
processing in their paperless environment, known as Virtual VA.
The target number of days to complete a BDD claim is still 60
days. There were 2,192 pending claims at the time of the site
visit, representing 20 percent of the RO workload. Appeals are
being worked virtually as well.
Overall, the Winston-Salem office seems to be doing well.
With the paperless claims processing in place, it looks like
this could be a good way to handle the backlog of claims.
Site Visit to Nashville, Tennessee
On November 24, 2008, the majority and minority staff of
the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Oversight
and Investigations Subcommittees, visited the Nashville U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office (RO) and the VA
Quality Assurance Program. The visit was an opportunity for
Committee staff to review the claims processing operations and
to visit with VBA Quality Assurance Program leadership who
administer the Systemic Technical Accuracy Review (STAR) and
Compensation and Pension Exam Program (CPEP). STAR and CPEP are
measurement tools used primarily to assess the quality and
accuracy of disabilitybenefits claims and of medical
examinations conducted by the VHA for the VBA Compensation and Pension
Service, respectively.
The RO visit was productive. Staff was able to meet with
the RO Director as well as to meet with VSO and union
representatives. Staff also was able to receive an extensive
briefing on the expansion of the VBA quality assurance staff
and types of claims. Subcommittee staff was encouraged by the
level of productivity of the Quality Assurance (QA) staff, but
was concerned that the number of full-time employees assigned
to VA QA office was not consistent with funds appropriated.
Staff was also encouraged that CPEP leadership, which is based
in the Veterans Health Administration, was working with VBA
staff as it was making changes to its review process as well as
to ensure rating consistency and lessen disconnects between the
VBA and the VHA as it pertains to disability examinations and
forms.
Site Visit to Rome, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and England
From December 14-23, 2008, majority and minority staff,
along with Sidath Panangala from the Congressional Research
Service, traveled on a staff delegation to conduct oversight of
six American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) cemeteries
where 124,909 U.S. war dead are interred. The Commission
administers, operates, and maintains 24 permanent American
burial grounds on foreign soil. CDR Glen Diehl, Navy LL
provided staff escort. Specifically, the staff visited the
Sicily-Rome, Margraten, Henri-Chapelle, Normandy and Cambridge
Cemeteries from World War II, and the Pointe du Hoc Memorial
and Brookwood Cemetery from World War I. A highlight of the
trip involved meeting with citizens on Margraten, Netherlands
who have implemented a long-standing, formalized and unique
program for adopting the 8,302 gravesites of American WWII
veterans (also includes British, Canadian and Mexican Allied
Forces members) interred in the Margraten cemetery, the only
ABMC site in the Netherlands region.
The cemetery visits were very valuable and allowed staff to
directly view and experience the only overseas Visitors' Center
located at the Normandy Cemetery, to meet and talk with
overseas staff and caretakers, and to gain a first-hand and
practical understanding of the ABMC's interpretative program
expansion plans and its integral relationship to its overall
goals and mission. Additionally, the staff visited the Naval
Hospital Naples in Italy and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
in Germany to examine the compensation and physical examination
discharge processes. This portion of the trip was productive on
many fronts as it allowed staff to witness the actual progress,
as well as the many remaining hurdles to implementation of a
single DoD/VA exam process for determining fitness for duty and
degree of disability of servicemembers and related transition
issues for which legislation might be needed.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
First Session
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 1750, H.R. 1824, H.R. 1598, H.R.
1315, H.R. 1240, H.R. 675, H.R. 513, H.R. 2259, H.R. 2475, H.R.
1632, H.R. 112, H.R. 2579 and H.R. 1370
On June 21, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a legislative
hearing on H.R. 1750, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief
Act to extend from 90 days to one year the period after release
of a member of the Armed Forces from active duty during which
the member is protected from mortgage foreclosure under that
Act, introduced by the Honorable Albert Russell Wynn on March
28, 2007; H.R. 1824, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
expand the scope of programs of education for which accelerated
payments of educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill
may be used, and for other purposes, introduced by the
Honorable Michael H. Michaud on April 26, 2007; H.R. 1598, the
Servicemembers Credit Protection Act, introduced by the
Honorable Steve Israel on April 13, 2007; H.R. 1315, to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide specially adaptive
housing assistance to certain disabled members of the Armed
Forces residing temporarily in housing owned by a family
member, introduced by the Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
on March 5, 2007; H.R. 1240, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for
students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual
impairment and orientation and mobility, introduced by the
Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee on February 28, 2007; H.R. 675,
Disabled Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act, Introduced
by the Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on January 24, 2007;
H.R. 513, National Heroes Credit Protection Act, introduced by
the Honorable Robert A. Brady on January 17, 2007; H.R. 2259,
to ensure that members of the National Guard and Reserves are
able to fully participate in the benefits delivery at discharge
program administered jointly by the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide information and
assistance on available benefits and other transition
assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are separating
from the Armed Forces, introduced by the Honorable Peter Welch
on May 9, 2007; H.R. 2475, Veteran Home Equity Conversation
Mortgage Act of 2007, introduced by the Honorable Michael H.
Michaud on May 24, 2007; H.R. 1632, Improving Veterans'
Reemployment Act of 2007, Introduced by the Honorable David G.
Reichert on March 21, 2007; H.R. 112, G.I. Advanced Education
in Science and Technology Act, introduced by the Honorable Jo
Ann Davis on January 4, 2007; H.R. 2579, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to authorize the use of funds in the
Department of Veterans Affairs readjustment benefits accounts
and funds appropriated for such purpose to provide funding for
State approving agencies, introduced by the Honorable John
Boozman on June 6, 2007; H.R. 1370, Disabled Veterans Sports
and Special Events Promotion Act of 2007, introduced by the
Honorable Steve Buyer on March 7, 2007.
The Members of Congress testified on their respective
bills. See Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1750, H.R. 1824, H.R.
1598, H.R. 1315, H.R. 1240, H.R. 675, H.R. 513, H.R. 2259, H.R.
2475, H.R. 1632, H.R. 112, and H.R. 1370, Serial No. 110-30.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 1315, H.R. 1750, H.R. 1240, and H.R. 1632
On June 29, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up H.R.
1315, Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2007, introduced by
the Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on March 5, 2007; H.R.
1750, introduced by the Honorable Albert Russell Wynn on March
28, 2007; H.R. 1240, Visions Impairment Specialist Training
Act, introduced by the Honorable Sheila Jackson-Lee on February
28, 2007; and H.R. 1632, Improving Veterans' Reemployment Act
of 2007, introduced by the Honorable David G. Reichert on March
21, 2007. H.R. 1750, H.R. 1240, and H.R.1632 were amended and
favorably reported to the full Committee.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 513 and H.R. 3882
On October 25, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up
H.R. 513, The National Heroes Credit Protection Act, introduced
by the Honorable Robert A. Brady on January 17, 2007, and H.R.
3882, introduced by the Honorable Timothy J. Walz on October
17, 2007. Both bills were favorably reported to the full
Committee.
Second Session
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 4883, H.R. 4884, H.R. 4889, H.R.
4539, H.R. 3646, H.R. 5664, H.R. 3798, H.R. 3393, H.R. 3298,
H.R. 3467, H.R. 3889, H.R. 3681 and H.R. 5684
On April 16, 2008, the Subcommittee conducted a legislative
hearing on H.R. 4883, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief
Act to provide for a limitation on the sale, foreclosure, or
seizure of property owned by a service member during the one-
year period following the service member's period of military
service, introduced by the Honorable Bob Filner on December 19,
2007; H.R. 4884, Helping Our Veterans to Keep Their Homes Act
of 2008, introduced by the Honorable Bob Filner on December 19,
2007; H.R. 4889, The Guard and Reserves Are Fighting Too Act of
2008, introduced the Honorable Bob Filner on December 19, 2007;
H.R. 4539, Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Guaranty Cost
Reduction Act of 2007, introduced by the Honorable Steve Buyer
on December 13, 2007; H.R. 3646, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor to conduct a joint
study on the fields of employment for which the greatest need
for employees exists in various geographic areas, introduced by
the Honorable Cliff Stearns on September 24, 2007; H.R. 5664,
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to update at least once every six years the
plans and specifications for specially adapted housing
furnished to veterans by the Secretary, introduced by the
Honorable Ciro D. Rodriguez on March 31, 2008; H.R. 3798,
National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2007, introduced by
the Honorable Robin Hayes on October 10, 2007; H.R. 3393,
Reservist Access to Justice Act of 2007, introduced by the
Honorable Artur Davis on August 3, 2007; H.R. 3298, 21st
Century Servicemembers Protection Act, Introduced by the
Honorable Patrick J. Murphy on August 1, 2007; H.R. 3467,
Second Chance for America's Veterans Act, Introduced by the
Honorable John A. Yarmuth on August 4, 2007; H.R. 3889, to
amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the
vocational rehabilitation programs administered by the
Secretary, introduced by the Honorable John Boozman on October
18, 2007; H.R. 3681, Veterans Benefits Awareness Act of 2008,
introduced by the Honorable John Boozman on September 27, 2007;
and H.R. 5684, Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008,
introduced by the Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on April
2, 2008.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the following provided testimony before the
Committee: veterans services organizations; U.S. Department of
Labor; U.S. Department of Defense; and, the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4883, H.R.
4884, H.R. 4889, H.R. 4539, H.R. 3646, H.R. 5664, H.R. 3798,
H.R. 3393, H.R. 3298, H.R. 3467, H.R. 3889, H.R. 3681 and H.R.
5684, Serial No. 110-83.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 5684, H.R. 4884, H.R. 4883, H.R. 4889, H.R.
3681, H.R. 3889, and H.R. 5664
On April 23, 2008, the Subcommittee met and marked up H.R.
5684, Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008; H.R. 4884,
Helping Our Veterans to Keep Their Homes Act of 2008; H.R.
4883, to provide for a limitation on the sale, foreclosure, or
seizure of property owned by a servicemember during the one-
year period following the servicemember's period of military
service; H.R. 4889, The Guard and Reserves Are Fighting Too Act
of 2008; H.R. 3681, Veterans Benefits Awareness Act of 2007;
H.R. 3889, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
conduct a longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation
programs administered by the Secretary; and, H.R. 5664, to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update at least
once every six years the plans and specifications for specially
adapted housing furnished to veterans by the Secretary. All
seven bills were reported favorably to the full Committee. H.R.
5684, H.R. 4884, H.R. 4889, H.R. 3889, and H.R. 5664 were
amended and favorably reported to the full Committee.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 2721, H.R. 3786, H.R. 6070, H.R.
4255, H.R. 6221, H.R. 6224, H.R. 6225, H.R. 6272
On June 19, 2008, Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 4255,
United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2007,
introduced by the Honorable Bob Filner; H.R. 3786,
Servicemembers Telecom Contract Relief Act, introduced by the
Honorable Zoe Lofgren; H.R. 2721, to amend title 10, United
States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
develop, and the Secretary of Defense to distribute to members
of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active
duty, information in a compact disk read-only memory format
that lists and explains the health, education, and other
benefits for which veterans are eligible under the laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, introduced
by the Honorable Dennis Cardoza; H.R. 6070, Military Spouses
Residency Relief Act, introduced by the Honorable John R.
Carter; H.R. 6272, SMOCTA Reauthorization Act of 2008,
introduced by the Honorable Peter Welch; H.R. 6221, Veteran-
Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act of 2008,
introduced by the Honorable John Boozman; H.R. 6224, Pilot
College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2008,
introduced by the Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin; and,
H.R. 6225, Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008,
introduced by the Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the following provided testimony before the
Committee: U.S. Olympic Committee; CTIA--The Wireless
Association; veterans service organizations; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R.
2721, H.R. 3786, H.R. 6070, H.R. 4255, H.R. 6221, H.R. 6224,
H.R. 6225, H.R. 6272, Serial No. 110-93.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 4255, H.R. 2910, H.R. 3298, H.R. 2721, H.R.
6225, H.R. 6224, H.R. 6272, H.R. 6221, and H.R. 6070
On June 26, 2008, the Subcommittee met and marked up H.R.
4255, United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of
2007; H.R. 2910, Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of
2007; H.R. 3298, 21st Century Servicemembers Protection Act;
H.R. 2721, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
develop, and the Secretary of Defense to distribute to members
of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active
duty, information in a compact disk read-only memory format
that lists and explains the health, education, and other
benefits for which veterans are eligible under the laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 6225,
Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act of 2008; H.R. 6224,
Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2008;
H.R. 6272, SMOCTA Reauthorization Act of 2008; H.R. 6221,
Improving Veterans' Opportunity in Education and Business Act
of 2008; and, H.R. 6070, Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.
All nine bills were reported favorably to the full Committee.
H.R. 4255, H.R. 2910, H.R. 3298, and H.R. 2721 were amended in
Subcommittee.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
First Session
Subcommittee Hearing--Performance Review of Education Loan Guaranty,
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment and Veterans Affairs,
and Veterans' Employment and Training Service Programs
On March 7, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing to
examine the performance, staffing and services provided by the
Education, Loan Guaranty, and Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment programs of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
and Veterans' Employment and Training Service of the U.S.
Department of Labor. The Subcommittee intends to advance its
bipartisan legislative strategy to improve employment and on-
job training/apprenticeship programs, and expand
entrepreneurial opportunities, as well as promote recently
separated servicemembers and veterans as a unique national
resource and a ready and qualified labor pool.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Labor and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
Performance Review of Education, Loan Guaranty, Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment, and Veterans' Employment and
Training Service Programs, Serial No. 110-6.
Subcommittee Hearing--Education Benefits for National Guard and Reserve
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces
On March 22, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
provide a comprehensive review of sections 1606 and 1607 under
title 10, United States Code (Selected Reserve programs).
Specifically, the Subcommittee explored the effectiveness of
various possible improvements as a means to increase the use of
education benefits, as well as improving recruiting and
retention in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Department of Defense; veterans
service organizations; National Guard Bureau; Arkansas National
Guard; and, the Military Officers Association of America. See
Education Benefits for National Guard and Reserve Members of
the U.S. Armed Forces, Serial No. 110-10.
Subcommittee Hearing--State Approving Agencies
On April 19, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on State
Approving Agencies. State Approving Agencies have partnered
with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the
administration of veterans educational and training programs
for nearly 60 years. Through the program approval and
supervision process, they provide assistance in reducing the
opportunities for fraud, waste and abuse throughout the system.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Government
Accountability Office; National Association of State Approving
Agencies; and, the Veterans' Employment and Training Service
for the U.S. Department of Labor. See State Approving Agencies,
Serial No. 110-15.
Subcommittee Hearing--Accelerated Education Benefits for Veterans
On May 3, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
determine: (1) if the process time is adequate and meeting the
needs of the servicemembers, (2) if expansion of the eligible
programs is warranted, and (3) if expansion beyond MGIB-AD
Chapter 30 is warranted.
The Honorable Michael H. Michaud; Truckload Carriers
Association; North American Training Management Institute;
veterans service organizations; U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and, the National Veterans Business Development
Corporation, The Veterans Corporation testified. See
Accelerated Education Benefits for Veterans, Serial No. 110-18.
Site Visit to Colorado Springs, Colorado
Majority and minority staff traveled to Colorado Springs,
Colorado, from May 3-7, 2007. The purpose of this visit was to
review the current program for veteran physical and social
rehabilitation using sports and to tour the facilities from the
U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) that provides support to the
Paralympic Program.
This program helps veterans learn how to use their new
equipment which can range from a wheelchair to a prosthetic
limb. They engage in recreational events to help hone their
fine motor skills and social events so they can see how others
are coping with similar disabilities. Many of the instructors
are amputees and have a very positive mental attitude and
outlook on life. They make good role models for the recently
injured servicemembers. Some of these instructors are still on
active duty and take personal time to train these recently
injured veterans.
Subcommittee Hearing--Veterans Entrepreneurship and Self Employment
On May 17, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on
Veterans Entrepreneurship and Self Employment and the need to
act on behalf of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small
Businesses.
Veterans service organizations; the U.S. Small Business
Administration; Veterans Enterprise Training and Service Group,
Inc.; Halfaker and Associates, LLC; Oak Grove Technologies;
MicroTech, LLC; National Veterans Business Development
Corporation, The Veterans Corporation; and, the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs testified. See Veterans Entrepreneurship
and Self Employment, Serial No. 110-23.
Subcommittee Hearing--Specially Adaptive Housing
On June 7, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine
the two current programs to conclude if the grants are meeting
the needs of disabled veterans and to conclude if the grants
are meeting the needs they were designed to meet.
During the hearing, the Subcommittee heard from the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; veterans service organizations;
National Association of Home Builders; and, Homes for Our
Troops. See Specially Adaptive Housing, Serial No. 110-25.
Subcommittee Hearing--Federal Procurement and the Three-Percent Set
Aside
On July 12, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to focus
on the government-wide goal to set aside no less than three
percent of the total value of all prime contracts and
subcontracts each fiscal year and explore the current state and
federal procurement problems.
The subcommittee heard testimony from veteran-owned small
businesses; the U.S. Small Business Administration; the U.S.
Department of Defense; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Veterans Entrepreneurship Task Force, and National Association
for Black Veterans; Office of Management and Budget; Oak Grove
Technologies; and, MicroTech, LLC. See the Federal Procurement
and the Three-Percent Set Aside, Serial No. 110-34.
Subcommittee Hearing--Contract Bundling Oversight
On July 26, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
explore the need to examine the effects of contract bundling on
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. The
Subcommittee received complaints about the three percent and
lack of federal procurement knowledge by contract officers
which led to this hearing.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from MCB Lighting and
Electrical; MicroTech, LLC; CSSS.NET; U.S. Small Business
Administration; the U.S. Department of Defense; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Contract Bundling
Oversight, Serial No. 110-39.
Site Visit to San Diego, California
From August 29-31, 2007, majority and minority staff
attended the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment Conference in San Diego,
California, to speak on legislative issues that may be
affecting vocational rehabilitation and employment.
Staff also attended a seminar on data and veteran
entrepreneurship. While in San Diego staff visited the San
Diego Regional Office and was impressed with their operation
and services being offered to veterans. It was beneficial to
learn that the San Diego Regional Office has a great working
relationship with the adjacent military facilities.
Site Visit to Reno, Nevada
Majority and minority staff traveled to Reno, Nevada, from
August 24-26, 2007. The purpose of the visit was to meet with
the leadership of The American Legion's National Economic
Commission. The meeting was to share with the Legion the
efforts of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and to give
staff the opportunity to hear the concerns and interests of the
Economic Commission leadership.
The American Legion has been working to increase the
visibility of the Economic Commission and raise awareness of
its important component for veterans and returning
servicemembers. The leadership of the Economic Commission is
composed of senior members of the Legion from across the
country and will carry back the accomplishments and requests to
support efforts on behalf on veterans and returning
servicemembers.
Subcommittee Hearing--Veterans Preference
On September 6, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
explore veteran's preference and the success or lack of success
the agencies are having in recruiting veterans. Additionally,
the Subcommittee conducted oversight on how veteran's
preference has hurt veterans and how it has benefited them as
well.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from National Veterans
Legal Services Program; a veteran; National Veterans Affairs of
the American Federation of Government Employees; American
Postal Workers Union; several veterans service organizations;
U.S. Merit System Protection Board; U.S. Department of Defense;
and, the U.S. Department of Agriculture. See Veterans
Preference, Serial No. 110-41.
Subcommittee Hearing--Licensure and Certification of Transitioning
Veterans
On September 20, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
highlight the programs developed and instituted by the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense,
and the U.S. Department of Labor to track military training
requirements and civilian equivalents.
Several veterans service organizations; the U.S. Department
of Labor; the U.S. Department of Defense; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs provided testimony. See
Licensure and Certification of Transitioning Veterans, Serial
No. 110-44.
Subcommittee Hearing--Updating the Montgomery G.I. Bill
On October 18, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing aimed
at understanding the concerns and impediments of education. The
hearing allowed the Subcommittee to hear concerns and
encouragements on the Total Force Montgomery GI Bill which
would combine statutory authority for programs under the
Department of Veterans Affairs by moving programs from the
Department of Defense (Chapter 1606 of title 10 of the U.S.
Code) and shifting oversight responsibility to the Committees
on Veterans' Affairs from the Committees on Armed Services.
The U.S. Department of Defense; the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; military and veterans service organizations;
and, the U.S. Department of Education testified before the
Subcommittee. See Updating the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Serial No.
110-56.
Subcommittee Hearing--Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and
Training Service, Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program, and
Local Veterans' Employment Representative Program
On October 25, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing on the Veterans' Employment and Training Service,
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, and Local Veteran
Employment Representative program to examine their
effectiveness, implementation and function with the state.
These programs are dedicated to assisting transitioning
servicemembers and disabled veterans to the civilian workforce.
The U.S. Department of Labor and several veterans service
organizations provided testimony to the Subcommittee. See VETS
DVOP/LVER Program, Serial No. 110-58.
Second Session
Subcommittee Hearing--Review of Pending Montgomery G.I. Bill
Legislation
On January 17, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
review legislation pending before the Subcommittee in reference
to the Montgomery G.I. Bill. Bills before the Subcommittee
include H.R. 2702, Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance
Act of 2007; H.R. 1102, Total Force Educational Assistance
Enhancement and Integration Act of 2007; H.R. 2385, 21st
Century G.I. Bill of Rights Act of 2007; H.R. 2247, the
Montgomery G.I. Bill for Life Act of 2007; H.R. 1211, Resuming
Education After Defense Service Act of 2007; H.R. 2910,
Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2007; and, H.R. 1214,
Veterans Survivors Education Enhancement Act.
Military and veterans service organizations; U.S.
Department of Defense; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs provided testimony on education. See Review of Pending
Montgomery G.I. Bill Legislation, Serial No. 110-64.
Subcommittee Hearing--Review of Expiring Programs
On February 13, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
examine if the following expiring programs should continue to
be funded: Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program; Office of
Special Counsel and Department of Labor--Veterans Employment
and Training Program Claim Referral Program; Apprenticeship and
On-Job-Training; Demonstration Project on Adjustable Rate
Mortgages; Demonstration Project on Hybrid Adjustable Rate
Mortgages; Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance
Program; and Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance.
Tully Rinckey PLLC; veterans service organizations; U.S.
Department of Labor; and, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
provided testimony. See Review of Expiring Programs, Serial No.
110-68.
Subcommittee Hearing--Subprime Mortgage Crisis and America's Veterans
On February 28, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
examine the causes and effects of the large number of subprime
foreclosures that have occurred across the country,
particularly among servicemembers and veterans. It also
provided the Subcommittee the opportunity to see what
strategies are available for addressing the problem and its
impact on the veteran community.
In addition to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the
following provided testimony: UniCredit Markets and Investment
Banking; Freddie Mac; National Association of Realtors, Center
for Responsible Lending; and, HOPE NOW Alliance. See Subprime
Mortgage Crisis and America's Veterans, Serial No. 110-74.
Subcommittee Hearing--U.S. Paralympic Military Program
On March 13, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
assess the ability of the paralympics program to rehabilitate
disabled veterans and active duty servicemembers, to what
capacity they are able to rehabilitate, and how it has
benefited our nation's disabled veterans and disabled
servicemembers.
The Director of Sports and Recreation for the Paralyzed
Veterans of America; Disabled American Veterans; a disabled
veteran; Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project for Disabled
Sports USA; U.S. Paralympics for the U.S. Olympic Committee;
and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided
testimony. See U.S. Paralympic Military Program, Serial No.
110-77.
Site Visit to Crane, Indiana
Majority and minority staff traveled to Crane, Indiana,
from March 24-25, 2008. The purpose of this site visit was to
learn more about Crane Learning & Employment Center (CLEC).
CLEC aims to assist veterans obtain the needed skills and
education to gain employment at theNaval Surface Warfare Center
in Crane, Indiana. Partnering with the military installation would
allow veterans meet the needs of the base. Furthermore, during the site
visit, staff learned that CLEC received a Lilly Endowment Grant of
$400K to help initiate this pilot program which is scheduled to be
completed on August 30, 2009.
The goal is to recruit, train, educate, and employ severely
disabled veterans first at the Naval Surface Weapons Center and
then widen the program's reach into the surrounding regions as
distant as St. Louis, MO. The program is a pilot with five
disabled veterans enrolled with a goal of 20 disabled veterans
per year for the first two years.
Site Visit to Boston, Massachusetts
Majority staff traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, from
March 26-28, 2008, to attend the 14th Annual Seminar for Senior
Congressional and Executive Staff. The topic of discussion was
``Regional Innovation--From Science to Technology, What Works,
What Doesn't.''
The purpose of the seminar was to review case studies to
examine a broad range of recipes and identify common approaches
for bringing technology to market. The seminar gave a great
overview on what aspiring entrepreneurs had done in the past to
bring their ideas to market, the government role in regional
economic support, and the role of federal support for
entrepreneurship start ups.
Site Visit to Tampa, Florida
Majority and minority staff traveled to Tampa, Florida,
from March 27-28, 2008. The purpose of the travel was to visit
a Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) site. By
attending, staff was able to meet with the out-stationed VR&E
officers working for the Tampa office discussed various aspects
of the VR&E program in general and some specific issues
regarding the VR&E program.
A presentation was made by Margarita Cocker, St. Pete VR&E
Officer discussing various performance data related to the St.
Pete VR&E program. During the meeting, VR&E staff discusses
barrier to employment requirements and how various veterans may
qualify.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Transition Assistance Program for Guard and
Reserve Forces, South Bend, Indiana
On May 16, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to focus
on how transition assistance programs impact Guard and Reserve
forces with a focus to determine if the programs are meeting
the needs of the Guard and Reserve Forces before, during and
after activation. In addition, the Subcommittee reviewed the
information being provided to service members and their
families to be certain it is accurate and timely to make the
activation as smooth as possible.
The Indiana National Guard; military spouses; active duty
Guard members; Department of Indiana American Legion; County
Veterans Service Officer; U.S. Department of Labor; U.S.
Department of Defense; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs provided testimony. See Transition Assistance Program
for Guard and Reserve Forces, Serial No. 110-87.
Site Visit to Tampa, Florida
Majority and minority staff traveled to Tampa, Florida,
from June 23-24, 2008. The purpose of the site visit was to
attend the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) training conference. The
VR&E staff was interested in the content and possible ways the
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (S. 22) would
affect the Vocational Rehabilitation program.
During this conference, information about S. 22 was
provided to the VR&E staff and concerns were raised about the
possibility of a low rate of participants in the VR&E program
due to the increase of entitlements in the new G.I. Bill.
Site Visit to Las Vegas, Nevada
From July 7-8, 2008, majority staff visited Las Vegas,
Nevada, to attend the Veterans Business Conference. The
Conference by the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for
Veterans' Enterprise had a conference to bring interested small
business owners together to advise them about federal
procurement. The Chairman had been invited to participate in a
panel to update interested stakeholders on changes the
Committee was doing to help veterans do business with the
federal government.
Subcommittee Hearing--Independent Living Program
On July 10, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to focus
on the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services and the
Independent Living Program. The Independent Living Program
assists severely disabled service members who, due to their
disability, cannot pursue their vocational goal.
Providing testimony were the National Council on
Independent Living; a veteran; veterans service organizations;
and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See Independent
Living Program, Serial No. 110-97.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Transition Assistance Program, Rapid City,
South Dakota
On July 28, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to give
stakeholders and constituents an opportunity to speak on their
experiences with the Transition Assistance Program and
recommend any needed improvements.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; the U.S.
Department of Defense; the U.S. Department of Labor; the spouse
of a veteran; veterans service organizations; South Dakota
State Approving Agency; South Dakota Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs; and, active duty service members presented
testimony. See Transition Assistance Program, Serial No. 110-
99.
Site Visit to San Diego, California
From August 6-8, 2008, minority staff attended the first
annual VA Summer Sports Clinic. The purpose of the program is
to introduce disabled veterans to a wide range of sports as a
means to increase their level of rehabilitation.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act and Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Issues, Bentonville, Arkansas
On August 18, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
focus on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act and Servicemembers Civil Relief Act issues. Some
service members have described problems with employers after
returning from deployment such as being unable to get their
jobs back; it has been a constant problem for both service
members and employers.
Family Readiness Coordinator for Headquarters 142d Fires
Brigade of the Arkansas National Guard; Arkansas Field
Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; Arkansas
University Small Business Development Center, Arkansas State
University; Department of Arkansas American Legion; U.S. Office
of Special Counsel; and, the U.S. Department of Labor provided
testimony. See Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act and Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Issues, Serial
No. 110-101.
Site Visit to Phoenix, Arizona
Majority staff traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, from August
22-24, 2008, to attend The American Legion Convention. Staff
met with leadership from The American Legion's National
Economic Commission.
Staff shared the efforts of the House Veterans Affairs
Committee and allowed the staff the opportunity to hear the
concerns and interests of the Economic Commission leadership.
Staff asked for the support of the membership and leadership in
our efforts to increase the economic well being of veterans and
returning service members.
Subcommittee Hearing--Oversight of G.I. Bill Implementation
On September 11, 2008, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to examine how well the VA is doing in meeting the
requirements of Public Law 110-252, Chapter 33 benefits, with a
focus on the use of a private contractor and the ability to
meet deadlines imposed by the law. The hearing also discussed
alternative plans if the deadline cannot be met with various
concerns on the VA's plan to contract.
Keith Pedigo, Associate Deputy Under Secretary of the
Office of Policy and Program Management of the Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
testified before the Subcommittee. See Oversight of G.I. Bill
Implementation, Serial No. 110-103.
Subcommittee Hearing--Follow-up Oversight of G.I. Bill Implementation
On September 24, 2008, the Subcommittee conducted a follow-
up hearing on the oversight of the G.I. Bill implementation to
gain understanding of how the implementation and outsourcing
might potentially affect veterans.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; The American
Legion; AMVETS; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Military Officers
Association of America; American Federation of Government
Employees; Carnegie Mellon University; U.S. Department of
Defense; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs expressed
their views to the Subcommittee. See Follow-up Oversight of
G.I. Bill Implementation, Serial No. 110-107.
Subcommittee Hearing--VA Short and Long-Term Strategies for
Implementing New G.I. Bill Requirements
On November 18, 2008, the Subcommittee conducted a follow-
up hearing to analyze the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
short and long-term plans to implement the IT requirements of
P.L. 110-252. The Subcommittee seeks to work hand in hand with
the VA to collaborate and assist with their efforts; allowing
the Subcommittee to conduct the necessary oversight to better
guarantee proper and timely implementation of the new Chapter
33 benefits.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided testimony.
See VA Short and Long-Term Strategies for Implementing New G.I.
Bill Requirements, Serial No. 110-108.
Site Visit to Ft. Carson, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; and, Palo Alto,
California
From November 11-14, 2008, majority and minority staff
traveled to Ft. Carson, Colorado; Nellis Air Force Base,
Nevada; and, the VA polytrauma center in Palo Alto, California.
The purpose of the travel was to visit various Transition
Assistance Program (TAP) workshops.
In general, the programs at Ft. Carson and Nellis AFB were
acceptable. The Ft. Carson instructor was conducting the
initial overview of what the members could expect to get from
the program and therefore, the staff was not able to observe
the more substantive modules of the course. However, the
instructor appeared well-prepared and seemed to connect with
the students. The facility was appropriate for the course and
located just across the street from the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits office which housed the veteran
service officers and VA staff. When Subcommittee staff queried
the students about the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD),
not one of the 30 admitted to having any knowledge about the
program. Subsequently, the staff questioned the VA supervisor
who explained that he presents BDD at Fort Carson at least
twice per month.
Despite being listed on the national TAP schedule, U.S.
Department of Labor representatives are not teaching TAP at
Palo Alto and were not present during the staff's visit. The VA
staff from the San Francisco Regional Office provides benefits
briefings to the patients and family members but the hospital
staff present during the briefing seemed unaware of other VA
benefits such as the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
program. Subcommittee staff suggested, and the VA Regional
Office representative agreed, that it would be appropriate to
provide the polytrauma staff a thorough briefing on the
benefits programs administered by VBA.
Site Visit to Baumholder, Hohenfels, and Schweinfurt, Germany, and
Naples, Italy
From November 29-December 5, 2008, majority and minority
staff traveled to Baumholder, Hohenfels, and Schweinfurt,
Germany and Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The purpose
of the travel was to visit various Transition Assistance
Program (TAP) workshops.
The instructor from the Department of Labor (DOL) was a
very motivated individual, was very well informed and had an
abundance of work related materials for the separating service
members for the site visit in Naples. The staff had concerns
about Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD), very few
individuals are aware of it. This is a key program for
separating members who were injured and filing a claim for
compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The VA needs to do a better job of informing separating service
members about their benefits and to encourage spouses to attend
these benefits briefing with the service member. Another
concern the staff had is that soldiers had to be transported
from Italy to Landstuhl, Germany, to receive their physical
while Naples, Italy, has a very good medical facility from
which to receive a medical examination. The other noted problem
associated with the physical was the frequency of being
transported to Germany to get the physical.
In Baumholder, the staff was informed that the VA was
instructed to cancel any seminars where less than ten service
members signed up. Staff disagrees with this policy and
inquired further as to why and who had made this decision. We
encouraged them to conduct the seminar even though there may be
times when there are less than ten service members.
Subcommittee staff noted that the VA staff is generally
sent to Germany on a rotation basis for six months, but staff
is concerned that it generally takes instructors some time to
get acclimated with the area and acquainted with the European
staff. Subcommittee staff will be communicating with the VA
regarding the rotation schedule and recommend it be made a
permanent position or in the alternative, expand it to three
years with a six month overlap for the replacement.
While in Heidelburg, Germany, staff met with Brigadier
General (BG) Gallagher, Commander Europe Regional Medical
Command. Discussion focused on medical records and how
Landstuhl, Germany, has now been completely paperless for one
year. The staff received a demonstration of their system and
its effectiveness. In meeting with BG Gallagher he expressed
his concerns that there are only two VA representatives
available to conduct seminars and suggested that having six
would allow the seminars to be conducted in a timely manner.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
First Session
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 327 and H.R. 612
On March 13, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up two
bills which were ordered reported favorably to the full
Committee by voice vote: H.R. 327, Joshua Omvig Veterans
Suicide Prevention Act; and, H.R. 612, Returning Servicemember
VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 92, H.R. 315, H.R. 339, H.R.
463, H.R. 538, H.R. 542, H.R. 1426, H.R. 1470, H.R. 1471, H.R.
1527, H.R. 1944, and Discussion Draft Rural Health Care Bill
On April 26, 2007, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 92, Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act,
introduced by the Honorable Ginny Brown-Waite on January 4,
2007; H.R. 315, Help Establish Access to Local Timely
Healthcare for Your Vets (HEALTHY Vets) Act of 2007, introduced
by the Honorable Stevan Pearce on January 5, 2007; H.R. 339,
Veterans Outpatient Care Access Act of 2007, introduced by the
Honorable John J. Duncan, Jr., on January 9, 2007; H.R. 463,
Honor Our Commitment to Veterans Act, introduced by the
Honorable Steven R. Rothman on January 12, 2007; H.R. 538,
South Texas Veterans Access to Care Act of 2007, introduced by
the Honorable Solomon P. Ortiz on January 17, 2007; H.R. 542,
to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mental
health services in languages other than English, as needed, for
veterans with limited English proficiency, and for other
purposes, introduced by the Honorable Hilda L. Solis on January
17, 2007; H.R. 1426, Richard Helm Veterans' Access to Local
Health Care Options and Resources Act, introduced by the
Honorable Tom Latham on March 9, 2007; H.R. 1470, Chiropractic
Care Available to All Veterans Act, introduced by the Honorable
Bob Filner on March 12, 2007; H.R. 1471, Better Access to
Chiropractors to Keep our Veterans Healthy Act (BACK Veterans
Health Act), introduced by the Honorable Bob Filner on March
12, 2007; H.R. 1527, Rural Veterans Access to Care Act,
introduced by the Honorable Jerry Moran on March 14, 2007; H.R.
1944, Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act of 2007,
introduced by the Honorable Jason Altmire on April 19, 2007;
and, a discussion draft on rural health care.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the following provided testimony before the
Committee: veterans service organizations; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R.
92, H.R. 315, H.R. 339, H.R. 463, H.R. 538, H.R. 542, H.R.
1426, H.R. 1470, H.R. 1471, H.R. 1527, H.R. 1944, and
Discussion Draft of the ``Rural Veterans Health Care Act of
2007,'' Serial No. 110-17.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 1470 and H.R. 2199
On May 10, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up two
bills which were ordered reported favorably to the full
Committee by unanimous consent: H.R. 1470, Chiropractic Care
Available to All Veterans Act and H.R. 2199, Traumatic Brain
Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 1448, H.R. 1853, H.R. 1925, H.R.
2005, H.R. 2172, H.R. 2173, H.R. 2378, H.R. 2219, H.R. 2192,
and H.R. 2623
On June 14, 2007, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 1448, VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of
2007, introduced by the Honorable Nita M. Lowey on March 9,
2007; H.R 1853, Jose Medina Veterans Affairs Police Training
Act of 2007, introduced by the Honorable Diane E. Watson on
March 29, 2007; H.R. 1925, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to establish a separate Veterans Integrated Service
Network for the Gulf Coast region of the United States,
introduced by the Honorable Jeff Miller on April 18, 2007; H.R.
2005, Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2007,
introduced by the Honorable John T. Salazar on April 23, 2007;
H.R. 2172, Amputee Veteran Assistance Act, introduced by the
Honorable Silvestre Reyes on May 3, 2007; H.R. 2173, to
authorize additional funding for the Department of Veterans
Affairs to increase the capacity for provision of mental health
services through contracts with community mental health
centers, and for other purposes, introduced by the Honorable
Ciro D. Rodriquez on May 3, 2007; H.R. 2378, Services to
Prevent Veterans Homelessness Act, introduced by the Honorable
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on May 17, 2007; H.R. 2219, Veterans
Suicide Prevention Hotline Act of 2007, introduced by the
Honorable James P. Moran on May 8, 2007; H.R. 2192, to amend
title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within
the Department of Veterans Affairs, introduced by the Honorable
Paul W. Hodes on May 7, 2007; and, H.R. 2623, to prohibit the
collection of copayments for all hospice care furnished by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, introduced by the Honorable
Jeff Miller on June 7, 2007.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the following provided testimony before the
Committee: veterans service organizations; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R.
1448, H.R. 1853, H.R. 1925, H.R. 2005, H.R. 2172, H.R. 2173,
H.R. 2378, H.R. 2219, H.R. 2623, and H.R. 2192, Serial No. 110-
27.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 2623
On June 28, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up H.R.
2623, to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the
collection of copayments for all hospice care furnished by the
Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R. 2874, Veterans' Health
Care Improvement Act of 2007, was discussed by the Subcommittee
and it was agreed that it would be marked up in a future
hearing. H.R. 2623, as amended, was ordered reported favorably
to the full Committee by voice vote.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 2874
On July 11, 2007, the Subcommittee met and marked up H.R.
2874, Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007, which was
ordered reported favorably, as amended, to the full Committee
by voice vote.
Second Session
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 2790, H.R. 3458, H.R. 3819, H.R.
