[House Report 113-659]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 496
113th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Report 113-659
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES
of the
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
of the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
during the
ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
pursuant to
Clause 1(d) Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives
December 11, 2014.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
49-006 PDF WASHINGTON : 2014
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC, December 12, 2014.
Hon. Karen Lehman Haas,
Clerk of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Ms. Haas: Pursuant to clause 1(d) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives for the 113th Congress, I
present herewith the annual report on the activity of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs for the 113th Congress, Second
Session, including the Committee's review and study of
legislation within its jurisdiction, and the oversight
activities undertaken by the Committee.
Sincerely,
Jeff Miller,
Chairman.
C O N T E N T S
Page
Jurisdiction..................................................... 1
Rules of the Committee........................................... 2
Membership and Organization...................................... 11
Legislative and Oversight Activities............................. 15
Full Committee Legislative Activities............................ 16
Full Committee Oversight Activities.............................. 23
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs....... 37
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity............................. 45
Subcommittee on Health........................................... 49
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations..................... 53
Messages from the President and other Executive Branch
Communications................................................. 57
Union Calendar No. 496
113th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 113-659
======================================================================
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS'
AFFAIRS
_______
December 11, 2014.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Miller, from the Committee on Veteran's Affairs, pursuant to Clause
1(d) Rule XI, submitted the following
R E P O R T
Clause 1(d) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives for the 113th Congress requires that each
standing committee, not later than January 2 of each year,
submit to the House a report on the activities of that
committee, including separate sections summarizing the
legislative and oversight activities of that committee during
that Congress.
JURISDICTION
RULES OF THE HOUSE
Clause 1(s) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives for the 113th Congress sets forth 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 servicemembers to civil life.
(7) Servicemembers' civil relief.
(8) Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of
veterans.
RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
113TH CONGRESS
Second Session
----------
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.
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.
(h) Notice Requirements.--
(1) The text of all bills or resolutions for markup,
and any amendments in the nature of a substitute to
such bills or resolution to be first recognized by the
Chairman, shall be made available, via written or
electronic notice, to Committee members at least 48
hours prior to a scheduled markup, except as agreed to
by unanimous consent.
(2) Subject to the second sentence of this paragraph,
it shall not be in order for the Committee to consider
any amendment proposed to a bill or resolution under
consideration by the Committee, or proposed to an
amendment in the nature of a substitute noticed under
paragraph (1), unless a written or electronic copy of
such amendment has been delivered to each Member of the
Committee (or Subcommittee for purposes of Subcommittee
markups) at least 24 hours before the meeting at which
the amendment is to be proposed. This paragraph may be
waived by unanimous consent and shall apply only when
the 48-hour written notice has been provided in
accordance with paragraph (1).
(i) Congressional Budget Office Scoring.--The Committee
shall not include any bill or resolution for consideration
during a Committee markup which is not accompanied by an
accounting from the Congressional Budget Office of the
mandatory and discretionary costs or savings associated with
such bill or resolution. The accounting from the Congressional
Budget Office need not be official, but is expected to provide
Committee members with an approximation of the budgetary impact
a bill or resolution may have prior to any vote to favorably
forward or report such bill or resolution. The requirements of
this paragraph may be waived by a majority of Committee
members, a quorum 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 the Veterans Health
Administration (VHA) including medical
services, medical support and compliance,
medical facilities, medical and prosthetic
research, and major and minor construction.
(D) Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations, which shall have oversight and
investigative jurisdiction over veterans'
matters generally, information technology,
procurement, 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 have
legislative jurisdiction over such bills or
resolutions as may be referred to it by the
Chairman of the full Committee. Provided,
however, that the activities of the
Subcommittee shall in no way limit the
responsibility of the other Subcommittees of
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for carrying
out their oversight duties.
(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.
RULE 9--TRAVEL
(a) Requirements for Travel.--All requests for travel,
funded by the Committee, for Members and staff in connection
with activities or subject matters under the general
jurisdiction of the Committee, shall be submitted to the Chair
for approval or disapproval. All travel requests should be
submitted to the Chair at least five working days in advance of
the proposed travel. For all travel funded by any other source,
notice shall be given to the Chair at least five working days
in advance of the proposed travel. All travel requests shall be
submitted to the Chair in writing and include the following:
(1) The purpose of the travel.
(2) The dates during which the travel is to occur.
(3) The names of the locations to be visited and the
length of time to be spent in each.
(4) The names of members and staff of the Committee
for whom the authorization is sought. Travel by the
minority shall be submitted to the Chair via the
Ranking Member.
(b) Trip Reports.--Members and staff shall make a written
report to the Chair within 15 working days on all travel
approved under this subsection. Reports shall include a
description of their itinerary, expenses, and activities, and
pertinent information gained as a result of such travel. When
travel involves majority and minority Members or staff, the
majority shall submit the report to the Chair on behalf of the
majority and minority. The minority may append additional
remarks to the report at their discretion.
(c) Applicability of House Rules.--Members and staff of
the Committee performing authorized travel on official business
shall be governed by applicable laws, resolutions, and
regulations of the House and of the Committee on House
Administration.
RULE 10--FACILITY NAMING
(a) Facility Naming.--No Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) facility or property shall be named after any individual
by the Committee unless:
(1) Such individual is deceased and was:
(A) A veteran who (i) was instrumental in the
construction or the operation of the facility
to be named, or (ii) was a recipient of the
Medal of Honor or, as determined by the
Chairman and Ranking Minority Member, otherwise
performed military service of an
extraordinarily distinguished character;
(B) A Member of the United States House of
Representatives or Senate who had a direct
association with such facility;
(C) An Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, a
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a Secretary of
Defense or of a service branch, or a military
or other Federal civilian official of
comparable or higher rank; or
(D) An individual who, as determined by the
Chairman and Ranking Minority Member, performed
outstanding service for veterans.
(2) Each Member of the Congressional delegation
representing the State in which the designated facility
is located must indicate in writing such Member's
support of the proposal to name such facility after
such individual.
(3) The pertinent State department or chapter of each
Congressionally chartered veterans' organization having
a national membership of at least 500,000 must indicate
in writing its support of such proposal.
(4) The above criteria for naming a VA facility may
be waived by unanimous consent.
MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
(Ratio: 14-11)
JEFF MILLER, Florida, Chairman
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine, DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
Ranking Member GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida,
CORRINE BROWN, Florida Vice Chairman
MARK TAKANO, California DAVID P. ROE, Tennessee
JULIA BROWNLEY, California JEFF DENHAM, California
DINA TITUS, Nevada BILL FLORES, Texas
ANN KIRKPATRICK, Arizona JON RUNYAN, New Jersey
RAUL RUIZ, California DAN BENISHEK, Michigan
GLORIA NEGRETE McLEOD, California TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas
ANN M. KUSTER, New Hampshire MIKE COFFMAN, Colorado
BETO O'ROURKE, Texas BRAD WENSTRUP, Ohio
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota PAUL COOK, California
JACKIE WALORSKI, Indiana
DAVID W. JOLLY, Florida*
Jonathan A. Towers, Majority Staff
Director
Nancy Dolan, Minority Staff
Director
*Representative David W. Jolly was added to the Membership of the Full
Committee by unanimous consent during a business meeting held on April
3, 2014.
SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS
(Ratio: 5-4)
JON RUNYAN, New Jersey, Chairman
DINA TITUS, Nevada DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
BETO O'ROURKE, Texas GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida
RAUL RUIZ, California PAUL COOK, California
GLORIA NEGRETE McLEOD, California DAVID W. JOLLY, Florida*
*Representative David W. Jolly was added to the Membership of the
Subcommittees on Health and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
by unanimous consent during a business meeting held on April 3, 2014.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
(Ratio: 5-4)
BILL FLORES, Texas, Chairman
MARK TAKANO, California JON RUNYAN, New Jersey
JULIA BROWNLEY, California MIKE COFFMAN, Colorado
DINA TITUS, Nevada PAUL COOK, California
ANN KIRKPATRICK, Arizona BRAD WENSTRUP, Ohio
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
(Ratio: 7-5)
DAN BENISHEK, Michigan, Chairman
JULIA BROWNLEY, California, DAVID P. ROE, Tennessee
Ranking Member JEFF DENHAM, California
CORRINE BROWN, Florida TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas
RAUL RUIZ, California JACKIE WALORSKI, Indiana
GLORIA NEGRETE McLEOD, California BRAD WENSTRUP, Ohio
ANN M. KUSTER, New Hampshire DAVID W. JOLLY, Florida*
*Representative David W. Jolly was added to the Membership of the
Subcommittees on Health and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
by unanimous consent during a business meeting held on April 3, 2014.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
(Ratio: 6-5)
MIKE COFFMAN, Colorado, Chairman
ANN KIRKPATRICK, Arizona, DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
Ranking Member DAVID P. ROE, Tennessee
MARK TAKANO, California TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas
ANN M. KUSTER, New Hampshire DAN BENISHEK, Michigan
BETO O'ROURKE, Texas JACKIE WALORSKI, Indiana
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota
COMMITTEE STAFF
MAJORITY STAFF
Jonathan A. Towers
Staff Director
Michael F. Brinck
Deputy Staff Director
Brandt Anderson, Research
Assistant, Subcommittee on Health
(Oct. 2014-Present)
Kelsey Baron, Research Assistant,
Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity
Curt Cashour, Communications
Director
Amy Centanni, Investigative
Counsel, Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations (Jun. 2014-
Present)
Jonathan A. Clark, Staff Director,
Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity
Bernadine N. Dotson, Financial
Administrator
Jessica G. Eggimann, Chief Clerk,
Legislative Coordinator, Office
Manager
Samantha E. Gonzalez, Professional
Staff Member
Eric E. Hannel, Staff Director,
Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations
Christine Hill, Staff Director,
Subcommittee on Health
Jon Hodnette, Investigative
Counsel, Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations
Ashfaq Huda, Detailee--U.S.