4053, H.R. 4107, H.R. 4146, H.R. 4204, and H.R. 4231
On January 17, 2008, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 2790, to establish the position of Director of
Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health, introduced by the
Honorable Phil Hare on June 20, 2007; H.R. 3458, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on
the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas,
introduced by the Honorable Shelley Moore Capito on August 4,
2007; H.R. 3819, Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2008,
introduced by the Honorable Zachary T. Space on October 10,
2007; H.R. 4053, Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007,
introduced by the Honorable Shelley Berkley on November 1,
2007; H.R. 4107, Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act,
introduced by the Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on
November 7, 2007; H.R. 4146, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to clarify the availability of emergency medical care for
veterans in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical
facilities, introduced by the Honorable Michael M. Honda on
November 9, 2007; H.R. 4204, Veterans Suicide Study Act,
introduced by the Honorable Leonard L. Boswell on November 15,
2007; and H.R. 4231, Rural Veterans Health Care Access Act of
2007, introduced by the Honorable Steve Kagen on November 15,
2007.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the following provided testimony before the
Committee: veterans service organizations; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R.
2790, H.R. 3458, H.R. 3819, H.R. 4053, H.R. 4107, H.R. 4146,
H.R. 4204, and H.R. 4231, Serial No. 110-63.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 2818, H.R. 5554, H.R. 5595, H.R.
5622, H.R. 5729, and H.R. 5730
On April 15, 2008, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 2818, to provide for the establishment of
Epilepsy Centers of Excellence in the Veterans Health
Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
introduced by the Honorable Ed Perlmutter on June 21, 2007;
H.R. 5554, Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use Disorders
Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008, introduced by the
Honorable Michael H. Michaud on March 6, 2008; H.R. 5595, Make
Our Veterans Smile Act of 2008, introduced by the Christopher
P. Carney on March 12, 2008; H.R. 5622, Veterans Timely Access
to Health Care Act, introduced by the Honorable Ginny Brown-
Waite on March 13, 2008; H.R. 5729, Spina Bifida Health Care
Program Expansion Act, introduced by the Honorable Brad
Ellsworth on April 8, 2008; and H.R. 5730, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display in each prosthetic and
orthotic clinic of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs an
Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, introduced by the
Honorable Bob Filner on April 8, 2008.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the following provided testimony before the
Committee: veterans service organizations; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R.
2818, H.R. 5554, H.R. 5595, H.R. 5622, H.R. 5729, and H.R.
5730, Serial No. 110-82.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 2790, H.R. 3819, H.R. 5554, H.R. 5729, and
H.R. 5856
On April 23, 2008, the Subcommittee met and marked up five
bills which were ordered reported favorably to the full
Committee by voice vote: H.R. 2790, as amended, to establish
the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within
the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
Health; H.R. 3819, Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of
2008; H.R. 5729, Spina Bifida Health Care Program Expansion
Act; H.R. 5554, as amended, Justin Bailey Veterans Substance
Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008; and, H.R.
5856, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility
Authorization and Lease Act of 2008.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 4089, H.R. 4463, H.R. 5888, H.R.
6114 and H.R. 6122
On June 5, 2008, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 4089, to improve the collective bargaining
rights and procedures for review of adverse actions of certain
employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 4463,
Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act; H.R. 5888, to
expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-
Department facility; H.R. 6114, Simplifying and Updating
National Standards to Encourage Testing of the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus of 2008; and, H.R. 6122, Veterans Pain
Care Act of 2008.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4089, H.R. 4463, H.R. 5888, H.R.
6114, and H.R. 6122, Serial No. 110-90.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 2818 and H.R. 2192
On June 5, 2008, the Subcommittee met and marked up two
bills: H.R. 2192, to establish an Ombudsman within the
Department of Veterans Affairs and H.R. 2818, to provide for
the establishment of Epilepsy Centers of Excellence in the
Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans
Affairs. H.R. 2818, as amended, was ordered reported to the
full Committee by voice vote.
On July 16, 2008, H.R. 2192 was discharged from the
Subcommittee on Health.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--Veterans Healthcare Legislation
On June 26, 2008, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on four draft bills. Respectively, the bills had the
following purposes: to expand the authority of the Secretary of
Veterans' Affairs to provide counseling for family members of
veterans receiving non-service connected treatment; to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish not more than
seven consolidated patient accounting centers, and for other
purposes; to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs from
collecting certain copayments from veterans who are
catastrophically disabled; and, to modify and update provisions
of law relating to nonprofit research and education
corporations, and for other purposes.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the following provided testimony before the
Committee: veterans service organizations; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Veterans Healthcare
Legislation, Serial No. 110-95.
Subcommittee Markup of H.R 1527, H.R. 6114, H.R. 6122, H.R. 6366, H.R.
6439, and H.R. 6445
On July 10, 2008, the Subcommittee met and marked up six
bills which were reported favorably to the full Committee by
unanimous consent: H.R. 1527, to allow highly rural veterans
enrolled in the health system of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to receive covered health services through providers
other than those of the Department, and for other purposes.;
H.R. 6114, to amend the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of
1988 relating to testing for infection with the human
immunodeficiency virus.; H.R. 6122, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive
policy on the management of pain experienced by veterans
enrolled for health care services provided by the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.; H.R. 6366, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish not more than
seven consolidated patient accounting centers, and for other
purposes.; H.R. 6439, toexpand the authority of the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to provide counseling for family members of
veterans receiving non-service-connected treatment.; H.R. 6445, to
prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain
copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--H.R. 3051, H.R. 6153, and H.R. 6629
On September 9, 2008, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on three bills: H.R. 3051, Heroes at Home Act of 2007;
H.R. 6153, Veterans' Medical Personnel Recruitment and
Retention Act of 2008; and, H.R. 6629, Veterans Health Equity
Act of 2008.
Members of Congress testified on their respective bills and
in addition, the following provided testimony before the
Committee: veterans service organizations; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Legislative Hearing on H.R.
3051, H.R. 6153, and H.R. 6629, Serial No. 110-102.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Hearing--The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Fiscal
Year 2008 Health Budget
On February 14, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing with the purpose of examining the health budget of U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2008. VA
requested an increase of $1.9 billion for health care in
appropriated dollars over the FY 2007 amounts, representing a
six percent increase. The budget included increases in fees and
copayments and cuts in certain medical and prosthetic
expenditures.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; American Psychological Association;
American Thoracic Society; and, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
of America. See The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Fiscal
Year 2008 Health Budget, Serial No. 110-2.
Subcommittee Hearing--Polytrauma Center Care and the Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI) Patient: How Seamless is the Transition Between
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of
Defense and are Needs Being Met?
On March 15, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to examine the Veterans Health Administration
Polytrauma System of Care and assess the interaction between
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department
of Defense and the existing barriers that prevent a smooth
transition between the agencies and continuous care for the
veteran.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc;
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the Brooke
Army Medical Center, U.S. Department of Defense; Military One
Source/Severely Injured Services; and, veterans service
organizations. See Polytrauma Center Care and the Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) Patient: How Seamless is the Transition
Between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department
of Defense and are Needs Being Met?, Serial No. 110-9.
Subcommittee Hearing--Access to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) Health Care: How Easy is it for Veterans-Addressing the
Gaps
On April 18, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to determine what gaps currently limit or preclude
access to Community Based Outpatient Clinics and the overall
provision of rural health services.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services; National Rural Health
Association; The American Legion; Disabled American Veterans;
and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See Access to U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care: How Easy is it
for Veterans-Addressing the Gaps, Serial No. 110-13.
Subcommittee Hearing--the State of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs' Long-Term Care Programs
On May 9, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight hearing
to examine the strategic plan for the future of long-term care
services in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
hearing also explored ideas on innovative care and assessed how
VA is addressing the needs of a growing aging veteran
population as well as the newest generation of veterans from
Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Maine Veterans'
Homes; National Association of State Veterans' Liaison
Committee and Administrator of the Oklahoma Veterans Center;
veterans service organization; and, the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See State of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs' Long-Term Care Programs, Serial No. 110-21.
Subcommittee on Health and Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs Joint Hearing--Issues Facing Women and
Minority Veterans
On July 12, 2007, the Subcommittees held an oversight
hearing on the current programs for women, rural and other
special populations of veterans in the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. The hearing examined ways in which VA can
improve access to treatment for these populations, with
particular attention to mental health care. As active duty
populations become increasingly more diverse, it is critical
that VA adapt to these changing demographics to ensure that it
is equipped to address the special needs faced by women and
minority veterans. The population of women in the military has
risen to nearly 2 million.
The Subcommittees heard testimony from the Honorable
Heather Wilson; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Advisory
Committee on Minority Veterans and the Center for Women
Veterans; veterans service organizations; and, the Center for
Chronic Disease Outcomes Research at the Minneapolis VA Medical
Center. See Joint Hearing on Issues Facing Women and Minority
Veterans, Serial No. 110-33.
Subcommittee Hearing--Vet Centers
On July 19, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to examine the strategic direction and plan for the
future of readjustment counseling services provided to veterans
through the Vet Center program at the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Specific areas of focus were projected
workload increases, professional staffing needs, additional
funding, outreach, timeliness of services, gaps in services, a
projected timeline for the new Vet Centers to be operational,
and the different populations that Vet Centers serve.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Depression and
Bipolar Support Alliance; veterans service organizations; and,
the U.S. Department of Defense. See Vet Centers, Serial No.
110-35.
Subcommittee Hearing--Gulf War Exposures
On July 26, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
receive an update on Gulf War exposures in preparation for a
report expected later in the year. Witnesses were asked to
testify about the exposure of veterans who served in the Gulf
War to Anthrax, the Incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
among Gulf War veterans, and how the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs is performing in conducting research on Gulf
War exposures and in providing health care services through the
Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Veterans of
Modern Warfare; a Gulf War veteran with Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis; National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition; a
researcher affiliated with Mount Desert Island Hospital;
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Office of Public
Health and Environmental Agents Service. See Gulf War
Exposures, Serial No. 110-38.
Site Visit to Chicago, Illinois
From August 1-2, 2007, majority and minority staff traveled
to the North Chicago U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Medical Center and Great Lakes Naval Training Center, and the
VA National Acquisition Center. The purpose of this visit was
to gain a better understanding of the new James A. Lovell VA-
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Federal Health Care Facility,
a unique health care facility combining the resources of the VA
and DoD that will care for nearly 100,000 veterans, sailors,
retirees and family members.
Site Visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota
On August 29, 2007, majority and minority staff of the
Subcommittee on Health accompanied the Subcommittee on Health
Chairman, Michael H. Michaud, and the Honorable Betty McCollum
on a visit to the Minneapolis Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center
at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Staff and members
received an overview of the VA Polytrauma System of Care and
the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and were guided through the
Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC), as well as
Rehabilitation Services, the Prosthetics Clinic, the
Transitional Unit and the Fisher House.
The Minneapolis is one of four VA Polytrauma System of Care
centers in the VA. Polytrauma care is for veterans and
returning service members with injuries to more than one
physical region or organ system. Generally, the injuries are
life threatening and affect the physical, cognitive,
psychological, or psychosocial impairments and functional
disability. Any veteran entitled to benefits or an active duty
military member who is medically stable is eligible for
admission. In addition, the patient must meet the following
criteria: have sustained multiple physical, cognitive, and/or
emotional injuries secondary to trauma; not require one-to-one
staffing for medical or behavioral reasons; not require a
ventilator to breathe; have the potential to benefit from
rehabilitation; or, need an initial, comprehensive
rehabilitation evaluation and care plan.
The Polytrauma System also provides logistical, clinical,
and emotional support to patients' families. The Minneapolis VA
Medical Center is enhanced with a Fisher House where families
are lodged while visiting injured family service members.
Fisher Houses provide families with a vital and necessary
support system while patients undergo rehabilitation at the
PRC.
Site Visit to Denver, Colorado
From September 13-14, 2007, majority and minority staff of
the Subcommittee on Health visited Brain Matters, Inc., where
they were briefed and given a demonstration on the services and
technology offered by the company. Brain Matters provides
functional brain imaging using Single Photon Emission Computed
Tomography (SPECT) technology.
The staff also visited the current Denver VA Medical
Center, where they were given a presentation on the hospital,
the Eastern Colorado Care System (ECHS), and a tour of the
facility. The facility has 120 inpatient beds in 650,000 square
feet on 13 acres of land and employs 1,600 full-time employees.
Issues addressed were waiting times (95 percent of patients
making an appointment in primary care and specialty clinics are
seen within 30 days), space deficiency (ECHS is experiencing a
six percent growth in demand annually and with today's
workload, is 60 percent space-deficient), grants the facility
has received to enhance PTSD (ECHS has recently received
several, but currently do not have sufficient space to
effectively house these programs on-site), polytrauma and low-
vision services, the migration of the formerly co-located
University of Colorado (UC) hospital (in June 2007, the UC
hospital moved to a new location seven miles away), and air
quality within the facility (since 2002, 53 immuno-deficient
patients have been diverted to other VAMCs, specifically Salt
Lake City, UT, due to poor quality).
On September 14, 2007, staff toured the proposed site for
the new Denver VAMC. The development of the new Denver VA
Medical Center, called Project Eagle, is in the pre-design
phase and is planned to be 1,570,000 square feet on 31 acres.
It will house 240 beds (150 acute inpatient beds, 60 nursing
home, and 30 spinal cord injuries) and will have approximately
2,240 FTEs. This facility will be located on the Fitzsimmons
Campus, which currently houses the UC Medical Center and Denver
Children's Hospital, and, as of June 2008, will house the UC
Health Sciences Center. These facilities plan to share
resources such as orthopedics, radiation therapy and medical
school faculty. The new facility will also have a low-vision
program and will offer extensive mental health services. The
current timeline for the opening of the facility is 2012. The
projected budget for Project Eagle is $646 million.
The staff was also given a briefing and a tour at the VA
Health Administration Center (HAC). HAC administers health
benefits to veterans and their families through Civilian Health
and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(CHAMPVA), the Foreign Medical Program (FMP), the Spina Bifida
Program and Children of Woman Vietnam Veterans. HAC currently
occupies 110,000 square feet of space and employs 580 civil
servants.
Subcommittee Hearing--The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Grant and
Per Diem Program
On September 27, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
gain a better understanding of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program and to
identify ways in which the program is working as well as areas
for improvement.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the National
Coalition for Homeless Veterans; Volunteers of America of
Florida; Government Accountability Office; VA Advisory
Committee on Homeless Veterans; and, the Homeless Veterans
Programs of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See The
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem Program,
Serial No. 110-48.
Subcommittee Hearing--The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Research
Programs
On October 4, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to better understand the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs research programs and needs for the current Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom conflicts and to
explore ways in which these programs are making progress as
well as areas in which more attention and resources should be
focused.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from Friends of VA Medical
Care and Health Research; Military Advanced Training Center at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Pain Care Coalition; veterans
service organizations; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. See The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Research
Programs, Serial No. 110-50.
Subcommittee Hearing--Healthcare Professionals--Recruitment and
Retention
On October 18, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to address the issue of recruitment and retention of
healthcare professionals within the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Current practices were examined, as well as associated
problems and potential improvements.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from American Physical
Therapy Association; American Association of Medical Colleges;
National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates;
CACI Strategic Communications; veterans service organizations;
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO; and, the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See Healthcare
Professionals--Recruitment and Retention, Serial No. 110-55.
Subcommittee Hearing--The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Construction Process
On November 1, 2007, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to gain a better understanding of the VA construction
process. Particular emphasis was placed on the strengths and
limitations of the current process, determining what
improvements can be made, and how VA is dealing with aging
infrastructure.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from Eglin Air Force Base;
The Clarkson Group, L.L.C.; The Haskell Company; veterans
service organizations; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. See The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Construction Process, Serial No. 110-59.
Site Visit to Providence, Rhode Island, and White River Junction,
Vermont
From November 28-30, 2007, majority and minority staff
traveled to Providence, Rhode Island, and White River Junction,
Vermont. Staff visited the VA Center for Restorative and
Regenerative Medicine in Providence and the National Center for
PTSD in White River Junction. The purpose of these visits was
to gain a better understanding of VA programs for treatment of
PTSD and research and development in the area of prosthetics.
Subcommittee on Health and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing--Outpatient Waiting Times
On December 12, 2007, the Subcommittees held a hearing to
examine waiting times for outpatient appointments in the
Veterans Health Administration.
The Subcommittees heard testimony from Licking County
Veterans' Service Commission, Newark, Ohio; Unum US; Office of
Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
and the Deputy Under Secretary for Health of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Outpatient Waiting Times,
Serial No. 110-62.
Second Session
Site Visit to West Lafayette, Indiana
From January 8-9, 2008, minority staff traveled to West
Lafayette, Indiana, to accompany Ranking Republican Member
Steve Buyer to a meeting at the Indiana Veterans' Home in West
Lafayette where U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) leases
space for a Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The purpose of
the meeting was to develop a cooperative solution to more than
double the capacity of the VA clinic and ensure the long-term
co-location of veterans' services.
Site Visit to Harlingen, Texas
From February 3-6, 2008, minority staff accompanied Ranking
Republican Member Steve Buyer to South Texas to visit U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in Harlingen, Texas,
and participate in a veterans' forum hosted by Congressmen
Solomon Ortiz, Ruben Hinojosa, and Henry Cuellar.
Site Visit to Chicago, Illinois
On February 11, 2008, majority and minority staff traveled
to Chicago, Illinois, to visit the North Chicago VA Medical
Center and Naval Hospital Great Lakes. The purpose of this
visit was to gain a better understanding of the new James A.
Lovell VA-DOD Federal Health Care Facility, a unique health
care facility combining the resources of the VA and DOD that
will care for nearly 100,000 veterans, sailors, retirees and
family members.
Staff found that a variety of problems could confront the
joint facility. These problems may include difficulties in
merging DoD and VA workforces, determining how much funding
each are responsible for, and ensuring that veterans continue
to receive attentive and full care.
Site Visit to Hinesville, Georgia
From February 19-20, 2008, majority and minority staff
traveled to Hinesville, Georgia, to visit the Fort Stewart
military installation. The purpose of the visit was to observe
the 76th Brigade of the Indiana National Guard, receive a pre-
deployment briefing from VA, and thereby gain a better
understanding of VA's interaction with troops, specifically
before they are deployed.
Subcommittee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Construction
Authorization
On February 27, 2008, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to review a discussion draft bill authorizing major VA
construction projects and leases. The U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs requested an authorization of $1,871,900,000
for major medical facility construction projects and
$60,114,000 for major medical facility leases in 2009, for a
total of $1,932,014,000. Title 38, U.S. Code, section
8104(a)(2) requires statutory authorization for all major
medical facility construction projects and major medical
facility leases. The threshold for a major construction project
is $10,000,000 and for a major facility lease, it is $600,000.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from veterans service
organizations and the Office of Construction and Facilities
Management of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Authorization,
Serial No. 110-72.
Subcommittee Hearing--Mental Health Treatment for Families: Supporting
Those Who Support Our Veterans
On February 28, 2008, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to examine the current authority to provide mental
health services to family members of veterans and to determine
whether this authority should be expanded in the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Current regional level programs
addressing the mental health needs of family members were also
discussed.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Commissioner of
Veterans' Affairs in the State of Connecticut; the author of
When the War Came Home: The Inside Story of Reservists and the
Families They Leave Behind; Citizen Support Program National
Demonstration; American Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy; Mental Health America; American Group Psychotherapy
Association, Inc; veterans service organizations; and the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Mental Health Treatment for
Families: Supporting Those Who Support Our Veterans, Serial No.
110-73.
Site Visit to Pensacola, Florida
On March 10, 2008, majority and minority staff accompanied
Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael H. Michaud, Ranking
Republican Member Jeff Miller, and Congressmen Solomon Ortiz
and Reuben Hinojosa to visit the Pensacola Joint Ambulatory
Care Center and examine the collaborative model of care that
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department
of Defense has established.
Subcommittee Hearing--Substance Abuse/Comorbid Disorders:
Comprehensive Solutions to a Complex Problem
On March 11, 2008, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to review the current programs for treatment of
substance use disorders and comorbid conditions in the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. The hearing also focused on the
latest research and treatment of substance use disorders as
well as the quality and consistency of VA's substance abuse and
co-morbid treatment programs across regions.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the National
Association for Addiction Professionals; Center for Health Care
Policy and Research at Case Western Reserve University;
veterans service organizations; and the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See Substance Abuse/Comorbid Disorders:
Comprehensive Solutions to a Complex Problem, Serial No. 110-
75.
Site Visit to Guam
From March 14-20, 2008, majority and minority staff
traveled to the U.S territory of Guam to visit current and
prospective U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. The purpose of
the visit was to gain a better understanding of the current
state of VA operations in Guam and to assess the feasibility
and advisability of future partnerships between VA and DoD on
the island.
Although no accurate count exists, it has been estimated
that there are approximately 15,000 veterans living on Guam. Of
these, about 1,500 are actively enrolled in the U.S. VA
Healthcare System. This number is expected to grow as Guam has
the highest per capita enlistment rate in the United States and
the Guam National Guard is currently at over 150 percent
capacity.
Currently, VA does not have any freestanding facilities of
its own on Guam. Rather, it has entered into a sharing
agreement whereby it reimburses DoD for the use of their
facilities. VA has access only on a space available basis, but
thus far, it has not been problematic. Other than a Naval
Hospital, the only inpatient care on Guam is Guam Memorial
Hospital which is unaccredited and chronically overcrowded.
Currently, VA leases space for a Community Based Outpatient
Clinic (CBOC) in a wing of the Naval Hospital, but they are in
the process of constructing a freestanding CBOC.
Subcommittee Hearing--Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment and
Research: Moving Ahead Toward Recovery
On April 1, 2008, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to review the current treatment and research programs
for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Treatments are most
commonly done on an outpatient basis, but more intensive
inpatient treatment is available as well. VA boasts the
National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), arguably the world's
foremost PTSD research center.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from Division of
Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of
Research; American Occupational Therapy Association; Committee
on Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Virtual Reality
Medical Center; National PTSD and Substance Abuse Committee at
Vietnam Veterans of America; Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment and Research: Moving
Ahead Toward Recovery, Serial No. 110-78.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Women, Rural and Special Needs Veterans,
Sanford, Maine
On April 21, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
examine how well VA is serving women, rural, and other special
veteran populations and look at ways in which the VA can
improve access to treatment for these populations. The hearing
had specific emphasis on mental health care.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from a veteran from Maine;
the Bureau of Veterans' Services for the State of Maine; Maine
Veterans Coordinating Committee; Maine Veterans' Homes; Maine
Rural Health Research Center; local veterans service
organizations; and, the Director of the Togus Veterans Affairs
Medical Center. See Women, Rural, and Special Needs Veterans,
Field Hearing in Sandford, ME, Serial No. 110-84.
Staff Visit to Charleston, South Carolina
On April 28, 2008, minority staff accompanied the Honorable
James B. Peake, M.D., Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), Ranking Member Steve Buyer and
Congressman Henry Brown, Jr. on a tour of the new Medical
University of South Carolina (MUSC) hospital and met with the
President of MUSC and local VA medical center personnel to
discuss the implementation of section 804 of Public Law 109-461
which authorized VA to enter into an agreement with MUSC for
the planning and design of a co-located, joint-use medical
facility to replace the existing Ralph H. Johnson Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina.
Site Visit to Hawaii
From May 11-16, 2008, majority and minority staff traveled
to Hawaii to visit Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S.
Department of Defense (DoD) medical facilities on the islands.
The purpose of the trip was to gain a better understanding of
the public health situation in Hawaii as well as the current
state of VA operations, and to assess the feasibility and
advisability of future VA and DoD partnerships.
Subcommittee Hearing--Human Resources Challenges within the Veterans
Health Administration
On May 22, 2008, the Subcommittee held an oversight hearing
to examine the challenges the Veterans Health Administration
currently faces in hiring practices, including issues related
to recruitment, retention and labor management.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the American
Federation of Government Employees; American Psychological
Association; University of Minnesota Nurse Anesthesia Area of
Study at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center;
Vertical Alliance Group, Inc.; Paralyzed Veterans of America;
Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs; Disabled American
Veterans; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
Human Resources Challenges within the Veterans Health
Administration, Serial No. 110-88.
Site Visit to San Antonio, Texas
On May 28, 2008, majority staff traveled to San Antonio,
Texas, to visit the Brooke Army Medical Center and the Center
for the Intrepid. The purpose of the visit was to gain a better
understanding of the services, operations and technologies
supported by the centers.
The center provides traumatic amputee patients, burn
patients requiring advanced rehabilitation and those requiring
limb salvage efforts with techniques and training to help them
regain their ability to live and work productively. Staff
toured the center's military performance laboratories,
occupational therapy department, physical therapy department,
prosthetics laboratory, case management and behavioral medicine
departments. Staff also witnessed the Gait Lab which is fitted
with 24 cameras on an automated truss which use infrared light
to analyze human motion. Staff saw the CAREN--a computer
assisted environment, which has a 21-foot simulated dome with a
300-degree screen that immerses patients using sensors and
high-speed infrared cameras and a moving platform that reacts
to the patients' movements.
Site Visit to Lewiston, Maine
On July 21, 2008, majority and minority staff accompanied
Subcommittee on Health Chairman Michael H. Michaud to travel to
Lewiston, Maine, to meet with members of the Auburn, Maine,
Company of the 399th Combat Support Hospital. This unit
recently returned from a mission in Iraq. The purpose of the
meeting was for the unit to share personal experiences, discuss
challenges they faced, and make recommendations for changes to
the system.
Subcommittee CODEL to Kuwait, Iraq, and Germany
Michael H. Michaud, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health,
led a Congressional delegation to visit medical facilities in
the chain of care (from Level 1 through Level 5) for OIF and
OEF service members to see first-hand the level and quality of
health care being provided to active duty service members in
Iraq; from August 3-7, 2008. Accompanying Chairman Michaud were
Subcommittee on Health Ranking Member, Jeff Miller; Congressman
Ciro D. Rodriguez; Congressman Bill Sali; Congressman Phil
Hare; Congressman John T. Salazar; majority and minority staff
of the Committee; and, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, The Honorable James B. Peake, M.D.
The Congressional delegation provided Committee members and
staff with a first-hand look at evacuation routes, facilities,
and health care delivery tools and capabilities available to
service members serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
Special attention was paid to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
electronic medical records. The ability of DoD and the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to electronically
communicate smoothly with each other is the foundation of a
fluid transition from the DoD health care system to its VA
counterpart. Complaints about missing or incomplete DoD medical
records threaten to undermine the ability of separated service
members to receive full and quality health care from VA.
Medical records were generally adequate. Each level of
facility has different medical capabilities and therefore
differing records. However, all records are ultimately stored
in and accessible from the Clinical Data Repository (CDR). On-
the-ground personnel appeared confident in the various systems.
Although the Battlefield Information System Tactical-Joint
(AHLTA Mobile), a computerized medical record entry system used
at the point of injury, was not observed in operation, staff
were assured that it is in use by far forward medics and
corpsmen.
The CODEL also examined the extent and quality of mental
health services available in theatre. Facilities offered a
number of outpatient services, including individual therapy,
medication management, and anger and stress management. Short-
term inpatient care was available as well. The Level II site
offered a psychologist and psychiatrist who traveled to command
outposts to monitor the mental health status of forward
deployed service members.
Site Visit to Billings, Montana, and Denver, Colorado
From August 19-20, 2008, majority and minority staff
traveled to Billings, Montana, to visit the Community Based
Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and to Denver, Colorado, to visit the
site of a proposed VA Medical Center. The purpose of the visit
was to better understand VA's new proposal for the Denver
Medical Center, which would center around VA leasing beds at a
new University of Colorado Hospital and expanding CBOC services
in the surrounding areas rather than building a stand-alone
hospital.
Site Visit to South Bend, Indiana, and Tucson, Arizona
From September 5-6, 2008, majority staff traveled to South
Bend, Indiana, and Tucson, Arizona. The South Bend visit was
intended to introduce Subcommittee staff to health care access
issues facing veterans in the South Bend area. After visiting
the South Bend Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and the
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, staff attended a roundtable
event hosted by Congressman Joe Donnelly in which local
veterans, veterans service organizations, the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs, and other interested parties discussed
health care access issues in the region. Veterans noted issues
accessing specialty care and also noted that the South Bend
CBOC was already operating at capacity.
The Tucson leg of the trip began with a roundtable event
hosted by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Veterans and
policymakers discussed the state of mental health care
available to veterans, both in Tucson and nationally. Veterans
were concerned with issues as varied as the stigma of maladies
such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic
Brain Injury and constant access to emergency mental health
care services for suicidal veterans.
Staff then visited the Tucson VA Medical Center which
serves as the VISN 18 polytrauma network site and boasts an
interdisciplinary team equipped to attack polytrauma injuries
from a variety of angles. This center includes such specialists
as neurologists and physical therapists, as well as a broad
array of state-of-the-art equipment. The Tucson VAMC is also
home to a new outpatient mental health clinic which has
services that range from substance abuse treatment to intensive
outpatient PTSD treatment.
Subcommittee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide
Hotline
On September 16, 2008, the Subcommittee held an oversight
hearing to examine the hotline's responsiveness to the needs of
veterans, how suicidal veterans are helped, best practices for
suicide prevention, and hotline staffing at the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services; Vietnam Veterans of America;
American Psychological Association; National Veterans
Foundation; National Hopeline Network; MHN; and, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Suicide Hotline, Serial No. 110-104.
Staff Visit to Honolulu, Hawaii, and Site Visit to Palo Alto,
California
From September 28-30, 2008, majority and minority staff
attended a conference hosted by the Honorable Dirk Kempthone,
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior and co-chaired
with the Honorable James B. Peake, M.D., Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Honorable David Chu, Under
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and, Honorable Joxel Garcia,
Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. The purpose of the summit was to create an
Interagency Coordinated Assets for Insular Health Response
(ICAIHR) with the four departments. The charge of the ICAIHR
is: (1) to assess the health care needs of each of the seven
insular areas including Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau,
Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, in consultation with appropriate leaders from
these areas; (2) develop a priority list of actions specific to
each insular area that addresses the most critical health care
needs; and, (3) prepare an action report for each insular area
by June 2009.
Site Visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota
On November 14, 2008, majority and minority staff traveled
to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to tour the Geriatric Research
Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Minneapolis U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Additionally,
staff was briefed on Project HERO (Healthcare Effectiveness
through Resource Optimization).
The briefing on the GRECC's mission highlighted the
importance of focusing on elderly-specific issues; the
proportion of 65-year olds within the veteran population far
outstrips its counterpart in the general population. GRECCs
provide cutting-edge research into the effects of aging on the
brain and other issues relevant to elderly veterans.
Project HERO, a demonstration project implemented in four
Veterans Integrated Service Networks, explores the practice of
filling health care access gaps in rural areas through the use
of fee-based care. Staff noted the challenges the Minneapolis
VAMC has met in recruiting providers to their network and
examined the efforts made to evaluate Project HERO's
effectiveness.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
First Session
Subcommittee Hearing--Oversight Efforts of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General: Issues, Problems and
Best Practices at the VA
On February 15, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing
on the best practices of the VA's Inspector General (IG). The
purpose of this hearing was to gain the perspective of the IG
and hear its take on the FY2008 budget.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Inspector General
for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See Oversight
Efforts of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Inspector General: Issues, Problems and Best Practices at the
VA, Serial No. 110-4.
Site Visit to Martinsburg, West Virginia
From February 22-25, 2007, majority staff conducted an
unannounced site visit to the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
The purpose of the trip was to train new staff members on
how to conduct unannounced inspections, and to familiarize
staff with a tertiary level VA medical center. Staff visited
the nursing home, domiciliary, pharmacy, cardiac ward, and
psychiatric ward unescorted before meeting with the Director
and the Chief of Staff for the facility. Following the meeting,
staff were given a guided tour of the Fourth Mission
facilities.
Subcommittee Hearing--Information Security Management at the Department
of Veterans Affairs--Current Effectiveness and the Need for
Cultural Change
On February 28, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
follow up on VA's commitment to improving its data security and
information technology programs. Prior to the 110th Congress,
the Committee held numerous hearings regarding data theft and
security problems at the VA resulting in Public Law 109-461,
The Veterans Benefits, Healthcare and Information Technology
Act of 2006.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; Government Accountability Office; and the
Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
See Information and Security Management at the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs--Current Effectiveness and the Need for
Cultural Chang, Serial No. 110-5.
Subcommittee Hearing--Servicemembers Seamless Transition Into Civilian
Live--The Heroes Return
On March 8, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
transition of service members from active duty to civilian
life. Following the scandal at the Walter Reed Army Medical
Center, the Subcommittee began holding investigations into how
service members are welcomed into the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) and what steps are taken to ensure a
seamless transition.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; the Government Accountability Office;
Veterans for Common Sense; a recently transitioned veteran from
the Walter Reed Army Medical Center; VA Polytrauma Center in
Richmond, Virginia; VAPolytrauma Center in Tampa, Florida; VA
social worker liaisons for seamless transition at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda,
Maryland; and, the mother of a transitioning veteran from Mesa,
Arizona. See Servicemembers Seamless Transition Into Civilian Life--The
Heroes Return, Serial No. 110-7.
Subcommittee Hearing--Surgical Services at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA
Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina
On April 19, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing on
the quality of care at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Centers using the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center
in Salisbury, North Carolina, as a case study. The Subcommittee
had been troubled by reports of numerous wrongful deaths at the
Salisbury VA Medical Center, specifically in the surgical
service, and requested VA's response to correct the problems.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs Inspector General; Chief of Staff for the
Salisbury VA Medical Center; and the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See Surgical Services at the W.G. (Bill)
Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina, Serial
No. 110-14.
Subcommittee Hearing--Sharing of Electronic Medical Records Between the
U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs
On May 8, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on sharing
electronic medical information between the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
In an attempt to improve the sharing of health information, VA
and DoD have been working since 1998 to gain the ability to
exchange electronic health records for use by veterans,
military personnel, and health care providers. VA and DoD are
continuing with activities to support the sharing of health
data; nonetheless, achieving the two-way electronic exchange of
patient health information remains far from realized.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Government
Accountability Office; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
and, the U.S. Department of Defense; Interagency Communications
for the TRICARE Management Activity; Western Regional Command
Informatics and the Madigan Army Medical Center; and, a Joint
Patient Tracking Application specialist. See Sharing of
Electronic Medical Records Between the U.S. Department of
Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Serial No.
110-20.
Site Visit to Asheville, North Carolina
From May 14-15, 2007, majority staff conducted a site visit
of the Asheville VA Medical Center in Asheville, North
Carolina.
The purpose of travel was to inspect and assess: a) third
party collection delivery; b) staff vacancies; and, c) cyber
security. The Office of the Medical Inspector (OMI) issued a
report on December 20, 2005, based on allegations of inadequate
nurse staffing, patient safety and quality of care. In
addition, three particular patient safety concerns were brought
to OMI's attention, all occurring on the inpatient surgical
ward on June 2, 2005. The value of the trip to the Committee
was to review and follow up on the OMI report dated December
20, 2005, to assess whether the problems stated in the report
were corrected. The inspection comprised of group interviews
and a guided tour of the facility, to include the nursing home,
domiciliary, medical facility, and third party collection pilot
center. The following department heads and staffs were also
interviewed: VA Medical Center Director, nursing, IT, pharmacy,
social workers, patient advocates, and procurement and
acquisition. Majority staff also reviewed the Consolidated
Patient Accounting Center demonstration.
Subcommittee Hearing--Senior Executive Service (SES) Bonuses: Ensuring
VA's Process Works
On June 12, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing in
response to troubling reports of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) handing out large bonuses to officials
who had not deserved them. During the hearing, the process VA
uses to award bonuses to members of its staff who qualify for
the SES as directed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
was discussed. During the hearing and investigation it was
determined that VA's system complies with OPM guidelines.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Government
Accountability Office; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
and, the Senior Executives Association. See Senior Executive
Service (SES) Bonuses: Ensuring VA's Process Works, Serial No.
110-26.
Subcommittee Hearing--The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Internal
Contracting Oversight Deficiencies
On June 27, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on VA's
deficiencies in contracting finding that, without oversight
authority, it is impossible to keep track of contracts and how
money is being spent. This hearing was held following a
troubling Inspector General's report concerning contracting
fraud at the Boston VA Medical Center, and briefings on the
general acquisition and procurement functions at the VA.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs Inspector General and the Office of
Acquisition and Material Management for the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Internal Contracting Oversight Deficiencies, Serial No. 110-31.
Subcommittee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Information
Technology Inventory Management
On July 24, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing on
IT Inventory Management at the VA. The hearing served as the
public release of the U.S. Government Accountability Office's
(GAO) report entitled Inadequate Controls over IT Equipment at
Selected VA Locations Pose Continuing Risk of Theft, Loss, and
Misappropriation (GAO-07-505). The Subcommittee was troubled
over the report's initial findings of continued negligence at
various VA facilities so soon after major data loss problems
and new directives.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Government
Accountability Office; Assistant Secretary for Information &
Technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and, Assistant
Secretary for Management, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
See the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Information
Technology Inventory Management, Serial No. 110-36.
Site Visit to Washington, District of Columbia
On July 30, 2007, majority and minority staff conducted a
site visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington,
DC.
This visit was in preparation for a number of site visits
the Subcommittee had organized to review the seamless
transition of wounded service members from active duty into the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Attention was paid to
electronic medical information transfers and case management.
When dealing with staff at Walter Reed, Subcommittee staff made
a point of noting patients who would be moving to the VA
Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers in Palo Alto, California, and
Minneapolis, Minnesota, in preparation for seeing those
patients. Additionally, staff toured Building 18 to view
changes that have been made in outpatient living quarters since
the exposure given to the hospital in February 2007.
Site Visit to Bethesda, Maryland
On July 31, 2007, majority staff conducted a site visit to
the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
This visit was in preparation for a number of site visits
the Subcommittee organized to review the seamless transition of
wounded service members from active duty into the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Attention was paid to
electronic medical information transfers and case management.
When dealing with staff at the medical center, Subcommittee
staff made a point of noting patients who would be moving to
the VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers in Palo Alto,
California and Minneapolis, Minnesota in preparation for seeing
those patients.
Site Visit to Chicago, Illinois
From August 1-2, 2007, majority staff conducted a site
visit to view the North Chicago VA Medical Center and Naval
Health Clinic Great Lakes which are being merged into a federal
hospital, and VA's National Acquisition Center (NAC) in
Chicago, Illinois.
Two of the Subcommittee's main oversight topics are the
centralization of procurement and acquisition functions at the
VA, and the exchange of electronic medical records between the
VA and DoD. The project being undertaken at the Great Lakes
Naval Hospital and North Chicago VA Medical Center are of a
joint facility working towards completely interoperable
electronic records which is an important step towards the
complete seamless transition of service members between DoD and
VA.
VA currently runs the NAC as a central procurement
facility, but many VHA facilities do not go through the NAC as
it was historically a poorly run facility. In addition, the NAC
has the Strategic National Stockpile Program for Centers for
Disease Control and a Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy
program. VA recently hired a new chief executive officer for
the NAC (as of February/March 2007), and the Subcommittee staff
wanted to view firsthand the changes he has made to the
process.
Site Visit to Palo Alto, California
From August 6-7, 2007, Subcommittee majority and minority
staff accompanied by the minority staff of the Subcommittee on
Health conducted a site visit of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System in Palo Alto,
California.
This visit was made for the purposes of (1) reviewing the
Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC) following a highly
negative report from the Office of the Medical Inspector; (2)
meeting with patients and families at the PRC and the
polytrauma transitional unit; and, (3) reviewing the processes
in place for transitioning patients from Walter Reed and
Bethesda to the PRC and from the PRC to the subsequent
placement designated for patients following completion of
treatment at the PRC.
Site Visit to Seattle, Washington
From August 27-28, 2007, majority staff conducted a site
visit of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound
Health Care System (VAPSHCS) and Madigan Army Medical Center
(MAMC) in Seattle, Washington.
Subcommittee staff used this trip as the first step in a
larger series of site visits to view systems of sharing
electronic medical information between the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
MAMC and the VAPSHCS have been the leaders for a number of
years in sharing medical information between VA and DoD.
Currently, they are using Bidirectional Health Information
Exchange extensively, and the VAPSHCS has a program awaiting
central office approval that will allow bidirectional exchange
of discharge summaries.
The VAPSHCS has instituted a new Deployment Health Clinic
at MAMC. When a recently separated service member presents at
the hospital for any reason (emergency room, mental health
issues, cold or flu), he/she is routed through the Deployment
Health Clinic rather than the regular department in the
hospital. At the clinic, veterans have access to doctors and
nurses trained to deal with their recently separated status.
All new veterans coming through the clinic are screened for
PTSD and mild TBI, and the nursing staff of the clinic has
received training in helping veterans with the veterans
benefits process.
MAMC is one of the largest deployment and redeployment
centers in the Army and is continually perfecting the screening
process and they work closely with the VA in Benefits Delivered
on Discharge program. Staff happened to meet with a soon-to-be
separated soldier who was at Madigan for a joint physical to
get his VA benefits.
Site Visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota
From August 28-29, 2007, Congressman Michael H. Michaud and
majority staff of the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations traveled with majority staff from the
Subcommittee on Health to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center to
review one of VA's level one polytrauma centers (PRC). The
purpose of the visit was to gain a better understanding of the
level of care provided at PRCs and how that care is delivered
within the VA health care system.
Site Visit to Anchorage, Alaska
From August 27-30, 2007, majority staff conducted a site
visit of the Anchorage VA Health Care System and Elmendorf Air
Force Medical Center (AFMC) in Anchorage, Alaska.
Subcommittee staff used this trip as part of a larger
series of site visits to view systems of sharing electronic
medical information between the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). Elmendorf is one of
the newer pilot programs currently adopting Bidirectional
Health Information Exchange and Federal Health Information
Exchange (two systems used for recently separated active duty
service members as they transition into the VA without going
through a polytrauma center). Staff found that while BHIE had
been installed at Elmendorf, it was not being used yet.
By contrast, the Joint Patient Tracking Application was
being used extensively by the Elmendorf administration to
identify wounded service members with home ties in Alaska, and
bring them directly from Landstuhl to Elmendorf rather than
through Walter Reed or Bethesda in order to reunite the wounded
with family members. Additionally, the new commander at
Elmendorf had begun accepting more VA surgical patients rather
than having them sent out into the community. The partnership
between the Anchorage VA Health Care System and the Elmendorf
AFMC was unique in that leadership worked very closely together
in order to make sure care was provided to all veterans and
service members within their geographic scope.
Site Visit to Richmond, Virginia
On September 17, 2007, majority staff conducted a site
visit of the Hunter Holmes McGuire U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, which houses one
of the four level-one polytrauma centers in the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
The Director of the facility, Dr. Shane McNamee, was part
of an inspection team that reviewed Palo Alto's polytrauma
center's practices for accepting patient transfers and has a
different management style to that which is practiced in Palo
Alto. His opinions were extremely helpful to staff as they
planned for the upcoming hearing on VA polytrauma center
management.
Subcommittee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Polytrauma
Rehabilitation Centers: Management Issues
On September 25, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing
on the VA's Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers: Management
Issues. Following a staff visit to the polytrauma center in
Palo Alto, California, numerous management deficiencies were
brought to light at the particular facility. The purpose of the
hearing was to ensure that similar problems are not occurring
at the VA's other three Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from officials of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers: Management Issues,
Serial No. 110-45.
Subcommittee Hearing--Disability Claims Ratings and Benefits
Disparities within the Veterans Benefits Administration
On October 16, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing
to examine the disparity in state average compensation paid to
veterans by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
disparity ranges from an average of more than $12,000 per
veteran in New Mexico to less than $8,000 in Ohio (the
nationwide average in 2005 was $8,890).
The Subcommittee heard testimony from a Veteran Service
Officer for Citrus County, Florida; a research staff member for
IDA and the author of the July 2007 report; Office of the
Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
veterans service organizations; and the Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
Disability Claims Ratings and Benefits Disparities within the
Veterans' Benefits Administration, Serial No. 110-53.
Site Visit to Biloxi, Mississippi
From October 18-19, 2007, Subcommittee majority staff
accompanied by the staff from the Subcommittee on Health
conducted a site visit to the Keesler Air Force Base (AFB) and
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Gulf Coast Veterans
Health Care System in Biloxi, Mississippi.
This visit was made for the purpose of reviewing the
various sharing initiatives in place between the Air Force and
medical systems at Keesler AFB, including the recently awarded
Joint Incentive Fund projects in cardiac care and magnetic
resonance imaging. An area of particular interest was how the
Air Force and VA share electronic medical information. The
Naval Hospital Pensacola Commander was also present, because
the Air Force, Navy, and VA are all sharing resources in the
Gulf Coast region.
Subcommittee Hearing--Sharing of Electronic Medical Records between the
U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs
On October 24, 2007, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing
on sharing medical data between the U.S. Department of Defense
and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This hearing was a
direct continuation of the previous hearings held on this issue
by the Subcommittee.
Among others, the Subcommittee heard testimony from the
81st Medical Wing of the U.S. Air Force and the former Surgeon-
General of CENTCOM; U.S. Government Accountability Office;
Western Regional Medical Command for the U.S. Army and Madigan
Army Medical Center; Regional Info System Officer for Military
Sealift Command for the U.S. Navy; Office of Information and
Technology at VA; Under Secretary for Health for VA; and
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs for DoD. See
Sharing of Electronic Medical Records between the Department of
Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, Serial No. 110-57.
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation and Subcommittee on Health
Hearing--Outpatient Waiting Times
On December 12, 2007, the Subcommittees conducted to assess
whether issues identified as detrimental to the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration's outpatient
waiting times have been corrected by VA.
The Subcommittees heard testimony from Licking County
Veterans' Service Commission, Newark, Ohio; Unum US; Office of
Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
and the Deputy Under Secretary for Health of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See Outpatient Waiting Times,
Serial No. 110-62.
Site Visit to San Antonio, Texas
From December 19-20, 2007, majority staff visited
University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio,
Texas, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs South Texas
Health Care System for the purpose of discussing VA's
agreements with medical school affiliates regarding research
and information technology security.
Site Visit to Tampa, Florida
On December 28, 2007, minority staff joined Ranking Member
Ginny Brown-Waite and the Honorable Gus Bilirakis to visit the
James A. Haley U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center (VAMC) in Tampa, Florida. The purpose was to discuss the
credentialing and licensing of clinical psychologists at the
VAMC in Tampa, and the supervision of the unlicensed
psychologists working at that facility. Ranking Member Brown-
Waite and minority staff also toured the Fisher House, and the
VAMC Polytrauma unit, as well as visiting several veterans in
the inpatient wards at the VAMC.
Second Session
Subcommittee CODEL to Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Germany
From January 6-15, 2008, Harry E. Mitchell, the Chairman of
the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, led a
Congressional delegation to Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan,
Afghanistan, and Germany. Accompanying Chairman Mitchell on the
trip were the HonorableTimothy Walz of the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, and the Honorable Charles Dent of the Committee on
Homeland Security. The primary purpose of the CODEL was to examine the
transfer of medical information from the point of injury in theatre
through the military medical system to the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. The delegation visited a number of U.S. military medical
facilities, including Balad Field Hospital in Iraq, the Combat Support
Hospital in Baghdad, Bagram Field Hospital in Afghanistan, and
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. In addition, the
delegation was briefed on the current situation in Iraq by General
David Petraeus, Commanding General, MNF-I, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.
In Islamabad, the delegation met with the Deputy Chief of
Mission, Economics Officer, Political Officer, Military Liaison
Officer, and AID representatives at the U.S. Embassy, to
discuss the current political situation in Pakistan, military
cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan, AID education
assistance programs, and Pakistan's energy needs. Other
meetings in Pakistan included the Director General of
Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division (responsible for security
of Pakistan's nuclear weapons) and the Minister of Religious
Affairs.
At Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, the delegation was
briefed on a number of issues, including the military,
political, and economic situations in the area, medical care
and medevac systems, and Provincial Reconstruction Teams. The
delegation also met with U.S. Embassy staff.
In Iraq, the delegation travelled by helicopter to Balad
Airfield, the staging point for all medical evacuations from
theatre. The delegation toured the Air Force field hospital
located at the airfield, met with hospital staff and patients,
and received extensive briefings on operations there. At Camp
Victory near Baghdad, the delegation visited the detainee
medical facility and met with staff. In Baghdad, the Multi-
National Force/Corps-Iraq Surgeon and staff briefed the
delegation, followed by the briefing with General Petraeus and
Ambassador Crocker. In both Balad and Baghdad, members of the
delegation met with service members from their home districts.
Concluding the trip, the delegation travelled to Germany,
where the members were briefed by the Commander and staff of
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The visit concluded with a
tour of the Warrior Transition Unit and the Medical Transient
Unit.
Site Visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On January 25, 2008, majority staff visited the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration
Regional Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to observe the
claims adjudication process and note areas that could be
streamlined and/or made electronic.
Subcommittee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Credentialing
and Privileging: A Patient Safety Issue
On January 29, 2008, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing
on VA's credentialing and privileging systems. This hearing was
a direct result of Office of Medical Inspector and Office of
the Inspector General reports on patient deaths at the VA
medical center in Marion, Illinois.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from a spouse whose
husband's death at Marion was investigated and determined to be
the result of unauthorized physician care; Office of Inspector
General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and, the Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Credentialing and
Privileging: A Patient Safety Issue, Serial No. 110-65.
Subcommittee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs FY 2009
Budget--Office of Inspector General and Office of Information &
Technology
On February 13, 2008, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing
to assess and evaluate the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year 2009 budgets for the Office of the Inspector
General (OIG) and Office of Information and Technology. The
VA's OIG, an independent entity, evaluates VA's programs and
operations. OIG provides independent oversight that addresses
mission-critical activities and programs in health care
delivery, benefits processing, financial management,
procurement practices and information management.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the Deputy Inspector
General for the Office of the Inspector General; U.S.
Government Accountability Office; and, Assistant Secretary of
Information Technology for the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. See U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs FY 2009
Budget--Office of Inspector General and Office of Information
and Technology, Serial No. 110-69.
Site Visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On February 14, 2008, majority staff visited the University
of Pennsylvania Medical School for the purpose of discussing
the impact of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
information technology centralization and new security
requirements on joint VA--medical school research and clinical
trials with the Dean of Research and the Chief Information
Officer.
Site Visit to Salisbury, North Carolina
From February 19-20, 2008, majority staff visited the W.G.
(Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina.
The purpose of travel was to inspect and assess: (a) third
party collection delivery; (b) women's health program moved
into new facility where special services are now provided; (c)
the new construction project in Surgery; (d) investigative and
educational center for the Mental Illness Research, Education,
and Clinical Center, which focuses on post-deployment mental
health; (e) contract nursing home program; (f) Quality
Management Program; and, (g) surgical credentialing and
privileging programs.
Site Visit to San Antonio, Texas
From February 20-21, 2008, minority Staff visited the Army
Dental Command in San Antonio, Texas, to investigate issues
relating to the transfer of dental cost of demobilizing Reserve
Components to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. There
was further discussion of Dental Command's flawed cost
estimates of accomplishing their dental mission in-house.
Subcommittee Hearing--Care of Seriously Wounded After Inpatient Care
On March 13, 2008, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing to
assess how the Department of Veterans Affairs is caring for,
and the manner in which care is administered, to our nation's
most seriously wounded veterans after inpatient care and the
transition home occurs.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from a U.S. Marine Corps
combat veteran; a U.S. Army combat veteran; the wife of a U.S.
Army combat veteran and veterans advocate; National Policy
Director for the Wounded Warrior Project; Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America; and Chief Patient Care Services Officer
for the Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See Care of Seriously Wounded After In-
Patient Car, Serial No. 110-76.
Site Visit to Palo Alto, California
On March 18-20, 2008, majority staff visited the Palo Alto
VA Healthcare System and Polytrauma Unit in Palo Alto,
California.
The Subcommittee held a hearing in September 2007, after
disclosure of substantial turmoil at the Palo Alto Polytrauma
Rehabilitation Center (PRC). While Palo Alto has made several
management changes, the Palo Alto PRC continued to be the
subject of complaints about quality of care from patients and
families.
Site Visit to Newark, New Jersey
On March 27, 2008, majority staff visited the Veterans
Benefits Administration Regional Office to observe the claims
adjudication process and investigate claims that the office was
not being run efficiently.
Subcommittee Hearing--Traumatic Brain Injury Related Vision Issues
On April 2, 2008, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing on
vision issues related to traumatic brain injury (TBI). It had
become clear that TBI is often associated with subsequent
vision issues even in the absence of direct injury to the eye.
Data from the only VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC) to
keep track of this data shows that 75 percent of Level 1
polytrauma patients with TBI and 78 percent of Level II
polytrauma patients with TBI reported vision complaints.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from a U.S. Army combat
veteran; the wife of a U.S. Army combat veteran; a U.S. Navy
combat veteran; Blinded Veterans Association; Professor of
Clinical Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center;
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University
of Alabama at Birmingham; Neuro Vision Technology Pty. Ltd.;
representatives of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
U.S. Department of Defense Center for Excellence for
Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. See Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) Related Vision Issues, Serial No. 110-79.
Site Visit to Chicago, Illinois
On May 1, 2008, majority staff visited the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Acquisition Center (NAC) in
Chicago, Illinois. At the time, staff was investigating
resellers on VA's Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) following the
IG report finding significant problems with some resellers
resulting in millions of dollars in excess costs.
The NAC administers the FSS contracts and the contract
files are at the NAC. Staff was briefed on the FSS contracts,
how they are entered into and administered, and how they are
modified. In addition, staff reviewed the contract files of the
resellers examined in the IG report.
Site Visit to Washington, District of Columbia
On May 14, 2008, majority and minority staff visited the
Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. The purpose of
this visit was to observe Microsoft's new multi-hospital shared
electronic medical information system.
Site Visit to San Antonio, Texas
From May 28-29, 2008, majority staff visited the Brooke
Army Medical Center for the Intrepid (BAMC); University of
Texas (UT) Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, and the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs South Texas Health Care
System. The purpose of this visitwas to tour and be briefed on
the Center for the Intrepid and the BAMC in San Antonio and be briefed
on UT-VA joint research and clinical trials. Subcommittee staff gained
a better understanding of the services, operations and technologies at
BAMC and the Center for the Intrepid, and will learn at VA and UT
whether correspondence with VA about IT and research is having an
effect on the local level.
Site Visit to Chicago, Illinois
From June 16-17, 2008, majority staff visited the Naval
Health Clinic Great Lakes and the North Chicago U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center to observe the pilot
electronic medical records sharing program and joint facility
being undertaken and operated by the Navy and the VA in the
North Chicago/Great Lakes area. The project being undertaken at
the Great Lakes Naval Hospital and North Chicago VA Medical
Center of a joint facility working towards completely
interoperable electronic records is an important step towards
the complete seamless transition of service members between the
U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Site Visit to Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin
From June 18-19, 2008, majority staff visited Ft. McCoy,
Wisconsin, to visit with soldiers from the 325th Combat Support
Hospital during their demobilization brief that coincides with
the VA mandatory briefing session and ask questions regarding
seamless transition back into the civilian life. Staff gained a
better understanding of both the U.S. Department of Defense and
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs interaction with
service members, specifically in post-deployment. Staff will
also gain more insight into the interaction between the two
agencies, as it pertains to post-deployment seamless
transition.
Subcommittee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/U.S.
Department of Defense Cooperation in Reintegration of National
Guard and Reserves
On July 24, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
evaluate the progress of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense in cooperating to
improve the reintegration of members of the National Guard and
Reserves to civilian life.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from veterans service
organizations; U.S. Army Reserve; Office of Joint Manpower and
Personnel, National Guard Bureau; National Guard and Reserve
Coordinator; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/U.S. Department of Defense
Cooperation in Reintegration of National Guard and Reserves,
Serial No. 110-94.
Subcommittee Hearing--Media Outreach to Veterans
On July 15, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
explore the potential benefits veterans would receive if VA
incorporates the power of advertising and marketing in their
strategic outreach plan.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from a Veteran of
Operation Iraqi Freedom; Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America; Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business, Georgetown
University; Communication and Social Marketing Expert from
Washington, DC; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See Media
Outreach to Veterans, Serial No. 110-98.
Subcommittee Hearing--Billions Spent on ``Miscellaneous'' Expenditures:
Inadequate Controls at the VA
On July 31, 2008, the Subcommittee held a hearing to
evaluate the findings of the GAO's audit of VA's use of
``miscellaneous obligations'' as a means of procuring goods and
services. Miscellaneous obligations are used to obligate funds
in circumstances where the amount to be spent is uncertain.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Government
Accountability Office and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
See Billions Spent on ``Miscellaneous'' Expenditures:
Inadequate Controls at the VA--Serial No. 110-100.
Site Visit to Austin, Texas
On September 4-5, 2008, majority staff traveled to the
Austin Information Technology Center; Office of Business
Oversight; and, the Office of Information and Technology
contracting center. The purpose of the visit was to provide
oversight and follow up on electronic interchange of
information between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); contracting by
Office of Information and Technology; and, activities of the
Office of Business Oversight. The staff also reviewed the
current VA--DoD information exchange efforts, including
electronic DD214s, VADIR, LC database, VA--DoD memorandum of
understanding; Office of Information and Technology contracting
activities; and, Office of Business Oversight compliance
activities.
Subcommittee Hearing--Media Outreach to Veterans: An Update
On September 23, 2008, the Subcommittee conducted a hearing
to assess the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) efforts
after the July 15, 2008, hearing on media outreach. The purpose
of this hearing was to evaluate the progress VA has made since
the last hearing held on this issue on July 15, 2008, entitled
VA Media Outreach. The purpose of the previous hearing was to
explore the benefits veterans would receive if VA incorporated
the power of advertising and marketing in its strategic
outreach plan. In addition, the Subcommittee investigated how
much money the VA intended to budget for this initiative, how
many personnel the VA was prepared to allocate, and evaluated
the VA's strategic outreach plan, specifically the
advertisement and marketing aspect of the plan. This new
hearing evaluated VA's progress.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from Operation Iraqi
Freedom veterans; veterans service organizations; MDB
Communications, Inc.; and, the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. See Media Outreach to Veterans: An Update--Serial No.
110-106.
Site Visit to Edinburgh, Indiana
On November 12, 2008, minority staff accompanied Ranking
Republican Member Steve Buyer to review Dental Command's
efforts to address Reserve Component dental reset plan for the
76th Brigade Combat Team and attend briefing on the Army
Reserve Component Demo Dental Reset. This trip was a follow-up
to the site visit to San Antonio, Texas, in February 2008.
SUMMARY OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED, HEARINGS, AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS CONDUCTED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
98th 99th 100th 101st 102d 103d 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th
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Bills and Resolutions Referred.................. 229 198 147 194 215 174 128 134 146 194 253 239 345
Hearings Sessions............................... 71 76 44 72 67 71 39 56 66 58 66 71 108
Meetings and Markup Sessions.................... 16 20 16 26 20 23 19 18 13 14 16 18 25
Bills Reported.................................. 15 17 14 33 21 25 15 15 10 14 22 10 26
Bills in House.................................. 3 3 1 4 3 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Pending in Senate Committees.................... 6 8 9 23 7 11 10 1 1 10 7 11 38
Bills on Senate Calendar or in Senate........... 0 1 3 1 3 3 0 0 1 0 5 0 0
Laws Enacted.................................... 8 6 4 8 24 15 6 6 11 13 9 10 18
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HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
(All hearings and executive sessions of the Committee are
held in the Committee hearing room, Room 334, Cannon House
Office Building unless otherwise designated.)
January 30, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Full Committee. Meeting.
Organizational and Oversight Plan.
February 8, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal
Year 2008. (Serial No. 110-1)
February 12, 2007. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Full Committee. Meeting.
Stakeholders Roundtable Meeting.
February 14, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Fiscal Year 2008
Health Budget. (Serial No. 110-2)
February 15, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee.
Hearing. Equity for Filipino Veterans. (Serial No. 110-3)
February 15, 2007. OPEN. 3:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations. Hearing. Oversight Efforts of the
VA Inspector General: Issues, Problems and Best Practices at
the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Serial No. 110-4)
February 27, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. House and Senate
Veterans' Affairs Committees. Joint Hearing. Room 345 Cannon.
The Legislative Priorities of the Disabled American Veterans.
February 28, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations. Hearing. Information and Security
Management at the Department of Veterans Affairs--Current
Effectiveness and the Need for Cultural Change. (Serial No.
110-5)
March 6, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. House and Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee. Joint Hearing. Room 345 Cannon. The
Legislative Priorities of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
March 7, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Performance Review of
Education, Loan Guaranty, Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment, and Veterans' Employment and Training Service
Programs. (Serial No. 110-6)
March 8, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. House and Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee. Joint Hearing. Room 106 Senate Dirkson. The
Legislative Priorities of the Paralyzed Veterans of America,
Jewish War Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association, and Vietnam
Veterans of America.
March 8, 2007. OPEN. 3:30 p.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. Servicemembers Seamless Transition
Into Civilian Life--The Heroes Return. (Serial No. 110-7)
March 13, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Markup of H.R. 797 and H.R.
1284.
March 13, 2007. OPEN. 10:15 a.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. The
Impact of OIF/OEF on the VA Claims Process. (Serial No. 110-8)
March 13, 2007. OPEN. 1:30 p.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Markup of H.R. 327 and H.R. 612.
March 15, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Markup of
H.R. 327, H.R. 797, and H.R. 1284.
March 15, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Polytrauma Center Care and the TBI Patient: How
Seamless is the Transition Between VA and DoD and Are Needs
Being Met? (Serial No. 110-9)
March 22, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Education Benefits for
the National Guard & Reserve Members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
(Serial No. 110-10)
March 29, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. House and Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committees. Joint Hearing. Room 226 Senate Dirksen. The
Legislative Priorities of AMVETS, American Ex-Prisoners of War,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, Fleet Reserve Association,
The Retired Enlisted Association, Gold Star Wives, Military
Officers Association of America, and National Association of
State Directors of Veterans Affairs.
April 17, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Legislative Hearing
on H.R. 67, H.R. 1435, H.R. 1444, H.R. 1490. (Serial No. 110-
11)
April 18, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Markup of
H.R. 1642.
April 18, 2007. OPEN. 10:15 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
H.R. 23 ``Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World
War II Act of 2007.'' (Serial No. 110-12)
April 18, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Access to VA Health Care: How Easy is it for Veterans'
Addressing the Gaps. (Serial No. 110-13)
April 19, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. Surgical Services at the W.G.
(Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina.
(Serial No. 110-14)
April. 19, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. State Approving Agencies. (Serial No.
110-15)
April 24, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Markup of H.R. 1660.
April 24, 2007. OPEN. 10:15 a.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. ``Helping Those Left
Behind: Are We Doing Enough for the Parents, Spouses and
Children of Veterans?'' (Serial No. 110-16)
April 26, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 92, H.R. 315, H.R. 339,
H.R. 463, H.R. 538, H.R. 542, H.R. 1426, H.R. 1470, H.R. 1471,
H.R. 1527, H.R. 1944, and Discussion Draft of the ``Rural
Veterans Health Care Act of 2007.'' (Serial No. 110-17)
May 3, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Accelerated Education Benefits for
Veterans. (Serial No. 110-18)
May 8, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations. Hearing. Sharing of Electronic Medical Records
Between Department of Defense and Department of Veterans
Affairs. (Serial No. 110-20)
May 8, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Markup of H.R. 67.
May 8, 2007. OPEN. 2:15 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Veterans Cemeteries:
Honoring Those Who Served. (Serial No. 110-19)
May 9, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. State of VA's Long-Term Care Programs. (Serial No.
110-21)
May 9, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Full Committee. Hearing. The
Results of the President's Task Force on Returning Global War
on Terror Heroes. (Serial No. 110-22)
May 10, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. Subcommittee on Health. Room
340 Cannon. Markup of H.R. 1470 and H.R. 2199.
May 15, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Full Committee. Markup of
H.R. 612, H.R. 67, H.R. 1660, H.R. 1470, H.R. 2199, H.R. 2219,
and H.R. 2239.
May 16, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Meeting.
PTSD Mental Health Care Symposium.
May 17, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Veterans' Entrepreneurship and Self
Employment. (Serial No. 110-23)
May 22, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. The Challenges Facing
the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. (Serial No. 110-
24)
May 23, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Meeting. VA
Disability Claims Roundtable: Looking for a Solution.
May 29, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Joint House
and Senate Meeting. Dover, Ohio. Issues Facing Veterans in the
Rural Areas of Appalachia. (Senate Hearing Print 110-146)
June 7, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Specially Adaptive Housing. (Serial No.
110-25)
June 12, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. SES Bonuses: Ensuring VA's Process
Works. (Serial No. 110-26)
June 14, 2007. OPEN. Subcommittee on Health. Hearing. Room
340 Cannon. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1448, H.R. 1853, H.R.
1925, H.R. 2005, H.R. 2172, H.R. 2173, H.R. 2378, H.R. 2219,
H.R. 2192, and H.R. 2623. (Serial No. 110-27)
June 19, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Legislative Hearing
on H.R. 156, H.R. 585, and H.R. 704. (Serial No. 110-28)
June 20, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
Priority Group 8 Veterans. (Serial No. 110-29)
June 21, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1750, H.R.
1824, H.R. 1598, H.R. 1315, H.R. 1240, H.R. 675, H.R. 513, H.R.
2259, H.R. 2475, H.R. 1632, H.R. 112, H.R. 2579, and H.R. 1370.
(Serial No. 110-30)
June 27, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. VA Internal
Contracting Oversight Deficiencies. (Serial No. 110-31)
June 28, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Markup of H.R. 2623 and H.R. 2874.
June 29, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Markup of H.R. 1315, H.R. 1750, H.R. 1240, and
H.R. 1632.
July 9, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. Full Committee. Field
Hearing. New Orleans, Louisiana. The Future of VA Health Care
in South Louisiana. (Serial No. 110-32)
July 11, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Markup of H.R. 2874.
July 12, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Joint Subcommittee on
Health and Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs. Hearing. Issues Facing Women and Minority Veterans.
(Serial No. 110-33)
July 12, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Federal Procurement and the Three Percent
Set Aside. (Serial No. 110-34)
July 17, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Full Committee. Markup of
H.R. 2623, H.R. 2874, H.R. 1315, H.R. 760, and H.R. 23.
July 18, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Meeting.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symposium
July 19, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing Vet Centers. (Serial No. 110-35)
July 24, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. VA IT Inventory Management.
(Serial No. 110-36)
July 25, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
PTSD and Personality Disorders: Challenges for the VA. (Serial
No. 110-37)
July 26, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Gulf War Exposures. (Serial No. 110-38)
July 26, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Contract Bundling Oversight. (Serial No. 110-39)
July 31, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Legislative Hearing
on H.R. 674, H.R. 1273, H.R. 1900, H.R. 1901, H.R. 2346, H.R.
2696, and H.R. 2697. (Serial No. 110-40)
September 6, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Veterans' Preference. (Serial No. 110-41)
September 18, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee.
Hearing. State of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
(Serial No. 110-42)
September 19, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee.
Hearing. Findings of the President's Commission on Care for
America's Returning Wounded Warriors. (Serial No. 110-43)
September 20, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. House and Senate
Veterans' Affairs Committees. Joint Hearing. Room 345 Cannon.
The Legislative Priorities of The American Legion.
September 20, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity. Hearing. Licensure and Certification of
Transitioning Veterans. (Serial No. 110-44)
September 25, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations. Hearing. U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers: Management
Issues. (Serial No. 110-45)
September 25, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Board of
Veterans' Appeals Adjudication Process and the Appeals
Management Center. (Serial No. 110-46)
September 26, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee.
Hearing. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Information
Technology Reorganization: How Far Has VA Come? (Serial No.
110-47)
September 27, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on
Health. Hearing. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Grant
and Per Diem Program. (Serial No. 110-48)
October 3, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
Funding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of the Future.
(Serial No. 110-49)
October 4, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Research
Programs. (Serial No. 110-50)
October 9, 2007. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Field Hearing. New Windsor,
New York. Personal Costs of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Claims Backlog. (Serial No. 110-51)
October 10, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
Findings of the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission.
(Serial No. 110-52)
October 16, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. Disability Claims Ratings and
Benefits Disparities within the Veterans Benefits
Administration. (Serial No. 110-53)
October 17, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
Long-Term Costs of Current Conflicts. (Serial No. 110-54)
October 18, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Healthcare Professionals--Recruitment and Retention.
(Serial No. 110-55)
October 18, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Updating the Montgomery G.I. Bill.
(Serial No. 110-56)
October 24, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations. Hearing. Sharing of Electronic
Medical Records between the Department of Defense and
Department of Veterans Affairs. (Serial No. 110-57)
October 25, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Markup of H.R. 513 and H.R. 3882.
October 25, 2007. OPEN. 2:15 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Oversight of the U.S. Department of
Labor's Veterans Employment Training Service (VETS), Disabled
Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) and Local Veterans Employment
Representative Program (LVOP). (Serial No. 110-58)
November 1, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Construction
Process. (Serial No. 110-59)
November 7, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Markup
of H.R. 3882.
November 8, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing.
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3047, H.R. 3249, H.R. 3286, H.R.
3415, H.R. 1137, H.R. 3954, and H.R. 4084. (Serial No. 110-60)
December 12, 2007. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee.
Hearing. Room 345 Cannon. Stopping Suicides: Mental Health
Challenges Within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
(Serial No. 110-61)
December 12, 2007. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Joint Subcommittee on
Health and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Hearing. Room 345 Cannon. Outpatient Waiting Times. (Serial No.
110-62)
January 17, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Legislative hearing on H.R. 2790,
H.R. 3458, H.R. 3819, H.R. 4053, H.R. 4107, H.R. 4146, H.R.
4204, and H.R. 4231. (Serial No. 110-63)
January 17, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Legislative hearing on
Review of Pending Montgomery G.I. Bill Legislation: H.R. 1102,
H.R. 1211, H.R. 1214, H.R. 2247, H.R. 2385, H.R. 2702, and H.R.
2910. (Serial No. 110-64)
January 29, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. VA
Credentialing and Privileging: A Patient Safety Issue. (Serial
No. 110-65)
January 29, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Room 340
Cannon. The Use of Artificial Intelligence to Improve the VA's
Claims Processing System. (Serial No. 110-66)
February 7, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal
Year 2009. (Serial No. 110-67)
February 13, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Review of Expiring
Programs. (Serial No. 110-68)
February 13, 2008. OPEN. 2:30 p.m. Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations. Hearing. Room 210 Cannon. VA FY
2009 Budget--Office of the Inspector General and Office of
Information and Technology. (Serial No. 110-69)
February 14, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Room 340
Cannon. Examining the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Processing System. (Serial No. 110-70)
February 26, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. The U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating
Disabilities. (Serial No. 110-71)
February 27, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. VA Construction Authorization. (Serial No. 110-72)
February 28, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Mental Health Treatment for Families: Supporting Those
Who Support Our Veterans. (Serial No. 110-73)
February 28, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Subprime Mortgage Crisis and America's
Veterans. (Serial No. 110-74)
March 4, 2008. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. House and Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee. Joint Hearing. Room 216 Senate Hart. The
Legislative Priorities of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
March 4, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. House and Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee. Joint Hearing. Room 345 Cannon. The
Legislative Priorities of the Disabled American Veterans.
March 6, 2008. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. House and Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee. Joint Hearing. Room 345 Cannon. The
Legislative Priorities of the Paralyzed Veterans of America,
Jewish War Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association, Vietnam
Veterans of America, Non Commissioned Officers Association, Air
Force Sergeants Association, and American Ex-Prisoners of War.
March 11, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Substance Abuse/Comorbid Disorders: Comprehensive
Solutions to a Complex Problem. (Serial No. 110-75)
March 13, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Care of Seriously
Wounded After Inpatient Care. (Serial No. 110-76)
March 13, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. U.S. Paralympic Military Program. (Serial
No. 110-77)
April 1, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. PTSD Treatment and Research: Moving Ahead Toward
Recovery. (Serial No. 110-78)
April 2, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Related Vision Issues (Serial No. 110-79)
April 3, 2008. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. House and Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee. Joint Hearing. Room 216 Senate Hart. The
Legislative Priorities of the AMVETS, Military Order of the
Purple Heart, Gold Star Wives, Fleet Reserve Association, The
Retired Enlisted Association, Military Officers Association of
America, National Association of State Directors of Veterans
Affairs.
April 9, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
Ending Homelessness for Our Nation's Veterans. (Serial No. 110-
80)
April 10, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Legislative hearing
on Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of
2008 (H.R. 5892). (Serial No. 110-81)
April 15, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Legislative hearing on H.R. 2818, H.R. 5554, H.R.
5595, H.R. 5622, H.R. 5729, H.R. 5730. (Serial No. 110-82)
April 16, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Legislative hearing on H.R. 4883, H.R.
4884, H.R. 4889, H.R. 4539, H.R. 3646, H.R. 5664, H.R. 3798,
H.R. 3393, H.R. 3298, H.R. 3467, H.R. 3889, H.R. 3681, and H.R.
5684. (Serial No. 110-83)
April 21, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Field Hearing. Sanford, Maine. Women, Rural and Special Needs
Veterans. (Serial No. 110-84)
April 23, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Room 340 Cannon. Markup of H.R. 5684, H.R. 4884,
H.R. 4883, H.R. 4889, H.R. 3681, H.R. 3889, and H.R. 5664.
April 23, 2008. OPEN. 2:30 p.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Markup of H.R. 2790, H.R. 3819, H.R. 5729, H.R. 5554, and H.R.
5856.
April 24, 2008. OPEN. 11:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Room 340 Cannon. Markup of
H.R. 5892.
April 30, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Markup of
H.R. 2790, H.R. 3819, H.R. 5729, H.R. 5554, H.R. 5856, H.R.
3681, H.R. 3889, H.R. 4883, H.R. 4884, H.R. 4889, H.R. 5664,
H.R. 5684, H.R. 5826, and H.R. 5892.
May 2, 2008. OPEN. 12:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Field Hearing. Colorado
Springs, Colorado. Is the VA Cemetery Construction Policy
Meeting the Needs of Today's Veterans and Their Families?
(Serial No. 110-85)
May 6, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing. The
Truth about Veterans' Suicides. (Serial No. 110-86)
May 16, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Field Hearing. South Bend, Indiana. Transition
Assistance Program for Guard and Reserve Forces. (Serial No.
110-87)
May 22, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Human Resources Challenges within the Veterans Health
Administration. (Serial No. 110-88)
May 22, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon.
Examining the Effectiveness of VBA Outreach Efforts. (Serial
No. 110-89)
June 5, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Markup of H.R. 2818 and H.R. 2192.
June 5, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4089, H.R. 4463, H.R.
5888, H.R. 6114, and H.R. 6112. (Serial No. 110-90)
June 11, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Meeting.
Approve Subcommittee Membership and Markup of H.R. 2818.
June 11, 2008. OPEN. 10:15 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing.
Implementing the Wounded Warrior Provisions of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. (Serial No.
110-91)
June 12, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon.
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1197, H.R. 3008, H.R. 3795, H.R.
4274, H.R. 5155, H.R. 5448, H.R. 5454, H.R. 5709, H.R. 5954,
H.R. 5985, and H.R. 6032. (Serial No. 11-092)
June 19, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2721, H.R.
3786, H.R. 6070, H.R. 4255, H.R. 6221, H.R. 6224, H.R. 6225,
and H.R. 6272. (Serial No. 110-93)
June 24, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. VA/DoD Cooperation in
Reintegration of National Guard and Reserves. (Serial No. 110-
94)
June 26, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Legislative Hearing on Draft Legislation. (Serial No.
110-95)
June 26, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Markup of H.R. 6225, H.R. 6224, H.R. 6221, H.R.
6272, H.R. 4255, H.R. 6070, H.R. 2910, H.R. 3298, and H.R.
2721.
July 9, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Hearing. Why
Does the VA Continue to Give a Suicide-Inducing Drug to
Veterans with PTSD? (Serial No. 110-96)
July 10, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Markup of H.R. 1527, H.R. 6114, H.R. 6122, H.R. 6366, H.R.
6439, and H.R. 6445.
July 10, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Hearing. Independent Living. (Serial No. 110-97)
July 15, 2008. OPEN. 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations. Hearing. Media Outreach to Veterans.
(Serial No. 110-98)
July 16, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Markup of
H.R. 6445, H.R. 1527, H.R. 2192, H.R. 4255, H.R. 6225, H.R.
6221, and H.R. 674.
July 28, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Field Hearing. Rapid City, South Dakota.
Transitional Assistance Program. (Serial No. 110-99)
July 30, 2008. CLOSED. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Meeting.
Commission on the Future for America's Veterans.
August 18, 2008. OPEN. 9:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity. Field Hearing. Bentonville, Arkansas. Uniformed
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Issues. (Serial No. 110-
101)
September 9, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Health.
Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3051,
H.R. 6153, and H.R. 6629. (Serial No. 110-102)
September 11, 2008. OPEN. 9:30 a.m. House and Senate
Veterans' Affairs Committees. Joint Hearing. Room 345 Cannon.
The Legislative Priorities of The American Legion.
September 11, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Oversight of
G.I. Bill Implementation. (Serial No. 110-103)
September 16, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on
Health. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. VA Suicide Hotline. (Serial
No. 110-104)
September 17, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Full Committee. Room
210 Cannon. Markup of H.R. 6897.
September 18, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Hearing. Room 340
Cannon. Examining the Effectiveness of the Veterans Benefits
Administration's Training, Performance Management and
Accountability. (Serial No. 110-105)
September 23, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Media
Outreach to Veterans: An Update. (Serial No. 110-106)
September 24, 2008. OPEN. 1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity. Hearing. Room 340 Cannon. Follow-up
Oversight Hearing on G.I. Bill Implementation. (Serial No. 110-
107)
November 18, 2008. OPEN. 10:30 a.m. Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity. Hearing. VA Short and Long-Term
Strategies for Implementing New G.I. Bill Requirements. (Serial
No. 110-108)
November 19, 2008. OPEN. 10:00 a.m. OPEN. Full Committee.
Meeting. CRISIS: The VA Shreds Veterans' Confidence.
COMMITTEE WEB SITES
www.veterans.house.gov
www.republicans.veterans.house.gov
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs operates, maintains, and
updates a website (veterans.house.gov), as well as a minority
website (republicans.veterans.house.gov) containing
comprehensive and timely information on Committee activities,
Federal actions, and other news of interest to veterans. The
websites contain thousands of pages of information: Committee
Information; Committee Resources; Chairman's Welcome Message;
Committee Schedule; Publications; Committee Hearings; Committee
Spotlight; Legislation; Recent News; Multimedia Links; Veterans
Benefits; Veterans Healthcare; Subcommittees; and Live
Webcasting. The websites continue to be a resource for the
veteran community for news and information relating to benefits
and programs.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR 110th CONGRESS
In accordance with clause 2(d)(1) of Rule X of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs on January
30, 2007, adopted its oversight plan for the 110th Congress.