Government Accountability Office
Christina Mandruecci, Staff
Assistant (Dec.15, 2014-Present)
Mary Ashley Miller, Staff
Assistant
Megan Olmstead, Research Assistant
and Counsel, Subcommittee on
Health (Jan. 2014-June 2014)
Harold Rees, Senior Investigative
Counsel, Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations
Rory Riley, Staff Director and
Counsel, Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs (Jan. 2014-Oct. 2014)
Lauren Rogan, Professional Staff
Member and Counsel, Subcommittee
on Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs
Michael Siegel, Digital Manager
Ian D. Smith, Research Assistant,
Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs
Maria Tripplaar, Staff Director
and Counsel, Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs (Dec. 2014-Present)
Christopher Stowe, Military Fellow
MINORITY STAFF
Nancy Dolan
Staff Director
David M. Tucker
Deputy Staff Director and Chief
Counsel
Kent Anderson, Legislative Fellow
Megan Bland, Executive Assistant
Carolyn Blaydes, Legislative
Assistant
Justin Brown, Staff Director,
Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs
Juan Lara, Staff Director and
Counsel Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity (Jan. 2014-Oct. 2014)
Carol S. Murray, Office Manager
and Legislative Coordinator
Daniel Rafter, Communications
Director
Saki Ververis, Senior Legislative
Assistant
Cathleen C. Wiblemo, Staff
Director, Subcommittee on Health
LEGISLATIVE AND OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
From January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014 of the First
and Second Sessions of the 113th Congress, 363 bills were
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The Committee
reported to the House or was discharged from further
consideration of 29 measures. Ten measures regarding matters
within the Committee's jurisdiction were enacted into law.
The following is a summary of the legislative and oversight
activities of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs from January
1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 of the 113th Congress.
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
(Ratio: 14-11)
JEFF MILLER, Florida, Chairman
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine, DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
Ranking Member GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida,
CORRINE BROWN, Florida Vice Chairman
MARK TAKANO, California DAVID P. ROE, Tennessee
JULIA BROWNLEY, California JEFF DENHAM, California
DINA TITUS, Nevada BILL FLORES, Texas
ANN KIRKPATRICK, Arizona JON RUNYAN, New Jersey
RAUL RUIZ, California DAN BENISHEK, Michigan
GLORIA NEGRETE McLEOD, California TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas
ANN M. KUSTER, New Hampshire MIKE COFFMAN, Colorado
BETO O'ROURKE, Texas BRAD WENSTRUP, Ohio
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota PAUL COOK, California
JACKIE WALORSKI, Indiana
DAVID W. JOLLY, Florida*
*Representative David W. Jolly was added to the Membership of the Full
Committee by unanimous consent during a business meeting held on April
3, 2014.
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
FULL COMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Second Session
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EXPIRING AUTHORITIES ACT OF 2014
(H.R. 5404)
Summary
H.R. 5404, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring
Authorities Act of 2014, would amend certain veterans' health
benefit provisions to extend through 2015, would extend through
Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 the authority and authorization of
appropriations under the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act of 2010. The bill would also extend authorities
related to homelessness, benefits, and other authorities
including the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' authority to
transport individuals through 2015. H.R. 5404 would extend the
Secretary's authority to maintain a regional office in the
Philippines through FY2015, and would extend the requirement
that the Secretary report to Congress on the disposition of
each case recommended to the Secretary for equitable relief
from the denial of VA benefits due to administrative error
through 2015. This bill would also extend the authority for the
Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans through 2015, as well
as the Secretary's authority to provide specially adapted
housing assistance through FY2015, and the Secretary's
authority to enter into an agreement with National Academy of
Sciences (NAS), under the Agent Orange Act of 1991, for a study
of the associations between diseases and exposure to dioxin and
other chemical compounds in herbicides, through 2015.
The bill would also increase the multipliers used in
calculating the fees the Secretary is authorized to pay to
educational institutions and apprenticeships, would amend
provisions for payments under the Education Debt Reduction
Program, and would make miscellaneous and technical amendments
to the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014.
Legislative History
H.R. 5404 was introduced by Representative Jeff Denham on
September 8, 2014, and referred to the Committee on Veterans
Affairs, in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and
the Budget. H.R. 5404 was originally cosponsored by Committee
Chairman Jeff Miller. The bill had no additional cosponsors.
On September 10, 2014, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
met in open session and ordered the bill favorably reported to
the House by voice vote.
On September, 16, 2014, the House agreed to a motion to
suspend the rules and pass H.R. 5404 by voice vote.
On September 18, 2014, the Senate passed H.R. 5404 without
amendment by Unanimous Consent.
On September 26, 2014, H.R. 5404 was signed by the
President and became Public Law No. 113-175.
VA CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2014
(H.R. 3593)
Summary
H.R. 3593, the VA Construction Assistance Act of 2014,
would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, for any
construction or alteration project that is a major medical
facility project, to use the services of a medical equipment
planner as part of the architectural and engineering firm for
the project, develop and use a project management plan to
ensure clear and consistent communication among all parties,
subject the project to construction peer excellence review,
develop a metrics program to enable the monitoring of change-
order processing time and goals for the change-order process
consistent with the best practices of other federal agencies,
and use design-build processes to minimize multiple change
orders. This bill would direct the Secretary to procure the
services of the Army Corps of Engineers with respect to
appointing not less than one special project manager who has
experience in managing construction projects that exceed $60
million to oversee such covered projects until completion. H.R.
3593 would require a special project manager to submit to
congressional committees detailed plans of a covered project
and progress reports, which would include an analysis of all
changes ordered by the VA and recommendations for improving the
operation of any construction-related activity to reduce costs
or complete the project in a timelier manner.
Legislative History
H.R. 3593 was introduced by Representative Mike Coffman on
November 21, 2013, and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs. The bill was originally cosponsored by Representative
Ann Kirkpatrick, and had six additional cosponsors.
On March 25, 2014, the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3593, and
received testimony from the following witnesses: Ms. Stella S.
Fiotes, Executive Director, Office of Construction and
Facilities Management, Office of Acquisition, Logistics and
Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Gregory
Wilshusen, Director, Information Security Issues, U.S.
Government Accountability Office; Mr. Raymond Kelley, Director,
National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
Diane Zumatto, National Legislative Director, AMVETS; Mr. James
H. Binns, Chairman, Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War
Veterans' Illnesses; Mr. Louis Celli, Legislative Director, The
American Legion; Mr. Davy Leghorn, Assistant Director, Veterans
Employment and Education Division, The American Legion; and Mr.
Frank Wilton, Chief Executive Officer, American Association of
Tissue Banks.
On September 10, 2014, the Committee met in open session
and ordered the bill favorably reported to the House by voice
vote. The Committee Report was filed on September 15, 2014 (H.
Rept. 113-586).
On September 16, 2014, the House agreed to a motion to
suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3593 by voice vote.
On September 17, 2014, H.R. 3593 was received in the Senate
and read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs.
VETERANS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2014
(H.R. 4276)
Summary
H.R. 4276, the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care
Improvement Act of 2014, would amend the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to alter the reporting
requirements under the pilot program to assess the
effectiveness of providing assistance to eligible veterans with
traumatic brain injury to enhance their rehabilitation, quality
of life, and community integration. This bill would direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit reports to the
House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on the pilot
program for each quarter occurring between January 1, 2015, and
September 30, 2017, and would require each quarterly report,
and the final report, to include specific information. H.R.
4276 would also replace references to ``assisted living'' with
the term ``community-based brain injury residential
rehabilitative care,'' including rehabilitation services within
the meaning of such care.
Legislative History
H.R. 4276 was introduced by Representative Bill Cassidy on
March 18, 2014, and was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs. The bill was originally cosponsored by Majority Leader
Kevin McCarthy, and had five additional cosponsors.
On September 10, 2014, the Committee met in open session
and an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 4276 was
offered by Representative Dan Benishek, which was adopted by
voice vote. The Committee ordered the bill, as amended,
favorably reported to the House by voice vote. The Committee
Report was filed on September 15, 2014 (H. Rept. 113-598).
On September 14, 2014, the House agreed to a motion to
suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4276, as amended, by voice
vote.
On September 17, 2014, H.R. 4276 was received in the
Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs.
COMPREHENSIVE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY REFORM ACT OF 2014
(H.R. 4399)
Summary
H.R. 4399, the Comprehensive Department of Veterans Affairs
Performance Management and Accountability Reform Act of 2014,
would specify criteria and process to improve performance
appraisal of senior executives at the Department of Veterans
Affairs. The bill would also amend criteria and process for
performance pay for physicians and dentists, and would require
reporting by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R. 4399 would
also prohibit performance awards in the Senior Executive
Service for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
Legislative History
H.R. 4399 was introduced by Ranking Member Michael H.
Michaud on April 4, 2014, and referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs. The bill had sixteen additional cosponsors.
On September 10, 2014, the Committee met in open session
and an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 4399 was
offered by Ranking Member Michael H. Michaud, which was adopted
by voice vote. The Committee ordered the bill, as amended,
favorably reported to the House by voice vote.
OUR VETS DESERVE BETTER ACT
(H.R. 4862)
Summary
H.R. 4862, the Our Vets Deserve Better Act, would direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), within 30 days after
enactment, to meet with specified advisory committees to
receive administrative and policy recommendations to improve
the VA health care system.
Legislative History
H.R. 4862 was introduced by Representative Denny Heck on
June 12, 2014, and was referred to the House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs. The bill had no cosponsors.
On September 10, 2014, the Committee met in open session
and an Amendment to H.R. 4862 was offered by Representative
Dina Titus. The Amendment to H.R. 4862 failed the Committee by
a roll call vote of 13 nays to 12 yeas. H.R. 4862 was
subsequently removed from the markup agenda at the request of
the Chairman with the Unanimous Consent of the Committee.
ASK VETERANS ACT
(H.R. 4971)
Summary
H.R. 4971, the Ask Veterans Act, would require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into a contract with a
non-government entity for the purpose of conducting a survey of
veteran experiences with medical care of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and would require that the findings be
publically available. This bill would also require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish standards for the
mental health care of veterans who participated in a sensitive
mission or served in a sensitive unit, thus involving
classified information. H.R. 4971 would also require the Board
of Veterans' Appeals to determine, for purposes of scheduling a
Board hearing, the location and format of the hearing, and
would give the appellant the right to opt into a different
location or format after notice and opportunity to respond.
Legislative History
H.R. 4971 was introduced by Representative Beto O'Rourke on
June 25, 2014, and was referred to the House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs. The bill had 32 cosponsors, 11 of which were
original cosponsors.
On September 10, 2014, the Committee met in open session
and an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 4971 was
offered by Representative Raul Ruiz, which was adopted by voice
vote. The Committee ordered the bill, as amended, favorably
reported to the House by voice vote.
On December 3, 2014, the Committee Report was filed (H.
Rept. 113-645).
TO AMEND TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS TO RECOUP CERTAIN BONUSES OR AWARDS PAID TO EMPLOYEES
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
(H.R. 5094)
Summary
H.R. 5094, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recoup certain
bonuses or awards paid to employees of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, would authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs (VA) to issue an order directing a VA employee to repay
the amount of an award or bonus paid to the employee if the
Secretary determines that such repayment is appropriate, and
the employee is afforded notice and an opportunity for a
hearing.
Legislative History
H.R. 5094 was introduced by Committee Chairman Jeff Miller
on July 14, 2014, and referred to the Committee on Veterans
Affairs, in addition to the Committee on Oversight and
Government. The bill had two cosponsors.
On September 10, 2014, the Committee met in open session
and an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 5094 was
offered by Committee Chairman Jeff Miller, which was adopted by
voice vote. The Committee ordered the bill, as amended,
favorably reported to the House by voice vote.
THE VETERANS ACCESS, CHOICE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2014
(H.R. 3230)
Summary
H.R. 3230, the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability
Act of 2014, was necessitated after extensive investigation of
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs exposed inexcusable delays
in veterans' health care, hidden wait times, large scale data
manipulation, and unconscionable malfeasance on behalf of
employees and Senior Executives within the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA).
H.R. 3230 would improve access to care, would require
hospital care and medical services be furnished in specific
circumstances, and would provide greater transparency and
communication with veterans and require reporting by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This bill would also improve
outreach to Indian Health Service medical facilities, and would
require additional reporting by VA. H.R. 3230 would direct the
Secretary to enter into agreements to reimburse direct care
services provided to veterans by the Native Hawaiian health
care systems, would extend Project ARCH (Access Received Closer
to Home), would direct the Secretary to establish and implement
a system to process and pay claims for payment for health care
furnished by non-VA health care providers that complies with
the Prompt Payment Act, and would require the Comptroller
General to report to Congress. This bill would direct the
Secretary to enter into one or more contracts with a private
sector entity or entities for an independent assessment of the
health care furnished in VA medical facilities, and would make
several other changes to the provision, supervision, and
coordination of veterans' health care, and other health care
matters. This bill would also authorize the Secretary to carry
out certain major medical facility leases at specified
locations for up to specified amounts, and would provide other
specific requirements as to leases.
H.R. 3230 would also expand the Marine Gunnery Sergeant
John David Fry Scholarship, and make changes to education
programs. The bill would extend through FY2024 the current $90
per month limit on a VA pension paid to veterans residing in
nursing homes when their nursing costs are paid through title
XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, would extend the
Secretary's authority to collect fees for certain housing loans
made, insured, or guaranteed by the VA through FY2024, would
limit the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses payable to VA
employees in each of FY2015-FY2024, would extend the VA's
authority to obtain veterans' income verification information
from the Commissioner of Social Security or the Secretary of
the Treasury through FY2024, would authorize the Secretary to
remove any individual from the VA Senior Executive Service if
the Secretary determines that the individual's performance or
misconduct warrants such removal, and would authorize the
Secretary to remove such individual from the civil service or
transfer the individual to a General Schedule position at any
appropriate grade for which the individual is qualified, and
would further limit the transfer option. The bill would require
the Secretary to provide Congress with written notice of each
such removal or transfer and the reason for making it within 30
days after the removal or transfer, and would provide limited
appeal rights. The bill would require the U.S. Merit Systems
Protection Board (MSPB) to report to Congress on the actions it
plans to take to conduct such expedited reviews. H.R. 3230
would also waive, for 120 days after this Act's enactment,
limitations on the initiation of an action to remove an
individual from the VA Senior Executive Service.
H.R. 3230 would also authorize appropriations for use by
the Secretary to improve veterans' access to care and the VA's
physical infrastructure, and would require the Secretary to
report to Congress on how the Secretary has obligated such
funds. The bill would direct the Secretary to submit a funding
plan to Congress describing how the Secretary intends to use
such funds.
H.R. 3230 would establish the Veterans Choice Fund in the
Treasury, which the Secretary would use to carry out this Act,
would provide for limitations and would authorize
appropriations. H.R. 3230 would treats funding as emergency
funding that is not subject to pay-as-you-go spending
constraints.
Legislative History
H.R. 3230 was introduced by Representative Harold Rogers on
October 2, 2013, and referred to the Committee on
Appropriations. The bill had two cosponsors.
On October 2, 2013 H.R. 3230, Rules Committee Resolution,
H. Res. 370, which provided for consideration of H.R. 3230,
passed the House. On October 3, 2013, the House considered H.R.
3230 and passed the bill, by a record vote of 265 yeas and 160
nays.
On October 4, 2013, H.R. 3230 was received in the Senate
and read the first time, and on October 5, 2013, read the
second time.
On June 11, 2014, the Senate struck all after the Enacting
Clause and substituted the language of S. 2450.
On June 11, 2014, H.R. 3230 passed in the Senate with an
amendment, and an amendment to the title, by a record vote of
93 yeas and 3 nays, and message on Senate action was sent to
the House.
On June 18, 2014, Committee Chairman Jeff Miller moved that
the House concur in the Senate amendment to the title of H.R.
3230. The motion was agreed to by voice vote. Committee
Chairman Jeff Miller then moved that the House insist upon its
amendment to the Senate amendment to the text and require a
conference. The motion was agreed to by voice vote.
On June 18, 2014, the Speaker appointed conferees for
consideration of the House amendment and the Senate amendment,
and modifications committed to conference: Committee Chairman
Jeff Miller; Representative Doug Lamborn; Representative David
L. Roe; Representative Bill Flores; Representative Dan
Benishek; Representative Mike Coffman; Representative Brad
Wenstrup; Representative Jackie Walorski; Committee Ranking
Member Michael H. Michaud; Representative Corrine Brown;
Representative Mark Takano; Representative Julia Brownley;
Representative Ann Kirkpatrick; and Representative Timothy J.
Walz.
On June 18, 2014, the Senate disagreed to House amendment
to Senate amendment, agreed to request for conference, and
appointed conferees to include Veterans' Affairs Committee
Chairman Bernie Sanders; Senator Jay Rockefeller; Senator Patty
Murray; Senator Sherrod Brown; Senator Jon Tester; Senator Mark
Begich; Senator Richard Blumenthal; Senator Mazie Hirono;
Ranking Member Richard Burr; Senator Johnny Isakson; Senator
Mike Johanns; Senator John McCain; Senator Tom Coburn; and
Senator Marco Rubio.
On July 24, 2014, the Conference was held.
On July 28, 2014, Committee Chairman Jeff Miller filed the
Conference Report for H.R. 3230 (H. Rept. 113-564).
On July 30, 2014, the Conference Report was agreed to in
the House on a motion to suspend the rules by a recorded vote
of 420 yeas to 5 nays.
On July 31, 2014, the Conference Report to H.R. 3230 was
agreed to in the Senate by a recorded vote of 91 yeas to 3
nays.
On August 7, 2014, the President signed H.R. 3230, which
became Public Law No. 113-146.
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
FULL COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Second Session
Site Visit--Columbia, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia
On January 5, 2014, through January 7, 2014, The Honorable
Jeff Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
accompanied by Committee staff, traveled to Columbia, South
Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia, to conduct oversight visits to
evaluate the clinical operations of the William Jennings Bryan
Dorn Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in
Columbia, South Carolina and the Charlie Norwood Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia.
Full Committee Hearing--What Can the Federal Government Learn From the
Private Sector's Successful Approach to Hiring Veterans?
On January 28, 2014, the Committee met to highlight the
success the private sector has had in hiring and retaining
veterans as employees, and to discuss what impact government
programs have had on the success of these veterans and their
employment.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by
Brigadier General Gary M. Profit, USA (Ret.), Senior Director,
Military Programs, Walmart; Mr. Sean Kelley, Senior Staffing
Director, Cloud and Enterprise Group & Military Recruiting,
Microsoft Corporation; Ms. Maureen E. Casey, Managing Director,
Military and Veterans Affairs, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Mr. Jim
Amos, Chairman, Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie, on Behalf of
the International Franchise Association; and Mr. Ross Cohen,
Senior Director, Hiring Our Heroes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Foundation. See ``What can the Federal Government Learn from
the Private Sector's Successful Approach to Hiring Veterans?,''
Serial No. 113-50.
Site Visit--Arlington, Virginia
On February 11, 2014, The Honorable Jeff Miller, Chairman,
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, visited Arlington
National Cemetery (ANC) to meet with ANC's new Executive
Director, Patrick Hallinan, to discuss Mr. Hallinan's
transition to becoming the new ANC Executive Director, to tour
Section 60, and to review ANC's enforcement of policy regarding
items left at gravesites. The Chairman was accompanied by staff
of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs.
Full Committee Hearing--Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs
Committees To Receive Legislative Presentation of the Disabled
American Veterans (DAV)
On February 25, 2014, the Committee participated in a joint
hearing with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive
testimony from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) on the
organization's 2014 legislative priorities.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Mr.
Joseph W. Johnston, National Commander, Disabled American
Veterans; Mr. Jim Marszalek, National Service Director; Mr.
Joseph A. Violante, National Legislative Director; Mr. Garry J.
Augustine, Executive Director, Washington Headquarters; Mr. J.
Marc Burgess, National Adjutant; Mr. Barry A. Jesinoski,
Executive Director, National Headquarters; Mr. Ron B. Minter,
National Director of Voluntary Service; and Ms. Susan K.
Miller, National Commander, Disabled American Veterans
Auxiliary. See ``Joint House and Senate Veterans'' Affairs
Committees to receive Legislative Presentation of the Disabled
American Veterans (DAV),'' Serial No. 113-53.
Full Committee Hearing--Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs
Committees To Receive Legislative Presentation of Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW)
On March 5, 2014, the Committee participated in a joint
hearing with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive
testimony from Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
(VFW) on the organization's 2014 legislative priorities.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Mr.
William A. Thien, Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Thien was accompanied
by Mr. William Bradshaw, Director, National Veterans Service;
Mr. Robert E. Wallace, Executive Director, Washington Office;
Mr. Raymond Kelley, Director, National Legislative Service; and
Ms. Karen Nigara, Chairman, National Legislative Committee. See
``Joint House and Senate Veterans'' Affairs Committees to
receive Legislative Presentation of Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW).'' This hearing was hosted by the Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committee; and therefore does not have a House Serial
No.