This oversight plan is directed at those matters most in
need of oversight during the duration of this Congress. The
Committee is cognizant that its oversight plans for the 110th
Congress ``have a view toward assuring effective, fact-based
management.'' The Committee will consult, as necessary, with
other House Committees having jurisdiction over the same or
related laws affecting veterans.
Oversight will be accomplished through committee and
subcommittee hearings, field and site visits by Members and
staff, review of documentation, and meetings and correspondence
with interested parties. Methods of oversight will include
existing and requested reports, studies, estimates,
investigations and audits by the Congressional Research
Service, the Congressional Budget Office, the Government
Accountability Office, and the Offices of the Inspectors
General of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor.
The Committee will seek the views of veterans' service
organizations, military associations, other interest groups and
private citizens. The Committee also welcomes communications
from any individuals and organizations desiring to bring
matters to its attention.
While this oversight plan describes the foreseeable areas
in which the Committee expects to conduct oversight during the
110th Congress, the Committee and its subcommittees will
undertake additional oversight activities as the need arises.
The full Committee may, at the discretion of the Chairman,
after consultation with the Ranking Republican Member, conduct
any of the oversight activities planned by the subcommittees.
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
1. Review of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
disability claim process. The Subcommittee plans to take a
wholesale look at the VA disability claim process from the
initial filing through the judiciary stage. This includes, but
is not limited to, inter-governmental cooperation, training of
claims adjudicators, uniformity of ratings, operation of the
Board of Veterans Appeals and decisions handed down by the
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The Subcommittee will
give special consideration to disability claims for post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury
(TBI).
2. Examination of the Nonservice-Connected Pension Program.
The Subcommittee plans to examine whether this pension program
is benefiting those who need it most. In addition, this
Subcommittee will look to see if it is appropriate to expand
the pension program to include veterans who may have been
previously omitted and the pay-go costs associated with any
expansion.
3. Outreach. The Subcommittee plans to take a close look at
the outreach efforts conducted by the VA to ensure that every
eligible veteran, surviving spouse or other candidate for
assistance is aware of the benefits available to him or her.
Furthermore, the Subcommittee will examine whether the rules
and pay-go costs regarding veteran eligibility need to be
expanded.
4. Maintenance, Appearance, and Upkeep of National
Cemeteries. The Subcommittee will examine the immediate and
long-term needs of the national cemetery system including the
need for additional VA national cemeteries or national cemetery
annexes. The Subcommittee will also review the condition of VA
national cemeteries, both open and closed, to determine if
their condition befits their status as national shrines to
veterans.
5. Insurance. The Subcommittee will examine all of the
insurance programs under the jurisdiction of the VA to ensure
that they are providing the proper level of indemnification. In
addition, the Subcommittee will examine the overall operation
of these insurance programs.
6. Burial Benefits. The Subcommittee will look at the
burial benefits provided by the VA to see if they are properly
functioning and/or need to be expanded.
7. Information Technology. The Subcommittee will review
current information technology programs related to the business
lines under the Subcommittee's jurisdiction with a focus on
VETSNET. The Subcommittee will also explore the applicability
of rules-based applications to further automate adjudication of
disability claims.
8. Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission. Public Law
108-136 established the Veterans' Disability Benefits
Commission. The commission will examine and make
recommendations concerning, among other things, the
appropriateness of the level of benefits and the
appropriateness of the level of benefits and the appropriate
standard of standards for determining whether a disability or
death of a veteran should be compensated. The Committee will
review the recommendations of the Commission through briefings
and hearings.
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunities
1. Employment and self-employment opportunities for
veterans--The Subcommittee plans to conduct hearings to
highlight servicemembers and veterans as a desirable business
asset, with a focus on recently separated servicemembers
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including demobilizing
Reserve and National Guard personnel.
2. Department of Labor workforce and transition services--
Public Law 107-288, the Jobs for Veterans Act, improved and
modernized the Department of Labor's veterans' employment and
training services, including providing veterans ``first-in-
line'' priority in all DOL funded employment and training
programs. Public Law 108-183 requires DOL to furnish pre-
separation job placement services to servicemembers serving
overseas. Public Law 109-461 modified and reorganized the
Veterans Employment, Training and Employer Outreach Advisory
Committee within the Department of Labor and the Subcommittee
will examine the progress and effectiveness related to the
Advisory Committee as well.
3. State Approving Agencies--Veterans may only receive GI
Bill benefits while attending a VA-approved course of
instruction. VA contracts with state education agencies to
approve and monitor education and training programs to ensure
they meet the needs of veterans. The state agencies also
provide local resources to investigate alleged violations of VA
education regulations as well as a wide range of oversight
functions on behalf of VA. Funding for the SAAs is scheduled to
be decreased at the end of fiscal year 2008. The Subcommittee
will explore the affects of any potential decrease in SAA
funding and possible alternative to current funding schemes.
4. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment--VA's
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program
provides services and assistance to enable veterans with
service-connected disabilities to obtain and maintain suitable
employment, and to enable certain other disabled veterans to
achieve independence in daily living. The Subcommittee will
examine VR&E's recent efforts to implement its 5-track program
throughout the 57 regional offices. In addition the
Subcommittee will likely focus on areas such as suitable
employment including self employment assistance to the most
seriously disabled veterans, contracted services, claims
processing, employer outreach and quality assurance.
5. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights
Act--Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
(USERRA) provides a broad range of employment rights and
responsibilities for veterans and employers. The law was
recently amended to establish a demonstration project for
improved enforcement by the Federal government. The
Subcommittee will assess the effectiveness of USERRA with
special emphasis on employers' willingness to hire National
Guard and Reserve members and employment-related issues related
to returning to the workforce following activation.
6. Transition Assistance to Demobilizing Reserve and
National Guard Personnel--Due to the increased utilization of
the Selected Reserve since September 11, 2001, many more
citizen soldiers are being activated and serving on active
duty. Consequently, as the Reserve and National Guard forces
demobilize after their activation period, they like active duty
troops require period of readjustment and transition services.
The Subcommittee will continue to examine and focus its efforts
to ensure that Selected Reserve personnel receive the
assistance and benefits they may need to successfully
transition into civilian workforce and lifestyle.
7. VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business/Center for
Veterans Enterprise--Public Law 109-461 required the VA to set
and meet certain procurement goals with respect to veteran and
service-disabled veteran owned small businesses. The
Subcommittee will examine VA's efforts to effectively implement
this law and improve its contracting efforts with such
concerns.
8. GI Bill--Congress, other than providing benefit
increases, has not comprehensively modified, modernized or
updated the Montgomery G.I. Bill since 1985. Due to advances in
technology, dynamic workforce changes, and ever increasing
demands on servicemembers, as well as military recruiting
efforts the time is right to seriously review the MGIB.
TheSubcommittee may hold a series of hearings to provide a
comprehensive review of the program and to ascertain whether the
current veterans' education system is adequate and reflects the way
current society learns, studies and trains for success. The
Subcommittee will also explore the effectiveness of various possible
improvements as a means to increase the use of education benefits, as
well as improving recruiting and retention in the armed forces.
9. Information Technology--VBA currently uses several
information technology applications to assist administration of
its education and vocational rehabilitation and employment
programs. Despite this basic level of automation, significant
backlogs persist. The Subcommittee will assess opportunities to
increase the ability of rules-based systems to improve
administration and decrease the backlogs.
Subcommittee on Health
1. Provision of VA Health Care--The Subcommittee will
examine the manner in which VA provides care to veterans, and
ways in which the VA's health care delivery can be improved.
The Subcommittee plans to examine how technology can improve
the delivery of health care, especially to rural and under-
served veterans. The Subcommittee plans to explore the current
efforts of the VA in meeting the health care needs of veterans'
including quality of care and access issues, as well as how the
VA can improve in the future. The Subcommittee also plans on
conducting oversight over the VA's Project HERO (``Healthcare
Effectiveness through Resource Optimization'') initiative, as
well as VA's current contract care practices.
2. Health Care Personnel--The Subcommittee plans on
evaluating VA's current efforts to recruit and retain nurses,
physicians, dentists, and other health care professionals. The
Subcommittee plans on examining how best to ensure that VA
personnel meet the health care needs of our veterans. The
Subcommittee will explore innovative measures VA medical
centers may use to attract and retain nursing personnel and
support quality patient care, including the Magnet Recognition
Program.
3. VA Medical and Prosthetic Research--The Subcommittee
plans on examining the effectiveness of the VA's current
research endeavors, how they match up with Congressional intent
in regards to addressing injuries and illnesses in the
veterans' population, and the importance of VA's clinical
research efforts. The Subcommittee also plans on looking at
such issues as the role of intellectual property in the
research effort and the function and effectiveness of VA's
research corporations.
4. Prosthetics and Specialized Services--The Subcommittee
plans to examine VA's specialized services, such as blind
rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, and prosthetics, including
ways to improve these services and ways the VA can meet
Congressional intent in these areas.
5. Women Veterans' Programs--With increasing numbers of
women veterans, the Subcommittee will examine VA's provision of
health care services to women, and whether there are
improvements that must be made.
6. Long-term Care--The Subcommittee plans to examine the
current state of VA's long-term care programs, and explore ways
to improve and augment the VA's efforts in this area, including
issues relating to state veterans homes and contract community
homes.
7. CARES, VA Construction, and Facilities Management--The
Subcommittee plans on reviewing the current state of the VA's
construction programs, including major and minor construction,
facilities management efforts, and capital asset plans. Also of
interest to the Subcommittee is the VA's historic preservation,
and enhanced use lease endeavors. The Subcommittee also plans
to continue monitoring the VA's collaborative efforts with
other governmental and non-profit health care entities.
8. VA Funding--The Subcommittee plans to examine the
adequacy of VA funding, and ways to improve the current funding
system. The Subcommittee is interested in examining the
efficacy of, and improvements to, the VA's financial controls
and systems, in order to better stretch scarce health care
resources. The Subcommittee plans on examining the Medical Care
Collections Fund (MCCF). The Subcommittee plans to examine the
VA's use of ``management efficiencies,'' and other budget items
that may serve to depress the Administration's annual budget
requests, as well as looking at the VA's ability to budget for
returning servicemembers and account for the long-term costs of
these new veterans.
9. PTSD and Mental Health Issues--The Subcommittee plans to
examine the VA's current efforts in the area of mental health
and post-traumatic-stress-syndrome (PTSD) as they relate to
returning servicemembers and veterans of previous conflicts.
10. Traumatic Brain Injury and VA Polytrauma Centers--The
Subcommittee plans on examining the efforts of the VA in
diagnosing and treating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as well as
the operation of the VA's Polytrauma Centers. Veterans
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have shown a marked
increase in TBI. The Subcommittee wants to ensure that the VA
is doing all it can in this area.
11. Homelessness--The Subcommittee plans to review the VA's
current efforts to combat homelessness amongst veterans, and
examine ways to improve services to homeless veterans.
12. VA/DOD Cooperation--The Subcommittee plans to examine
how the VA and DOD health care systems can best work together
to provide health care services to veterans. The Subcommittee
plans to look into progress the agencies have made in ensuring
that health information is shared, including electronic medical
records, and other ways in which both agencies can improve
services to returning servicemembers and veterans.
13. VA's Fourth Mission--The VA has an important role to
play outside of the direct provision of health care to
veterans. The Subcommittee plans to examine the VA's readiness
to accomplish its fourth mission--to serve as backup to the
Department of Defense health care system in times of war or
other emergencies and to support communities following domestic
terrorist incidents and natural disasters. The Subcommittee
seeks to be assured that the VA has devoted adequate resources
for its fourth mission contingencies and that the VA's fourth
mission duties do not detract from its first mission of caring
for veterans.
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
1. Competitive Sourcing and Alternative Management
Systems--The VA is implementing the President's Management
Agenda and Office of Management and Budget Directives through
competitive sourcing and alternative management systems. The
Subcommittee is interested in the factual basis for conduct of
this program and the organizational benefits yielded.
2. VA's Procurement and Acquisition System--the
Subcommittee will continue to monitor the performance of this
system to determine its efficiency and effectiveness. VA spends
over $6 billion annually for medical and surgical supplies,
prosthetics, information technology, construction and other
materials and services.
3. VA Information Technology Programs--VA has had problems
fielding integrated information technology systems. The
Subcommittee continues oversight of VA's progress.
4. VA Information Security Management Program--the loss of
computer hardware containing the personal information of
millions of veterans enhanced awareness of ongoing problems
with VA's information security program. The Subcommittee has
ongoing interest in the effectiveness of the program.
5. VA's Fourth Mission--Are they ready?--VA has a role in
this nation's response to certain types of large scale
incidents, whether natural or man-made. VA must maintain the
capacity to meet its responsibilities under the National
Response Plan and provide for its continuity of operations.
6. Force Protection and Seamless Transition--the
Subcommittee will oversee DoD and VA efforts to assure that the
transition between the two departments is seamless and
responsive to the needs of veterans. The Subcommittee review
will include DoD's referral of discharged Guard and Reeserve
personnel to VA's dental program for their follow-up dental
care.
7. Enhanced Land Leases and Divestment of Federal
Property--VA has used expanded authorizations to engage in
enhanced-use leases of its property and on occasion divests
federally-owned property. The Subcommittee will assure that the
decision process for these actions is sound and that revenues
received and other benefits are appropriate. Also of interest
to the Subcommittee is the VA's preservation of historic
landmarks and buildings and the appropriate disposition of
unused, unkempt, or hazardous facilities and properties.
8. Evaluating Management Efficiency-based Budget Offsets--
This Committee and the Government Accountability Office have
been critical of the VA's practice of offsetting budget
requirements with claimed management efficiencies. Subcommittee
interest in this issue is ongoing.
9. Chemical, Radiological, Biological and other Test
Veterans issues--Since WWII, servicemembers have participated
in tests with potentially harmful agents, to determine
warfighting capability and the utility of protective equipment.
The committee will assure that veterans who participated in
these tests receive appropriate care for medical problems
caused by the testing.
10. Medical Recruitment, Retention and Staffing--to include
nursing and certain medical specialties, pay and bonus issues,
title 5/38 issues, and employment conditions--Are the human
resource needs of VA being met effectively?
11. Human Subjects Protection--Previous problems in the
area of human testing led the committee to strengthen human
subject protections. The Subcommittee will review this matter
to assure the protections in place are working.
12. Laboratory and Clinical select agent security--VA Level
3 Laboratories and all VA Medical Centers are host to various
chemical, biological and radiological agents. Are these agents
secure?
13. VA Inspector General--Budget and Performance--The
Subcommittee will examine the budget of the VA Inspector
General (IG) and review how VA uses the recommendations of the
IG to increase efficiency and effectiveness in providing
services to veterans.
14. Veterans Preference in Federal Hiring--Categorical
Ranking Systems--Veterans have complained that Federal Veterans
Preference is not working. The Office of Personnel Management
has implemented an alternative personnel system to enlarge
selection pools of applicants. Is Veterans Preference lost in
this process?
15. Small Business Contracting Goals for Service Connected
Disabled Business Owners--The federal government has a poor
result in assuring that small business contracting goals with
service-connected disabled veteran small business owners are
being met. The Subcommittee will explore the root cause for
this underachievement.
16. Electronic Medical Records--Electronic medical record
keeping offers a number of potential benefits. Implementing and
integrating bi-directional electronic medical records should
result in savings, added security, and safety. The Subcommittee
will review the results of VA's efforts in this area.
17. Medical Care Collections Fund--The Subcommittee will
conduct oversight on VA collection efforts.
18. VA/DOD Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program--This
would implement a type of one-stop-shopping for servicemembers
separating from the service. The Subcommittee will review and
assess progress.
19. EEO Complaint Resolution System--Problems in the 1990's
led to significant changes. New changes are being crafted by
VA. The Subcommittee will conduct oversight to determine if
these changes have the impact Congress intended.
20. Worker's Compensation Program--VA is evaluating the
performance of this program. The Subcommittee will also review
the program and recent program changes for effectiveness and
adverse impact.
21. Credentialing and Screening of VA Employees--The
Subcommittee will review the portfolio of background checks and
reviews that involve current and potential VA employees with
the goal of assuring that veterans and coworkers are safe.
22. VA Reporting Requirements--VA reports to Congress and
to the Committees to meet a variety of requirements. The
Subcommittee will determine if it is possible to streamline or
consolidate any of these requirements?
REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET FROM THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS'
AFFAIRS, SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 301 OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
ACT OF 1974, ON THE BUDGET PROPOSED FOR FY 2008, MARCH 1, 2007
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC, March 1, 2007
Hon. John M. Spratt, Jr.,
Chairman, House Committee on the Budget
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to section 301(d) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, clause 4(f) of rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, and Rule 7 of the Rules
of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs hereby submits its views and estimates, along
with Additional Views and Estimates with regard to programs and
matters within the jurisdiction of the Committee to be set
forth in the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal
year 2008. The Minority will be submitting Additional and
Dissenting Views under separate cover.
Caring for our veterans is an ongoing cost of war, and a
continuing cost of our national defense. As a Congress, and a
nation, we must fulfill our obligations to the men and women
who have served. We hope that you will carefully consider these
Committee views and estimates. We have a lot of work ahead of
us if we are to keep our promises to veterans. Working
together, we can make sure that our veterans are not forgotten,
and that we meet our obligations to them as a nation.
Sincerely,
Bob Filner, Chairman; Corrine Brown, Vic Snyder,
Michael H. Michaud, Stephanie Herseth,
Harry E. Mitchell, John J. Hall, Phil Hare,
Michael F. Doyle, Shelley Berkley, John T.
Salazar, Ciro Rodriguez, Joe Donnelly,
Jerry McNerney, Zachary T. Space, Timothy
J. Walz.
DEMOCRATIC VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
MARCH 1, 2007
SECTION 1--DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
The Committee 1 is recommending a total of
$41.028 billion for discretionary accounts for the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA). This recommendation is $4.562
billion, or 12.5 percent, above FY 2007 levels, and $1.611
billion above the Administration's FY 2008 request. This
recommendation includes an increase in appropriated dollars for
VA medical care of $3.254 billion over FY 2007, and $1.310
billion above the Administration's request. The Committee
believes these additional resources are necessary if we are to
provide adequate funding for veterans' health care.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ While the Views and Estimates reflect a consensus effort, the
Committee wishes to note that not all Members of the Committee
necessarily agree with every aspect of the report. Accordingly, the
Committee reserves its flexibility to determine program needs and
recognizes the potential for funding changes as the Committee and
Congress work their will through the legislative process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA Medical Care
We are recommending a total of $35.512 billion in
appropriated dollars for the three accounts comprising VA
medical care (Medical Services, Medical Administration, and
Medical Facilities). This amount is $1.310 billion above the
Administration's FY 2008 budget request of $34.202 billion, and
is a 10.1 percent increase over the FY 2007 2
levels, compared to the Administration's increase of 6 percent
over FY 2007 levels. This recommended level is less than the
$36.348 billion (which represents a 12.7 percent increase over
FY 2007 levels) recommended by the Independent Budget, co-
authored by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed
Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The
Committee is recommending a total for the Veterans Health
Administration (VHA) (which includes Medical Care accounts and
Medical and Prosthetic Research) of $35.992 billion, $3.320
billion over FY 2007 levels and $1.379 billion above the
Administration's FY 2008 request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Amounts for FY 2007 are from P.L. 110-5, H.J. Res. 20, a joint
resolution making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year
2007, and for other purposes. This measure was signed into law on
February 15, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This recommended increase would better enable the VA to
meet high-priority needs in the coming fiscal year. These
increases would provide additional dollars for increased
patient workload, including estimated increases due to
servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, mental
health, long-term care, homeless programs, prosthetics, and
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Polytrauma Centers, which care
for our most grievously wounded veterans. The Committee's
medical care recommendation also includes additional funding
for the VA to begin to address urgent non-recurring maintenance
needs at VA facilities.
Medical Services
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 25,512,000,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 27,167,671,000
Independent budget...................................... 28,979,000,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 28,407,975,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +1,240,304,000
The Medical Services appropriation provides for medical
services of eligible veterans and beneficiaries in VA medical
centers, outpatient clinic facilities, contract hospitals,
State homes, and outpatient programs on a fee basis.
The Medical Services account comprises the majority of
funding for VA health care--nearly 80 percent of the total of
the three accounts that make up ``VA medical care.'' The
Committee is recommending a total increase in appropriated
dollars, above the Administration's request, of $1.240 billion.
Workload Increases
The Committee is concerned that the Administration may have
once again underestimated the total number of unique patients
it expects to see in FY 2008. Over the five-year period from FY
2002 through FY 2007, the VA saw an average annual increase in
unique patients of 4 percent, or approximately 203,000
additional patients per year.
The VA's FY 2008 budget request estimates a total of
5,819,176 total unique patients, a 134,030 increase above FY
2007 estimates of 5,685,146. This estimate is 2.4 percent above
the FY 2007 level. Out of the 134,030 increase in patients, the
VA estimates that 54,037 are attributable to an increase in
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/
OIF) veterans.
The Committee is recommending increased funding to care for
an additional 25,000 OEF/OIF veterans. In the FY 2007 VA budget
submission, the VA estimated that it would see 110,566 OEF/OIF
veterans in FY 2006 and 109,191 in FY 2007. In the current
submission, the VA now estimates 155,272 for FY 2006 and
209,308 for FY 2007. The Committee believes it is prudent to
provide additional resources to account for increased OEF/OIF
demand in case the Administration's estimates prove as
divergent in the coming year as these estimates have been in
the past.
The Committee has also requested additional funds to fully
fund the level of the average annual increase the VA has
experienced over the last five years (FY 2002-FY 2007). We note
that we have estimated costs separately for our estimate of an
additional 25,000 OEF/OIF veterans (which are a component of
the overall increase of 70,000 additional patients). The
committee has also included resources for an additional 30,000
patients (for a total overall increase including OEF/OIF
veterans of 100,000), recognizing the inherent volatility of
these estimates and the cost of health care, for a total
recommended increase for additional workload of $534 million.
The Committee notes that a possible reason for the VA
estimating a lower increase in workload may be attributable to
the Administration's proposal to increase the pharmacy
copayment from $8 to $15 for priority 7 and 8 veterans. The
Administration's proposal to institute an annual enrollment fee
would, if enacted, begin in FY 2009.
The Committee recommends an additional $534 million to
account for increased workload and to bring the VA's estimates
up to the average increase over the past five years.
Increase attributable to additional demand
from OEF/OIF veterans--$71 million
Increase attributable to overall health care
demand--$463 million
Priority Programs
Mental Health
VA Secretary R. James Nicholson testified before the
Committee regarding the VA's FY 2008 budget request on February
8, 2007, and stated:
The President's request includes nearly $3 billion to
continue our effort to improve access to mental health
services across the country. These funds will help
ensure VA provides standardized and equitable access
throughout the Nation to a full continuum of care for
veterans with mental health disorders. The resources
will support both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric
treatment programs as well as psychiatric residential
rehabilitation treatment services. We estimate that
about 80 percent of the funding for mental health will
be for the treatment of seriously mentally ill
veterans, including those suffering from post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD).
Colonel Charles W. Hoge, M.D., stated in testimony before
the Subcommittee on Health on September 28, 2006 ``[t]here are
now robust data from different sources that indicate that
approximately 10-15% of Soldiers develop PTSD after deployment
to Iraq and another 10% have significant symptoms of PTSD,
depression, or anxiety and may benefit from care. Alcohol
misuse and relationship problems add to these rates. Conditions
often overlap.''
An article in the Miami Herald, Combat Stress Takes its
Toll, But VA's Response Falls Short, from February 11, 2007,
calls into question VA's response to the mental health crisis
it faces, finding that mental health care is ``wildly
inconsistent from state to state'' and that the ``lack of
adequate psychiatric care strikes hard in the western and rural
states that have supplied a disproportionate share of the
soldiers in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan[.]''
Not only is the VA facing a surge in mental health needs
due to servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, but
soldiers from previous conflicts are seeking more mental health
treatment.
The Committee believes that the VA needs additional
resources in this area, and believes that the VA should fully
allocate resources dedicated to mental health. The Committee is
recommending a $125 million increase to address increasing
demand, as well as an additional $13 million for VA's Vet
Centers. The VA currently operates 207 Vet Centers, community-
based counseling centers that provide readjustment counseling
and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat
zone. Vet Center services are also available for family members
for military related issues. The Committee's recommendation for
Vet Centers would provide for $125 million for Vet Centers, and
enable the hiring of 100 veterans to provide outreach services,
as mandated by P.L. 109-461.
VA's ability to treat veterans with substance abuse
problems has continued to diminish. It has been reported that
many veterans who suffer from mental illness also suffer from
substance abuse. Also, early reports suggest that alcohol
misuse will have a profound impact on the reintegration efforts
of returning OEF/OIF veterans. The VA needs to be able to
handle not only the increase, but the veterans of past wars who
are on VA waiting lists to get into a substance abuse program.
The Committee recommends an additional $148 million for
mental health, to enhance capacity to meet the needs of new
veterans and veterans from previous conflicts who bear the
psychological wounds of war.
Increase to address the increasing demand on
VA's mental health services--$125 million
Increase funding for Vet Centers--$13
million
Increase VA's capacity to provide substance
abuse treatment--$10 million
Long-Term Care
The Administration is in violation of its statutory
responsibility to maintain FY 1998 levels for the Average Daily
Census (ADC) for VA nursing home care, as mandated by P.L. 106-
117,the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. The
VA's FY 2008 budget submission requests resources to support an
estimated 11,000 ADC, an amount 2,391 below the 1998 figure.
The non-institutional programs are indeed a necessary part
of VA's care continuum, but we should hold to the 1998
recommendations of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Future
of VA Long-Term Care that VA should maintain its bed capacity,
increase capacity in the state homes and double or triple
capacity in its non-institutional long-term care settings.
While telemedicine and home care are important components of
long-term care, telemedicine cannot help a veteran to get out
of bed or take a shower. Home care may not be suitable for many
severely disabled veterans who need 24-hour care for complex
medical and psychiatric conditions.
The Committee estimates that it would cost $567 million to
bring the VA up to compliance with P.L. 106-117. We recommend
increasing the VA's capacity to provide additional ADC in
nursing home care over the next three years. We believe that
this will enable veterans who need nursing home care to receive
it and enable this Committee to better analyze the VA's
argument that these nursing home beds are unnecessary. We
therefore recommend an increase of $189 million to enable the
VA to add an additional 800 ADC to its budget request of 11,000
and to begin to meet its statutory obligations.
While increasing the funding for VA to meet the statutory
requirements of VA operated nursing home care, we also
recommend that VA develop a long-term plan to meet the extended
care needs of its patient population. VA projects that in FY
2008, the demand for VA-sponsored institutional care will be
nearly 87,000 ADC. Neither VA, nor Congress, can ignore the
urgent and increasing needs consequent to the exponential
growth in the population of veterans who are frail and aging.
Increase for VA long-term care--$189 million
Prosthetics
We recommend providing an additional five percent increase
above the Administration's request for prosthetics. We remain
very concerned that we are not providing the necessary
resources to fund this area, especially in light of the
increased needs of our servicemembers returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Increase for prosthetics--$62 million
Homeless Veterans
VA is the largest single provider of direct service to
homeless veterans, reaching 100,000 or 25 percent of the
homeless veterans a year through their various programs. Like
their non-veteran counterparts, veterans are at high risk of
homelessness due to extremely low or no livable income, extreme
shortage of affordable housing, and lack of access to health
care. But these factors combined with their military service
put them at even greater risk of homelessness. Last Congress,
P.L. 109-461, the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and
Information Technology Act of 2006, increased the authorization
level for the VA's homeless grant and per diem program to $130
million. The VA estimates that it will spend $107 million in FY
2008. The Committee recommends that an additional $23 million
be made available to fund this program.
Increase in VA's grant and per diem
program--$23 million
TBI/Polytrauma
VHA Directive 2005-024, Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers,
dated June 8, 2005, states that:
While serving in Operations Iraqi and Enduring
Freedom, military service members are sustaining
multiple severe injuries as a result of explosions and
blasts. Improvised explosive devices, blasts, landmines
and fragments account for 65 percent of combat
injuries. Congress recognized this newly emerging
pattern of military injuries with the passage of Public
Law 108-422, Section 302, and Public Law 108-447.
Of these injured military personnel, 60-62 percent
have some degree of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Operating under a national Memorandum of Agreement with
the Department of Defense (DOD), the four current
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) TBI Lead
Rehabilitation Centers have provided rehabilitation
care to the majority of the severely combat injured
personnel requiring inpatient rehabilitation.
Consequently, they have developed the necessary
expertise to provide the coordinated interdisciplinary
care required. This experience has demonstrated that
treatment of brain injury sequelae needs to occur
before or in conjunction with rehabilitation of other
disabling conditions.
Recognizing the specialized clinical care needs of
Polytrauma patients, VA has established four Polytrauma
Rehabilitation Centers (PRCs). The mission of the PRCs
is to provide comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation
services for individuals with complex cognitive,
physical and mental health sequelae of severe and
disabling trauma and provide support to their families.
Intensive clinical and social work case management
services are essential to coordinate the complex
components of care for polytrauma patients and their
families. Coordination of rehabilitation services must
occur seamlessly as the patient moves from acute
hospitalization through acute rehabilitation and
ultimately back to his or her home community.
The Committee notes that TBI is considered by many to be
the signature injury of this war. We must ensure that the VA
has the resources it needs to begin tackling the issues
surrounding TBI, as well as the resources it needs for VA
Polytrauma centers to treat our most grievously wounded
veterans.
Increase funding for TBI/Polytrauma--$285
million
Other Areas of Concern
Priority 8 Veterans
The Committee believes that all veterans should have access
to VA health care. In January, 2003, the Administration banned
the enrollment of new Priority 8 veterans. The VA currently
estimates that lifting this ban would result in approximately
1.6 million veterans seeking health care at a cost of $1.7
billion. The Independent Budget estimates a total expenditure
of $366 million, but the Independent Budget's calculation uses
a utilization rate and subtracts out estimated collections.
Last year, in the Democratic Views and Estimates, the estimate
was $341 million, which included subtracting estimated
collections. The Committee will explore ways to re-open access
to all veterans.
We note that the authority of the Administration to deny
enrollment to an entire class of veterans was never meant to
extend ad infinitum, but was provided to the VA as a management
tool in order for it to address unexpected shortfalls that
might arise during the course of the year. Finally, we note
that these veterans are not necessarily ``high income''
veterans, as they are often described by some. These veterans,
who may be combat-decorated, can make as little as $27,000 per
year and be categorized as Priority 8 veterans and be shut out
of the system.
Recruitment and Retention of Health Care Professionals
Over the past few years, VA has received accolades for the
quality of health care it provides as an institution. To
maintain that quality, it is essential that VA develop and
execute an effective recruitment and retention program for
highly qualified medical personnel.
Through the VA's affiliations with 107 medical schools and
over 1,200 educational institutions, VA trains over 76,000
medical and associated health students, residents and fellows.
The Committee believes that it is essential that the VA
address recruitment and retention issues in order to ensure
that veterans receive quality health care not only today, but
in the coming years.
Efficiencies
The VA, in its FY 2008 budget submission, claims it will
achieve ``clinical and pharmacy cost avoidance.'' The VA does
not provide any estimates as to the totals of these ``cost
avoidances.''
The VA's FY 2007 budget submission, estimated a base level
of ``efficiencies'' of $884 million for FY 2006, and estimated
additional ``efficiencies'' of $197 million ($107 million in
clinical efficiencies and $90 million in pharmaceutical
efficiencies) for a total level of ``efficiencies'' of $1.1
billion. The GAO last year found that the VA was unable to
document previous claims of ``efficiencies.'' The VA's clinical
and pharmacy ``efficiencies'' language from the FY 2007 budget
submission is remarkably similar to the language on ``cost
avoidance'' in the FY 2008 budget submission.
The Committee is concerned that the VA is still relying on
``efficiencies'' without providing cost estimates for the level
of ``efficiencies'' it is relying upon, nor justifications
demonstrating that it is achieving ``efficiencies'' it has
claimed to achieve.
Medical Administration
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 3,177,000,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 3,442,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 3,378,067,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 3,442,000,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
The Medical Administration appropriation provides funds for
the expenses of management and administration of the VA health
care system. Included under this heading are provisions for
costs associated with operation of VA medical centers, other
facilities, and VHA headquarters, plus the costs of VISN
offices and facility director offices, chief of staff
operations, quality of care oversight, all information
technology hardware and software, legal services, billing and
coding activities, and procurement.
The Committee is proposing the same level of funding for
Medical Administration as requested by the VA.
Medical Facilities
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 3,569,000,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 3,592,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 3,991,152,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 3,661,974,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +69,974,000
The Medical Facilities appropriation provides funds for the
operation and maintenance of the VA health care system's vast
capital infrastructure. Included under this heading are
provisions for costs associated with utilities, engineering,
capital planning, leases, laundry and food services,
groundskeeping, garbage, housekeeping, facility repair, and
property disposition and acquisition.
The Committee is recommending an additional $70 million in
order to provide for a 25 percent increase for non-recurring
maintenance.
Provide additional resources to equal a 25
percent increase for Non-Recurring Maintenance
obligations over FY 2007 level--$70 million
The Committee notes that the VA's FY 2008 request transfers
$400 million and 5,689 FTE for Food Services from this account
to the Medical Services account. The Committee hopes that this
transfer does not obfuscate the resource requirements of either
the Medical Facilities or Medical Services accounts, and will
be monitoring these accounts to ensure that adequate resources
are in place to meet the needs of veterans.
Medical and Prosthetic Research
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 413,700,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 411,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 480,000,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 480,000,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +69,000,000
This account includes medical, rehabilitative and health
services research. Medical research is an important aspect of
the Department's programs, providing complete medical and
hospital services for veterans. The prosthetic research program
is also essential in the development and testing of prosthetic,
orthopedic and sensory aids for the purpose of improving the
care and rehabilitation of eligible disabled veterans,
including amputees, paraplegics and the blind. The health
service research program provides unique opportunities to
improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care
delivery system. In addition, budgetary resources from a number
of areas including appropriations from the medical care
accounts; reimbursements from the Department of Defense; and
grants from the National Institutes of Health, private
proprietary sources, and voluntary agencies provide support for
the Department's researchers.
The Committee recommends $480 million, an increase of $69
million above the Administration's FY 2008 request of $411
million. The Administration is seeking a $2.7 million cut below
the FY 2007 level.
The Committee recommends $2.7 million to restore the
Administration's proposed cut in its FY 2008 request. The
Committee also recommends $15.3 million to account for the
effects of biomedical inflation on VA research. The Biomedical
Research and Development Price Index, which was developed by
the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis for
use by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) estimates a 3.7
percent increase to account for inflation. By restoring funds
cut from the FY 2007 level and by more accurately projecting
the impact of inflation on VA's research dollars we signal a
strong commitment to VA's research program and achieve
stability for ongoing projects.
The Committee also recommends $3.5 million to restore
proposed cuts to VA's Centers of Excellence. The Administration
proposes $45.8 million in obligations for these Centers, down
from a level of $49.3 million for FY 2007.
The Committee also recommends an additional $47.5 million
in order for VA research to advance its efforts in areas such
as deployment health, genetic medicine, and chronic disease
management.
Deployment health includes prospective research to get
baseline information on the health status of military personnel
being deployed in combat zones. Research funding is needed to
collect pre-deployment health information to assist researchers
and clinicians in better assessing the health needs of
returning personnel. Deployment health is also responsive to
conflict-related conditions faced by returning military from
Iraq and Afghanistan. Such health needs currently include TBI,
PTSD, and injuries related to multiple-blast wounds.
Research into genetic medicine recognizes the need to
unlock the potential of applying genetics to improving
individual patient care and systems of care for veterans.
Funding is needed to understand the genetic composition of
individual veterans and how unique genetic profiles need to
change the way health care is provided. For example, genetic
information could help prevent adverse drug reactions known to
happen with individuals with unique genetic profiles.
Additionally, veterans with known genetic predisposition to
certain diseases could be monitored before diseases develop,
placed on preventative therapy where it exists, be closely
monitored and provided earlier intervention when appropriate.
Not only does genetic medicine have the ability to improve
individual patient care, it has the potential to improve
systems of care for our veterans.
Veterans of all ages and theaters of conflict suffer from
long-term chronic diseases. These diseases include mental
health disorders, lung diseases, diabetes, and heart
conditions. Research is needed to both improve clinical tools
to treat and cure these chronic diseases, but also to research
how systems of care can improve both individual patient care
and care of the veterans' population.
The Committee notes that the VA's expectation of receiving
additional federal dollars outside of monies appropriated in
this account may not be realized with the Administration's
proposed flat FY 2008 budget request for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). This makes increased appropriated
dollars in the Medical and Prosthetic Research account even
more vital to this important program. There was a concerted
effort to double the research budget of the NIH. The Committee
would like to see a similar effort undertaken for VA research.
The Committee recommendation of $480 million, an increase
of $69 million above the Administration's request, is comprised
of the following increases:
Restore the proposed cuts from the FY 2007
level--$2.7 million
Provide a 3.7 percent increase to account
for estimates of biomedical research inflation--$15.3
million
Restore proposed cuts to VA's Centers of
Excellence--$3.5 million
Provide additional resources for VA research
to address high priority projects--$47.5 million
General Operating Expenses
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 1,480,764,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 1,471,837,000
Independent budget...................................... 2,233,841,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 1,668,925,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +197,088
The General Operating Expenses appropriation provides for
the administration of all VA non-medical benefits and support
functions for the entire VA. The account is subdivided into two
activities; the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and
General Administration.
Veterans Benefits Administration
VBA consists of five programs: Disability Compensation,
Pensions and Burial; Education; Housing; Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment; and Insurance.
Compensation and Pension Service
VA provides service-connected compensation to veterans with
disabilities incurred or aggravated during military service,
dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) to surviving
spouses, children and low-income dependent parents of veterans,
pension benefits to elderly and disabled low-income wartime
veterans, death pension to the surviving spouses and children
of wartime veterans and benefits to certain children of
veterans who were disabled by spina bifida or other congenital
conditions related to their parent's military service.
Education Service
VA provides education assistance to servicemembers,
veterans, and certain eligible survivors and dependents in
exchange for military service. VA education assistance,
popularly known as the Montgomery GI Bill, is used by the Armed
Forces as a recruiting and retention tool, as well as a
readjustment benefit for servicemembers seeking to achieve
educational and vocational goals in the civilian workforce.
Housing (Loan Guaranty Service)
VA assists veterans and servicemembers to purchase and
retain homes in recognition of their service to the Nation.
VA's partial guarantee on loans made by private lenders enables
veterans and servicemembers to purchase homes with little or no
down payment, thereby making home ownership affordable to many
veterans.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)
VR&E provides employment services and assistance to enable
veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain suitable
employment and, to the maximum extent possible, achieve
independence in daily living.
Insurance
The Insurance Program provides servicemembers and their
families with universally available life insurance, as well as
traumatic injury protection insurance. It also provides for the
conversion to a renewable term insurance policy after a
servicemember's separation from service and provides life
insurance to veterans who have lost the ability to purchase
commercial insurance at standard (healthy) rates due to lost or
impaired insurability resulting from military service.
The Administration's request would provide resources for
13,065 FTE (9,559 in Disability Compensation, Pensions and
Burial; 894 in Education; 893 in Housing; 1,260 in Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment, and 459 in Insurance).
General Administration
General Administration funds the Office of the Secretary,
six Assistant Secretaries, the Board of Veterans' appeals, and
the Office of the General Counsel.