Full Committee Hearing--Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs
Committees To Receive Legislative Presentations of Multiple
Veteran Service Organizations (VSOS)
On March 6, 2014, the Committee participated in a joint
hearing with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive
testimony from multiple VSOs on the organizations' 2014
legislative priorities.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Col.
Peter J. Duffy, USA (Ret.), Director Legislation, National
Guard Association of the United States; RADM W. Clyde Marsh,
USN (Ret.), President, National Association of State Directors
of Veterans Affairs; Mr. John Rowan, National President,
Vietnam Veterans of America; Col. Robert E. Pickard, USA
(Ret.), National Commander, Jewish War Veterans of the United
States of America; Mr. John Mitchell, National Commander,
AMVETS; Mr. Ron Siebels, National Commander, Military Order of
the Purple Heart; Mr. Richard ``Rick'' Delaney, National
President, The Retired Enlisted Association; Col. Robert F.
Norton, USA (Ret.), Deputy Director, Government Relations,
Military Officers Association of America; and Mr. Mark Cornell,
National President, Blinded Veterans Association. See ``Joint
House and Senate Veterans'' Affairs Committees to receive
Legislative Presentation of Multiple VSOs,'' Serial No. 113-56.
Full Committee Hearing--Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs
Committees To Receive Legislative Presentations of Multiple
Veteran Service Organizations (VSOS)
On March 12, 2014, the Committee participated in a joint
hearing with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive
testimony from multiple VSOs on the organizations' 2014
legislative priorities.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Mr.
Anthony K. Odierno, Board of Directors, Wounded Warrior
Project; Mr. Bill Lawson, National President, Paralyzed
Veterans of America; SgtMaj. Major H. Gene Overstreet, USMC
(Ret.), President, Non Commissioned Officers Association of the
United States of America; Mr. Paul Rieckhoff, Founder and CEO,
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Ms. Jamie H. Tomek,
Chair, Government Relations Committee, Gold Star Wives of
America; Mr. Virgil P. Courneya, National President, Fleet
Reserve Association; Mr. Charles Susino, Jr., Past National
Commander, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, American Ex-
Prisoners of War; and CMSgt John R. McCauslin, USAF (Ret.),
Chief Executive Officer, Air Force Sergeants Association. This
hearing was hosted by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
and therefore does not have a House Serial No.
Full Committee Hearing--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget
Request for Fiscal Year 2015
On March 13, 2014, the Committee met to discuss the
Department of Veterans Affairs' Fiscal Year 2015 budget request
to Congress.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by The
Honorable Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Secretary Shinseki was accompanied by The
Honorable Robert A. Petzel, M.D., Under Secretary for Health;
The Honorable Allison A. Hickey, Under Secretary for Benefits;
The Honorable Steve L. Muro, Under Secretary for Memorial
Affairs; Ms. Helen Tierney, Executive in Charge for the Office
of Management and Acting Chief Financial Officer; and Mr.
Stephen Warren, Executive-in-Charge for Information and
Technology, Office of Information and Technology. See ``U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Year
2015,'' Serial No. 113-57.
Full Committee Hearing--Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs
Committees To Receive Legislative Presentation of the American
Legion
On March 26, 2014, the Committee participated in a joint
hearing with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive
testimony from The American Legion on the organization's 2014
legislative priorities.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Mr.
Daniel M. Dellinger, National Commander of the American Legion.
Mr. Dellinger was accompanied by Mr. Brett Reistad, Chairman,
National Legislative Commission; Mr. Louis Celli, Director,
National Legislative Division; Mr. Ralph Bozella, Chairman,
National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission; Ms.
Verna Jones, Director, National Veterans Affairs and
Rehabilitation Division; Mr. Dale Barnett, Chairman, National
Economic Commission; and Mr. Mark Walker, Assistant Director,
National Economic Division. This hearing was hosted by the
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and therefore does not have
a House Serial No.
Full Committee Hearing--Trials in Transparency II: Is VA Responding to
Congressional Requests in a Timely Manner?
On April 3, 2014, the Committee met to discuss issues
surrounding VA's timely response to requests for information
made by the Committee, and to explore the internal process by
which the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs works
with program officers within VA to meet the Committee's
information requests.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by The
Honorable Sloan Gibson, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. ``See Trials in Transparency II: Is VA
Responding to Congressional Requests in a Timely Manner?,''
Serial No. 113-63.
Full Committee Hearing--a Continued Assessment of Delays in Va Medical
Care and Preventable Veteran Deaths
On April 9, 2014, the Committee met to examine serious
patient safety incidents at VA medical facilities in Columbia,
South Carolina; Augusta, Georgia; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami,
Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
Atlanta, Georgia.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Barry
Coates, Veteran; and Mr. Daniel M. Dellinger, National
Commander, The American Legion. Mr. Dellinger was accompanied
by Mr. Edward Lilly, Senior Filed Service Officer, The American
Legion.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Debra A.
Draper, Director, Health Care, U.S. Government Accountability
Office; and Dr. John D. Daigh, Jr., M.D., Assistant Inspector
General for Healthcare Inspections, Office of the Inspector
General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the third panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Thomas
Lynch, M.D., Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for
Clinical Operations, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Lynch was accompanied by
Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., Assistant Deputy Under Secretary
for Quality, Safety, and Value, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``A Continued
Assessment of Delays in VA Medical Care and Preventable Veteran
Deaths,'' Serial No. 113-64.
Site Visit--Augusta, Maine; Togus, Maine
On April 11, 2014, The Honorable Jeff Miller, Chairman,
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and The Honorable Michael
H. Michaud, Ranking Member, House Committee on Veterans'
Affairs, traveled to Togus and Augusta, Maine, to conduct
oversight of the Togus Regional Office, Togus VA Medical
Center, Togus National Cemetery, and the Augusta Maine State
Veterans Home. The Chairman and Ranking Member were accompanied
by staff of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs. The purpose of these visits was to conduct
oversight of locations that impact veterans' benefits
throughout the State of Maine.
Site Visit--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On April 17, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Health,
along with the Committee Deputy Staff Director, traveled to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to conduct an oversight visit at the
Department of Veterans Affairs National Center on Homelessness
Among Veterans (NCHAV), in preparation for a future Committee
hearing on VA's multi-billion dollar effort to end homelessness
among veterans by 2015. The purpose of this trip was to discuss
various issues, including the Supportive Services for Veterans
Families (SSVF) program, the HUD-VASH program, VA's Homeless
Analytics tool, VA's Homeless Registry, the status of VA's
five-year initiative to end veteran homelessness, and former
and ongoing research studies regarding veteran homelessness.
Site Visit--Denver, Colorado
On April 22, 2014, The Honorable Jeff Miller, Chairman,
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, visited the construction
site for the new medical facility for the VA Eastern Colorado
Health Care System, for purposes of reviewing progress toward
completion.
The Chairman also visited the Denver Regional Office and
the Fort Logan National Cemetery.
The Chairman was accompanied by staff of the Subcommittee
on Oversight and Investigations.
Site Visit--Bay Pines, Florida
On April 24, 2014 through April 25, 2014, The Honorable
Jeff Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
traveled to Bay Pines, Florida to deliver the keynote address
at a ceremony renaming the Bay Pines VA Medical Center as the
Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The
Chairman was accompanied by staff of the House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs.
Full Committee Roundtable--Veterans Service Organization (VSO)
Leadership
On April 29, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs coordinated a VSO Roundtable
discussion for the Committee. The VSO Roundtable presented an
opportunity to highlight proposed legislation and Committee
focus areas, and to provide VSOs a forum to interact with
Members. Discussion was held on the Committee's oversight
priorities of accountability, access to effective health care,
and ongoing oversight of the Veterans Benefits Administration.
Additionally, the VSO Roundtable provided an opportunity to
highlight the Chairman's legislative priorities, including H.R.
813, the Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013, H.R. 4031,
the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability
Act of 2014, and H.R. 357, the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of
2013.
Participants included the Air Force Sergeants Association;
The American Legion; The American Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor; AMVETS; The Association of the U.S. Army; The
Association of the U.S. Navy; Blinded Veterans of America;
Concerned Veterans for America; Disabled American Veterans;
Fisher House; Fleet Reserve Association; Gold Star Wives of
America; Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Jewish War
Veterans of America; Military Officers of America Association;
Military Order of the Purple Heart; National Association of
State Workforce Agencies; National Association of Uniformed
Services; National Military Family Association; National
Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs; National
Guard Association of the United States; Non-Commissioned
Officers of America; U.S. Paralympics; Paralyzed Veterans of
America; The Bob Woodruff Foundation; Reserve Officers
Association; The Retired Enlisted Association; Soldier On;
Student Veterans of America; Tragedy Assistance Program for
Survivors; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Vets First; Vietnam
Veterans of America; and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Full Committee Issuance of Subpoena Duces Tecum to Secretary of
Veterans Affairs
On May 8, 2014, the Committee issued a subpoena upon the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, requiring the production of
specific documents related to communications involving the
Phoenix VA Health Care System that in any way discussed,
addressed, or referenced the destruction or deletion of an
alternate patient wait list referred to by any name, including
but not limited to the ``interim list,'' and sent to or from
specifically enumerated individuals.
Site Visit--Jackson and Columbus, Mississippi
On May 13, 2014, through May 14, 2014, The Honorable Jeff
Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, The
Honorable Gregg Harper, Member, U.S. House of Representatives,
and The Honorable Alan Nunnelee, Member, U.S. House of
Representatives, traveled to Jackson and Columbus, Mississippi
to conduct oversight and to evaluate the clinical operations of
the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center, the Jackson Regional Office, and the Community
Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Columbus, Mississippi. The
Chairman was accompanied by staff of the Subcommittee on
Health.
Full Committee Business Meeting--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs'
Failure To Comply With May 8, 2014 Subpoena
On May 22, 2014, the Committee met to discuss the
Department of Veterans Affairs' lack of compliance with a
subpoena for documents issued by the Committee on May 8, 2014.
Specifically, the purpose of this meeting was to address the
VA's continued failure to comply with the subpoena duces tecum
the Committee issued on May 8, 2014.
At the business meeting, a motion was passed authorizing
subpoenas to compel testimony regarding the destruction of an
alternate wait list associated with the Phoenix VA Health Care
System by Dr. Thomas Lynch, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary
for Health for Clinical Operations, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Joan
Mooney, Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative
Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Michael
Huff, Congressional Relations Officer, Office of Congressional
and Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The motion was conditional, and authorized the subpoenas only
if the witnesses did not voluntarily appear on May 28, 2014.