Recommendation
The Administration's request for the GOE account is
comprised of $1,198,294,000 for VBA, an increase of $30.4
million over the FY 2007 level, and $273,543,000 for General
Administration, a decrease of $39.4 million from the FY 2007
level.
The Committee is recommending $1.628 billion for this
account, an increase of $156 million over the Administration's
FY 2008 request. This increase would restore the proposed cuts
to the General Administration component of GOE, while adding an
additional 1,370 FTE, in line with the recommendation of the
Independent Budget for FTE, in order for the VA to begin to
address its enormous claims backlog. The Committee notes that
funding for the Board of Contract Appeals, effective January 7,
2007, was transferred to the General Services Administration
(GSA) as part of a government-wide plan to consolidate contract
appeals within GSA. The Committee has restored proposed cuts in
general Administration, but believes that any resources not
fully needed by the VA for this activity should be made
available to VBA in order to address the claims backlog.
As of February 17, 2007, the total number of compensation
and pension claims pending at the VA was 626,429, an increase
of 5,107 from the previous week (Source: VA Monday Morning
Workload Report, February 17, 2007). The number of pending
claims last year at this same time was 573,597 (Source: VA
Monday Morning Workload Report, February 18, 2006). The
Administration's request provides for 8,320 ``direct labor
FTE'' and an ``output per FTE'' of 101. The VA also estimates
that it will receive the same number of claims in FY 2008 as it
projects it will receive in FY 2007. Based on the VA's
estimates, an additional 1,000 FTE should decrease the claims
backlog in FY 2008 by 100,000 claims. The Committee recommends
that an adequate number of FTE be added to the VBA Education
Services Program to ensure that timely and accurate service
claims processing is provided at the educational services
Regional Processing Centers.
Provide for an additional 1,370 FTE to begin
to address claims backlog--$153 million
Restore proposed cuts in General
Administration from FY 2007 level--$44 million
Information Technology Systems
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 1,213,820,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 1,859,217,000
Independent budget...................................... 1,340,098,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 1,832,517,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. -26,700,000
The Information Technology Systems account was first
instituted in the FY 2006 VA appropriations bill (P.L. 109-
114). The VA is undergoing a significant change in its
information technology (IT) activities, consolidating all IT
staffing and budgetary resources under a Chief Information
Officer. The VA's FY 2008 request reflects staff transfers for
maintenance and operations, but does not include costs for
development employees, who are expected to be transferred at a
later date. Of the request, $1.3 billion is non-pay, and $555
million is pay.
The VA's base request represents an increase of $90 million
over the FY 2007 level--the additional monies are attributable
to the transfer of $555 million and 5,529 FTE into the IT
account.
The Committee is recommending $26.7 million less than the
Administration's request. We are recommending decreases in
funding for the Financial and Logistics Integrated Technology
Enterprise (FLITE) program, and Compensation and Pension
Maintenance and Operations program.
The VA requested $35 million for FLITE. The Committee
believes that $20 million is sufficient for this program for FY
2008. The FLITE program is the successor to the VA's Core FLS
program. In an article last year, a spokesman for
Pricewaterhouse Coopers, which was hired by the VA after the VA
had spent $342 million on Core FLS, stated that ``business
standardization is the first step. IT comes later.'' ``VA plans
CoreFLS Successor,'' Government Computer News, March 2, 2006.
The Committee believes that there is much the VA must
accomplish first before it should be spending $35 million on
this program.
The Committee is also recommending a decrease of $11.7
million for the VA's Compensation and Pension Maintenance and
Operations activities. The VA is seeking an increase from $6
million, the FY 2007 level; to $31.7 million, a total increase
of $25.7 million. The Committee believes that this increase is
sought without sufficient supporting documentation and is
therefore recommending a FY 2008 level of $20 million, an
increase of $14 million above FY 2007 levels and a decrease of
$11.7 million below the FY 2008 requested level.
Decrease in funding for FLITE and Maintenance
and Operations funding--$26.7 million
National Cemetery Administration
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 160,733,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 166,809,000
Independent budget...................................... 217,910,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 166,809,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
The National Cemetery Administration was established in
accordance with the National Cemeteries Act of 1973. It has a
fourfold mission: to provide for the interment in any national
cemetery with available grave space the remains of eligible
deceased servicepersons and discharged veterans, together with
their spouses and certain dependents, and to permanently
maintain their graves; to mark graves of eligible persons in
national and private cemeteries; to administer the grant
program for aid to States in establishing, expanding, or
improving State veterans' cemeteries; and to administer the
Presidential Memorial Certificate Program. This appropriation
provides for the operation and maintenance of 125 national
cemeteries and 33 other cemeterial installations in 39 states,
the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The Administration's requested level for FY 2008 of $167
million represents a 3.8 percent increase over the FY 2007
level of $161 million.
The Committee concurs with the Administration's request.
Office of Inspector General
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 69,500,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 72,599,000
Independent budget...................................... 73,233,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 84,445,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +11,846,000
The Office of Inspector General was established by the
Inspector General Act of 1978 and is responsible for the audit,
investigation and inspection of all Department of Veterans
Affairs programs and operations. The overall operational
objective is to focus available resources on areas which would
help improve services to veterans and their beneficiaries,
assist managers of Department programs to operate economically
in accomplishing program goals, and prevent and deter recurring
and potential fraud, waste and inefficiencies.
In testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations on February 15, 2007, the VA Inspector General
George J. Opfer stated that from FY 2001-2006:
OIG delivered a return on investment of $31 for every
dollar invested in OIG operations. We produced $11.6 billion in
monetary benefits from recommended better use of funds,
savings, costs avoidances, recoveries, questioned costs,
restitutions, and civil judgments. We issued 1,169 audit and
inspection reports with 6,601 recommendations to improve
services to veterans and to improve the economy and efficiency
of VA programs, operations, and facilities. Almost 90 percent
of these recommendations have been implemented by VA to date.
The Administration has requested $72.6 million for FY 2008,
an increase of $3.1 million above FY 2007 levels. The VA's
request assumes a total FTE level of 470, 13 fewer than FY
2007. The Committee recommends $84.4 million for FY 2008, an
increase of $11.8 million, or 21.5 percent over FY 2007 levels
and $11.8 million, or 16.3 percent, above the VA's FY 2008
request.
The Committee believes that as the OIG is being expected to
do more, and the economic benefit of investment in the OIG has
been clearly demonstrated, that an increase in FTE is
necessary. The Committee recommends restoring the proposed cut
in FTE and adding an additional 87 FTE, to provide for a total
FTE of 570.
Increase to restore proposed FTE cut of 13--
$1.5 million
Provide for an additional 87 FTE--$10.3
million
Construction, Major Projects
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 399,000,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 727,400,000
Independent budget...................................... 1,602,000,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 727,400,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
The Construction, Major Projects, appropriation provides
for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any VA
facility, including planning, architectural and engineering
services, assessments, and site acquisition, where the
estimated cost of a project is $10 million, or where funds for
a project were made available in a previous appropriation under
Construction, Major Projects.
For FY 2008, the Administration is requesting $727.4
million, an increase of $328.4 million, or 82.3 percent, over
FY 2007 levels. This recommendation includes $560 million for
VHA-related construction and $167.4 million for National
Cemetery Administration (NCA).
The NCA portion of the request seeks funds for Phase 1
Development for cemeteries in the Columbia/Greenville-area;
Sarasota-area; Jacksonville-area; Southeastern Pennsylvania-
area; Birmingham-area; and Bakersfield-area. The request also
seeks funding for Gravesite Development for the Ft. Sam Houston
National Cemetery and the Advance Planning Fund.
The VHA-related construction request, totaling $560
million, seeks funding for the following projects:
Pittsburgh, PA--Consolidation of Campuses
Total Estimated Cost--$248 million;
Funded through FY 2006--$102.5 million; FY 2008
Request--$40 million
Denver, CO--New Medical Center Facility
Total Estimated Cost--$646 million;
Funded through FY 2006--$55 million; FY 2008
Request--$61.3 million
Orlando, FL--New Medical Facility, Land Acquisition
Total Estimated Cost--$553.9
million; Funded through FY 2006--$25 million;
FY 2008 Request--$35 million
Las Vegas, NV--New Medical Center Facility
Total Estimated Cost--$600.4
million; Funded through FY 2006--$259 million;
FY 2008 Request--$341.4 million
Syracuse, NY--Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Center
Total Estimated Cost--$77.7 million;
Funded through FY 2006--$53.9 million; FY 2008
Request--$23.8 million
Lee County, FL--Outpatient Clinic
Total Estimated Cost--$109.4
million; Funded through FY 2006--$10.5 million;
FY 2008 Request--$9.9 million
The Additional $48.6 million is for various components of
the Major Construction account, such as the Advanced Planning
Fund, Claims Analysis, Asbestos, Hazardous Waste Abatement, and
other activities.
Construction, Minor Projects
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 198,937,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 233,396,000
Independent budget...................................... 541,000,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 248,396,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +15,000,000
The Construction, Minor Projects, appropriation provides
for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any VA
facilities, including planning, assessment of needs,
architectural and engineering services, site acquisition and
disposition, where the estimated cost of a project is less than
$10 million, with a minor improvement component costing
$500,000 or more.
The Administration has requested $233.4 million, an
increase of $34.5 million, or 17.3 percent, over FY 2007
levels.
The Committee notes that the VA's 5-Year Capital Plan 2007-
2012, submitted as part of the Administration's FY 2008 budget
request, lists over 1,200 ``FY 2008-2012 Potential Department-
wide Minor Construction Projects.'' The Committee hopes that
the VA is prioritizing these projects and is seeking sufficient
funding to meet these needs and other needs that arise and can
be best addressed through the Minor Construction account.
The Committee is recommending an additional $15 million
above the VA's FY 2008 request to provide funding to upgrade
and modernize research facilities. The Subcommittee on Health,
in a hearing on the VHA's FY 2008 budget request held on
February 14, 2007, receivedtestimony from the Friends of VA
Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA). FOVA recommended ``an annual
appropriation of $45 million in the minor construction budget dedicated
to renovating existing research facilities[.]'' The Committee notes
that the FY 2007 VA appropriations bill as passed by the House of
Representatives included $12 million in the minor construction account
``to be used solely for a program of upgrade and modernization of
research facilities to ensure they maintain or attain state-of-the-art
status.'' H.Rept. 109-464, to accompany H.R. 5385, the Military Quality
of Life and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill,
at 64. The Committee on Appropriations directed the VA to conduct a
comprehensive review of its research facilities and to report to
Congress by March 1, 2007. The VA has indicated that this review may
take three years to complete.
Increase to upgrade and modernize research
facilities--$15 million
Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 85,000,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 85,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 150,000,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 120,000,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +35,000,000
This program provides grants to assist States to construct
State home facilities, for furnishing domiciliary or nursing
home care to veterans, and to expand, remodel or alter existing
buildings for furnishing domiciliary, nursing home or hospital
care to veterans in State homes. A grant may not exceed 65
percent of the total cost of the project.
State homes play an important role in VA's long-term care
strategy by filling the gap of available beds for elderly and
sick veterans who need them. In FY 2006, there were 80 priority
group 1 projects for a total of $420 million. Priority group 1
projects are those projects that already have the State funding
to start construction. In FY 2007, VA's priority group 1
projects totaled $491 million with 22 of the top 23 needing
life safety corrections.
Increase for Construction of State Extended
Care Facilities--$35 million
Grants for Construction of State Veterans Cemeteries
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 32,000,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 32,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 37,000,000
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 32,000,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
This program provides grants to states for 100 percent of
the cost for the establishment, expansion or improvement of
state cemeteries. The states are responsible for on-going
maintenance. State cemeteries provide a last resting place for
veterans who live in areas not reasonably served by a national
cemetery.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Veterans Employment and Training
Department of Labor--Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
The Assistant Secretary for VETS serves as the principal
advisor to the Secretary of Labor on all policies and
procedures affecting veterans' employment matters. VETS
furnishes employment and training services to servicemembers
and veterans through a variety of programs, including providing
grants to States, public entities and non-profit organizations,
including faith-based organizations, to assist veterans seeking
employment. VETS also investigates complaints filed under
veterans' preference and re-employment laws. Specifically, VETS
administers the following programs: DVOP/LVER state grant
program; Transition Assistance Program; Veterans' Preference
and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
(USERRA); Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP);
Veterans Workforce Investment Program (VWIP); Federal
Contractor Program; and the National Veterans' Training
Institute (NVTI). The Administration requested a total of
$228.1 million in FY 2008 to support the staffing and grant-
making ability of VETS. This is a $5.1 million, or 2.3 percent,
increase over FY 2007. For FY 2008, the Committee recommends an
increase of $5 million for VETS, for a total of $233.1 million.
This recommended level would provide an additional $3 million
for HVRP, bringing that program up to $26.6 million; $1 million
for NVTI; and $1 million for additional FTE, including one
additional FTE in each of the six regional offices to address
complaints and investigations arising under USERRA.
OTHER AGENCIES
American Battle Monuments Commission
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 41,988,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 53,300,000
Independent budget...................................... N/A
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 53,300,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
Includes appropriation for salaries and expenses, and foreign currency
fluctuations.
The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is
responsible for the administration, operation and maintenance
of cemetery and war memorials to commemorate the achievements
and sacrifices of the American Armed Forces where they have
served since April 6, 1917. In performing these functions, the
Commission maintains 24 permanent American military cemetery
memorials and 31 monuments, memorials, markers and offices in
15 foreign countries, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, and the British dependency of Gibraltar. In addition,
six memorials are located in the United States: the East Coast
Memorial in New York; the West Coast Memorial, the Presidio in
San Francisco; the Honolulu Memorial in the National Memorial
Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii; and, the American
Expeditionary Forces Memorial and the World War II and Korean
War Veterans Memorials in Washington, D.C.
The ABMC is seeking a total of $53.3 million for FY 2008,
consisting of $42.1 million for salaries and expenses, and
$11.2 million for costs associated with foreign currency
fluctuations.
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
FY 2007 enacted......................................... 20,100,000
FY 2008 request......................................... 21,217,000
Independent budget...................................... N/A
FY 2008 recommendation.................................. 21,217,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
The Veterans' Judicial Review Act, P.L. 100-687,
established the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The
Court has exclusive jurisdiction to review decisions of the
Board of Veterans' Appeals. The court, one of four Article I
courts in the federal judicial system, may affirm, vacate,
reverse, or remand decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Out of the total denials from the Board in FY 2006 of 18,107,
the Court received 3,729 filings, or 21 percent of the number
of total denials from the Board.
The Court's request for FY 2008 includes $1,120,000 for the
Pro Bono Representation Program. This program is administered
by the Legal Services Corporation. The Court includes the
Program's FY 2008 request as an appendix to its submission, and
applauds the ``Program's high success in providing, along with
others, counsel to reduce the percentage of unrepresented
appellants before the Court. Since 1997, the percentage
unrepresented appellants at the decision point of their appeals
has dropped from 48-percent in FY 1997 to 24-percent or less in
FY 2006.''
SECTION 2--MANDATORY ACCOUNTS
Full Equity for World War II Filipino Veterans who Served in the U.S.
Army
Many World War II Filipino veterans, who served and fought
alongside American servicemembers during World War II, do not
receive veterans' benefits. Shortly after the war, Congress
passed the Rescission Acts which stripped away many veterans'
benefits for Filipino service members who served in the U.S.
Army. For the past 60 years, Congress has taken a piece-meal
approach to restoring these benefits.
We recommend an additional $900 million be included to
complete the last step of the process of restoring these
veterans' benefits.
Increase for Filipino World War II veterans
who served in the U.S. Army--$900 million
Belated Thank You to Merchant Mariners
World War II Merchant Mariners suffered the highest
casualty rate of any of the branches of service while they
delivered troops, tanks, food, airplanes, fuel and other needed
supplies to every theater of the war. Despite their efforts
during the war, Merchant Mariners were not covered by the
original G.I. Bill of Rights. No legislation to benefit
merchant seamen was passed by Congress until 1988 when the
Seaman Acts of 1988 finally granted them a ``watered down''
G.I. Bill of Rights. To make up for lost benefits and
opportunities, we recommend an additional $400 million be
included in the budget resolution to permit Merchant Mariners,
and their surviving spouses, to receive a monthly benefit of
$1,000.
Increase for Merchant Mariners--$400 million
Other Areas of Concern
There are several mandatory veterans' programs where there
is room for improvement. These are programs that provide
monetary assistance to disabled veterans and their families.
Compensation and Pension Benefits
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors with
dependent children under 18.
DIC is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of a
military service member who died while on active duty, a
veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or
disease, or a veteran whose death resulted from a nonservice-
related injury or disease, and who was receiving, or was
entitled to receive, VA Compensation for service-connected
disability that was rated as totally disabling for at least 10
years immediately before death, or since the veteran's release
from active duty and for at least five years immediately
preceding death, or for at least one year before death if the
veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after September
30, 1999.
In May of 2001, the Program Evaluation of Benefits for
Survivors of Veterans with Service-connected Disabilities
recommended that surviving spouses with dependent children
receive an additional amount per month for the first five years
after the veterans' death. Public Law 108-422 provided an
increase, but only for the first two years of eligibility.
Pension and death pension benefits for veterans and surviving spouses
and children
Veterans who have honorably served the Nation during a
period of war and who have reached age 65 or who are under age
65 and are totally and permanently disabled as the result of
nonservice-connected disabilities are eligible to receive a
pension benefit if they meet certain income criteria. Surviving
spouses and children of such wartime veterans, including adult
disabled children, are eligible for a death pension. According
to a 2004 evaluation of VA's pension program, the pension
program is not meeting Congressional intent because it is not
allowing veterans and their survivors to live in dignity.
Insurance
Base premiums for Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (SDVI) on
current actuarial tables
The SDVI program provides life insurance to veterans with
service-connected disabilities who apply within two years of
being service-connected and who would be insurable but for
their service-connected disabilities. At the time the SDVI
program began, premium rates were based on the then current
(1941) actuarial tables used by commercial life insurance
companies. Although commercial life insurance tables have been
updated several times since 1941 (most recently in 2001),
service-connected disabled veterans, including those injured in
Afghanistan and Iraq, are subjected to premiums approximately
three times higher than the original program intended because
the actuarial tables are more than 60 years out of date.
In May of 2001, the Program Evaluation of Benefits for
Survivors of Veterans with Service-connected Disabilities
recommended that veterans' premiums should be based on current
mortality rates.
SDVI maximum insurance
In May of 2001, the Program Evaluation of Benefits for
Survivors of Veterans with Service-connected Disabilities
recommended that SDVI coverage limits should be increased. The
basic amount of SDVI available has not been increased from
$10,000 since 1951.
Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI)
VMLI is a type of mortgage life insurance available only to
those veterans disabled enough by a service-connected
disability to qualify for a specially adapted housing grant.
Today, VMLI covers only about 55 percent of the mortgages of
these veterans. The mortgage coverage has been the same since
1992.
Readjustment Benefits
Total Force GI Bill
The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), implemented over 20 years
ago, was a landmark piece of legislation that provided
education and training benefits to many veterans. The time has
come to update, modernize, and provide greater flexibility
within the VA's educational assistance programs. For GI Bill
education benefits to remain a relevant recruitment, retention,
as well as readjustment benefit, we must ensure that VA's
education and training programs reflect the manner in which
individuals earn and learn in the 21st Century.
Congress, other than providing benefit increases, has not
significantly modified administrative or process provisions of
the GI Bill since 1985. Due to advances in technology,
recognition of the lifetime learning concept, dynamic workforce
changes, and ever-increasing demands on military recruiting
efforts, Congress should review the current veterans' education
system and make necessary changes to provide servicemembers,
veterans and their families relevant education and training
benefits that meet their educational and vocational goals for
success.
The Committee plans, on a bipartisan basis, to explore a
number of options to improve and modernize the GI Bill. The
VA's Advisory Committee on Education and the Partnership for
Veterans Education--a group made up of traditional veterans and
military service organizations, as well as higher education
advocates all have endorsed a proposal termed the ``Total Force
GI Bill.'' The proposal has three features: one, a clearer
alignment of education benefit rates according to service
rendered; two, establishment of a readjustment element to
reservists' MGIB benefits earned during activation for a
contingency operation (presently, activated reservists eligible
for the new `Chapter 1607' MGIB can only retain unused
entitlement by remaining in the Selected Reserve--there is no
portability of benefits after completion of a Selected-Reserve
service contract; three, to achieve the first and second
objectives and to ensure future correlation of active duty,
veterans, and National Guard and Reserve benefits in an
equitable and proportional manner, Chapters 1606 and 1607 in
Title 10 and Chapter 30 in Title 38 need to be reorganized
together under Title 38.
State Approving Agencies/Montgomery GI Bill
State Approving Agencies (SAA) have partnered with the VA
in the administration of veterans educational and training
programs for nearly 60 years. Through the program approval and
supervision process, they ensure that money spent on the
Montgomery GI Bill is money well spent. Moreover, SAA provide
critical assistance in reducing the opportunities for fraud,
waste and abuse throughout the system. For FY 2006 and 2007 the
VA's Education Service was allocated $19 million from the
Readjustment Benefits Account to enter into contracts with SAA
for purposes of approving courses of education under the
Montgomery GI Bill and other related activities. Per section
301 of P.L. 107-330 at the end of fiscal year 2007, the SAA
funding will decrease to $13 million. The Committee believes
that Congress must find a way to restore this proposed cut to
this activity.
Section 3--Chart
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS FY 2008
(In thousands)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2008 FY 2008 FY 2008 Committee
Account FY 2007 President's FY 2008 Request Independent FY 2008 Committee FY 2008 Committee vs. FY 2008
Request vs. FY 2007 Budget Recommendation vs. FY 2007 Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical Services........................................... 25,512,000 27,167,671 1,655,671 28,979,220 28,407,975 2,895,975 1,240,304
Medical Administration..................................... 3,177,000 3,442,000 265,000 3,378,067 3,442,000 265,000 0
Medical Facilities......................................... 3,569,000 3,592,000 23,000 3,991,152 3,661,794 92,794 69,794
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Medical Care.................................. 32,258,000 34,201,671 1,943,671 36,348,439 35,511,769 3,253,769 1,310,098
Medical and Prosthetic Research............................ 413,700 411,000 -2,700 480,000 480,000 66,300 69,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Veterans Health Administration................ 32,671,700 34,612,671 1,940,971 36,828,439 35,991,769 3,320,069 1,379,098
====================================================================================================================================
General Operating Expenses................................. 1,480,764 1,471,837 -8,927 2,233,841 1,668,925 188,161 197,088
Information Technology Systems............................. 1,213,820 1,859,217 645,397 1,340,098 1,832,517 618,697 -26,700
National Cemetery Administration........................... 160,733 166,809 6,076 218,335 166,809 6,076 0
Office of Inspector General................................ 69,500 72,599 3,099 73,233 84,445 14,945 11,846
Construction, Major Projects............................... 399,000 727,400 328,400 1,602,000 727,400 328,400 0
Construction, Minor Projects............................... 198,937 233,396 34,459 541,000 248,396 49,459 15,000
Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities.. 85,000 85,000 0 150,000 120,000 35,000 35,000
Grants for Construction of State Veterans Cemeteries....... 32,000 32,000 0 37,000 32,000 0 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Departmental Administration.................... 3,639,754 4,648,258 1,008,504 6,195,507 4,880,492 1,240,738 232,234
Other Discretionary........................................ 154,548 155,572 1,024 158,629 155,572 1,024 0
====================================================================================================================================
Total Discretionary.................................. 36,466,002 39,416,501 2,950,499 43,182,575 41,027,833 4,561,831 1,611,332
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPUBLICAN LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC, March 1, 2007
Hon. John Spratt,
Chairman, Committee on the Budget
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974 and House Rule X, clause 4(f), I herewith submit to the
Committee on the Budget the Views and Estimates of the
Republican Members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
regarding the Administration's FY 2008 budget request for
veterans' programs.
In recommending record discretionary funding for veterans'
health care and benefits, the Republican Budget Views and
Estimates reflects our enduring priorities: to care for
veterans who have service-connected disabilities, those with
special needs, and the indigent; to ensure a seamless
transition from military service to the care of the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA); and to provide veterans every
opportunity to live full, healthy lives.
Reflecting the cost of war, Republican Members recommend
funding that honors our returning servicemembers with truly
seamless transition from the military to quality VA health care
and benefits. Our recommendations further increase access to VA
health care and preserve the high quality of care for which VA
has justly become the envy of the medical community. Funding
recommended by Republican Members will resource VA to slash the
backlog in disability claims with a progressive blend of
personnel increases, leveraged technology, and an energized
network of intergovernmental collaboration.
The Republican views and estimates take into consideration
information provided to the Committee in February 2007 during
hearings on the budget at which written and oral testimony was
provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the national
leadership of some veterans' service organizations (VSOs), and
other authorities.
These views and estimates consider insights gathered in the
109th Congress, during which the Committee enhanced input from
VSOs and military service organizations (MSOs) by holding
hearings during development of the views and estimates and
boosting the number of these groups which testified. In
February 2006, 19 of these organizations testified on the
budget, and in September 2006, 20 testified in a fiscal-year
review. Many of these views retain their validity. Contending
with the Majority's decision to restrict the hearing process
and curtail the opportunity for veterans' groups to testify
early in the budget cycle, the Republican views and estimates
continue to implement insights of last year.
In developing these views and estimates, we commend the
President and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for sending to
the Congress a strong request. The Administration's FY 2008
budget submission reflects the priorities of a nation at war
and the commitment of Americans to care for their veterans. The
President has proposed substantial increases in the budgets of
agencies focused on fighting the war on terror, the Department
of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Consistent
with his focus, the Department of Veterans Affairs, with its
mission of caring for those who have borne the battle, again
this year received a substantial increase. Much of the rest of
government received very modest, if any, augmentation.
Medical services funding recommended within this Budget
Views and Estimates strengthens our ability to respond directly
to the needs of servicemembers returning from the global war on
terror. Many of these warriors have suffered traumatic brain
injury and other grievous and complex injuries requiring the
most advanced treatments and rehabilitation. Veterans and the
families at their side will see dramatic increases in medical
care accounts, mental health care, and funding for polytrauma
care. Republicans recommend increases in research, prosthetics,
sensory aids, and blind rehabilitation. As we expand current
access to quality health care and long-term care, our
recommendations will dramatically improve VA's future ability
to care for veterans with aggressive construction spending on
the kind of medical facilities that veterans need, where they
need them.
Sports at all levels of skill provide the opportunity for
service-disabled veterans to accelerate their rehabilitation
and improve their overall lives. In 2005, VA joined with the
U.S. Olympic Committee to provide increased opportunities for
service-disabled veterans to participate in sports and we
recommend funding to defray the program's modest expenses.
The backlog of disability compensation and pension claims
continues to climb. It is now well past 600,000, with another
137,000 appeals awaiting decision. Just since the beginning of
February 2007, nearly 10,000 claims have been added to the
backlog. Each claim is a veteran waiting for the government to
act, and possibly dying before that happens. We recommend
funding 1,000 additional full-time employee equivalents over
the Administration's request, 600 for compensation and pension
adjudication, and 400 for education and veterans'
rehabilitation and employment programs. We would also increase
hiring for the Board of Veterans' Appeals above the
Administration's request.
Additional hiring is only part of the solution to improving
quality, accuracy, and timeliness in claims processing.
Republican Members recommend funds for mobile claims offices,
training and performance support systems, and skills
certification and improved processes. Innovations such as
rules-based technology could help speed accurate decision
making, as will closer partnerships with municipal, county and
state veterans offices and veterans groups; our recommendations
include funding for pilot projects in these areas.
Our young men and women returning from military service are
a national treasure. During the 109th Congress, the Committee
determined the need to modernize the Montgomery GI Bill for
both active duty and reserve component servicemembers.
Consequently, we propose additional mandatory spending to
improve these education and training benefits, which have
proven since 1944 to be one of our nation's greatest
investments.
The nation lost some 688,000 veterans in 2006, with similar
numbers projected for the near future, most from our ``Greatest
Generation.'' More than 1,600 veterans pass from us each day,
most of whom served during World War II and the Korean War. To
assure our veterans a final resting place in a national shrine,
the Republican Membership recommends additional funds for
operations, maintenance and minor construction of National
Cemeteries, and for an accelerated expansion of some existing
cemeteries which are near or at capacity.
The cause of America's veterans has long been a bipartisan
cause calling forth the best efforts within the community of
legislators. The Republican Membership looks forward to working
with the Committee's Majority Members and the Budget Committee
on this salutary basis as we develop a FY 2008 veterans' budget
that continues to honor this nation's commitment to those who
have borne the battle and to their families.
Sincerely,
Steve Buyer, Ranking Republican Member; Cliff
Stearns, Committee Member; Dan Burton,
Committee Member; Jerry Moran, Committee
Member; Richard H. Baker, Committee Member;
Henry E. Brown, Jr., Committee Member; Jeff
Miller, Ranking Republican Member,
Subcommittee on Health; John Boozman,
Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity; Ginny Brown-Waite,
Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee on
Oversight & Investigations; Michael R.
Turner, Committee Member; Brian P. Bilbray,
Committee; Doug Lamborn, Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs;
Gus M. Bilirakis, Committee Member.
REPUBLICAN VIEWS AND ESTIMATES FOR FY 2008
March 1, 2007
OVERVIEW
For veterans healthcare and program costs in FY 2008, the
Republican Members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
recommend $1.411 billion above the Administration's request for
discretionary spending in FY 2008. In addition, we recommend
$1.5 billion for a legislative initiative to modernize GI Bill
education and training benefits for servicemembers of the
Reserves and National Guard.
Veterans Benefits Administration
Mandatory Funding
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) administers a
broad range of non-medical benefits to veterans, their
dependents, and survivors through 57 regional offices. These
programs include disability compensation, non service-connected
pension, education, vocational rehabilitation, burial,
insurance, and home loan guaranty.
The Republican Members support the Administration's FY 2008
budget request of $45 billion in mandatory funding for
veterans' programs, a 6.6 percent increase over the enacted
level for FY 2007.
Discretionary Funding
With the exception of the recommendations noted below, the
Republican Members support the Administration's FY 2008 request
of $1.2 billion in discretionary funding for the management of
the benefits programs--disability compensation, pension,
education, vocational rehabilitation and employment, housing,
burial, and life insurance.
Disability Compensation--The Administration requests $941
million in budget authority to fund the discretionary portion
of the Disability Compensation, Pension, and Burial programs,
including administrative expenses of 9,559 Full Time Equivalent
Employees (FTEE), an overallincrease of 114 FTEE over FY 2007.
This accounts for a transfer of 334 FTEE to VA Office of Information
and Technology (OI&T), a loss of 9 FTEE in Management Direction and
Support, and a gain of 457 FTEE for Compensation and Pension (claims
adjudicators).
For FY 2008, VBA projects the same number of claims it
received in FY 2007: 800,000. The backlog of compensation and
disability claims has grown since February 2006 by more than
52,000 to a total of 626,429 on February 17, 2007. This backlog
has grown by some 9,742 claims just since the beginning of
February 2007.
The Administration estimates the backlog of pending rating
related compensation and pension claims will decrease to
330,000 from the current 401,700 and the average days to
complete such a claim from 177 to 145 by the end of FY 2008.
The evidence from early 2007, however, does not support that
estimate. We recommend 1,000 additional FTEE over the
Administration's request, for a cost of $109,375,000. Of this
1,000 FTEE, we recommend 600 FTEE for direct compensation for
Compensation and Pension over the Administration's request of
457 FTEE, at a cost of approximately $65,400,000. The remainder
of this additional 1,000 FTEE would serve in Education and
Vocational Rehabilitation.
The Republican Members recognize that additional direct
compensation FTEE will not improve quality, accuracy, and
timeliness in claims processing without corresponding increases
in training resources. Therefore, we recommend an additional
$400,000 for Training and Performance Support Systems and an
additional $400,000 for Skills Certification.
The Department has spent more than $600 million over the
past decade in an attempt to automate the compensation and
pension claims processing system. This complicated paper-driven
process is more than 25 years old. With the growing demands on
the system, VBA needs to reexamine its Business Process
Reengineering (BPR) focus to implement changes necessary in the
field. The Republican Members recommend $25 million for BPR to
reengineer and streamline the claims process and implement
major business process changes.
Pilot Program for Rules Based Adjudication System--The
Republican Members recommend $5 million for a pilot program to
develop a rules-based adjudication system for compensation and
pension programs. This could reduce the backlog by allowing a
computer to accurately adjudicate simple claims, allowing human
adjudicators to work on more complex cases at a faster rate.
Intergovernmental Partnerships--The Republican Members also
recommend $6 million for a pilot program to explore the
feasibility of intergovernmental partnerships in the
development of compensation and pension claims between VA and
municipal, county and state veterans departments and service
officers, as well as veterans' and military service
organizations. We recommend the pilot occur in three states:
New York, Missouri, and Wyoming, or other states with varied
veteran demographics. This expanded pilot would build on
findings from the 2002 intergovernmental pilot conducted
between VA's Buffalo, NY, regional office and the New York
State Division of Veterans Affairs.
Education Service--VBA estimates a workload increase of
over 16,000 education claims, but the Administration requests
only 14 additional direct support FTEE. As of February 17,
2007, the backlog of education claims was 76,000, and average
processing times for original and supplemental claims were 40
and 17 days respectively, with targets of 35 and 15 days. While
this is an improvement over the previous year, it is
insufficient to meet the needs of veterans.
The loss of experienced staff from retirements, increased
workloads, and the pending backlog of claims convince us that
an additional 100 FTE are needed for the Education Service with
a projected discretionary cost of $7.8 million.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment--The
Administration requests an additional 39 direct service FTEE
for the Vocational Rehabilitation & Education program. We
applaud the Department's efforts to realign functions and
duties to allow counseling and employment staff to concentrate
on increasing rehabilitation rates. However, we believe current
average caseload, which now exceeds 130 per counselor
nationally, should be about 100 per counselor to provide
appropriate levels of service. Therefore, we recommend $28.5
million to fund an additional 300 professional level FTEE.
VA-USOC Military Paralympic Program--Competition at elite
levels of athletic events requires significant dedication to
training, especially for service-disabled athletes. Therefore,
we believe it is appropriate for VA to defray expenses for
service-disabled athletes participating at elite levels in the
program. We estimate the cost at $1 million per year. The
Department recently announced an expanded agreement with the
U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to promote participation in
athletics by service-connected disabled veterans. This includes
competition at elite levels culminating in the USOC Paralympic
Program. The Republican Members recommend an additional $2
million to offset administrative and other costs for this
program.
Mobile Claims Offices--The Republican Members are aware
that access to Regional Offices can be difficult for many
veterans. We recommend $2 million for a pilot program on Mobile
Claims Offices. VBA staff members in mobile offices helping
veterans with their claims could speed up the claims process by
improving communication and access for veterans.
Board of Veterans' Appeals
The Administration requests $58.5 million to support 468
FTEE for the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), an increase of
$2.5 million and 31 FTEE over FY 2007. The Republican Members
recommend an additional $4,055,000 to this request to support
an additional 32 FTEE for a total BVA staffing of 500 FTEE. The
BVA provides independent reviews of VA regional office
decisions and makes the final administrative decision on behalf
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. While BVA has made
improvements, it continues to experience difficulties meeting
the production levels needed to reduce the backlog of over
137,000 appeals. The average time to decide an appeal is now
over 400 days. We believe that additional staff is necessary if
BVA is to provide timely and accurate decisions to veterans and
their families.
National Cemetery Administration
National Shrine Commitment--The Administration requests
$362.3 million in discretionary funding for the National
Cemetery Administration (NCA). This includes $166.8 million for
operations and maintenance of VA's national cemeteries and
1,582 FTEE, an increase of $7 million and decrease of 7 FTEE
over the FY 2007 Administration request. Additionally, the
Administration requests $24.4 million in minor construction to
address cemetery infrastructure improvements.
Cemetery Operations and Maintenance--The Republican Members
recommend an additional $9 million to the Administration's
request of $166.8 million NCA operations and maintenance, and
an additional $5 million for minor construction.
Gravesite Expansion--Additionally, the Republican Members
recommend an additional $60 million to accelerate VA's five-
year strategic plan to fund National Cemetery gravesite
expansion. The nation lost some 688,000 veterans in 2006, with
similar projections for the near future, most from our
``Greatest Generation.'' The Republican Membership believes
accelerated expansions are an appropriate response to assure
veterans a final resting place in a national shrine. Expansions
funded in FY 2008 would include National Cemeteries in
Calverton, NY, Houston, TX, Dayton, OH, and Phoenix, AZ.
Alternative for Headstones--The Republican Members
recommend $100,000 for VA to offer a bronze V as an alternative
to a headstone to mark the graves of veterans whose graves are
marked by a non-VA marker.
Veterans Health Administration
For FY 2008, the Administration requests $34.2 billion in
appropriations for discretionary spending on veterans' medical
care, an increase of $1.943 billion or 6 percent over the FY
2007 appropriated level.
Medical Services--The Administration requests $27.2 billion
for medical services. We recommend an $850.2 million increase
above the Administration's request as follows:
Medical Patient Workload--We recommend a $100 million
increase to provide timely and accessible high-quality
health care to core constituency veterans--the service-
connected disabled, injured and indigent;
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom (OIF/OEF)--We recommend a $100 million increase
to provide medical care to military personnel who
served in OIF/OEF;
Prosthetic and Sensory Aids--We recommend a $65
million increase to cover the increased costs of
providing, repairing and replacing prosthetics and
sensory aids;
Polytrauma System of Care--We recommend a $50 million
increase to enhance specialized treatment in VA's
polytrauma rehabilitation centers for servicemembers
and veterans with traumatic brain injuries;
Mental Health--We recommend a $200 million increase
to continue implementation of mental health initiatives
begun in 2005 to address deficiencies and gaps in
services. While this amount is substantial, last
September the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
reported that VA had not used all of the mental health
funds Congress allocated. We expect better performance
in VA's use of these resources to meet the emerging
demand for mental health services, especially post
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). VA must plan for and
fund those programs that have been identified as
particularly relevant to the needs and requirements of
our servicemembers;
Case Management--We recommend $10 million to hire 100
new social workers to provide case management at
military treatment facilities.
Blind Rehabilitation Services--We recommend a $25
million increase to increase the number of Blind
Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists at VA facilities
as required by Public Law 109-461 and enhance access
and quality of services for blinded veterans.
Dental Care--We recommend a $100 million increase to
provide dental care for the increasing number of
returning veterans from OIF/OEF. Many OIF/OEF active
duty, Guard, and Reserve servicemembers are returning
with serious dental problems, and are not receiving
corrective dental care prior to separation from active
duty. VA is then obligated to treat these separated
servicemembers, often through costly contract care.
Medical Care Collections Fund (MCCF)--We recommend a
$60 million increase in medical services as we remain
concerned that VA cannot meet its estimated collections
goal.
Emergency Preparedness--We recommend a $60 million
increase to fulfill VA's fourth mission
responsibilities. We remain committed to achieve the
readiness necessary by supporting emergency
preparedness activities.
Long-term Care--We recommend an $80.2 million
increase to support increased demand for long-term care
services.
Medical Administration--The Administration requests $3.4
billion for medical administration, and we concur with this
request.
Medical Facilities--We recommend an $80 million increase
above the Administration's request for necessary costs
associated with operating and maintaining VA's health care
system infrastructure.
Medical and Prosthetic Research--The Administration
requests $411 million in appropriations for medical and
prosthetic research, a decrease of $2.7 million below the FY
2007 appropriated level. We place a high premium on conducting
research into injuries and illnesses related to military
service that benefit the clinical treatment needs of veterans.
While the Department intends to place additional reliance on
outside federal grants to realize a net gain in research
funding, we recommend a $51 million increase above the
Administration's request. This increase includes an additional
$20 million for research to promote the successful
rehabilitation, psychological adjustment and reintegration of
veterans who suffer with traumatic brain injuries.
Legislative Proposals--The Administration includes
proposals for three legislative initiatives. These proposals
would: (1) allow VA to establish a tiered annual enrollment fee
for priority groups 7 and 8 veterans based on family income;
(2) increase pharmacy co-payments for priority groups 7 and 8
veterans from $8 to $15; and (3) eliminate the practice of
offsetting or reducing VA first-party co-payment debts with
collection recoveries from third-party health plans. These
legislative requests differ from those proposed in the past, in
that they do not reduce the Administration's request for
discretionary medical care appropriations. The additional
revenue would be classified as mandatory receipts to the
Treasury and would not be retained in VA for veterans' health
care programs. The Republican Members reject these legislative
proposals.
VHA Major Construction Projects--The Administration
requests $560 million for VHA major construction projects. We
recommend a $231.12 million increase above the Administration's
request. Of this amount, we recommend $164 million to continue
projects that were partially funded and that VA did not request
additional funding for in FY 2008; $30.32 million for the
advanced planning fund for advancing several of the FY 2008
prioritized major construction projects; and $36.8 million to
carry out section 804 of Public Law 109-461 for the design of a
co-located joint-use medical facility in Charleston, South
Carolina.
Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities--
The Administration requests $85 million in appropriations for
grants for the construction of state extended care facilities,
the same amount as the FY 2007 appropriated level. The
partnership between the federal government and States is a
longstanding and honored tradition of cost sharing. We
recommend a $35 million increase above the Administration's
request.
Office of Information and Technology
The Republican Members concur with the administration's
request for $1.86 billion for the Office of Information and
Technology (OI&T). However, we recommend reallocation of
funding amounts to individual accounts or programs within the
budget for OI&T due to poor performance or failures, as
follows:
Reduced funding: We recommend reducing funding in the
amount of $20 million to the Financial and Logistics
Integrated Technology Enterprise (FLITE), due to poor
performance.
Reduced funding: In the amount of $20 million to the
Compensation & Pension Maintenance and Operations fund
that was to be allocated to VETSNET.
Additional funding: In the amount of $20 million to
the Office of the Inspector General for Information
Security Risk Assessment for Forensic Analysis.
Additional funding: In the amount of $10 million for
Cyber Security.
Additional funding: In the amount of $10 million for
the Office of Information and Technology Oversight and
Compliance Office.
Additional funding: In the amount of $1 million to
accelerated development of The Expert Education System.
We note that as part of the VA centralization of its IT
accounts and personnel under the auspices of the Chief
Information Officer, an additional $555 million for FY 2007 has
been reallocated in pay transfers from other accounts to
support 5,529 FTE for operations and maintenance activities
that were previously included in other accounts throughout the
Department.
Office of the Inspector General
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for
the audit, investigation, and inspection of all VA programs and
operations. For FY 2008, the Administration requests $72.6
million and 445 Full Time Equivalent Employees (FTEE) to
support the activities of the OIG. This compares with the FY
2007 request of $69.5 million for administrative expenses and
458 FTEE. However, this FY 2008 funding level would result in a
reduction of 40 FTEE from current staffing levels. Major
audits, reviews and investigations would have to be cancelled
should this reduction in staffing occur. During FY 2006, OIG
identified over $900 million in monetary benefits, for a return
of $12 for every dollar expended on OIG oversight. The
Republican Members of the Committee recommend adding $4.153
million to the FY 2008 funding request, in order to provide for
a total of 558 FTEE.
U.S. Department of Labor--Veterans' Employment and Training Service
The Administration has increased the request for all
programs administered by the Veterans Employment and Training
Service with the exception of the Veterans Workforce
Integration Program. We support the increased funding levels
and recommend three additional increases, as follows:
National Veterans Training Institute--In Public Law 109-
461, Congress mandated several changes in the state grant
program that will require greater training capacity at the
National Veterans Training Institute in Denver, CO. We
recommend an additional $1 million to fund NVTI operations.
USERRA Training and Enforcement--The Veterans Employment
and Training Service has primary responsibility for enforcing
veterans' employment and reemployment rights under USERRA. VETS
federal staff located in each of the six regions are
responsible for administration and training VETS staff located
in each state. With the high operational tempo of members of
the Selected Reserve, case loads are climbing and additional
resources are required to ensure timely resolution of USERRA-
related cases. Therefore, we recommend an additional $1 million
to fund six additional professional investigators.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program--This program has
been cited by GAO and others as an effective model employment
program for homeless veterans. The Administration has requested
an additional $2 million for the program. Because we are
concerned about the apparent increase in homeless veterans from
the first Gulf War and current conflicts in the global War on
Terror, we recommend an additional $3 million above the
President's request to enable VETS to expand the number of
grantees serving homeless veterans while maintaining quality
standards for grantee performance.
Proposed Legislation
GI Bill--During the 109th Congress, the Economic
Opportunity Subcommittee conducted a series of hearing and site
visits to determine the need to modernize the Montgomery GI
Bill for both active duty and members of the Selected Reserve.
MGIB benefit levels for active duty members have not nearly
kept pace with the increasing cost of higher education, and
extensive utilization of the Reserve Components in the Global
War on Terror justifies increases in the basic levels of their
benefits. Therefore, we propose an additional $1.5 billion in
mandatory spending to improve education benefits. This includes
indexing the basic payment at 100% of the Department of
Education average four year public school cost.
ADDITIONAL VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
HONORABLE STEVE BUYER
The Administration's requested FY 2008 budget for veterans'
programs includes legislative proposals to change the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) fee structure for health
care. The proposals for certain fees and co-payments are more
fully described in the Republican Views and Estimates for FY
2008. According to the legislative proposals, the revenue
generated by these fees and co-payments would be mandatory
receipts to be deposited in the U.S. Treasury, rather than
retained by the VA for the benefit of veterans. I strongly
believe that any revenue generated from enrollment fees and co-
payments should be retained by the VA for its veterans
programs.
The Administration's proposal includes fees, copayments
related to enrollment of category 7 and 8 veterans in medical
care. The Administration proposed a tiered enrollment fee based
on income. The fees would range from $250 per year for a
veteran with an income of $50,000 to $750 per year for a
veteran with an income of $100,000 or greater. Copayments for
pharmaceuticals would rise from the current $8 to a new level
of $15 per 30-day supply. VA would also be authorized to
discontinue the current practice of offsetting or reducing a
patient's first party co-payment debt from funds received from
third-party insurance for non service-connected treatment. I
support these initiatives that would generate $355.2 million in
the first year and $4.866 billion over 10 years, if the
revenues generated were retained by the VA.
The first priority should be to improve the GI Bill
education and training benefits for members of the National
Guard and Reserves. These dedicated men and women are bulwarks
in the Global War on Terror who are serving shoulder to
shoulder with their active duty counterparts in Iraq,
Afghanistan and wherever they are needed. However, their GI
Bill education and training benefits are significantly less.
They should have greater parity with the active duty forces in
these benefits. The application of the revenues from the
Administration's proposed fees and copayments to GI Bill
increases for the Reserve Components would be a fitting way to
recognize their service to our Nation.
REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET FROM THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS'
AFFAIRS, SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 301 OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
ACT OF 1974, ON THE BUDGET PROPOSED FOR FY 2009, FEBRUARY 28, 2008
House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC, February 28, 2008
Hon. John M. Spratt, Jr.,
Chairman, House Committee on the Budget
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to Sec. 301(d) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and House Rule X, clause
4(f), and Rule 7 of the Rules of the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs hereby submits its
Views and Estimates with regard to programs and matters within
the jurisdiction of the Committee to be set forth in the
concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2009. The
Minority will be submitting Additional and Dissenting Views
under separate cover.
Caring for our veterans is an ongoing cost of war, and a
continuing cost of our national defense. As a Congress, and a
nation, we must fulfill our obligations to the men and women
who have served. We hope that you will carefully consider these
Committee views and estimates. We have a lot of work ahead of
us if we are to keep our promises to veterans. Working
together, we can make sure that our veterans are not forgotten,
and that we meet our obligations to them as a nation.
Sincerely,
Bob Filner, Chairman; Corrine Brown; Vic Snyder;
Michael H. Michaud; Stephanie Herseth
Sandlin; Harry E. Mitchell; John J. Hall;
Phil Hare; Michael F. Doyle; Shelley
Berkley; John T. Salazar; Ciro Rodriguez;
Joe Donnelly; Jerry McNerney; Zachary T.
Space; Timothy J. Walz.
DEMOCRATIC VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
FEBRUARY 28, 2008
SECTION 1--DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
The Committee \1\ is recommending an overall level of $48.6
billion for the discretionary accounts of the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) for FY 2009. This recommendation is $5.5
billion, or 12.7 percent, above the FY 2008 level of $43.1
billion, and $3.8 billion, or 8.6 percent, above the
Administration's FY 2009 request of $44.8 billion.
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\1\ While the Views and Estimates reflect a consensus effort, the
Committee wishes to note that not all Members of the Committee
necessarily agree with every aspect of the report. Accordingly, the
Committee reserves its flexibility to determine program needs and
recognizes the potential for funding changes as the Committee and
Congress work their will through the legislative process.
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This recommended discretionary level includes an increase
for VA medical care of $4.5 billion, or 12.3 percent, above FY
2008, and $2.5 billion, or 6.5 percent, above the
Administration's request. The Committee believes these
additional resources are necessary if we are to provide
sufficient funding for veterans' health care, restore many of
the cuts proposed by the Administration, and keep our promises
to our veterans.
VA Medical Care
For VA medical care (the Medical Services, Medical
Administration, and Medical Facilities accounts) the Committee
is recommending $41.2 billion in appropriated dollars, $2.5
billion above the Administration's FY 2009 budget request of
$38.7 billion, and is a $4.5 billion, or 12.3 percent, increase
over the FY 2008 levels. The Administration requests a 5.5
percent increase over FY 2008 levels.
Including total available resources (including medical
collections), the Committee recommendation would provide $43.7
billion for VA Medical Care. This recommended level in total
medical care resources is $882 million above the amount
recommended by the Independent Budget, co-authored by AMVETS,
Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and
the Veterans of Foreign Wars.\2\ Including funding for the VA's
Medical and Prosthetics Research account, the Committee is
recommending a total for the Veterans Health Administration
(VHA) of $41.8 billion ($44.3 billion including collections),
$4.6 billion above the FY 2008 level and $2.6 billion above the
Administration's FY 2009 request.
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\2\ In prior years, the Independent Budget recommendation did not
include amounts attributable to medical collections. This year, the
Independent Budget changed its methodology and included amounts
attributable to medical collections in its FY 2008 Medical Services
baseline and is recommending that these amounts be fully provided for
in the Medical Services appropriation, in accordance with its long-
standing position that these amounts should be ``a supplement to, not a
substitute for'' appropriated levels. In FY 2008, medical collections
amounted to 6.2 percent of the amount available for VA medical care; in
FY 2009, these collections are 6 percent of the VA's request. If the
collection amounts estimated for FY 2009 are subtracted from the
Independent Budget recommendation, the Independent Budget is requesting
$40.3 billion for VA Medical Care, which compares to the Administration
request of $38.7 billion ($1.6 billion above the Administration's
request) and the Committee recommendation of $41.2 billion ($900
million below the Committee's recommendation).
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The Committee recommendation would better enable the VA to
provide quality health care in a timely fashion and to meet
high-priority needs in the coming fiscal year. The recommended
funding level would provide additional dollars to account for a
higher level of inflation than estimated by the Administration
to ensure the health care received by veterans tomorrow is not
less than the care received today. The Committee recommends
additional resources to account for a greater workload level
and health care demand than estimated by the VA, including a
greater-than-estimated number of veterans returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan. The Committee provides additional resources
for mental health care and services, long-term care, homeless
programs, prosthetics, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) care
and treatment. The Committee recommendation restores proposed
cuts to Non-Recurring Maintenance funding, funding that is
essential if the VA is not to experience deteriorating medical
facilities that impede the delivery of quality health care. The
Committee also recommends providing funding to end the
Administration's ban on enrollment of Priority 8 veterans
(veterans with incomes above the geographically adjusted
Housing and Urban Development threshold for low-income
housing--$28,430in some communities--and who do not have
compensable service-connected conditions) first instituted by the
Administration in January 2003.
As Congress contemplates further spending on the war in
Iraq through the supplemental funding process, the Committee
plans to seek opportunities to add additional resources for
veterans' programs--for we should not forget the warrior as we
fund the war.
Medical Care--Total Resources
[Including collections]
FY 2008 Enacted......................................... 39,135,220,000
FY 2009 Request......................................... 41,203,363,000
Independent Budget...................................... 42,821,903,000
FY 2009 Recommendation.................................. 43,703,870,000
Recommendation vs. Request.............................. 2,500,507,000
The Committee, as it has every year they have been
proposed, emphatically rejects the Administration's proposal to
institute enrollment fees and increase co-payments for certain
veterans. The Administration estimates that instituting an
enrollment fee and increasing pharmaceutical co-payments would
result in $2.3 billion (over 5 years) and $5.2 billion (over 10
years) in mandatory receipts. The Administration proposes that
these dollars be considered ``mandatory'' as compared to
``discretionary dollars'' and would direct that they be
deposited in the Treasury instead of being retained by the VA.
According to the VA, as many as 444,000 veterans next fiscal
year would choose not to be enrolled in the VA and 146,000
individual veterans would not seek VA health care if the
Administration's fee and co-payment proposals were accepted by
Congress. The Committee remains puzzled as to why the
Administration requests these proposals annually in the face of
consistent Congressional opposition, and is concerned about the
effect these proposals have, especially in terms of workload
and resource estimates, on VA budget estimates and planning for
future years.
MEDICAL CARE--TOTAL RESOURCES
[By account]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent FY 2009 HVAC Recommendation
FY 2008 enacted FY 2009 request budget recommendation vs. request
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical Services......................................... 29,104,220,000 29,465,503,000 32,153,138,000 31,656,100,000 +2,190,597,000
Medical Administration................................... 3,517,000,000 4,610,000,000 3,625,762,000 4,610,000,000 0
Medical Facilities....................................... 4,100,000,000 4,661,000,000 4,576,143,000 4,971,000,000 +310,000,000
Total, Medical Care...................................... 36,721,220,000 38,736,503,000 40,355,043,000 41,237,100,000 +2,500,597,000
MCCF Collections......................................... 2,414,000,000 2,466,860,000 2,466,860,000 2,466,860,000 0
Total, Medical Care (with Collections)................... 39,135,220,000 41,203,363,000 42,821,903,000 43,703,960,000 +2,500,597,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Important Notes:
For comparison purposes, and unless
otherwise noted, amounts attributable to medical
collections have been subtracted from the Independent
Budget's Medical Services recommendation (and, when
appropriate, are displayed on the MCCF Collections
line). Medical collections are not included in the
discretionary estimates relied upon by the Committee on
the Budget. In a departure from previous
recommendations, the Independent Budget has included
collections in its baseline for Medical Services for FY
2008 and is advocating that these amounts be fully
appropriated in the Medical Services account for FY
2009. Therefore, the Independent Budget is recommending
$34.6 billion in Medical Services to account for this.
The Independent Budget has not provided clear
recommendations regarding how Congress and the
Administration are to treat the $2.5 billion, or 6
percent of the VA health care budget, received in
collections. The Administration's request, and the
Committee recommendation, does not include
appropriating medical collections in the Medical
Services account.
The Administration's FY 2009 budget
submission proposed abolishing the Medical
Administration account and including these activities
in the Medical Services account. Under this structure,
the VA is requesting $34.1 billion for the Medical
Services account. The Views and Estimates displays the
VA's request in the traditional three-account structure
and amounts attributable to the Medical Administration
account have been subtracted from the Medical Services
account and restored to the Medical Administration
account.
Medical Services
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 29,104,220,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 29,465,503,000
Independent budget...................................... 32,153,138,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 31,656,100,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +2,190,597,000
Description \3\
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\3\ Unless otherwise noted, account descriptions are from H. Rept.
110-186.
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This appropriation provides for medical services of
eligible veterans and beneficiaries in Department medical
centers, outpatient clinic facilities, contract hospitals,
State homes, and outpatient programs on a fee basis. Hospital
and outpatient care is also provided by the private sector for
certain dependents and survivors of veterans under the civilian
health and medical programs for the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration has requested $29.5 billion
for the Medical Services account, an increase of $400 million
above the FY 2008 level of $29.1 billion. The Committee
recommends $31.7 billion, $2.6 billion above FY 2008 levels and
$2.2 billion above the Administration's request.
The Committee recommendation would:
Provide additional resources for medical
inflation--$166 million;
Provide for additional workload, including
increased number of OEF/OIF veterans--$613 million;
Provide additional funding for mental
health--$223 million;
Provide additional funding for long-term
care--$332 million;
Provide additional amounts for homeless
veterans by matching the authorization level for the
Grant and Per Diem program--$8 million;
Provide for an additional 5 percent increase
for the VA's Prosthetics program--$66 million;
Provide additional resources for TBI care
and treatment--$32 million;
Provide funding to end the Administration's
ban on enrollment of Priority 8 veterans--$750 million.
Inflation: The VA is estimating an overall medical
inflation rate of 4.63 percent. According to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, ``[f]or the 12 months ended in December, the
medical careindex rose 5.2 percent, its largest annual advance
since a 5.4 percent increase in 1993.'' (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Consumer Price Index: December 2007, released January 16, 2008).
Although as with any forward-looking estimate the future remains
uncertain, the Committee believes that it is more likely than not that
medical inflation will be closer to the level experienced in 2007 than
the amount estimated by the VA. The Committee, therefore, recommends
that an additional $166 million be provided to match the estimated rate
of medical inflation in FY 2009.
Workload: The Committee is concerned that the
Administration may have, once again, underestimated the total
number of unique patients it expects to see in FY 2009. From FY
2003 through FY 2008, the VA saw an average annual increase in
unique patients of 2.7 percent and from FY 2002 through FY 2008
the VA saw a 3.3 percent average annual increase. For FY 2009,
the VA estimates a 1.6 percent increase, including an increase
of only 2,621 Priority 7 and 8 veterans. As part of this 1.6
percent increase, the VA expects it will see 333,275 OEF/OIF
veterans, an increase of 39,930 from the FY 2008 current
estimate. The VA is now estimating it will see 293,345 OEF/OIF
veterans in 2008, an increase of 87,717 over FY 2007 while
initially estimating last year that this increase would only
amount to 57,717. The Committee recommends $613 million in
additional funding to provide for an increased number of OEF/
OIF veterans that more closely matches the VA's recent
experiences and ongoing combat activities in Iraq and
Afghanistan, as well as to provide a modest increase in overall
unique patients that more closely tracks the VA's average
annual workload increases.
Mental Health: For FY 2009, the VA has requested a 9
percent increase in mental health care spending. With the VA
facing an ever-growing demand for mental health services,
especially from veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,
the Committee is recommending a 15 percent increase for FY
2009, or $212 million in additional resources. The Committee
recommendation also provides funding for an additional 15 Vet
Centers, bringing the total for FY 2009 up to 247. The VA
estimates 232 for FY 2009, which matches the current estimate
for FY 2008 and is 23 more than the number in FY 2007.
Long-Term Care: The Committee recommends an additional $332
million for VA's Long-Term Care program. The Administration is
in violation of its statutory responsibility to maintain FY
1998 levels for the Average Daily Census (ADC) for VA nursing
home care, as mandated by P.L. 106-117, the Veterans Millennium
Health Care and Benefits Act. The VA's FY 2009 budget
submission requests resources to support an estimated 11,000
ADC, an amount 2,391 below the 1998 figure, and equal to its FY
2008 budget request. The Committee recommends additional long-
term care funding for the VA to begin to meet its statutory
obligations. In addition, the Committee recommends additional
funding for non-institutional and community-based services,
especially those programs targeting the unique needs of
younger, wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
who need long-term care services.
Homeless Veterans: The Committee recommends an additional
$8 million to bring the VA's Grant and Per Diem program up to
the levels authorized in the 109th Congress. Although Congress
has authorized this program at a level of $130 million, the VA
is requesting $122 million. The Committee plans to explore
changes to the Grant and Per Diem program where appropriate in
order to begin to effectively address the tragedy of homeless
veterans.
Prosthetics: The Committee recommends providing an
additional 5 percent increase for the VA's Prosthetics program.
This will assist the VA in meeting the needs of a new
generation of wounded veterans needing technologically advanced
prosthetics, while not forgetting the needs of our older
veterans.
TBI Care and Treatment: VA's budget estimate regarding
spending for TBI states that data used to make these estimates
are preliminary and ``based on stable growth patterns with
small increases thru 2009 and beyond.'' (FY 2009 VA Budget
Submission, Volume 2, 1H-18). The Committee understands that
insufficient data may not provide an accurate or realistic
picture of the needs of veterans with TBI, from mild to more
severe cases. TBI is often called the signature wound of the
current conflict, and the Committee believes the VA must be in
the forefront of providing health care to our veterans with
TBI. The Committee recommends an additional $32 million for TBI
care and treatment, a 15 percent increase above FY 2009
estimated levels. Additionally, the Committee believes that VA
should look at innovative programs, such as increasing the
number of patient or bedside advocates to help insure that our
seriously wounded veterans receive the health care and services
they need, as well as rapidly meeting its responsibilities
under title XVII of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization
Act (P.L. 110-181).
Women Veterans: Although the Committee is pleased that the
VA has requested an additional $14 million over FY 2008 levels
for the Women Veterans Outreach Program, the Committee believes
that the VA must ensure that women veterans get the care and
treatment they have earned. Additional resources may well be
necessary in order to meet the needs of an ever-increasing
cohort of women veterans.
VA/DoD Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund: The VA has
transferred $15 million to this cooperative effort in FY 2008,
but plans to provide no funding in FY 2009. In FY 2007, $35
million was transferred. The Committee believes it is essential
that the VA find the needed resources to continue this
important endeavor.
The Committee urges the VA to work closely with the DoD to
institute and operate an innovative program to address the
needs of returning servicemembers, especially regarding mental
health care, and their families. We believe that an approach
involving servicemembers and their families receiving
information on benefits, necessary training and support, as
well as specific services in a joint and comprehensive manner
at the point of discharge or immediately prior to discharge
offers a unique manner in which the VA and DoD can address the
needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who are
beginning the process of integrating back into civilian life.
Ending Enrollment Ban on Priority 8 Veterans: The Committee
recommendation includes $750 million to meet the costs
associated with ending the Administration's enrollment ban on
Priority 8 veterans. The Committee requested a detailed report
from the VA regarding the costs the VA believes it would incur
if the enrollment ban was lifted. This report was promised to
the Committee by January 1, 2008. The Committee finally
received a copy on February 26, 2008.
The Committee is disappointed at the level of detail
provided by the VA. The report provides no specific information
regarding how the VA ended up estimating that it would
``require $3.1 billion dollars to provide health care services
to the additional 1.4 million enrollees and approximately
750,000 patients during the first year of implementation,'' nor
does it include detailed information regarding facility
requirements and staffing levels. The VA believes that 2013
would be the first year it would be able to allow enrollment of
new Priority 8 veterans by putting into place ``needed
infrastructure to accommodate increases in demand'' and
questions its ability to meet staffing requirements by this
time.
The VA argues that ``[a]ccounting for the increased growth
expected under the current enrollment policy and reopening
enrollment in 2013 to new Priority 8 veterans will result in a
total growth in enrollees of 22 percent and a total growth in
users of 21 percent.'' According tothe VA, growth under the
current policy of banning enrollment of new Priority 8 veterans would
result in an increase of 4 percent (enrollees) and 6 percent
(patients).
The Independent Budget bases its estimate as to net cost
($600 million) to lift the enrollment ban on a projection of
1.9 million new users and a utilization rate of 20 percent. The
VA's estimate is based on 1.4 million enrollees and a
utilization rate of 54 percent. The Committee is concerned that
the VA's estimates are filled with apparent contradictions. The
VA argues that lifting the enrollment ban is not necessary
since ``almost 91 percent of Priority 8 enrollees report having
some form of health insurance coverage other than VA.'' At a
hearing on Priority 8 veterans held last year, a witness
testified that as many as 2 million veterans may be without
health insurance and not have access to VA care. The VA also
argues that new enrollees would mainly utilize ``ambulatory,
diagnostic and pharmacy services.'' The VA states that
``[a]pproximately 75 percent of current enrollees report that
they do not intend to use VA as their primary source of health
care in the future.'' The VA then bases its cost estimate
assuming a utilization rate of 54 percent for new enrollees, a
figure that seems unduly high considering VA's statements
regarding reliance and utilization.
The Committee would like to see more specific details
regarding its estimates as to costs over the first year ($3.1
billion), 5-year period ($16.9 billion), and ten-year period
($39.3 billion). The Committee does not put great faith in
these estimates. For example, the 5-year cost of $16.9 billion
seems to provide for slightly more than an annual increase
based upon its first year estimate, even though the VA states
elsewhere in its report that ``once enrollment in Priority 8 is
reopened, VA expects a significant surge in the first year''
which would seem to necessitate a higher first-year cost and
lower costs for future years.
The Committee wants to ensure that the VA has the resources
it needs to lift the ban and ensure that veterans currently in
the system do not see a diminution of service or access. The
Committee believes that $750 million in additional funding is
sufficient to meet the increased demand for services that would
occur once the enrollment ban is lifted, but retains its
flexibility to recommend additional resources if it is
convinced that additional resources are needed. The Committee
agrees with VA that the it would face an increased demand for
additional infrastructure when the enrollment ban is lifted,
not only to care for new Priority 8 veterans, but all veterans
seeking access, and has recommended substantial increases in
both Major and Minor construction accounts in part to address
these concerns. With a faltering economy, it is even more
essential that we re-open access to VA health care to all
veterans.
Medical Administration
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 3,517,000,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 4,610,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 3,625,762,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 4,610,000,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
Description
The Medical Administration appropriation provides funds for
the expenses of management and administration of the
Department's health care system. Included under this heading
are provisions for costs associated with operation of
department medical centers, other facilities, and VHA
headquarters, plus the costs of VISN offices and facility
director offices, chief of staff operations, quality of care
oversight, legal services, billing and coding activities,
procurement, financial management, and human resources
management.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration has requested $4.6 billion
for the Medical Administration account, an increase of $1.1
billion, or 31 percent, above the amount provided in FY 2008.
The Committee recommends that the Administration's
requested funding level be provided. The Committee notes the
large requested increase for Medical Administration, and hopes
that by providing this level of funding it will assist the VA
in maintaining the quality of its health care system and
responding to problems when they arise.
Medical Facilities
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 4,100,000,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 4,661,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 4,576,143,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 4,971,000,000
Recommendation vs. request
310,000,000
Description
The Medical Facilities appropriation provides funds for the
operation and maintenance of the Department's health care
system's capital infrastructure. Included under this heading
are provisions for costs associated with utilities,
engineering, capital planning, leases, laundry, groundskeeping,
garbage, housekeeping, facility repair, and property
disposition and acquisition.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration has requested $4.7 billion
for the Medical Facilities account, an increase of $561 million
above the FY 2008 level. The Committee recommends $5 billion
for this account, an increase of $310 million above the
Administration's request and $871 million above the FY 2008
level.
The Administration has proposed cutting funding for Non-
Recurring Maintenance by $300 million below the FY 2008 current
estimate and $15 million below the level provided in FY 2007.
The Committee recommendation restores this proposed cut. It is
vital that resources be made available to meet the maintenance
needs of VA medical facilities. The Committee recommendation
also proposes increases for Community-Based Outpatient Clinics
(CBOCs) and for facility activations in order for the VA to
provide greater access to medical services for veterans,
especially those residing in rural and under-served areas.
The Administration's FY 2009 budget request states that the
VA plans to open 51 CBOCs in FY 2009, and is estimating that it
will open 64 new CBOCs in FY 2008. The Committee desires the VA
to move forcefully to open needed CBOCs in Maine (Dover-
Foxcroft), Wisconsin (Green Bay), Illinois (Moline and Madison
County), and Florida (Gainesville).
The Committee recommendation would:
Restore proposed cuts to Non-Recurring
Maintenance--$300 million;
Increase resources for CBOCs by 50 percent--
$5 million;
Increase funding for facility activations by
50 percent--$5 million.
Medical and Prosthetic Research
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 480,000,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 442,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 555,000,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 555,000,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +113,000,000
Description
This account includes medical, rehabilitative and health
services research. Medical research is an important aspect of
the Department's programs, providing complete medical and
hospital services for veterans. The prosthetic research program
is also essential in the development and testing of prosthetic,
orthopedic and sensory aids for the purpose of improving the
care and rehabilitation of eligible disabled veterans,
including amputees, paraplegics and the blind. The health
service research program provides unique opportunities to
improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care
delivery system. In addition, budgetary resources from a number
of areas including appropriations from the medical care
accounts; reimbursements from the Department of Defense; and
grants from the National Institutes of Health, private
proprietary sources, and voluntary agencies provide support for
the Department's researchers.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration has requested $442 million
for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research account, $38 million
below the FY 2008 level. The Committee recommendation of $555
million for Medical and Prosthetic Research is $75 million
above the FY 2008 level and $113 million above the
Administration's request.
The Committee recommends $38 million to restore the
Administration's proposed cut in this account. Especially
troubling to the Committee are proposed cuts in eight of the 21
Designated Research Areas, including cuts in research on mental
illness, acute and traumatic injury, central nervous system and
associated disorders, diabetes, special populations, and
military occupation and environmental exposures.
The Committee recommends $17 million to account for the
effects of biomedical inflation on VA research. The Biomedical
Research and Development Price Index, developed by the
Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis for use by
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and updated on February
4, 2008, estimates that a 3.5 percent increase is needed to
compensate for increases due to inflation and to maintain
research purchasing power.
The Committee is concerned that VA estimates are unduly
optimistic regarding expected revenues from other Federal
sources, especially in light of the Administration's proposed
flat-lined budget for the NIH. The VA estimates it received
$668 million in Federal resources in 2007. Last year, in its FY
2008 budget submission, the VA estimated it would receive $769
million in FY 2008; it now estimates it will receive $708
million. For FY 2009, the VA estimates that it will receive
$751 million, an increase of $43 million. The Committee doubts
that the VA will meet its estimate of $751 million in Federal
resources and believes that an increased appropriation is
essential if the VA research program is to meet the challenges
it faces.
The Committee recommendation provides $58 million for
additional research projects, especially those concentrating on
the unique needs of veterans returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan. This increase would also ameliorate any possible
effects of a shortfall in other Federal resources. In addition,
the Committee believes that caps on investigator-initiated
awards should be increased from the current $125,000 annually
to the previous level of $150,000, in accordance with
recommendations made by the Friends of VA Medical Care and
Health Research (FOVA) and the Independent Budget.
The Committee recommendation would:
Restore proposed FY 2009 cuts--$38 million;
Provide for a 3.5 percent increase for
estimated biomedical inflation--$17 million;
Increase overall funding for research
projects, particularly those addressing needs of
servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan--$58
million.
General Operating Expenses
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 1,605,000,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 1,699,867,000
Independent budget...................................... 1,985,602,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 1,896,126,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +196,259,000
Description
The General Operating Expenses appropriation provides for
the administration of non-medical veterans' benefits through
the Veterans Benefits Administration and departmental
management and support.
The General Operating Expenses account funds activities of
the Veterans Benefits Administration and General
Administration.
Veterans Benefits Administration
VBA consists of five programs: Disability Compensation,
Pensions and Burial; Education; Housing; Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment; and, Insurance.
Compensation and Pension Service
VA provides service-connected compensation to veterans with
disabilities incurred or aggravated during military service,
dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) to surviving
spouses, children and low-income dependent parents of veterans,
pension benefits to elderly and disabled low-income wartime
veterans, death pension to the surviving spouses and children
of wartime veterans and benefits to certain children of
veterans who were disabled by spina bifida or other congenital
conditions related to their parent's military service.
Education Service
VA provides education assistance to servicemembers,
veterans, and certain eligible survivors and dependents in
exchange for military service. VA education assistance,
popularly known as the Montgomery GI Bill, is used by the Armed
Forces as a recruiting and retention tool, as well as a
readjustment benefit for servicemembers seeking to achieve
educational and vocational goals in the civilian workforce.
Housing (Loan Guaranty Service)
VA assists veterans and servicemembers to purchase and
retain homes in recognition of their service to the Nation.
VA's partial guarantee on loans made by private lenders enables
veterans and servicemembers to purchase homes with little or no
down payment, thereby making home ownership affordable to many
veterans.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)
VR&E provides employment services and assistance to enable
veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain suitable
employment and, to the maximum extent possible, achieve
independence in daily living.
Insurance
The Insurance Program provides servicemembers and their
families with universally available life insurance, as well as
traumatic injury protection insurance. It also provides for the
conversion to a renewable term insurance policy after a
servicemember's separation from service and provides life
insurance to veterans who have lost the ability to purchase
commercial insurance at standard (healthy) rates due to lost or
impaired insurability resulting from military service.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
General Administration funds the Office of the Secretary,
six Assistant Secretaries, the Board of Veterans' Appeals, the
Office of the General Counsel, and the Office of Construction
and Facilities Management.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration is requesting $1.7 billion
for the General Operating Expenses (GOE) account, an increase
of $95 million, or 5.9 percent, above the $1.6 billion provided
in FY 2008. This request includes $1.4 billion for VBA, an
increase of $44.8 million over the FY 2008 level, and $328
million for General Administration, an increase of $50.1
million over FY 2008.
The Committee is recommending $1.9 billion, an increase of
$291 million above FY 2008 and $196 million above the
Administration's request.
The Committee recommendation would:
Provide an additional 1,500 FTE for the
Compensation, Burial, and Pension program to better
address the claims backlog and other deficiencies--$117
million
Provide an additional 130 FTE for the
Education program--$10 million
Provide an additional 150 FTE for the
Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling Program--$14
million
Double the amount provided for the
Compensation, Burial and Pension training program--$6
million
Provide resources to explore innovative
pilot programs and other solutions to address the
claims backlog--$50 million
Claims Backlog: As of February 16, 2008, the inventory of
compensation and pension claims pending at the VA was 663,319,
an increase of 5,351 from the previous week and 36,890 above
the 626,429 pending this time last year. (VA Monday Morning
Workload Report, February 16, 2008).
The Committee is concerned that VA is not moving swiftly
enough to hire the additional 3,100 FTE provided so far by the
110th Congress. On July 31, 2007, VA submitted a ``White Paper
on the VA Disability Claims Processing Workforce'' to the
Committees on Appropriation. The report listed a total of 3,100
new hires funded through the FY 2007 appropriation (400), the
FY 2007 supplemental (800), and the FY 2008 House
Appropriations recommended level (1,900). The VA projected an
end-of-year staffing level for Compensation and Pension of
9,068 FTE (direct) and 10,998 FTE (direct) for FY 2008.
The VA's FY 2009 budget submission provides a 2007 level of
8,353 FTE (direct) and estimates an FY 2008 level of 10,304 FTE
(direct). The VA's estimate for 2009 is 10,998 FTE (direct),
the same level it projected in July for the end of 2008. The
VA's budget request for FY 2009 estimates an additional 694
direct FTE (for a total of 10,998) over the FY 2008 current
level (10,304). Therefore, the VA is estimating the same FTE
levels for FY 2009 as projected for the end of FY 2008 in its
July 2007 White Paper.
Although the Committee's recommendation includes a
substantial increase in FTE above the Administration's request,
the Committee believes that merely adding FTE is not the sole
answer to addressing the claims backlog issue. We believe the
VA must vigorously explore alternative methods of addressing
once and for all this intolerable backlog.
The Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission noted that in
2006, two-thirds of compensation claims were from veterans
previously determined to have a service-connected disability
and that most of these veterans were from previous conflicts.
The average age of veterans filing claims is 55. As the number
of claims increases, the ability of the VBA to process these
claims in a timely fashion under the current system is
increasingly called into question. The Committee is concerned
that since 2002, and the inception of the Claims Improvement
Processing Model, the VBA has failed to meet its major
strategic goals in the Compensation and Pension program. In
addition to more rigorous training, addressed by the Committee
in its recommendation, there simply must be greater
accountability for failure to meet strategic goals.
In fact, according to the VA's FY 2007 Performance and
Accountability Report, released on November 15, 2007, the VBA
missed the vast majority of its compensation and pension
rating-related and non-rating-related performance targets. The
Committee believes there must be a closer coordination between
performance goals and the VA's actual experience; for goals
that are never met are useless in measuring any real progress
or increasing accountability.
The Systematic Technical Accuracy Review (STAR) is the
VBA's system-wide program for measuring compensation and
pension claims processing accuracy. The Committee believes VBA
should significantly increase the level of FTE devoted to STAR
in order to increase accountability, reduce avoidable errors,
and ensure more uniform decisions between Regional Office
ratings.
The Committee recommends an additional $5.5 million for
training expenses, doubling the amount proposed by the
Administration. Training is essential for all employees,
especially new hires, in order to make sure claims are
processed speedily and correctly. The Committee also believes
that VBA should reinstitute administration of the skills
certification test with sustained input on development from all
interested parties.
The Committee is also concerned that tools already provided
to the VA are not being utilized fully. The VA has testified
before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs that it is not fully utilizing the pre-stabilization
rate mechanism as outlined in regulations. We believe the VA
must fully utilize this tool in addressing the claims of
returning servicemembers.
The Committee believes there must be a greater attempt by
the VA to embrace possible technological improvements to its
current practices, including innovative information technology
and artificial intelligence applications that offer the hope of
reducing the average time for a claims decision to be made. The
Committee also strongly recommends that the VA take the
necessary steps to reduce the amount of paper involved in the
process as it moves toward thegoal of a ``paperless'' claims
process. The Committee awaits the final report from IBM, which VA
contracted with, to evaluate its business lines and provide long-range
strategies.
Although more properly under the Information Technology
Systems account, the Committee wishes to note that the
Administration's IT request includes funding for the Virtual VA
program, but this is only to scan in VBA's paper records. While
this is an essential task, it does little to create a true
electronic claims processing system that would benefit veterans
by applying technological solutions to the impediments faced by
processes that are rooted in the previous century. The
Committee recommends that VA reassess its plan and maximize
available information technologies and artificial intelligence
applications to modernize its claims processing system.
The Committee believes VA must embrace radical ideas to
solve the claims backlog issue and is recommending that $50
million be provided to explore various pilot programs and
initiatives that could revolutionize the process by which
veterans receive the benefits they have earned. The Committee
believes that one such initiative could include the creation of
a Veterans Advocates Training Institute to provide consistent
and improved training of State service officers and others who
assist veterans in filing claims.
Burial Claims: The Committee notes that the
Administration's FY 2009 request assumes a decrease in FTE for
burial claims of 17 below the FY 2008 current estimate, and 50
below the FY 2008 budget estimate. The FY 2009 estimate is also
25 FTE below the FY 2007 level. As the number of interments is
expected to increase, and VA has missed many of its performance
and accountability targets, the Committee believes that
additional FTE should be detailed to this activity.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment: The Committee is
concerned that VR&E counselors are overloaded and are managing
an excessively large caseload. Currently, each counselor has a
caseload of 130 cases where minimal contact is made with the
veteran. While the VA maintains that this is a proper level of
cases for providing services, the Committee is not convinced
that such a caseload leads to the optimum level of service to
veterans and is recommending an additional 150 FTE to properly
staff the division and provide adequate services to veterans.