Full Committee Hearing--To Receive Witness Testimony Related to
Committee Subpoena
On May 28, 2014, the Committee met to discuss the
Department of Veterans Affairs' lack of compliance with the
subpoena for documents issued on May 8, 2014.
On the first and only panel, witnesses appeared voluntarily
and testimony was provided by Dr. Thomas Lynch, M.D., Assistant
Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Operations, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Joan Mooney, Assistant
Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Michael Huff,
Congressional Relations Officer, Office of Congressional and
Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
``To Receive Witness Testimony Related to Committee Subpoena,''
Serial No. 113-69.
Site Visit--Pensacola, Florida
On June 2, 2014, The Honorable Jeff Miller, Chairman, House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, visited the Joint Ambulatory
Care Center and the Eglin AFB Community Based Outpatient Center
for purposes of oversight of operations.
The Chairman was accompanied by staff of the Subcommittee
on Oversight and Investigations.
Full Committee Hearing--Oversight Hearing on Data Manipulation and
Access to VA Healthcare: Testimony From the Government
Accountability Office, VA Office of Inspector General, and the
Department of Veterans Affairs
On June 9, 2014, the Committee met to address ongoing
issues of systemic manipulation of wait time for appointments
that occurs throughout the Veterans Health Administration and
the negative impacts on healthcare provided to veterans.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Dr.
Debra A. Draper, Ph.D., Director, Health Care, U.S. Government
Accountability Office; Mr. Philip Matkovsky, Assistant Deputy
Under Secretary for Health for Administrative Operations,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Mr. Richard J. Griffin, Acting Inspector General,
Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Mr. Griffin was also accompanied by Ms. Linda A.
Halliday, Assistant Inspector General for Audits and
Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See ``Oversight Hearing on Data Manipulation
and Access to VA Healthcare: Testimony from GAO, IG, and VA,''
Serial No. 113-72.
Full Committee Hearing--an Examination of Bureaucratic Barriers To Care
for Veterans
On June 12, 2014, the Committee met to assess and evaluate
administrative barriers at the Department of Veterans Affairs
that are impeding quality and efficient access to care for
veterans.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Tim S.
McClain, President, Humana Government Business; Mr. Dan
Collard, Chief Operating Officer, The Studer Group; and Dr.
Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., Chairman, Committee to Reduce Infection
Deaths.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Robert
L. Jesse, M.D., Ph.D., Acting Under Secretary for Health,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. See ``An Examination of Bureaucratic Barriers to Care
for Veterans,'' Serial No. 113-73.
Full Committee Hearing--Non-VA Care: An Integrated Solution for Veteran
Access
On June 18, 2014, the Committee met to examine and discuss
the Department of Veterans Affairs' use of non-VA care to
increase timely access to health care to veterans facing long
wait times for appointments at VA facilities.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. David J.
McIntyre Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, TriWest
Healthcare Alliance; RADM Thomas Carrato, USPHS (Ret.),
President, Health Net Federal Services; and Ms. Kris Doody, RN,
Chief Executive Officer, Cary Medical Center, Caribou, Maine.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Randy
Williamson, Director, Health Care, U.S. Government
Accountability Office; and Mr. Philip Matkovsky, Assistant
Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Administrative
Operations, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See ``Non-VA Care: An Integrated Solution for
Veteran Access,'' Serial No. 113-74.
Full Committee Hearing--Review of Awarding Bonuses to Senior Executives
at the Department of Veterans Affairs
On June 20, 2014, the Committee met to discuss negative
incentives that have been created as a result of performance
standards, ratings, and awards to senior staff at the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by The
Honorable Gina Farrisee, Assistant Secretary for Human
Resources and Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. See ``Review of Awarding Bonuses to Senior Executives
at the Department of Veterans Affairs,'' Serial No. 113-75.
Full Committee Hearing--Evaluating the Capacity of the VA To Care for
Veteran Patients
On June 23, 2014, the Committee met to assess and evaluate
VA's efforts to address clinical capacity to increase the
efficiency of medical facility operations and access to care
for veteran patients.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Dr.
Thomas Lynch, M.D., Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health
for Clinical Operations, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Lynch was accompanied by
Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., Assistant Deputy Under Secretary
for Quality, Safety, and Value, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``Evaluating the
Capacity of the VA to Care for Veteran Patients,'' Serial No.
113-76.
Full Committee Hearing--VBA and VHA Interactions: Ordering and
Conducting Medical Examinations
On June 25, 2014, the Committee held a hearing on the
relationship and interactions of the Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) and the Veterans Health Administration
(VHA) in the ordering, and manner of conducting, compensation
and pension (C&P) medical examinations for disability benefit
purposes. This hearing focused on the relationship between VBA
and VHA in the ordering, scheduling, completion, and review of
C&P medical examinations used to make disability benefits
determinations. Given the recent scheduling manipulation and
backlog of care experienced by VHA, this hearing sought
information on whether the large number of VHA employees
assigned to performing C&P examinations could be better used by
being assigned to treatment of veterans.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Thomas
Murphy, Director of Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Murphy
was accompanied by Ms. Beth McCoy, Acting Deputy Under
Secretary for Field Operations, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Gerald
M. Cross, Chief Officer, Office of Disability and Medical
Assessment, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Patricia D. Murray, Director,
Clinical Programs and Administrative Operations, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Testimony on the first panel was also provided by Mr. George C.
Turek, Founder, Owner, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of
Veterans Evaluation Services. A statement for the record was
submitted by Jeffrey J. Scarpiello, Director of Business
Development for Medical Support Los Angeles. See ``VBA and VHA
Interactions: Ordering and Conducting Medical Examinations,''
Serial No. 113-77.
Site Visit--Orlando, Florida
On July 2, 2014, The Honorable Jeff Miller, Chairman, House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, visited the Orlando VA medical
center and the community living center on the campus for
purposes of oversight of operations. The Chairman was
accompanied by staff of the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations.
Full Committee Hearing--VA Whistleblowers: Exposing Inadequate Service
Provided to Veterans and Ensuring Appropriate Accountability
On July 8, 2014, the Committee met to hear testimony from
various VA whistleblowers, representatives from the Office of
Special Counsel, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to
discuss VA's continued failure to provide adequate protections
to whistleblowers.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Jose
Matthews, M.D., Former Chief of Psychiatry, St. Louis VA Health
Care System; Dr. Christian Head, M.D., Associate Director,
Chief of Staff, Legal and Quality Assurance, Greater Los
Angeles VA Health Care System; Dr. Katherine Mitchell, M.D.,
Medical Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Post-Deployment Center,
Phoenix VA Health Care System; and Mr. Scott Davis, Program
Specialist at the VA National Health Eligibility Center.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by The
Honorable Carolyn Lerner, Special Counsel, U.S. Office of
Special Counsel. Ms. Lerner was accompanied by Mr. Eric
Bachman, Deputy Special Counsel for Litigation and Legal
Affairs, U.S. Office of Special Counsel. Testimony on the
second panel was also provided by Dr. James Tuchschmidt, Acting
Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Dr. Tuchschmidt was accompanied by Dr. Edward
C. Huycke, Deputy Medical Inspector for National Assessment,
Office of the Medical Inspector, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. See ``VA Whistleblower: Exposing Inadequate Service
Provided to Veterans and Ensuring Appropriate Accountability,''
Serial No. 113-78.
Full Committee Hearing--Service Should Not Lead to Suicide: Access to
VA's Mental Health Care
On July 10, 2014, the Committee met to examine whether of
VA's mental health and suicide prevention programs are
effective in reducing the prevalence of mental health issues
and suicide among the veteran population.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Howard
Somers and Mrs. Jean Somers, parents of Veteran Daniel Somers,
deceased; Mr. Richard Selke and Mrs. Susan Selke, parents of
Veteran Clay Hunt, deceased; Ms. Peggy Portwine, mother of
Veteran Brian Portwine, deceased; and Sgt. Josh Renschler, USA
(Ret.).
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Maureen
McCarthy, M.D., Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officers,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Dr. McCarthy was accompanied by Dr. Harold Kudler,
M.D., Acting Chief Consultant for Mental Health Services,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Dr. David Carroll, Ph.D., National Mental Health
Program Director for Program Integration, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr.
Michael Fisher, Operation Enduring Freedom/Operating Iraqi
Freedom Specialist, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the third panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Alex
Nicholson, Legislative Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
of America; Lt. Gen. Martin R. Steele, USMC (Ret.), Associate
Vice President for Veterans Research, Executive Director of
Military Partnerships, Co-Chair of the Veterans Reintegration
Steering Committee, University of South Florida; Mr. Warren
Goldstein, Assistant Director for TBI and PTSD Programs,
National Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, The
American Legion; and Dr. Jonathan Sherin, M.D., Ph.D., Chief
Executive Officer, Executive Vice President for Military
Communities, Volunteers of America. See ``Service Should Not
Lead to Suicide: Access to VA's Mental Health Care,'' Serial
No. 113-79.
Full Committee Hearing--Evaluation of the Process To Achieve VBA Goals
On July 14, 2014, the Committee held a hearing to review
the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) continued focus on
the 2015 goals for disability benefits claims processing as
well as the viability of these targets, which the Secretary
established in 2009 at 125 days to complete, and 98 percent
claims-based accuracy. The hearing focused upon the planned and
ad hoc strategies implemented to meet these performance goals,
as well as the opportunities that exist for abuse and deviation
from VBA's mission.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Kristen
Ruell, Authorization Quality Services Representative, Pension
Management Center, Philadelphia Regional Office, Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Mr. Ronald Robinson, USA (Ret.), Senior Veterans Service
Representative, AFGE Local 520, Columbia Regional Office,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Javier Soto, Esquire, Former Rating Veterans
Service Representative, Executive Vice President, AFGE Local
1594, St. Petersburg Regional Office, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Linda A.
Halliday, Assistant Inspector General for Audits and
Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Ms. Halliday was accompanied by Mr. Brent
Arronte, Director, San Diego Benefits Inspections Division,
Office of Audits and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, the second
panel included The Honorable Allison A. Hickey, Under Secretary
for Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs. Under Secretary Hickey was accompanied by
Ms. Diana Rubens, Director, Philadelphia Regional Office,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Thomas Murphy, Director, Compensation Service,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Testimony on the second panel was also provided by Mr.
Daniel Bertoni, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income
Security, U.S. Government Accountability Office. See
``Evaluation of the Process to Achieve VBA Goals,'' Serial No.
113-80.
Full Committee Hearing--Creating Efficiency Through Comparison: An
Evaluation of Private Sector Best Practices and the VA Health
Care System
On July 16, 2014, the Committee met to discuss and compare
the productivity, capacity, and staffing of the Department of
Veterans Affairs' medical facilities with those in the private
sector.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Mr.
Richard J. Umbdenstock, FACHE, President and Chief Executive
Officer, American Hospital Association; Dr. Monte D. Brown,
M.D., Vice President for Administration and Secretary, Duke
University Health System, Associate Dean of Veterans Affairs,
Duke University School of Medicine; Mr. Daniel F. Evans Jr.,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Fairview Health
Services; and Mr. Quinton D. Studer, Founder, Studer Group,
Inc. See ``Creating Efficiency through Comparison: An
Evaluation of Private Sector Best Practices and the VA Health
Care System,'' Serial No. 113-81.
Full Committee Hearing--Restoring Trust: The View of the Acting
Secretary and the Veterans Community
On July 24, 2014, the Committee met to discuss changes made
by the Department of Veterans Affairs to address revelations
that include extensive patient wait times, manipulation of
data, and a systemic lack of accountability within the VA
system.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by The Honorable
Sloan D. Gibson, Acting Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. The Acting Secretary was accompanied by Mr. Danny
Pummill, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Mr. Philip Matkovsky, Assistant Deputy Under
Secretary for Health for Administrative Operations, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Verna
Jones, Veterans Affairs Director, The American Legion; Mr. Ryan
M. Gallucci, Deputy Director, National Legislative Service,
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States; Mr. Carl Blake,
Acting Associate Executive Director for Government Relations,
Paralyzed Veterans of America; Mr. Joseph A. Violante, National
Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Mr. Rick
Weidman, Executive Director of Government Affairs, Vietnam
Veterans of America; and Mr. Alex Nicholson, Legislative
Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. See
``Restoring Trust: The View of the Acting Secretary and the
Veterans Community,'' Serial No. 113-82.
Full Committee Field Hearing--Challenges in Rural America: VA Access
and Mental Health Care
On August 6, 2014, the Committee held a field hearing to
discuss the challenges that veterans of Roswell, New Mexico
experience accessing care, including mental health care,
through Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 18 and the
New Mexico VA Health Care System.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. John
Taylor, Veteran; Mr. Richard Moncrief, Veteran; and Ms. Dawn
Tschabrun, Chief Executive Officer, Lovelace Hospital.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Lisa
Freeman, Interim Network Director, Veterans Integrated Service
Network (VISN) 18, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms. Freeman was accompanied by
Dr. James Robbins, Interim Medical Center Director, New Mexico
VA Health Care System, Veterans Integrated Service Network
(VISN) 18, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; and Dr. Lori Highberger, Deputy Chief Medical
Officer and Mental Health Lead, Veterans Integrated Service
Network (VISN) 18, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``Challenges in Rural
America: VA Access and Mental Health Care,'' Serial No. 113-83.
Full Committee Field Hearing--Challenges in Rural America:
Infrastructure Needs and Access to Care
On August 14, 2014, the Committee held a field hearing to
examine access to care issues for veterans in Southwestern
South Dakota, in light of continued concerns about the
potential closure of the Hot Springs, South Dakota facility.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Tim
Jurgens, Commander, American Legion Department of South Dakota;
Mr. Bryan Brewer, President, Oglala Sioux Tribe; Mr. Robert
Nelson, Veteran; Ms. Amanda Campbell, Community Stakeholder;
Mr. Patrick Russell, Co-Chair, Hot Springs' Save the VA
Committee; and Mr. Larry Zimmerman, Secretary, South Dakota
Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Steven
Julius, Chief Medical Center and Acting Director, Veterans
Integrated Service Network (VISN) 23, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Julius
was accompanied by Mr. Stephen DiStasio, Director, VA Black
Hills Health Care System, Veterans Integrated Service Network
(VISN) 23, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See ``Challenges in Rural America:
Infrastructure Needs and Access to Care,'' Serial No. 113-84.
Full Committee Hearing--Scheduling Manipulation and Veteran Deaths in
Phoenix: Examination of the OIG's Final Report
On September 17, 2014, the Committee held a hearing to
examine a final report of the VA Office of Inspector General
that was released on August 26, 2014.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Richard
J. Griffin, Acting Inspector General. Mr. Griffin was
accompanied by Dr. John D. Daigh, Jr., M.D., Assistant
Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections; Ms. Linda
Halliday, Assistant Inspector General for Audits and
Evaluations; Ms. Maureen Regan, Counselor to the Inspector
General for Audits and Evaluations; and Mr. Larry Reinkemeyer,
Director, Inspector General Kansas City Audit Office. Also
testifying on the first panel was Dr. Samuel H. Foote, M.D.,
Retired Medical Director, Diamond Community-Based Outpatient
Center, Phoenix VA Health Care System; and Dr. Katherine L.
Mitchell, M.D., Medical Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Post-
Deployment Center, Phoenix VA Health Care System.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by The
Honorable Robert A. McDonald, Secretary, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Secretary McDonald was accompanied by Dr.
Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., Interim Under Secretary for Health,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
On the third panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Lisa
Thomas, Ph.D., Chief of Staff, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Thomas was accompanied
by Dr. Darren Deering, M.D., Chief of Staff, Phoenix VA Health
Care System, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See ``Scheduling Manipulation and Veteran
Deaths in Phoenix: Examination of the OIG's Final Report,''
Serial No. 113-87.
Full Committee Hearing--Assessing the Implementation of the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014
On November 13, 2014, the Committee held a hearing to
assess the Department of Veterans Affairs' implementation of
the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by the
Honorable Sloan Gibson, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Under Secretary Gibson was accompanied by Dr.
James Tuchschmidt, M.D., M.M., Acting Principal Deputy Under
Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Gregory L. Giddens,
Executive Director, Enterprise Program Management Office, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Hearing entitled, ``Assessing
the Implementation of the Veterans Access, Choice, and
Accountability Act of 2014,'' had not been printed at the time
of this report's submission to the House and therefore has not
been assigned a House Serial No.
Full Committee Hearing--VA's Longstanding Information Security
Weaknesses Continue To Allow Extensive Data Manipulation
On November 18, 2014, the Committee held a hearing to
explore how VA's longstanding information technology security
weaknesses may be allowing continued data manipulation among
VA's various computer systems.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by Mr.
Stephen Warren, Executive in Charge and Chief Information
Officer, Office of Information & Technology, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Mr. Warren was accompanied by Mr. Stan Lowe,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Information & Technology,
Office of Information Security, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Ms. Tina Burnette, Executive Director for
Enterprise Risk Management, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Testimony on the first panel was also provided by Ms.
Sondra McCauley, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits
and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs. Ms. McCauley was accompanied by Mr.
Michael Bowman, Director, Information Technology and Security
Audit Office, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Also testifying on the first panel was Mr.
Greg Wilshusen, Director of Information Security Issues, U.S.
Government Accountability Office. Hearing entitled, ``VA's
Longstanding Information Security Weaknesses Continue to Allow
Extensive Data Manipulation,'' had not been printed at the time
of this report's submission to the House; and therefore has not
been assigned a House Serial No.
Full Committee Hearing--Evaluating Federal and Community Efforts To
Eliminate Veteran Homelessness
On December 11, 2014, the Committee held a hearing to
assess and evaluate federal and community efforts made to
eliminate Veteran homelessness.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Baylee
Crone, Executive Director, National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans; Mr. Steve Berg, Vice President for Programs and
Policies, National Alliance to End Homelessness; Mr. Jack
Downing, President and Chief Executive Officer, Soldier On; Mr.
Phil Landis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Veterans
Village of San Diego; Mr. Mike Graber, Veteran, IMPACT Veterans
Services, and Mr. Jon Sherin, Volunteers of America.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by The
Honorable Keith Kelly, Assistant Secretary, Veterans Employment
and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor; and Ms. Lisa
Pape, Executive Director of Homeless Programs, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms. Pape
was accompanied by Mr. Thomas O'Toole, Acting Director,
National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Statements for the record were
provided by Friendship Place; National Rural Health
Association; United States Interagency Council on Homelessness;
and Vietnam Veterans of America. Hearing entitled, ``Evaluating
Federal and Community Efforts to Eliminate Veteran
Homelessness,'' had not been printed at the time of this
report's submission to the House; and therefore has not been
assigned a House Serial No.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND MEMORIAL
AFFAIRS
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Second Session
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2018;
H.R. 2088; H.R. 2119; H.R. 2529; H.R. 3671; H.R. 3876; H.R.
4095; H.R. 4102; H.R. 4141; and H.R. 4191
On March 26, 2014, the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a legislative hearing on
H.R. 2018, the Honor Those Who Served Act of 2013; H.R. 2088,
to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a
pilot program to establish claims adjudication centers of
excellence; H.R. 2119, the Veterans Access to Speedy Review
Act; H.R. 2529, the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act; H.R.
3671, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the
eligibility for a medallion furnished by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to signify the veteran status of a deceased
individual; H.R. 3876, the Burial with Dignity for Heroes Act
of 2014; H.R. 4095, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2014; H.R. 4102, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to clarify that the estate of a deceased veteran
may receive certain accrued benefits upon the death of the
veteran, and for other purposes; H.R. 4141, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to enter into enhanced-use leases for excess property
of the National Cemetery Administration that is unsuitable for
burial purposes; and, H.R. 4191, the Quicker Veterans Benefits
Delivery Act.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by The Honorable
Al Green, Member, U.S. House of Representatives (TX-9), The
Honorable Timothy J. Walz, Member, U.S. House of
Representatives (MN-1), The Honorable Jeff Denham, Member, U.S.
House of Representatives (CA-10), The Honorable Ander Crenshaw,
Member, U.S. House of Representatives (FL-4), and The Honorable
Steve Stivers, Member, U.S. House of Representatives (OH-15).
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Jeffrey
Hall, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans; Mr. Alexander Nicholson, Legislative
Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Heather
Ansley, Esquire, MSW, Vice President of Veterans Policy,
VetsFirst, a program of United Spinal Association; and Ms.
Diane M. Zumatto, National Legislative Director, AMVETS.
On the third panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Zachary
Hearn, Deputy Director for Claims, Veterans Affairs and
Rehabilitation Commission, The American Legion; Mr. Anthony A.