Education: The Committee is recommending an additional 130
FTE to handle education claims. With the enactment of the
National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 (P.L. 110-181),
which included the addition of portability of Chapter 1607
benefits, the Committee anticipates an increase in workload and
recommends an additional 80 FTE to meet this expected increase.
The Education program also recently started a call center in
Muskogee, Oklahoma, and has pulled 50 FTE from other areas to
staff this call center. These 50 FTE have not been replaced and
the Education program would benefit from maintaining a stable
level of personnel. The Committee believes the VA should also
explore ways to increase outreach to improve participation of
returning servicemembers and veterans in pursuing opportunities
to achieve college educations with their respective benefits.
Information Technology Systems
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 1,966,465,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 2,442,066,000
Independent budget...................................... 2,164,938,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 2,442,066,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
Description
The Information Technology Systems account was established
in the FY 2006 VA Appropriations bill, P.L. 109-114. The
account previously encompassed the entire non-pay information
technology portfolio for the Department of Veterans Affairs,
including all automation efforts in all administrations.
Starting in fiscal year 2007, and reflected for the first time
in the budget request for fiscal year 2008, this account also
includes pay and associated costs for information technology
maintenance and operations staff.
In describing the new structure of the VA's IT budget
submission, the VA states that:
The proposed FY 2009 budget has been realigned from
previous submissions to delineate veteran strategic
issues into two major classifications--veteran facing
IT systems and internal facing IT systems. Veteran
facing IT systems include IT programs that directly
impact current and future veterans' services and
account for $1.295 billion or 75.6 percent of
resources. Internal facing IT systems indirectly affect
veterans' services through IT administrative and
infrastructure support at $418 million or 24.4 percent
of resources.
Within each of the two classifications, IT programs
and initiatives were further classified to reflect the
two core processes of development and operations and
maintenance. These changes complement the Department's
Performance and Accountability Report structure,
thereby enabling better communication of performance
results and outcomes. As a result, all veteran facing
IT systems fall under one of the following eight
Performance Accountability Report categories: medical
care, compensation, pension, education, vocational
rehabilitation, housing, insurance, and burial.
Internal facing IT systems are mapped to eight programs
for corporate management, financial resources
management, asset management, human capital management,
IT infrastructure, cyber security, privacy, and E-
Government (E-Gov). Additionally, infrastructure
activities are aligned as a sub-cost for each
Performance Accountability Report category. (Emphasis
in original). (FY 2009 VA Budget Submission, Volume 2,
4A-3).
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration has requested $2.442
billion for the Information Technology Systems account, an
increase of $476 million, or 24 percent, over the amount
provided in FY 2008.
The Committee recommends that the Administration's
requested funding level be provided.
The Committee understands that as the VA moves to a
centralized IT system that the IT budget is, by necessity, a
``work in progress.'' The Committee believes that the VA should
be nearing the point where it has a clear and consistent view
of its IT funding requirements. The Government Accountability
Office, in testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations regarding the VA's FY 2009 IT budget request,
noted that the VA is ``in the initial stages of implementing
new management process that are critical to centralizing its
control over the IT resources and budget''. The GAO also
testified that ``it remains too early to assess [the new
management processes] their overall impact because most of the
actions taken have only recently become operational or have not
yet been fully implemented. Thus, their effectiveness in
ensuring accountability for the resources and budget has not
yet been clearly established.''(Testimony before the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, February 13, 2008 (GAO-08-449T)).
As the Committee noted under the General Operating Expenses
account, the VA must act vigorously to realize a true
electronic benefits system. Although Virtual VA is a step
forward, merely scanning in paper documents does not begin to
realize the advantages that a true electronic benefits system
can yield to veterans seeking benefits.
The Committee notes with approval the VA's assurance that
Medical Center Innovations will be funded in FY 2009, contrary
to the Administration's FY 2009 budget submission. The
Committee also looks to the VA to provide assurances that it
has sufficient resources to provide the ``gold standard'' in
data security.
National Cemetery Administration
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 195,000,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 180,959,000
Independent budget...................................... 251,975,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 210,250,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +29,291,000
Description
The National Cemetery Administration was established in
accordance with the National Cemeteries Act of 1973. It has a
fourfold mission: to provide for the interment in any national
cemetery with available grave space the remains of eligible
deceased servicepersons and discharged veterans, together with
their spouses and certain dependents, and to permanently
maintain their graves; to mark graves of eligible persons in
national and private cemeteries; to administer the grant
program for aid to States in establishing, expanding, or
improving State veterans' cemeteries; and to administer the
Presidential Memorial Certificate Program. This appropriation
provides for the operation and maintenance of 158 cemeterial
installations in 39 states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration has requested $181 million
for the National Cemetery Administration, $14 million, or 7
percent, below FY 2008 levels. The Committee recommends $210
million for FY 2009, $15 million above the FY 2008 level and
$29 million above the Administration's request.
The Administration request proposes to cut funding for
recurring maintenance and repair projects by $27 million below
FY 2008 levels, and $5 million below the amount provided in FY
2007. The Committee recommendation restores this cut.
The Committee applauds the Administration's proposal to
``establish a non-recurring maintenance (NRM) program focusing
on the correction of deficiencies cited in the Facility
Condition Assessments and Five Year Plan.'' The Administration
proposes $2 million for this activity. The Committee recommends
doubling this amount to $4 million.
The Committee recommendation would:
Restore proposed cuts to the Maintenance and
Repair (Recurring) budget--$27 million;
Double the amount provided for Non-Recurring
Maintenance--$2 million.
Office of Inspector General
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 80,500,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 76,500,000
Independent budget...................................... 83,158,000
FY 2009 Recommendation.................................. 89,645,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +13,145,000
Description
The Office of Inspector General was established by the
Inspector General Act of 1978 and is responsible for the audit,
investigation and inspection of all Department of Veterans
Affairs programs and operations. The overall operational
objective is to focus available resources on areas which would
help improve services to veterans and their beneficiaries,
assist managers of Department programs to operate economically
in accomplishing program goals, and prevent and deter recurring
and potential fraud, waste and inefficiencies.
Recommendation
The Administration has requested $76.5 million for the
Office of Inspector General for FY 2009, a decrease of $4
million below the FY 2008 level of $80.5 million. The VA's
request assumes a total FTE level of 465, 56 fewer than the
total currently estimated for FY 2008 and five fewer FTE than
in 2007.
The Committee recommends $89.6 million for FY 2009, an
increase of $9.1 million, or 11 percent over FY 2008 levels and
$13.1 million, or 17 percent, above the VA's FY 2009 request.
The Committee recommendation restores the proposed FTE cuts
and adds additional FTE to match last year's Committee-
recommended FTE level.
In testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations on February 13, 2008, Jon A. Wooditch, Deputy
Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs stated that ``[t]he OIG seeks to help VA
become the best-managed service delivery organization in
Government. OIG audits, health care inspections,
investigations, and Combined Assessment Program (CAP) reviews
recommend improvements in VA programs and operations, and act
to deter waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. For 2007, OIG
funding supported 443 FTE from appropriations. An additional 25
FTE was funded under a reimbursable agreement with VA to
perform pre-award and post-award contract reviews. During 2007,
the OIG exceeded its overall performance goals. For example,
monetary benefits for the year were $820 million, for a return
on investment of $12 for every dollar expended. Collectively,
the OIG issued a total of 217 audit, health care inspection,
and contract review reports, with over 500 recommendations for
corrective action. We also completed 1,181 criminal
investigations, which led to 2,061 arrests, indictments,
convictions, and administrative sanctions. We also responded to
over 19,000 contacts received by the OIG Hotline.''
The Committee believes that vigorous oversight of the VA is
essential to ensure that the Department provides quality health
care and benefits to veterans in an efficient, fair and cost-
effective manner. Since the beginning of this Congress, the
Committee has embarked on an ambitious oversight agenda, and
the OIG is an important partner in this ongoing initiative. The
economic benefit realized to taxpayers by investment in the
OIG, as well as programmatic improvements resulting from the
Inspector General's activities, have been clearly demonstrated.
As the OIG is being expected to do more, it is vital that
proposed cuts to FTE be restored and the overall FTE level be
increased to meet expected workload increases.
The Committee recommendation would:
Restore proposed cuts of 56 FTE--$7 million;
Provide for an additional 49 FTE, for a
total FTE level of 570--$6 million.
Construction, Major Projects
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 1,069,100,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 581,582,000
Independent budget...................................... 1,275,000,000
FY 2009 Recommendation.................................. 1,092,094,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +510,512,000
Description
The Construction, Major Projects appropriation provides for
constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the
facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, including planning,
architectural and engineering services, assessments, and site
acquisition where the estimated cost of a project is
$10,000,000 or more.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration is requesting $582 million,
a decrease of $488 million, or 46 percent, from the FY 2008
level of $1.1 billion. The Administration's request includes
$472 million for VHA-related construction and $105 million for
NCA-related construction.
The NCA portion of the request seeks funds for gravesite
expansion and cemetery improvements at the Puerto Rico National
Cemetery, Massachusetts National cemetery, and the Calverton
National Cemetery. The request also seeks funding for the
Advance Planning Fund, NCA Land Acquisition Fund, and
Sustainability and Energy Fund.
The VHA-related construction request, totaling $472
million, seeks funding for the following projects:
Denver, CO--New Medical Facility
Total Estimated Cost--$769.2 million;
Funding through FY 2008--$168.3 million; FY 2009
Request--$20 million
Orlando, FL--New Medical Facility
Total Estimated Cost--$656.8 million;
Funding through FY 2008--$74.1 million; FY 2009
Request--$120 million
San Juan, PR--Seismic Corrections Bldg. 1
Total Estimated Cost--$225.9 million;
Funding through FY 2008--$69.9 million; FY 2009
Request--$64.4 million
Lee County, FL--Outpatient Clinic
Total Estimated Cost--$131.8 million;
Funding through FY 2008--$20.4 million; FY 2009
Request--$111.4 million
St. Louis (JB), MO--Medical Facility Improvements and
Cemetery Expansion
Total Estimated Cost--$134.5 million;
Funding through FY 2008--$7 million; FY 2009 Request--
$5 million
Bay Pines, FL--Inpatient/Outpatient Improvements
Total Estimated Cost--$174.3 million;
Funding through FY 2008--$0 million; FY 2009 Request--
$17.4 million
Tampa, FL--Polytrauma Expansion and Bed Tower Upgrades
Total Estimated Cost--$223.8 million;
Funding through FY 2008--$0 million; FY 2009 Request--
$21.1 million
Palo Alto, CA--Centers for Ambulatory Care and Polytrauma
Rehabilitation Center
Total Estimated Cost--$450.3 million;
Funding through FY 2008--$0 million; FY 2009 Request--
$38.3 million
The Committee recommends a funding level of $1.1 billion,
$511 million above the Administration's request and $23 million
above the level provided in FY 2008. The Administration has
requested funding for the CARES priority projects 1-3 (Bay
Pines, FL; Tampa, FL; and Palo Alto, CA). The Committee
recommendation includes planning funding for CARES priority
projects 4-20:
Seattle, WA--Seismic NHCU Bldg. 100 (#4)
Seattle, WA--Mental Health Building 101
Seismic (#5)
Dallas, TX--Spinal cord Injury Center (#6)
Louisville, KY--New Medical facility (#7)
Roseburg, OR--Mental Health Bldg. 2 Seismic
(#8)
Los Angeles, CA--Seismic Corrections of 13
Buildings (#9)
Bronx, NY--Spinal cord Injury Center (#10)
Butler, PA--Outpatient Clinic (#11)
American Lake, WA--Seismic corrections Bldg.
81 (#12)
Dallas, TX--Clinical Expansion for Mental
Health (#13)
Walla Walla, WA--Multi-specialty Clinic
(#14)
San Francisco, CA--Seismic Corrections
Buildings 1, 6, 8, and 12 (#15)
Wichita, KS--Med/Surg Bed Modernization/
Ambulatory Expansion (#16)
Fayetteville, NC--Outpatient Addition (#17)
Salisbury, NC--Clinical Addition (#18)
Columbia, SC--Diagnostics and Specialty Care
Clinics Renovation (#19)
Birmingham, AL--Huntsville Outpatient Clinic
(#20)
Although not on the CARES list, the Committee believes the
needs of veterans in South Texas have gone unmet for far too
long, and believes that the VA should undertake a major project
that will meet the inpatient and outpatient needs of these
veterans in a centrally located facility.
In addition, the Committee believes that the VA should
enter into a sharing agreement with the Department of Defense
to make inpatient care available to veterans at Eglin Air Force
Base in Florida, as well as begin constructing a joint VA/DoD
outpatient medical facility.
It is essential that the VA invest the resources needed to
address its aging infrastructure and provide state-of-the-art
modern medical facilities. This will require a sustained
commitment to providing adequate funding levels for the VA's
Major Construction program. This will also require a commitment
from the VA to substantially increase its in-house ability to
manage large and complex construction projects. Assisting the
VA in improving its abilities and expertise in this area was a
driving force behind the creation of the office of Director of
Construction and Facilities Management last Congress.
The Committee also desires to see the VA begin to take
action to begin planning and development of new national
cemeteries in Southern Colorado, Nevada (which does not have a
national cemetery), and Eastern Nebraska (Sarpy County).
The recommended increase would also provide the remaining
funding needed for the Pittsburgh, PA Campus Consolidation
project, and additional resources, above the Administration's
request, for the Orlando, Florida, Medical Facility project.
Therecommendation would provide additional funding for the VA's
Advanced Planning Fund and the Sustainability and Energy Fund.
The Committee trusts that as major facilities come on-line
in the years ahead, that sufficient funding for equipment,
staffing, and activation are provided for fully and included
early in the VA's budget process in order not to require
shifting funds from other areas of the VA budget.
The Committee recommendation would:
Provides planning funding for top-20
priority CARES projects not previously funded (or
funded in FY 2009 request) and other projects--$187
million;
Provides an additional $231 million for the
Orlando, Florida project;
Provides remaining $62 million needed for
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania campus consolidation project;
Provides an additional $25 million for the
Advance Planning Fund;
Doubles the amount provided for the
Sustainability and Energy fund for VHA--$5 million.
Construction, Minor Projects
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 630,535,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 329,418,000
Independent budget...................................... 621,000,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 673,718,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +344,300,000
Description
The Construction, Minor Projects, appropriation provides
for constructing, altering, extending, and improving any of the
facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use of the
Department, including planning, assessment of needs,
architectural and engineering services, and site acquisition,
where the estimated cost of a project is less than $10,000,000.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration has requested $329 million,
a decrease of $301 million, or 48 percent below the level
provided in FY 2008. The Committee recommends $674 million, $43
million above FY 2008 and $344 million above the
Administration's request.
Based upon the Administration's 5-year Capital Plan list of
``FY 2008 Prioritized VHA Minor Construction Projects,'' \4\
the average total estimated cost for the top 50 listed projects
is $5.7 million. The Committee recommendation includes $287
million to provide for an additional 50 projects for FY 2009.
The Committee notes that this amount funds the complete average
cost of these projects: the VA may be able to undertake
additional projects above the 50 provided for since total costs
of each project are not required to be provided all at once.
The Committee desires the VA to be more aggressive in tackling
its backlog of minor construction projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ FY 2009 VA Budget Submission, Volume 4, 7-90 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommendation also provides a 50 percent
increase for minor construction for the National Cemetery
Administration (NCA). The Administration proposes $25 million
for this construction for FY 2009, an amount equal to the FY
2007 funding level and $50 million below the FY 2008 current
estimate. The Committee recommendation would add an additional
$12.5 million for NCA minor construction projects.
The Committee is recommending $45 million to provide
funding to upgrade and modernize VA research facilities. The
Subcommittee on Health, in a hearing on the VHA's FY 2008
budget request held on February 14, 2007, received testimony
from the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA).
FOVA recommended ``an annual appropriation of $45 million in
the minor construction budget dedicated to renovating existing
research facilities[.]'' The Committee notes that the FY 2007
VA appropriations bill, as passed by the House of
Representatives, included $12 million in the minor construction
account ``to be used solely for a program of upgrade and
modernization of research facilities to ensure they maintain or
attain state-of-the-art status.'' (H. Rept. 109-464, to
accompany H.R. 5385, the Military Quality of Life and Veterans
Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, at 64). The
Committee on Appropriations directed the VA to conduct a
comprehensive review of its research facilities and to report
to Congress by March 1, 2007. The VA has indicated that this
review may take three years to complete. Funding for VA
research facilities was not provided in FY 2008. The
Committee's recommended level of $45 million mirrors the
recommendation made by FOVA.
The Committee would also like the VA to take action in
repairing and remodeling existing facilities in Livermore,
California, to provide for a PTSD Rehabilitation clinic.
The Committee recommendation would:
Provide full funding for an additional 50
Minor Construction projects--$287 million;
Provide a 50 percent increase above the FY
2009 request for NCA minor construction projects--$13
million;
Provide funding to begin to upgrade and
modernize VA research facilities--$45 million.
Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 165,000,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 85,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 200,000,000
FY 2009 Recommendation.................................. 200,000,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +115,000,000
Description
This program provides grants to assist States to construct
State home facilities, for furnishing domiciliary or nursing
home care to veterans, and to expand, remodel or alter existing
buildings for furnishing domiciliary, nursing home or hospital
care to veterans in State homes. A grant may not exceed 65
percent of the total cost of the project.
Recommendation
For FY 2009, the Administration requests $85 million for
the Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities
account, $80 million below the level provided in FY 2008. The
Committee is recommending $200 million, an increase of $35
million above FY 2008 and $115 million above the
Administration's request.
The VA's ``Priority List of Pending State Home Construction
Grant Applications for FY 2008'' lists a total of $553 million
in Priority 1 applications. In FY 2007, these projects totaled
$491 million. In FY 2006, there were 80 priority group 1
projects for a total of $420 million. Priority 1 projects are
those projects that have State funding in place to start
construction and are awaiting VA funding. State homes play an
important role in VA's long-term care strategy by filling the
gap of available beds for elderly and sick veterans who need
them. As the VA isfacing an aging veteran population, the
Committee believes it is essential to provide the resources needed to
begin to tackle the project backlog.
The Committee recommendation would:
Provide additional resources to enable the
VA to begin to reduce the State Home project backlog--
$115 million.
Grants for Construction of State Veterans Cemeteries
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 39,500,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 32,000,000
Independent budget...................................... 42,000,000
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 39,500,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. +7,500,000
Description
This program provides grants to assist States with the
establishment, expansion, and improvement of State veterans'
cemeteries which are operated and permanently maintained by the
States. Grants under this program fund up to 100 percent of
construction costs and the initial equipment expenses when the
cemetery is established. The States remain responsible for
providing the land and for paying all costs related to the
operation and maintenance of the State cemeteries, including
the costs for subsequent equipment purchases.
Recommendation
The Administration, for FY 2009, requests $32 million for
the Grants for Construction of State Veterans Cemeteries
program, a level $7.5 million, or 19 percent, below the FY 2008
level. The Committee recommends a funding level equal to the
amount provided in FY 2008.
The Committee recommendation would:
Restore proposed Administration cut--$7.5
million.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Veterans Employment and Training
Department of Labor--Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
The Assistant Secretary for VETS serves as the principal
advisor to the Secretary of Labor on all policies and
procedures affecting veterans' employment matters. VETS
furnishes employment and training services to servicemembers
and veterans through a variety of programs, including providing
grants to States, public entities and non-profit organizations,
including faith-based organizations, to assist veterans seeking
employment. VETS also investigates complaints filed under
veterans' preference and re-employment laws. Specifically, VETS
administers the following programs: DVOP/LVER state grant
program; Transition Assistance Program; Veterans' Preference
and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
(USERRA); Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP);
Veterans Workforce Investment Program (VWIP); Federal
Contractor Program; and the National Veterans' Training
Institute (NVTI). The Administration requested a total of
$238.4 million in FY 2009 to support the staffing and grant-
making ability of VETS. This is a $10 million, or 4 percent,
increase over FY 2008. For FY 2009, the Committee recommends an
increase of $60 million for VETS, for a total of $298 million.
This recommended level would provide an additional $31 million
for State Grants to bring up the level of DVOPs/LVERs from the
current 2,100 to the original 2,500. This will help VETS better
manage the One Stop Centers and provide better priority
services to veterans. The recommended funding will also provide
an additional $10 million to HVRP. Although accurate numbers
are impossible to come by--no one keeps national records on
homeless veterans--the VA estimates that nearly 200,000
veterans are homeless on any given night and nearly 400,000
experience homelessness over the course of a year. According to
the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and
Clients (U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Urban
Institute, 1999), veterans account for 23 percent of all
homeless people in America. The Committee also recommends
increasing the funding level for VWIP to $30 million. This
program currently operates only in 11 states and should be
expanded to more areas, especially those with a heavy veteran
population. The funding for NVTI should be increased by $1
million to assist NVTI in providing the training necessary to
be a successful DVOP/LVER. This training is required to be
provided within three years of the appointment of the DVOP/
LVER. Finally, the Committee urges the Department of Labor to
explore innovative job training efforts for returning
servicemembers to assist them in integrating into civilian
life.
OTHER AGENCIES
American Battle Monuments Commission
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 44,600,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 47,470,000
Independent budget...................................... N/A
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 47,470,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
Description
The American Battle Monuments Commission is responsible for
the administration, operation and maintenance of cemetery and
war memorials to commemorate the achievements and sacrifices of
the American Armed Forces where they have served since April 6,
1917. In performing these functions, the Commission maintains
24 permanent American military cemetery memorials and 31
monuments, memorials, markers and offices in 15 foreign
countries, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
and the British dependency of Gibraltar. In addition, six
memorials are located in the United States: the East Coast
Memorial in New York; the West Coast Memorial, the Presidio in
San Francisco; the Honolulu Memorial in the National Memorial
Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii; and, the American
Expeditionary Forces Memorial and the World War II and Korean
War Veterans Memorials in Washington, D.C.
Recommendation
The American Battle Monument Commission is seeking a total
of $64.6 million for FY 2009, consisting of $47.5 million for
salaries and expenses, and $17.1 million for costs associated
with foreign currency fluctuations.
The Committee recommends the requested level of $47.5
million be provided in FY 2009.
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
FY 2008 enacted......................................... 22,717,000
FY 2009 request......................................... 23,975,000
Independent budget...................................... N/A
FY 2009 recommendation.................................. 23,975,000
Recommendation vs. request.............................. 0
Description
The Veterans' Judicial Review Act [P.L. 100-687]
established the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The
Court reviews appeals from Department of Veterans Affairs'
claimants seeking review of a benefit denial. The Court has the
authority to overturn findings of fact, regulations, and
interpretations of law.
Recommendation
The Court's request for FY 2009 of $24 million includes
$1.7 million for the Pro Bono Representation Program. This
program is administered by the Legal Services Corporation. The
Court includes the Program's FY 2009 request as an appendix to
its submission; although having ``no comment on that request''
applauds the ``Program's continuing success in reducing the
percentage of unrepresented appellants before the Court. Since
1997, the percentage of appellants who are unrepresented at the
decision point of their appeals has dropped from 48% in FY 1997
to 19% or less in FY 2007.''
The Committee recommends the requested level of $24 million
be provided in FY 2009.
MERCHANT MARINERS
World War II Merchant Mariners suffered the highest
casualty rate of any of the branches of service while they
delivered troops, tanks, food, airplanes, fuel and other needed
supplies to every theater of the war. Despite their efforts
during the war, Merchant Mariners were not covered by the
original G.I. Bill of Rights. No legislation to benefit
merchant seamen was passed by Congress until 1988 when the
Seaman Acts of 1988 finally granted them a ``watered down''
G.I. Bill of Rights. To make up for lost benefits and
opportunities, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 23, the
Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act
of 2007. This measure provides authorization for $120 million
in FY 2008 and $108 million in FY 2009. The Committee
recommends that this funding be made available to recognize the
service and sacrifice of our Merchant Mariners.
SECTION 2--MANDATORY ACCOUNTS
Full Equity for World War II Filipino Veterans Who Served in the U.S.
Army
Many World War II Filipino veterans, who served and fought
alongside American servicemembers during World War II, do not
receive veterans' benefits. Shortly after the war, Congress
passed the Rescission Acts which stripped away many veterans'
benefits for Filipino servicemembers who served in the U.S.
Army. For the past 60 years, Congress has taken a piecemeal
approach to restoring these benefits.
The Committee plans to work with the
leadership of the House of Representatives and our
counterparts in the Senate to end this inequity once
and for all and provide VA benefits and services to
these deserving veterans.
Total Force GI Bill
The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), implemented over 20 years
ago, was a landmark piece of legislation that provided
education and training benefits to many veterans. The time has
come to update, modernize, and provide greater flexibility to
meet the needs of today's veterans. For GI Bill education
benefits to remain a relevant recruitment, and readjustment
benefit, we must ensure that VA's education and training
programs reflect the manner in which individuals earn and learn
in the 21st Century.
Due to advances in technology, recognition of the lifetime
learning concept, dynamic workforce changes, and ever-
increasing demands on military recruiting efforts, Congress
should continue to review current MGIB entitlements and make
necessary changes to provide servicemembers, veterans and their
families relevant education and training benefits that meet
their educational and vocational goals for success.
The Committee plans, on a bipartisan basis, to explore a
number of options to improve and modernize the GI Bill. The
VA's Advisory Committee on Education and the Partnership for
Veterans Education--a group made up of traditional veterans and
military service organizations, as well as higher education
advocates all have endorsed a proposal termed the ``Total Force
GI Bill.'' The proposal has two unmet features which include:
providing parity of education benefit rates according to
service rendered; and ensuring future correlation of active
duty, veterans, and National Guard and Reserve benefits in an
equitable and proportional manner, Chapters 1606 and 1607 in
Title 10 and Chapter 30 in Title 38 need to be reorganized
together under Title 38.
Congress recently expanded MGIB entitlements for our
nation's Guard and Reserve Forces. The National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (P.L. 110-181) includes
language that would allow certain members of the Reserve Forces
to use their REAP (Chapter 1607 of Title 10) education benefits
during the 10-year period beginning on the date which they
separated.
President Bush proposed, in his State of the Union Address,
that Congress expand on MGIB entitlements to allow
servicemembers and veterans to transfer their unused benefits
to their spouses and children. While the President did not
request funding for this proposal in his FY 2009 budget
request, Congress will explore the idea of transferring
education benefits to dependents along with other proposals.
Major legislative proposals that have been highlighted by
veteran service organizations include: eliminating MGIB
benefits from being considered as income for eligibility
requirements for Federal grants or loans; expand accelerated
benefits to all areas; increase the monthly benefit amount;
eliminate the $1,200 enrollment fee for MGIB; allow
servicemembers to use the GI Bill to repay loans once they are
eligible for the GI Bill, they can pay $6,000 up to the amount
they are qualified; protect servicemembers with education
interruptions due to military service; and expand the period of
use for educational entitlements.
Mandatory Funding for VA Health Care
Facing years of insufficient VA health care budgets
provided consistently after the start of the fiscal year, a
coalition of veterans service organizations formed the
Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform, to advocate
for providing mandatory, or ``assured'' funding for VA health
care. The Committee held a hearing in October 2007 on funding
the VA of the future at which the Partnership, budget experts,
and the VA testified. At this hearing, there was much
discussion regarding how the VA would fare in direct
competition with other mandatory programs, as well as the
sufficiency and flexibility of a mandatory funding formula.
Veterans have fared better at the hands of Congress than
they have with this Administration. From FY 2002-FY 2008, the
Administration's health care budget requests represent slightly
less than half of the amount finally provided to the VA. The
110th Congress has provided unprecedented increases for
veterans' programs, although we note that funding for the VA
was not finally put in place until nearly three months after
the start of the current fiscal year.
Many on the Committee believe that funding VA health care
with mandatory dollars as compared to discretionary dollars, as
advocated by the Partnership, would provide the VA with stable
and adequate funding to meet the needs of veterans.
The Committee urges Congress to seriously consider the best
manner in which to fund VA health care, and provide sufficient
and timely funding for veterans. Providing a mandatory funding
mechanism for VA health care will require cooperation in
Congress, and cooperation between Congress, the Administration,
and the VA, in order to insure that the funding mechanism
decided upon meets the needs of the Department, and the
veterans who rely on the VA for the health care they need.
Section 3--Charts
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FY 2009--FEBRUARY 2008
[In thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2009 FY 2009 FY 2009 FY 2009 FY 2009
Account FY 2008 President's FY 2009 Request Independent Committee Committee vs. FY Committee vs. FY
Request vs. FY 2008 Budget Recommendation 2008 2009 Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical Services........................................... 29,104,220 29,465,503 361,283 32,153,138 31,656,100 2,551,880 2,190,597
Medical Administration..................................... 3,517,000 4,610,000 1,093,000 3,625,762 4,610,000 1,093,000 0
Medical Facilities......................................... 4,100,000 4,661,000 561,000 4,576,143 4,971,000 871,000 310,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Medical Care.................................. 36,721,220 38,736,503 2,015,283 40,355,043 41,237,100 4,515,880 2,500,597
MCCF Collections........................................... 2,414,000 2,466,860 52,860 2,466,860 2,466,860 52,860 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Medical Care (with Collections)............... 39,135,220 41,203,363 2,068,143 42,821,903 43,703,960 4,568,740 2,500,597
Medical and Prosthetic Research............................ 480,000 442,000 -38,000 555,000 555,000 75,000 113,000
====================================================================================================================================
Total, Veterans Health Administration (excluding 37,201,220 39,178,503 1,977,283 40,910,043 41,792,100 4,590,880 2,613,597
collections)........................................
General Operating Expenses................................. 1,605,000 1,699,867 94,867 1,985,602 1,896,126 291,126 196,259
Information Technology Systems............................. 1,966,465 2,442,066 475,601 2,164,938 2,442,066 475,601 0
National Cemetery Administration........................... 195,000 180,959 -14,041 251,975 210,250 15,250 29,291
Office of Inspector General................................ 80,500 76,500 -4,000 83,158 89,645 9,145 13,145
Construction, Major Projects............................... 1,069,100 581,582 -487,518 1,275,000 1,092,094 22,994 510,512
Construction, Minor Projects............................... 630,535 329,418 -301,117 621,000 673,718 43,183 344,300
Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities.. 165,000 85,000 -80,000 200,000 200,000 35,000 115,000
Grants for Construction of State Veterans Cemeteries....... 39,500 32,000 -7,500 42,000 39,500 0 7,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Departmental Administration.................... 5,751,100 5,427,392 -323,708 6,623,673 6,643,399 892,299 1,216,007
Other Discretionary........................................ 155,572 158,237 2,665 160,084 158,237 2,665 0
====================================================================================================================================
Total Discretionary (Excludes Collections)........... 43,107,892 44,764,132 1,656,240 47,693,800 48,593,736 5,485,844 3,829,604
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Amounts attributable to medical collections have been subtracted from the Independent Budget recommendation for Medical Services and added to the MCCF Collections line.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ACCOUNT COMPARISONS FY2009--FEBRUARY 28, 2008
[In thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administration's HVAC vs.
Account FY 2008 Request IB HVAC HVAC v. IB Administration HVAC v. FY 2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical Services........................................... 29,104,220 29,465,503 32,153,138 31,656,100 -497,038 2,190,597 2,551,880
Medical Administration..................................... 3,517,000 4,610,000 3,625,762 4,610,000 984,238 0 1,093,000
Medical Facilities......................................... 4,100,000 4,661,000 4,576,143 4,971,000 394,857 310,000 871,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Medical Care.................................. 36,721,220 38,736,503 40,355,043 41,237,100 882,057 2,500,597 4,515,880
MCCF Collections........................................... 2,414,000 2,466,860 2,466,860 2,466,860 0 0 52,860
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Medical Care (with Collections)............... 39,135,220 41,203,363 42,821,903 43,703,960 882,057 2,500,597 4,568,740
Medical and Prosthetic Research............................ 480,000 442,000 555,000 555,000 0 113,000 75,000
====================================================================================================================================
Total VHA (Medical Care and Research excluding 37,201,220 39,178,503 40,910,043 41,792,100 1,764,114 5,114,194 9,212,480
Collections)........................................
General Operating Expenses................................. 1,605,000 1,699,867 1,985,602 1,896,126 -89,476 196,259 291,126
Information Technology Systems............................. 1,966,465 2,442,066 2,164,938 2,442,066 277,128 0 475,601
National Cemetery Administration........................... 195,000 180,959 251,975 210,250 -41,725 29,291 15,250
Office of Inspector General................................ 80,500 76,500 83,158 89,645 6,487 13,145 9,145
Construction, Major Projects............................... 1,069,100 581,582 1,275,000 1,092,094 -182,906 510,512 22,994
Construction, Minor Projects............................... 630,535 329,418 621,000 673,718 52,718 344,300 43,183
Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities.. 165,000 85,000 200,000 200,000 0 115,000 35,000
Grants for Construction of State Veterans Cemeteries....... 39,500 32,000 42,000 39,500 -2,500 7,500 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Departmental Administration................... 5,751,100 5,427,392 6,623,673 6,643,399 19,726 1,216,007 892,299
Other Discretionary........................................ 155,572 158,237 160,084 158,237 -1,847 0 2,665
====================================================================================================================================
Total, VA Discretionary.............................. 43,107,892 44,764,132 47,693,800 48,593,736 899,936 6,330,201 10,107,444
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Amounts attributable to medical collections have been subtracted from the Independent Budget recommendation Medical Services and added to the MCCF Collections line.
REPUBLICAN LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC, February 28, 2008
Hon. John Spratt,
Chairman, Committee on the Budget
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to House Rule X, clause
4(f)(1), I herewith submit to the Committee on the Budget the
Views and Estimates of the Republican Members of the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs regarding the Administration's FY 2009
budget request with regard to programs and matters within the
jurisdiction of the Committee, along with Supplemental Views
and Estimates.
In recommending record discretionary funding for veterans'
health care and benefits, the Republican Budget Views and
Estimates reflects our enduring priorities: to care for
veterans who have service-connected disabilities, those with
special needs, and the indigent; to ensure a seamless
transition from military service to the care of the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA); and to provide veterans every
opportunity to live full, healthy lives.
We look forward to working with the Committee's Majority
Members as well as the Members of the Budget Committee to put
forth a budget that will honor and enhance the lives of our
nation's veterans, as well as remain fiscally responsible to
the American taxpayer.
Sincerely,
Steve Buyer, Ranking Republican Member; Cliff
Stearns, Deputy Ranking Republican Member;
Jerry Moran, Committee Member; Henry E.
Brown, Jr., Committee Member; Jeff Miller,
Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee on
Health; John Boozman, Ranking Republican
Member, Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity; Ginny Brown-Waite, Ranking
Republican Member, Subcommittee on
Oversight & Investigations; Michael R.
Turner, Committee Member; Brian P. Bilbray,
Committee member; Doug Lamborn, Ranking
Republican Member, Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs;
Gus M. Bilirakis, Committee Member; Vern
Buchanan, Committee Member.
REPUBLICAN VIEWS AND ESTIMATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009
February 28, 2008
OVERVIEW
For veteran's healthcare and program costs in FY 2009, the
Republican Members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
recommend $3.831 billion above the Administration's request for
discretionary spending in FY 2009. In addition, we recommend $2
billion for a legislative initiative to modernize GI Bill
education and training benefits for servicemembers of the
Reserves and National Guard.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Benefits Administration
Mandatory Funding
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) administers a
broad range of non-medical benefits to veterans, their
dependents, and survivors through 57 regional offices. These
programs include disability compensation, non service-connected
pension, education, vocational rehabilitation, burial,
insurance, and home loan guaranty.
The Republican Members support the Administration's FY 2009
budget request of $46.4 billion in mandatory funding for
veterans' programs, a 3.5 percent increase over the enacted
level for FY 2008, except for the additional $2 billion we
recommend to modernize the GI Bill.
Discretionary Funding
With the exception of the recommendations noted below, the
Republican Members support the Administration's FY 2009 request
of $1.371 billion in discretionary funding for the management
of the benefits programs--disability compensation, pension,
education, vocational rehabilitation and employment, housing,
burial, and life insurance.
Disability Compensation and Pension Service--The
Administration requests $1.113 billion in budget authority to
fund the discretionary portion of the disability compensation,
pension, and burial programs. This includes administrative
expenses for 12,120 Full Time Equivalent Employees (FTEE), an
overall increase of 703 FTEE over the FY 2008 level. This
increase includes an additional 694 Direct FTEE over the FY
2008 level.
For FY 2009, VBA projects receipt of 872,002 claims, an
increase of 17,098 claims over FY 2008 levels. Though the
accumulation of the claims backlog has slowed, the Republican
Members remain concerned that VBA still has an inventory of
over 400,000 claims. Of this inventory, 103,410 claims (or 25.8
percent), have been pending over 180 days.
VBA intends to address this large workload in three ways:
First, VBA plans to enhance its use of information
technology to help with claims processing. VBA plans to
increase collaboration with the Department of Defense to obtain
medical and discharge information electronically. VBA will also
begin funding a paperless claims processing initiative (known
as Virtual VA), which will reduce reliance on burdensome paper
claims files. Additionally, VBA will utilize rules-based
technology to help claims adjudicators make rating decisions in
a more accurate and timely manner. VA has spent more than $600
million over the past decade in an attempt to automate the
compensation and pension (C&P) claims processing system. This
complicated, paper-driven process is more than twenty-five
years old.
The Republican Members applaud this initiative, which
reflects our long-held position favoring increased use of
information technology, and recommend an additional $10 million
to fund this initiative. This increase is reflected in our
recommended increase in the Virtual VA account of the Office of
Information and Technology.
Second, VBA expects to reduce the backlog of claims by
continuing to consolidate all original pension claims
processing to three pension maintenance centers. This will take
the burden of adjudicating pension claims off regional offices.
Third, VBA expects to reduce the backlog by continuing to
train and prepare the 2,900 direct FTEE that VBA plans to hire
for C&P service by the end of FY 2009. This includes funding
for 1,830 direct FTEE for C&P service that was appropriated
with the contingent emergency funding in the Consolidated
Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2008.
All three of these are part of VBA's overall strategy to
reduce the average processing time for C&P claims to 145 days.
This would represent a thirty eight day (or 26 percent)
improvement in processing timeliness from FY 2007, and a twenty
seven day (or 18 percent) reduction in the amount of time
required to process claims in FY 2008. The Republican Members
believe that in order to realistically reach this strategic
goal the C&P service will need additional FTEE and recommend an
additional $31.2 million to fund an additional 300 FTEE for the
C&P service.
Since it takes new raters an average of up to two years
before most C&P employees become fully productive, increased
training of new hires is vital to reducing the backlog.
Therefore, the Republican Members recommend an additional $8
million for Training and Performance Support Systems, and an
additional $2 million for skills certification. The Republican
Members also recommend an additional $1.88 million to fund 20
additional FTEE for VBA's National Training Academy in
Baltimore, MD.
The Republican Members recognize that additional direct
compensation FTEE will not improve quality, accuracy, and
timeliness in claims processing without corresponding increases
in training resources.