Wallis, Legislative Director and Director of Government
Affairs, Association of the United States Navy; and Mr. Brendon
Gehrke, Senior Legislative Associate, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
On the fourth panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Thomas
Murphy, Director, Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Murphy
was accompanied by Ms. Patricia Lynch Watts, Director,
Legislative and Regulatory Service, National Cemetery
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr.
David Barrans, Deputy Assistant General Counsel, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``Legislative Hearing on
H.R. 2018, H.R. 2088, H.R. 2119, H.R. 2529, H.R. 3671, H.R.
3876, H.R. 4095, H.R. 4102, H.R. 4141, and H.R. 4191,'' Serial
No. 113-60.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Assistance at Roundtable Discussion--Oakland, California,
Delegation Meeting With the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration
On January 15, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs attended the
bipartisan Roundtable discussion held on the Oakland,
California, VA Regional Office. There are 21 congressional
districts served by the Oakland Regional Office; accordingly, a
meeting was held with the Under Secretary for Benefits, The
Honorable Allison A. Hickey, to discuss the state of the
Oakland Regional Office and to evaluate the services provided
to California veterans by the Veterans Benefits Administration.
Site Visit--Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington
On January 20, 2014, through January 24, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
conducted a series of oversight visits in Seattle, Washington
and Portland, Oregon. This travel entailed visits to the
Seattle Regional Office, the Disability Rating Activity Site
(DRAS), as well as the Integrated Disability Evaluation System
(IDES) in Bremerton and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the
Portland Regional Office. Staff attended sensing panels with
servicemembers while on this travel, to determine the current
state of the IDES program, as well as potential areas for
improvement. Additionally, staff conducted oversight visits to
several locations of the National Cemetery Administration,
including the Willamette National Cemetery, Roseburg National
Cemetery, and Eagle Point National Cemetery.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Beyond Transformation: Reviewing
Current Status and Secondary Effects of VBA Technology
On February 5, 2014, the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing on the current
status, and secondary effects, of technology of the Veterans
Benefits Administration. This hearing focused on the status of
the Veterans Benefits Management System 6.0 (VBMS), VA's
implementation of concurrent strategy for its work-credit
system within the new electronic framework of the Regional
Offices, the multi-year initiative known as Veterans
Relationship Management (VRM), and the secure electronic
transmission of disability benefit claimants' Service Treatment
Records between the Healthcare Artifacts and Image Management
Solution (HAIMS) of the Department of Defense and VA's VBMS.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Gerald T.
Manar, Deputy Director, National Veterans Service, Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States; Mr. Jeffrey C. Hall,
Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American
Veterans; Mr. Zachary Hearn, Deputy Director for Claims
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, The American
Legion; Mr. Frank Logalbo, National Service Director, Wounded
Warrior Project; and Mr. Eric Jenkins, Rating Veterans Service
Representative, Winston Salem Regional Office, American
Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFL-CIO and the AFGE
National VA Council.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Diana
Rubens, Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms. Rubens was accompanied by
Richard Hipolit, Esquire, Assistant General Counsel, Office of
General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Lorraine Landfried, Deputy Chief Information Officer for
Product Development, Office of Information Technology, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Additional testimony on the
second panel was provided by Major General Richard W. Thomas,
Director, Healthcare Operations, Defense Health Agency. General
Thomas was accompanied by Dave Bowen, Director, Health
Information Technology, Defense Health Agency. See ``Beyond
Transformation: Reviewing Current Status and Secondary Effects
of VBA Technology,'' Serial No. 113-51.
Site Visit--Newark, New Jersey; New York, New York
On February 27, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs traveled to Newark,
New Jersey, and New York, New York, to conduct oversight of
several VA locations that impact veterans' benefits throughout
northern New Jersey and New York, including the Newark
electronic Regional Office (eRO) and the New York Regional
Office. Additionally, staff conducted oversight visits to
several locations of the National Cemetery Administration,
including the Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Long Island
National Cemetery, and Calverton National Cemetery.
Subcommittee Assistance at Roundtable Discussion--Wisconsin Delegation
Meeting with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans
Benefits Administration
On February 27, 2014, the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs assisted the Wisconsin
delegation in the coordination of a bipartisan Member-level
Roundtable discussion with Department of Veterans Affairs,
Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, Danny Pummill,
and Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations, Diana Rubens,
to review VA's efforts to address the sizeable backlog of
disability benefits compensation claims and to determine what
these efforts mean for Wisconsin veterans.
Site Visit--Louisville, Kentucky
On March 20, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs traveled to the Louisville
Regional Office and the CACI Scanning Facility. The purposes of
this site visit were to review toxic exposure claims related to
Camp Lejeune. These claims are centrally processed at the
Louisville Regional Office. Staff also addressed recent VA
employee complaints on the indexing of electronic files
received from the CACI Scanning Facility.
Site Visit--Phoenix, Arizona
On March 31, 2014, through April 4, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
accompanied The American Legion on oversight travel to the
Phoenix Regional Office. This visit was coordinated with VA,
and Department staff participated in The American Legion's
Regional Office Action Review (ROAR) visit and case file review
of appealed claims. In addition, staff participated in an
American Legion Town Hall, conducted oversight of the Veterans
Benefits Administration Call Center and the Phoenix VA Medical
Center.
Site Visit--Jackson, Mississippi
On April 14, 2014, through April 18, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
accompanied The American Legion on an oversight trip to the
Jackson Regional Office. The main purpose of this trip was to
conduct oversight of several issues at the Jackson Regional
Office, including observing the level of VA cooperation during
The American Legion's Regional Office Action Review (ROAR)
visit, as well as participating in case file review of appealed
claims.
Subcommittee Assistance at Roundtable Discussion--Alabama Delegation
Meeting with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans
Benefits Administration
On April 29, 2014, the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs assisted the Alabama delegation
in the coordination of a bipartisan Member-level Roundtable
discussion with Department of Veterans Affairs, Under Secretary
for Benefits, The Honorable Allison A. Hickey, to review VA's
efforts to address the sizeable backlog of disability
compensation benefits claims and to determine what these
efforts mean for Alabama veterans.
Site Visit--Winston-Salem, North Carolina
On May 12, 2014, through May 16, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
travelled to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to conduct
oversight of several programs at the Winston-Salem Regional
Office, including the pre-discharge programs known as Benefits
Delivery at Discharge (BDD) and Quick Start (QS), in
preparation for the DAMA hearing held on those programs on May
29, 2014.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Defined Expectations: Evaluating VA's
Performance in the Servicemember Transition Process
On May 29, 2014, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing on the Veterans Benefits
Administration's role in the transition from Servicemember to
veteran, with a particular focus on the Integrated Disability
Evaluation System (IDES), as well as the Benefits Delivery at
Discharge (BDD), and Quick Start (QS) programs.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Nancy E.
Weaver, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Warrior Care
Policy, Department of Defense. Ms. Weaver was accompanied by
Mr. Dave Bowen, Director of Health Information Technology,
Defense Health Agency, Department of Defense. Additional
testimony on the first panel was provided by Ms. Diana Rubens,
Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms. Rubens
was accompanied by Mr. Thomas Murphy, Director of Compensation
Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Linda A.
Halliday, Assistant Inspector General for Audits and
Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Ms. Halliday was accompanied by Ms. Nora
Stokes, Director, Bay Pines Benefits Inspection Division,
Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, and Mr. Ramon Figueroa, Project Manager, Bay Pines
Benefits Inspection Division, Office of Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the third panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Eric
Jenkins, Rating Veterans Service Representative, Winston Salem
Regional Office, American Federation of Government Employees,
AFL-CIO and the AFGE National VA Council; Ms. Debra J. Gipson,
Individual Servicemember; Mr. Geraldo Avila, National MEB/PEB
Representative, The American Legion; Mr. Paul Raymond Varela,
Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American
Veterans; and Brendon Gehrke, Senior Legislative Associate,
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. See ``Defined
Expectations: Evaluating VA's Performance in the Servicemember
Transition Process,'' Serial No. 113-71.
Site Visit--Phoenix, Arizona
On June 8, 2014, through June 11, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
accompanied The American Legion to Phoenix, Arizona to observe
and assist with The American Legion's efforts in Phoenix at its
Veterans' Crisis Command Center (VCCC), as well as a community
town hall. While in Phoenix, Subcommittee staff also
accompanied The American Legion to a meeting with the
administration of the Phoenix VA Medical Center, and conducted
a brief oversight visit to the Phoenix Regional Office.
Site Visit--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On July 2, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Staff Memorial Affairs travelled to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to conduct oversight and
investigation of the Philadelphia Regional Office. During this
visit, staff discovered a notepad in the possession of the
Acting Regional Office Director, which contained circled text
of the names of two Regional Office whistleblowers and a
notation, with derogatory language, with text noting to ignore
Congressional staff. This discovery was highlighted in a
subsequent Committee hearing, as illustrative of the
bureaucratic arrogance that pervades segments of the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
Subcommittee Assistance at Roundtable Discussion--Oakland, California,
Delegation Meeting with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration
On July 23, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs attended the follow-up
bipartisan Roundtable discussion held on the Oakland,
California, Regional Office, including Members from the 21
congressional districts served by the Oakland Regional Office;
this meeting was held with the Under Secretary for Benefits,
Allison A. Hickey, to discuss the updated state of the Regional
Office and to evaluate the services provided by the Veterans
Benefits Administration to California veterans.
Site Visit--Leesburg, Virginia
On August 5, 2014, through August 7, 2014, and again August
18, 2014, through August 22, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs traveled to
Leesburg, Virginia to observe VA's Specialized Adjudication
Review Course (SPARC) training. In Fiscal Year 2014, VA was
allocated an additional $10 million to train employees who were
identified as requiring assistance with production or quality.
Subcommittee staff had received numerous calls from employees
at various Regional Offices (ROs), voicing concern over the
lack of quality and preparation of this training. Accordingly,
staff attended the last session, of the four sessions held, to
review curricula, observe the course training, and receive
feedback from participants and instructors.
Site Visit--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On August 28, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs traveled to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania to observe two Philadelphia Regional Office (RO)
town halls, which were conducted pursuant to the national
directive of VA Secretary, Bob McDonald.
Site Visit--St. Petersburg, Florida
On September 2, 2014, through September 3, 2014, staff of
the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida to attend a town hall and
meet with employees of the St. Petersburg Regional Office.