Intergovernmental Partnerships--The Republican Members
recommend $15 million for a pilot program to explore the
feasibility of intergovernmental partnerships in the
development of compensation and pension claims between VA and
municipal, county and state veterans departments and service
officers, as well as veterans' and military service
organizations. This pilot program would also use information
technology to assist in the development and transmittal of
veterans claims to VA regional offices. We recommend the pilot
occur in three states: New York, Missouri, and Wyoming, or
other states with varied veteran demographics. This expanded
pilot would build on findings from the 2002 intergovernmental
pilot conducted between the VA regional office in Buffalo and
the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs.
Veterans Choice in Filing Pilot Program--The Republican
Members also recommend $5 million for a two-year pilot program
where veterans who live in the jurisdiction of VA regional
offices in New York, NY; Newark, NJ; Atlanta, GA; and Detroit,
MI would be able to submit their disability claims to any VA
regional office for adjudication. This pilot program would give
veterans a choice about where they would like to have their
claim adjudicated.
Systematic Technical Accuracy Review (STAR) Reviews--STAR
reviews are one of many ways that VBA reviews the quality of
their ratings decisions. Despite the recent increase in the
number of STAR reviews, the Republican Members believe that too
much emphasis is placed on the number of claims decided by VBA
instead of the quality of decisions made. The Republican
Members would rather the adjudication of a disability claim
take longer and be right than not take as long and be wrong.
The Republican Members recommend $4 million to increase the
number of claims reviewed by STAR reviewers and increase the
amount of STAR staff training at regional offices.
Education Service--The Republican Members were pleased with
the results of the pilot call center project during FY 2007 and
understand VA intends to implement a permanent education call
center in Muscogee, OK during FY 2008. They believe this
project is vital to continuing the progress made in reducing
the processing times for education claims. VBA estimates a
workload increase of about 13,000 education claims, but the
Administration requests only 23 additional direct support FTEE.
As of February 11, 2008, the backlog of education claims was
nearly 66,000, and average processing times for original and
supplemental claims were 24 and 11 days respectively, with
targets of 19 and 10 days. While this is an improvement over
the previous year, it is insufficient to meet the needs of
veterans. Passage of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization
Act included several provisions such as post-discharge use of
chapter 1607 education benefits for members of the Guard and
Reserves that will increase the workload of the Education
Service.
It is difficult to determine the exact magnitude of the
increased workload due to those provisions and expanding
participation in nearly all other education programs
administered by VA. However, the continuing loss of experienced
staff from retirements, increased workloads, staffing the call
center and the pending backlog of claims convince the
Republican Members that an additional 160 FTEE are needed for
the Education Service with a projected discretionary cost of
$12.32 million.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service--With the
continuing Global War on Terror producing large numbers of
severely wounded service Members and the challenges entailed in
rehabilitating those with multiple trauma including significant
numbers of traumatic brain injury, the Republican Members are
disappointed that the Administration did not request additional
staff for the VR&E program. We applaud the Department's
continuing efforts to realign functions and duties to allow
counseling and employment staff to concentrate on increasing
rehabilitation rates. However, we believe current average
caseload, which now exceeds 130 per counselor nationally,
should be not more than 100 per counselor to provide
appropriate levels of service including oversight of cares
served through contract counselors. Therefore, we recommend
$13.5 million to fund an additional 150 professional level
FTEE. The Republican Members also recommend an additional
$18.02 million to contract for continued rehabilitation
services for veterans.
Loan Guaranty Service--The Republican Members recommend an
additional 40 FTEE at a cost of $3.656 million to improve the
percentage of loans transmitted through VA's Foreclosure
Avoidance through Closing (FAC) system within the Loan Guaranty
Service.
VA-USOC Military Paralympic Program--This coming summer,
America's Olympic and Paralympic teams will compete in the
Beijing Olympics. In 2005, at the urging of then Chairman
Buyer, VA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the
US Olympic Committee (USOC) to begin a cooperative effort to
increase disabled veteran participation in sports at all
levels, including elite events such as the Paralympics.
Over the three years since the MOU, the USOC has held a
series of military sports summits for recently-injured veterans
of the War on Terror, and VA has assisted by providing medical
and recreational therapy staff and disabled veterans undergoing
rehabilitation. As a result of this collaboration, as well as
interest by the disabled veteran's community in general, it is
possible that as many as eight disabled veterans will compete
in Beijing.
Competition at elite levels of athletic events requires
significant dedication to training, especially for service-
disabled athletes. Therefore, we believe it is appropriate for
VA to defray expenses for service-disabled athletes
participating at elite levels in the program. We estimate the
cost at $2 million per year. The Republican Members also
recommend an additional $5 million to improve opportunities for
these veterans to participate in sporting or other special
events. To facilitate these opportunities the Republican
Members recommend an additional $1.05 million to fund and
additional 10 FTEE for the National Programs and Special
Events.
Board of Veterans' Appeals
The Administration requests $64.744 million to support 487
FTEE for the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), an increase of
$2.475 million and 21 FTEE over FY 2008 level. The Republican
Members recommend an additional $14.865 million to support an
additional 113 FTEE for a total BVA staffing of 600 FTEE. The
BVA provides independent reviews of VA regional office
decisions and makes the final administrative decision on behalf
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. While BVA has made
improvements, it continues to experience difficulties meeting
the production levels. We believe that additional staff is
necessary if BVA is to provide timely and accurate decisions to
veterans and their families. The Republican Members recommend
$79.609 million for the BVA program account.
National Cemetery Administration
The Administration requests $425 million in discretionary
funding for the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). This
includes $181 million for operations and maintenance of VA's
national cemeteries and 1,603 FTEE, a decrease of $14 million
and increase of 51 FTEE over the FY 2008 level. This also
includes $25 million in minor construction to address cemetery
infrastructure improvements. The administration also requested
$6 million to create an advance planning account that will give
NCA flexibility in purchasing land for future cemeteries.
Cemetery Operations and Maintenance--The Republican Members
recommend an additional $19 million to the Administration's
request of $181 million for a total of $200 million for NCA
operations and maintenance, and an additional $144 million for
minor construction.
NCA Major Construction and Gravesite Expansion--The
Republican Members recommend an additional $100 million to
accelerate VA's five-year strategic plan to fund National
Cemetery gravesite expansion. VA will inter an estimated
111,000 veterans in 2009, with similar projections for the near
future, most from our ``Greatest Generation.'' The Republican
Members believe accelerated expansions are an appropriate
response to assure veterans a final resting place in a national
shrine. Expansions funded in FY 2009 would include National
Cemeteries in Annville, PA, Fort Mitchell, AL, Dayton, OH,
Kent, WA, Triangle, VA, Houston, TX, Elwood, IL, St. Louis, MO,
Phoenix, AZ, and Riverside, CA. The Republican Members also
recommend an additional $100 million to fund the construction
of additional columbarium space for veteran internments in
populated areas.
National Shrine Commitment--The Republican Members also
recommend an additional $300 million to complete the NCA's
National Shrine Commitment. The funding from the commitment
would be used on infrastructure projects such as irrigation
improvements, renovation of historic structures, and road
resurfacing. This additional funding would be part of the NCA's
major construction account. The total funding for the NCA major
construction account recommended by the Republican Members is
$610 million which is $500 million above the administration's
request.
Grants for the Construction of State Cemeteries--The
Republican Members also recommend an additional $10 million for
grants for the construction of state cemeteries for a total of
$42 million. This program gives funding to states to build
national cemeteries and requires that the state then pay all
operation and maintenance costs once the cemetery is built.
This program continues to have a waiting list and additional
funding would provide better access to veterans cemeteries for
veterans and their families.
Veterans Health Administration
For FY 2009, the Administration requests $41.2 billion in
appropriations for discretionary spending on veterans' medical
care, an increase of $2 billion or 5.4 percent over the FY 2008
appropriated level.
Medical Services--The Administration requests $34.1 billion
for medical services. In the FY 2009 request, VA merged the
medical services and medical administration appropriation
accounts. VA argues that merging these two accounts will
improve the budget execution and allow VA to respond rapidly to
unanticipated changes in the health care environment throughout
the year.
The Republican Members recommend $35.2 billion for medical
services which is $1.137 billion above the Administration's
request. This increase is recommended as follows:
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom
(OIF/OEF)--We recommend a $50 million increase to account for
the enactment of Public Law 110-181 that extends the period
during which combat veterans can receive care in priority
category 6 from two to five years from their date of discharge,
and provides for multiple requirements for wounded warrior
assistance programs. The Administration requests $1.267 billion
to meet the needs of veterans from OIF/OEF, an increase of $216
million, or 21 percent from expected costs for FY 2008. The
Republican recommendation would bring funding to $1.317 billion
for OIF/OEF veterans;
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)--We recommend a $50 million
increase to support the care of our wounded warriors with TBI
and the needs of their family caregivers. VA should establish a
centralized policy and procedures to ensure that best practices
for both short and long-term TBI rehabilitation are rapidly
disseminated and adopted throughout the VA system.
Rural Health Care--We recommend a $200 million increase to
improve the access and quality of care for enrolled veterans
residing in rural areas. This includes additional funding for
the Office of Rural Health and improving access to care by
utilizing existing non-VA rural health infrastructure;
Dental Care--We recommend a $100 million increase to
provide dental care for the increasing number of returning OIF/
OEF servicemembers accessing VA for dental care. Many OIF/OEF
active duty, Guard, and Reserve servicemembers are returning
with serious dental problems and are not receiving corrective
dental care prior to separation from active duty. VA is then
obligated to treat these separated servicemembers, often
through costly contract care. Although we include this
additional funding, we also anticipate enacting legislation
that would require VA to seek reimbursement from DoD for the
post-deployment dental care VA is providing;
Health Professional Educational Assistance Program--We
recommend a $50 million increase to provide scholarships to
employees pursing degrees or training in health care
disciplines for which recruitment and retention of qualified
personnel is difficult. We expect this additional funding to
include support for the recruitment and retention of staff to
provide mental health care in rural settings;
Mental Health Care--We recommend a $213 million increase
for VA to continue to implement the Mental Health Strategic
Plan and to enhance efforts to identify and respond to mental
health problems of returning OIF/OEF service members, including
members of the National Guard and Reserve;
Emergency Care--We recommend a $50 million increase to
reimburse certain veterans enrolled in VA health care without a
service-connected disability for the cost of emergency
treatment received in a non-VA facility until such time as such
veterans are transferred to a VA facility;
Medical Patient Workload--We recommend a $100 million
increase to provide timely and accessible high-quality health
care to core constituency veterans--the service-connected
disabled, injured and indigent;
Prosthetic and Sensory Aids--We recommend a $50 million
increase to cover the increased costs of providing, repairing
and replacing prosthetics and sensory aids;
Long-term care--We recommend a $200 million increase to
support long-term care services;
Medical Care Collections Fund--We recommend a $74 million
increase in medical services, as we remain concerned that VA
cannot meet its estimated collections goal.
Medical Facilities--We recommend a $400 million increase
above the Administration's request of $4.661 billion for
necessary costs associated with operating and maintaining VA's
health care system infrastructure.
Medical and Prosthetic Research--The Administration
requests $442 million in appropriations for medical and
prosthetic research, a decrease of $38 million below the FY
2008 appropriated level. We place a high premium on conducting
research into injuries and illnesses related to military
service that benefit the clinical treatment needs of veterans.
While the Department intends to place additional reliance on
outside federal grants to realize a net gain inresearch
funding, we recommend an $83 million increase above the
Administration's request for a total of $525 million for this program
account.
Legislative Proposals--The Administration includes seven
new legislative proposals as well as legislative policy
proposals from last year. The Republican Members support the
seven new health legislative proposals that would: exempt co-
payments from all hospice care provided through VA from co-
payments; allow VA to pay for specialized residential care and
rehabilitation for OEF/OIF veterans in medical foster homes;
update HIV testing policy; provide permanent authority for IRS
income data matching for VA eligibility determinations;
authorize VA to release certain health information to secure
third-party reimbursement for care provided by VA; allow ``in-
lieu-of'' reimbursement for certain continuing medical
education; and extend the application time for post discharge
dental benefits from 90 to 180 days. (The extension of dental
benefits has already been enacted in Public Law 110-181.)
The Republican Members continue to reject the three policy
proposals that would: allow VA to establish a tiered annual
enrollment fee for priority groups 7 and 8 veterans based on
family income; increase pharmacy co-payments for priority
groups 7 and 8 veterans from $8 to $15 dollars; and eliminate
the practice of offsetting or reducing VA first-party co-
payment debts with collection recoveries from third-party
health plans. These proposals do not reduce the
Administration's request for discretionary medical care
appropriations. The additional revenue would be classified as
mandatory receipts to the Treasury and would not be retained in
VA for veterans' health care programs.
VHA Major Construction Projects--The Administration
requests $471.5 million for VHA major construction projects. We
recommend a $752 million increase above the Administration's
request. This increase includes funding to cover increased
costs of construction and increased funding for the advanced
planning fund for developing the design of major construction
projects including public-private ventures to support the
future demand for health care services. This would bring the
total to $1.224 billion for this program account or $752
million above the Administration's request.
VHA Minor Construction Projects--The Administration
requests $273.418 million for VHA minor construction projects
and the Republican Members recommend a $200 million increase
over the Administration's request, for a total of $473.418 for
this account.
Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities--
The Administration requests $85 million in appropriations for
grants for the construction of State extended care facilities,
the same amount as the FY 2008 appropriated level. The
partnership between the Federal government and the States is a
long-standing and honored tradition of cost sharing. We
recommend a $90 million increase above the Administration's
request for a total of $175 million for this account.
Office of Information and Technology
The Republican Members concur with the Administration's
request for $2.442 billion for the Office of Information and
Technology (OI&T). This should be the last year for
appropriations for VETSNET application development. Any further
funding should be for code-conversion and operations and
maintenance.
Additionally, the Committee recognizes the value of
programs designed to reduce the backlog of claims, and provide
improved services to veterans. Therefore, we recommend an
additional funding amount of $10 million for Virtual VA.
The Republican Members also recommend an additional $100
million for 915 FTEE to provide for information technology
services at all VA locations nationwide, and an additional $200
million to be used to consolidate the multiple infrastructures
presently in existence at the VA. Without a significant
injection of funds to consolidate, the VA will spend at least
10 years to slowly combine these multiple infrastructures into
one. The Republican Members also believe in encouraging IT
innovation at the outlying VA facilities, and therefore
recommend an additional $16 million for field innovation in
order to continue a program started in FY 2008 by the Office of
Information and Technology.
The Republican Members recommend reducing funding to The
Education Expert System (TEES) in the amount of $5.259 million
until the VA can articulate a measurable performance outcome
for the program for FY 2009.
The total recommended amount for the Office of Information
and Technology is $2.762 billion, which is $320 million above
the Administration's request.
Office of the Inspector General
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for
the audit, investigation, and inspection of all VA programs and
operations. For FY 2009, the Administration requests $76.5
million and 440 FTEE to support the activities of the OIG. This
compares with the FY 2008 request of $72.6 million for
administrative expenses and 445 FTEE. However, this FY 2009
funding level would result in a reduction of 48 FTEE from
current staffing levels. In order to maintain the current level
of audits, inspections, and investigations completed, as well
as the monetary benefits identified, Congress would need to
provide funding of $84.9 million (an $8.4 million increase over
the Administration request). Major audits, reviews and
investigations would have to be cancelled should this reduction
in staffing occur. During FY 2007, OIG identified over $670.2
million in monetary benefits, for a return of $11 for every
dollar expended on OIG oversight. The Republican Members
recommend adding $8.9 million in FY 2009, in order to provide
for a total of 540 FTEE at a cost of $93.8 million.
Additionally, the Republican Members recognize the
importance of forward looking initiatives and investigations
provided by the OIG. Therefore, the Republican Members also
recommend an additional increase in funding to the OIG by $17.3
million for the following initiatives: $10.3 million and 60
FTEE for DoD/VA Transitional Health Care; $3.5 million and 20
FTEE for information technology security; and $3.5 million and
20 FTEE for acquisition reform. The total funding for the OIG
account recommended by the Republican Members is $111.1 million
which is $34.6 million above the Administration's request.
General Operating Expenses
The Republican Members recommend an additional $1.03
million be made available to fund an additional 10 FTEE to
improve timeliness and customer service at the VA Office of
Congressional and Legislative Affairs. The Republican Members
also recommend an additional 19 FTEE at a cost of $2.09 million
for the Center on Veterans Employment to improve implementation
of the service disabled veteran-owned small business provisions
in P.L. 109-461. The Republican Members further recommend an
additional 10 FTEE for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization to improve small business procurement
opportunities within VA at a cost of $1.1 million. These
increases combined with other general operating expensesfrom
VBA bring the Republican Member recommendation for general operating
expenses to $1.841 billion, which is $142 million above the
Administration's request.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR--VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
SERVICE
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP)--The
Republican Members are pleased with the increase in HVRP
funding that will allow VETS to contract with an additional 7
grantees. The program has been cited by GAO as the most cost-
effective employment program for the homeless, placing 65
percent of homeless veterans with an average cost per placement
of about $2,400. We recommend an additional $1 million to bring
the total number of potential new grantees to 10.
National Veterans Training Institute--In Public Law 109-
461, Congress mandated several changes in the state grant
program that will require greater training capacity at the
National Veterans Training Institute in Denver, CO. The
Committee recommends an additional $2 million to fund increased
NVTI operations.
USERRA Training and Enforcement--The Veterans Employment
and Training Service has primary responsibility for enforcing
veterans' employment and reemployment rights under USERRA. Case
loads are climbing and additional resources are required to
ensure timely resolution of USERRA-related cases. Therefore, we
recommend an additional $1 million to fund six additional
professional investigators.
State Grants for DVOPS and LVERs & the Transitional
Assistance Program--The Republican Members are concerned that
the small increases over the past few years have resulted in a
gradual reduction in state veterans' employment staff while
demands related to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
continue to increase. The economic downturn will also result in
more veterans seeking employment. Therefore, we recommend an
additional $1.5 million.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION
GI Bill--During the 109th Congress, the Economic
Opportunity Subcommittee conducted a series of hearings and
site visits to determine the need to modernize the Montgomery
GI Bill (MGIB) for both active duty and members of the Selected
Reserve. MGIB benefit levels for active duty members have not
nearly kept pace with the increasing cost of higher education,
and extensive utilization of the Reserve Components in the
Global War on Terror justifies increases in the basic levels of
their benefits. Therefore, we propose an additional $2 billion
in mandatory spending to improve education benefits. This
includes indexing the basic payment at 100 percent of the
Department of Education average four year public school cost.
Disability Benefits Reform Bill--The Republican Members
propose legislation that will implement disability compensation
reform for VA and the Department of Defense. The bill is based
on some of the recommendations of the President's Commission on
Care of America's Returning Wounded Warriors, also known as the
Dole-Shalala Commission and the Veterans Disability Benefits
Commission. Our proposal would end dual disability systems run
by the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). Currently, servicemembers who are medically
separated receive a physical evaluation and disability rating
from their respective branch of service and then typically go
to the VA for another physical and disability rating based on
service-related conditions. Our proposal would use a single
examination and rating, and take DOD out of the disability
rating business altogether. Those deemed unfit for service due
to injury would receive an annuity from DOD based on rank and
years of service. VA would conduct a study to determine
appropriate amounts of compensation under a new, modern
disability compensation rating schedule. The new schedule would
reflect average loss of earning capacity and loss of quality of
life due to disability.
Comprehensive Heath and Benefit Improvements--The
Republican Members recognize that improvements need to be made
in a variety of VA programs so that they meet the emerging
needs of both newly returning veterans from recent conflicts
and our aging veterans from previous wars. Therefore, the
Republican Members plan to introduce comprehensive legislation
that will address a variety of issues facing the VA, including
a proposal to provide dental insurance to eligible veterans and
expanding contract care for rural veterans. Other proposals
will include increased funding for adaptive housing and auto
grants, and make adjustments to the Home Loan Guarantee program
to bring it in line with current market conditions. In
addition, the legislation will address the current claims
backlog by increasing training for veteran's service officers,
establishing a paperless and rules based adjudication system,
and establishing a pilot program to give veterans a choice of
where they file their claims. Finally, the proposed legislation
will increase the burial plot allowance for veterans.
SUPPLEMENTAL VIEWS OF THE HONORABLE STEVE BUYER
VIEWS AND ESTIMATES FOR FY 2009
February 28, 2008
The Administration's requested FY 2009 budget for veterans'
programs includes legislative proposals to change the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) fee structure for health
care. These proposals for certain fees and co-payments are more
fully described in the Republican Views and Estimates for FY
2009. According to the legislative proposals, the revenue
generated by these fees and co-payments would be mandatory
receipts to be deposited in the U.S. Treasury, rather than
retained by the VA for the benefit of veterans.
The Administration proposal includes fees and co-payments
related to enrollment of category 7 and 8 veterans in VA
medical care. Tiered enrollment fees would range from $250 per
year for a veteran with an income of $50,000 to $750 per year
for a veteran with an income of $100,000 or greater. Copayments
for pharmaceuticals would rise from the current $8 to a new
level of $15 per 30-day supply. VA would also be authorized to
discontinue the current practice of offsetting or reducing a
patient's first party co-payment debt from funds received from
third-party insurance for non service-connected treatment. I
would only support these initiatives to generate $378.7 million
in the first year and $5.204 billion over 10 years, if the
revenues generated were retained by the VA for its veterans'
health care programs.
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
------
Presidential Messages
Mar. 4, 2008:
Communication from the President of the United States,
transmitting the Administration's 2008 National Drug Control
Strategy, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 1504.
------
Executive Communications
Jan. 5, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Extension of the Presumptive Period for
Compensation for Gulf War Veterans (RIN: 2900-AM47) Received
December 20, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jan. 5, 2007:
Letter from the Assistant to the Secretary for Regulations
Policy and Management, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting the Department's final rule--Filipino Veterans'
Benefits Improvements (RIN: 2900-AK65) Received December 29,
2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jan. 5, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management, Office
of Regulation Policy and Management, Department of Veterans
Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule--Transfer of
Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty Entitlement to Dependents (RIN:
2900-AM12) Received December 20, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Feb. 6, 2007:
Letter from The American Legion, transmitting the financial
statement and independent audit of The American Legion
proceedings of the 88th annual National Convention of The
American Legion, held in Salt Lake City, Utah from August 25-
31, 2006, and a report on the Organizations' activities for the
year preceding the Convention, pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 49.
Feb. 12, 2007:
Letter from the Chief, Office of Regulation Policy and
Management, Department of Veterans' Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Accrued Benefits (RIN: 2900-AM28)
Received December 29, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Mar. 14, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Traumatic Injury Protection Rider to
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (RIN 2900-AM36) Received
March 7, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Mar. 22, 2007:
Letter from the General Counsel, Department of Defense,
transmitting the Department's requested legislative proposals
as part of the National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal
Year 2008.
Mar. 28, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Home Schooling and Educational Institution (RIN:
2900-AM37) Received February 27, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Mar. 28, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Priority for Partial Grants to States for
Construction or Acquisition of State Home Facilities (RIN:
2900-AM42) Received February 27, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Mar. 29, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Cost Estimate 06-26 Schedule for Rating
Disabilities; Appendices A, B, C (RIN: 2900-AM60) Received
March 18, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Apr. 16, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Vocation Rehabilitation and Employment Program--
Initial Evaluations (RIN: 2900-AM25) Received March 26, 2007,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Apr. 23, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Veterans and Dependent's Education: Topping-Up
Tuition Assistance; Licensing and Certification Tests; Duty to
Assist Education Claimants (RIN 2900-AK80) Received April 10,
2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Apr. 23, 2007:
Letter from the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Joint
Executive Committee, transmitting a copy of the report for
Fiscal Year 2006 regarding the activities and accomplishments
of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense
Joint Executive Committee, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 320.
May 23, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Administration of VA Educational Benefits--
Centralized Certification (RIN: 2900-AL43) Received April 25,
2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
May 23, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Medical: Informed Consent--Designate Health Care
Professionals to Obtain Informed Consent (RIN: 2900-AM21)
Received April 1, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jun. 7, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Delegations of Authority-National Cemetery
Administration (RIN: 2900-AM18) Received March 18, 2007,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jun. 7, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Department of Veterans Affairs Implementation of
OMB Guidance on Non-procurement Debarment and Suspension (RIN:
2900-AM44) Received June 4, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Jun. 19, 2007:
Letter from the Adjutant General, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the U.S., transmitting proceedings of the 107th
National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States, held in Reno, Nevada, August 26-August 31, 2006,
pursuant to 36, U.S.C. 118 and 44 U.S.C. 1332.
Jul. 17, 2007:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Labor,
transmitting the 2005 Annual Report of the Assistant Report of
the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training
of the Department of Labor, pursuant to 38, U.S.C. 4107(c).
Jul. 17, 2007:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill entitled, ``To amend title
38, United States Code, to improve veterans' health care
benefits, and for other purposes.''
Jul. 23, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Data Breaches (RIN: 2900-AM63) Received June 25,
2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jul. 25, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Increase in Rates Payable Under the Montgomery GI
Bill-Selected Reserve and Other Miscellaneous Issues (RIN:
2900-AM50) Received July 18, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Aug. 3, 2007:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill to clarify the requirements
for special monthly pension based on age and disability.
Aug. 3, 2007:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill entitled, ``Agent Orange
Equitable Compensation Act.''
Aug. 3, 2007:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill entitled, ``Veterans' Pride
Initiative Act.''
Sept. 25, 2007:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill, ``to enhance the
functioning and integration of formerly homeless veterans who
reside in permanent housing, and for other purposes.''
Oct. 10, 2007:
Letter from the Director, Regulations Management, Office of
Regulation Policy and Management, Department of Veterans
Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule--Disclosure
of Information to Organ Procurement Organizations (RIN: 2900
AM65) Received September 4, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Oct. 24, 2007:
Letter from the Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs,
Department of Defense, transmitting the biennial report
entitled, ``Report on the Montgomery G.I. Bill for Members of
the Selected Reserve'' for Fiscal Year 2006, pursuant to 10
U.S.C. 16137 Public Law 106-65, Sec. 546.
Oct. 29, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management Office
of Regulation Policy and Management, VA Department of Veterans
Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule--Government-
Furnished Headstone and Marker Regulations (RIN: 2900-AM64)
Received September 18, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Oct. 29, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Accreditation of Service Organization
Representatives and Agents (RIN: 2900-AM29) Received October
10, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Dec. 4, 2007:
Letter from the National Adjutant, the Disabled American
Veterans, transmitting the 2006 National Convention Proceedings
of the Disabled American Veterans, pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 90i
and 44 U.S.C. 1332.
Dec. 10, 2007:
Letter from the Acting Secretary, Department of Veterans
Affairs, transmitting a copy of a draft bill entitled,
``America's Wounded Warriors Act.''
Dec. 11, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Reasonable Charges for Medical Care or Services
(RIN: 2900-AM35) Received December 3, 2007, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Dec. 12, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Transfer of Duties of Former VA Board of Contract
Appeals (RIN: 2900-AM73) Received November 19, 2007, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Dec. 17, 2007:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Extension of the Presumptive Period for
Compensation for Gulf War Veterans (RIN: 2900-AM47) Received
December 4, 2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Dec. 19, 2007:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill entitled, ``Veterans'
Authorities Expansion Act of 2007.''
Jan. 15, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Veterans Education: Incorporation of Miscellaneous
Statutory Provisions (RIN: 2900-AL28) Received January 10,
2007, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jan. 18, 2008:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill, ``To amend title 38,
United States Code, to establish within the Department of
Veterans Affairs, the position of Assistant Secretary for
Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction, and for other
purposes.''
Jan. 18, 2008:
Letter from the Director, Office Personnel Management,
transmitting the Office's Fiscal Year 2006 annual report on
Veteran's Employment in the Federal Government.
Jan. 29, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management, Office
of Regulation Policy and Management, VA, Department of Veterans
Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule--Dependents'
Educational Assistance (RIN: 2900-AM72) Received January 4,
2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jan. 29, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management (00REG),
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Education: Approval of Accredited Courses for VA
Education Benefits (RIN: 2900-AM80) Received January 4, 2008,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jan. 29, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--VA Acquisition Regulation: Plain Language Rewrite
(RIN: 2900-AK78) Received January 4, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Feb. 7, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Loan Guaranty: Loan Servicing and Claims Procedures
Modifications (RIN: 2900-AL65) Received January 28, 2008,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Feb. 12, 2008:
Letter from The American Legion, transmitting the financial
statement and independent audit of The American Legion
proceedings of the 89th annual National Convention of The
American Legion, held in Reno, Nevada, from August 24-30, 2007,
and a report on the Organization's activities for the year
preceding the Convention, pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 49.
Feb. 27, 2008:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill to authorize major medical
facility projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs for
fiscal year 2009.
Apr. 15, 2008:
Letter from the Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting a copy of the
Report of the Chairman for fiscal year 2007.
Apr. 15, 2008:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill entitled, ``To amend title
38, United States Code, to improve veterans' health care
benefits and for other purposes.''
Apr. 18, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Data Breaches (RIN: 2900-AM63) Received April 14,
2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
May 19, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Notice and Assistance Requirements and Technical
Correction (RIN: 2900-AM17) Received April 30, 2008, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
May 20, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Accreditation of Agents and Attorneys: Agent and
Attorney Fees (RIN: 2900-AM62) Received May 13, 2008, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
May 20, 2008:
Letter from the Director, Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Provision of Hospital Care and Medical Services
During Certain Disasters or Emergencies (RIN: 2900-AM40)
Received May 9, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
May 20, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--VA Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification
Guidelines (RIN: 2900-AM78) Received May 9, 2008, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
May 20, 2008:
Letter from the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting a copy of a draft bill entitled, ``The Veterans'
Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008.''
May 20, 2008:
Letter from the Acting General Counsel, Department of
Defense, transmitting a copy of legislative proposals that
would implement initiatives concerning military spousal
benefits presented by the President of the United States in his
State of the Union Address.
May 21, 2008:
Letter from the Director, Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Graves Marked with a Private Headstone or Marker
(RIN: 2900-AM93) Received May 14, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Jun. 3, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
Program Period of Eligibility for Eligible Children and Other
Miscellaneous Issues (RIN: 2900-AL44) Received May 27, 2008,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jun. 10, 2008:
Letter from the General Counsel, Department of Defense,
transmitting the Department's requested legislative proposals
as part of the National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal
Year 2009.
Jun. 25, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Prohibition of Interment or Memorialization in
National Cemeteries and Certain State Cemeteries Due to
Commission of Capital Crimes (RIN: 2900-AM86) Received June 19,
2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jul. 9, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Beneficiary Travel Under 38 U.S.C. 111 Within the
United States (RIN: 2900-AM02) Received July 1, 2008, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Jul. 16, 2008:
Letter from the Adjutant General, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the U.S., transmitting proceedings of the 108th
National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States, held in Kansas City, Missouri, August 18-23,
2007, pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 118 and 44 U.S.C. 1332.
Jul. 21, 2008:
Letter from the Assistant Secretary for Veterans'
Employment and Training, Department of Labor, transmitting the
2006 and 2007 annual report on the Department's Veterans'
Employment and Training Service, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 4107(c).
Jul. 21, 2008:
Letter from the Deputy Secretary, Department of Veterans
Affairs and Department of Defense, transmitting a copy of the
report for Fiscal Year 2007 regarding the activities and
accomplishments of the Department of Veterans Affairs and
Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee, pursuant to 38
U.S.C. 320.
Jul. 31, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Supplemental Statement of the Case (RIN: 2900-AM49)
Received July 18, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Sept. 8, 2008:
Letter from the Disabled American Veterans, transmitting
the 2008 National Convention Proceedings of the Disabled
American Veterans, pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 90i and 44 U.S.C.
1332.
Sept. 25, 2008:
Letter from the Director, Regulation Policy and Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Schedule of Rating Disabilities; Evaluation of
Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (RIN: 2900-AM75)
Received September 23, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Sept. 25, 2008:
Letter from the Director, Regulation Policy and Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Presumption of Service Connection for Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (RIN: 2900-AN05) Received September 19, 2008,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Sept. 25, 2008:
Letter from the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Department
of Defense, transmitting a report entitled, ``Report on
Alternative Measures to Address Cracks in the Monument at the
Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery,
Virginia,'' pursuant to Public Law 110-181, Section 2873.
Sept. 26, 2008:
Letter from the Director, Regulation Policy and Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Schedule for Rating Disabilities; Evaluation of
Scars (RIN: 2900-AM55) Received September 19, 2008, pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Sept. 29, 2008:
Letter from the Director, Office of Agency Management and
Budget, Department of Labor, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Annual Report From Federal Contractors (RIN: 1293-
AA12) Received September 26, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 19, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Schedule for Rating Disabilities; Eye (RIN: 2900-
AH43) Received November 5, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 19, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Grants to States for Construction and Acquisition
of State Home Facilities (RIN: 2900-AJ43) Received October 7,
2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 19, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (RIN: 2900-AN04)
Received October 29, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 19, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Board of Veterans' Appeals: Expedited Claims
Adjudication Initiative--Pilot Program (RIN: 2900-AM77)
Received November 5, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 19, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Civilian Health and Medical Program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (RIN: 2900-AM22) Received
November 5, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 19, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Disclosure of Information to Organ, Tissue and Eye
Procurement Organizations (RIN: 2900-AM65) Received November 7,
2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 19, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Dental Care-Provision of One-Time Outpatient Dental
Care for Certain Veterans (RIN: 2900-AM95) Received October 7,
2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 20, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Increase in Rates Payable Under the Montgomery GI
Bill Active Duty and Other Miscellaneous Issues (RIN: 2900-
AM45) Received November 5, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 20, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Elimination of Co-payment for Weight Management
Counseling (RIN: 2900-AM59) Received November 5, 2008, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Nov. 20, 2008:
Letter from the Acting Director, Office of Personnel
Management, transmitting a report entitled, ``Employment of
Veterans in the Federal Government--Fiscal Year 2007.''
Dec. 9, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Traumatic
Injury Protection Program (RIN: 2900-AN00) Received November
25, 2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Dec. 9, 2008:
Letter from the Director of Regulations Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's
final rule--Assistance to States in hiring and Retaining Nurses
at State Veterans Homes (RIN: 2900-AM26) Received December 2,
2008, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
STATISTICAL DATA--WAR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS
Current information on statistical data on War Veterans and
Dependents can be found on the Web at http://www1.va.gov/opa/
fact/amwars.asp. Listed below is the current information as of
November 2008.
American Revolution (1775-1783)
Total U.S. Servicemembers....................................\1\ 217,000
Battle Deaths......................................................4,435
Non-mortal Woundings...............................................6,188
War of 1812 (1812-1815)
Total U.S. Servicemembers........................................286,730
Battle Deaths......................................................2,260
Non-mortal Woundings...............................................4,505
Indian Wars (approx. 1817-1898)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (VA estimate)..........................106,000
Battle Deaths (VA estimate)........................................1,000
Mexican War (1846-1848)
Total U.S. Servicemembers.........................................78,718
Battle Deaths......................................................1,733
Other Deaths (In Theater).........................................11,550
Non-mortal Woundings...............................................4,152
Civil War (1861-1865)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (Union)..............................2,213,363
Battle Deaths (Union)............................................140,414
Other Deaths (In Theater) (Union)................................224,097
Non-mortal Woundings (Union).....................................281,881
Total Servicemembers (Conf.)..............................2
1,050,000
Battle Deaths (Confederate)
..................................3 74,524
Other Deaths (In Theater) (Confederate).......
............3, 4 59,297
Non-mortal Woundings (Confederate)...............................Unknown
Spanish-American War (1898-1902)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (Worldwide)............................306,760
Battle Deaths........................................................385
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater)..............................2,061
Non-mortal Woundings...............................................1,662
World War I (1917-1918)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (Worldwide)..........................4,734,991
Battle Deaths.....................................................53,402
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater).............................63,114
Non-mortal Woundings.............................................204,002
Living Veterans........................................................1
World War II (1941-1945)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (Worldwide).........................16,112,566
Battle Deaths....................................................291,557
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater)............................113,842
Non-mortal Woundings.............................................671,846
Living Veterans...........................................5
2,306,000
Korean War (1950-1953)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (Worldwide)..........................5,720,000
Battle Deaths.....................................................33,739
Other Deaths (In Theater)..........................................2,835
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater).............................17,672
Non-mortal Woundings.............................................103,284
Living Veterans................................................2,307,000
Vietnam War (1964-1975)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (Worldwide).....................6
8,744,000
Deployed to Southeast Asia................................7
3,403,000
Battle Deaths
................................................8
47,434
Other Deaths (In Theater)
....................................8 10,786
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater)
........................8 32,000
Non-mortal Woundings........................................9
153,303
Living Veterans.......................................5, 10
7,125,000
Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-1991)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (Worldwide)..........................2,322,000
Deployed to Gulf.................................................694,550
Battle Deaths........................................................147
Other Deaths (In Theater)............................................235
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater)..............................1,590
Non-mortal Woundings.................................................467
Living Veterans.......................................5, 10
2,269,000
America's Wars Total (1775-1991)
U.S. Military Service during Wartime..........................41,891,368
Battle Deaths....................................................651,030
Other Deaths (In Theater)........................................308,800
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater)............................230,279
Non-mortal Woundings...........................................1,431,290
Living War Veterans...........................................17,456,000
Living Veterans (Periods of War & Peace)......................23,442,000
Global War on Terror (Oct. 2001- )
(Data as of June 30, 2008)
Total U.S. Servicemembers (Worldwide)..........................1,385,122
Deployed to Iraq & Afghanistan...................................214,800
(Data as of December 6, 2008)
Battle Deaths......................................................3,797
Other Deaths (In Theater)..........................................1,026
Non-mortal Woundings..............................................33,476
(The Global War on Terror (GWOT), including Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), are
ongoing conflicts.)
_____
NOTES:
\1\ Exact number is unknown. Posted figure is the median of estimated
range from 184,000-250,000.
\2\ Exact number is unknown. Posted figure is median of estimated range
from 600,000-1,500,000.
\3\ Death figures are based on incomplete returns.
\4\ Does not include 26,000 to 31,000 who died in Union prisons.
\5\ Estimate based upon new population projection methodology.
\6\ Covers the period 8/5/64-1/27/73 (date of cease fire).
\7\ Department of Defense estimate.
\8\ Covers period 11/1/55-/15/75.
\9\ Excludes 150,341 not requiring hospital care.
\10\ VA estimate, as of 5/08, does not include those still on active
duty and may include veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Source: Department of Defense (DOD), except living veterans, which are
VA estimates as of September 2008.
U.S. VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS ON BENEFITS ROLLS
[As of September 2008]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surviving
Veterans Children Parents spouses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Civil War................................................... ........... 2 ........... ...........
Indian Wars................................................. ........... ........... ........... ...........
Spanish-American War........................................ ........... 94 ........... 90
Mexican Border.............................................. ........... 15 ........... 60
World War I................................................. ........... 3,169 ........... 4,873
World War II................................................ 274,052 14,403 117 223,895
Korean Conflict............................................. 156,842 3,170 257 60,948
Vietnam Era................................................. 1,015,151 8,843 2,932 165,376
Gulf War \1\................................................ 896,288 13,688 926 15,945
Non service-connected....................................... 315,763 18,103 2 182,236
Service-connected........................................... 2,951,587 28,016 5,385 320,979
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\1\ For compensation and pension purposes, the Persian Gulf War period has not yet been terminated and includes
veterans of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.