Staff also met briefly with the Regional Office Director,
attended an AFGE monthly meeting, and observed a Veteran
Service Center Management (VSCM) briefing on newly rescinded
employee performance standards.
Site Visit--Camden, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On September 10, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs travelled to Camden,
New Jersey, to observe a Philadelphia Regional Office town hall
held by Regional Office staff, to assess the attendance,
participation, and conduct of the town hall, as well as to hear
the concerns of local veterans and other stakeholders.
Site Visit--Reno, Nevada; Las Vegas, Nevada
On September 15-16, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs travelled to Reno,
Nevada, and Las Vegas, Nevada, to observe two town halls
conducted by the Reno Regional Office to assess the attendance,
participation, and conduct of the town halls, as well as to
hear the concerns of local veterans and other stakeholders.
Site Visit--Roanoke, Virginia
On September 16, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs travelled to
Roanoke, Virginia to observe a town hall sponsored by the
Roanoke Regional Office (RO). Due to the town hall's
unannounced cancellation, staff instead held meetings with the
RO's public affairs staff, the Assistant Director, the Acting
Veterans Service Center Manager, and a Veterans Benefits
Administration contractor who reports directly to VA Central
Office.
Site Visit--Roanoke, Virginia
On September 22, 2014, staff for the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs traveled to Roanoke,
Virginia to attend a re-scheduled town hall, to assess the
attendance, participation, and conduct of the town hall, as
well as to hear the concerns of local veterans and other
stakeholders.
Site Visit--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On October 2, 2014, through October 3, 2014, in conjunction
with an October 3, 2014 Subcommittee field hearing, staff of
the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to conduct oversight of
the Philadelphia Regional Office, the Philadelphia National
Cemetery, and the Washington Crossing National Cemetery.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Rhetoric v. Reality: Investigating the
Continued Failures of the Philadelphia VA Regional Office
On October 3, 2014, the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a field hearing on alleged
malfeasance at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Regional Office.
The hearing reviewed various concerns with Veterans Benefits
Administration operations at the Philadelphia Regional Office
(RO), to include management and leadership, claims processing,
and employee morale. The Subcommittee also elicited testimony
on several issues addressed in a prior Committee hearing, and
in preliminary report of the VA Office of Inspector General.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Kristen
Ruell, Authorization Quality Services Representative, Pension
Management Center, Philadelphia Regional Office, Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Ms. Linda Halliday, Assistant Inspector General for Audits and
Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Ms. Halliday was accompanied by Ms. Nora
Stokes, Director, OIG Bay Pines Benefits Inspection Division,
Office of Audits and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General;
Mr. Al Tate, Audit Manager, Atlanta Audit Division, Office of
Audits and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Jeffrey Myers, Benefits
Inspector, San Diego Inspection Division, Office of Audits and
Evaluations Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. Testimony on the first panel was also
provided by Ms. Diana Rubens, Director, Philadelphia Regional
Office, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Walter
Tafe, Director, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs,
Burlington County, New Jersey; and Mr. John Dorrity, MSW, CVA,
Bureau of Veterans Services, Ocean County, New Jersey. See
``Rhetoric v. Reality: Investigating the Continued Failures of
the Philadelphia VA Regional Office,'' Serial No. 113-88.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation
Fund: Inquiry Into the Adequacy of Process in Verifying
Eligibility
On November 20, 2014, the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing focused on the
claims approval process for the Filipino Veterans Equity
Compensation Fund, the status of this program, and the existing
system to determine eligibility for benefits, including
relevant documentation.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Brad
Flohr, Senior Advisor for Compensation Service, Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Brigadier General David K. ``Mac'' MacEwen, 59th Adjutant
General of the U.S. Army, Department of the Army; and Mr. Kevin
Pratt, Assistant Director for Military Records, National
Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records
Administration. Hearing entitled, ``Filipino Veterans Equity
Compensation Fund: Inquiry into the Adequacy of Process in
Verifying Eligibility,'' had not been printed at the time of
this report's submission to the House; and therefore has not
been assigned a House Serial No.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Timeless Honor: Reviewing Current
Operations of Our National Cemeteries
On December 9, 2014, the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing focusing on the
state of various veterans' cemeteries, including upkeep, new
initiatives, and areas for improvement.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by The Honorable
Ronald E. Walters, Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs,
National Cemetery Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Mr. Patrick K. Hallinan, Executive Director, Army
National Cemeteries Program, U.S. Department of Defense; and
The Honorable Max Cleland, Secretary, American Battle Monuments
Commission.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Ami
Neiberger-Miller, Director of Outreach and Education, Tragedy
Assistance Program for Survivors; and Ms. Diane M. Zumatto,
National Legislative Director, AMVETS. Hearing entitled,
``Timeless Honor: Reviewing Current Operations of our National
Cemeteries,'' had not been printed at the time of this report's
submission to the House; and therefore has not been assigned a
House Serial No.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Second Session
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2942;
H.R. 3056; H.R. 3614; H.R. 4031; H.R. 4037; H.R. 4038; H.R.
4147; H.R. 4150; and H.R. 4151
On March 25, 2014, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
held a legislative hearing on H.R. 2942, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to reestablish the Professional
Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee of the
Department of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 3056, the Warriors' Peer-
Outreach Pilot Program Act; H.R. 3614, the Military Skills to
Careers Act; H.R. 4031, the Department of Veterans Affairs
Management Accountability Act of 2014; H.R. 4037, the Improving
Veterans' Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Act of 2014; H.R. 4038, the Veterans Benefits Administration
Information Technology Improvement Act of 2014; H.R. 4147, the
Student Veterans IT Upgrade Act; H.R. 4150, the Veterans
Employment and Training Service Longitudinal Study Act of 2014;
and, H.R. 4151, the Veterans Education Survey Act of 2014.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Curtis L.
Coy, Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Coy was accompanied by John
Brizzi, Esquire, Deputy Assistant General Counsel, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Additional testimony on the
first panel was provided by The Honorable Keith Kelly,
Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training Service,
U.S. Department of Labor. Mr. Kelly was accompanied by Ms.
Demetra Nightingale, Chief Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department
of Labor.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Steve
Gonzalez, Assistant Director, National Economic Commission, The
American Legion; Mr. Pete Hegseth, Chief Executive Officer,
Concerned Veterans for America; Mr. Ryan Gallucci, Deputy
Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States; and Mr. William Hubbard, Vice President of External
Affairs, Student Veterans of America. See ``Legislative Hearing
on H.R. 2942; H.R. 3056; H.R. 3614; H.R. 4031; H.R. 4037; H.R.
4038; H.R. 4147; H.R. 4150; and H.R. 4151,'' Serial No. 113-59.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Site Visit--Washington, DC
On February 19, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity travelled to the America Works DC location, to
conduct oversight on program functionality. Focus was placed
specifically how America Works utilizes VA's Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program and Homeless
Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP), and potential ways that
America Works' program can assist in job placement for
veterans.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--A Review of the Effectiveness of VA's
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
On February 27, 2014, the Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity held a hearing to assess and evaluate the
performance of VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Program.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Daniel
Bertoni, Director for Education, Workforce and Income Security,
Government Accountability Office; Heather Ansley, Esquire, MSW,
Vice President of Veterans Policy, VetsFirst, a program of
United Spinal Association; and Mr. Paul Varela, Assistant
National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Jack
Kammerer, Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See ``A review of the Effectiveness of VA's
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program,'' Serial No.
113-55.
Subcommittee Roundtable Discussion--Veterans Employment
On March 27, 2014, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
attended a Roundtable discussion in the Members' Room at the
Library of Congress on veteran employment opportunities in the
private sector. This Roundtable was hosted by The Honorable
Michael H. Michaud, Committee Ranking Member, and The Honorable
Mark Takano, Subcommittee Ranking Member.
Site Visit--St. Clair County, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri
On April 14, 2014 through April 18, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity travelled to St. Clair
County, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri to conduct oversight
of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) at Scott Air Force
Base and the Regional Processing Office for education claims at
the St. Louis VA Regional Office. The purpose of this trip was
to review the curriculum and quality of instruction provided to
the airmen as part of the new TAP GPS program, and to examine
how VA currently processes education claims as well as the
efficiency of VA's IT programs to process these claims in a
timely manner.
Subcommittee Roundtable Discussion--Transitional Programs for Veterans
On April 29, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity attended a Roundtable discussion hosted by the
Minority staff of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The
purpose of this Roundtable was to discuss veteran transition
issues and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), as well as
mental health and TBI issues that Servicemembers face when
transitioning out of the military and into the civilian sector.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Defining and Improving Success for
Student Veterans
On May 8, 2014, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
held a hearing to assess and evaluate the importance of higher
education for veterans.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Michael
Dakduk, Vice President of Military and Veterans Affairs,
Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities
(APSCU); Mr. William Hubbard, Vice President of External
Affairs, Student Veterans of America (SVA); Mr. Ricardo D.
Torres, President and CEO, The National Student Clearinghouse;
Mr. Thomas W. Ross, President, The University of North Carolina
System, on behalf of The American Council on Education (ACE);
and Dr. Melissa Vito, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
and Enrollment Management and Vice Provost for Academic
Initiatives and Student Success, The University of Arizona.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Curtis
L. Coy, Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``Defining and Improving
Success for Student Veterans,'' Serial No. 113-67.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Exploring Jobs for Veterans in the
Energy Sector
On May 20, 2014, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
held a hearing to evaluate the success veterans can have
seeking employment in the energy sector based on their past
military experience.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Wesley
Carr, President, PEC Safety; Col. Randall Wooten, USAF (Ret.),
President, Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in Marshall;
and Mr. Tyrone Everett, East Coast & Mid/Southwest Regional
Director, Center for Employment Training (CET).
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Jay
Hawkins, Vice President for Human Resources, Chesapeake Energy
Co; Mr. Mark Szabo, Team Lead for Military Recruiting, Baker
Hughes; and Mr. John Simon, Senior Vice President, Human
Resources, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, on Behalf of: The
Center for Energy Workforce Development. See ``Exploring Jobs
for Veterans in the Energy Sector,'' Serial No. 113-68.
Site Visit--Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
On May 30, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity travelled to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, to
observe the VA benefits briefing of the revised TAP, Transition
GPS, in preparation for a Subcommittee hearing on the
implementation of the new TAP model.
Site Visit--Albuquerque, New Mexico
On August 5, 2014, through August 6, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity travelled to Albuquerque,
New Mexico, to conduct oversight of VA's education programs and
to participate on the legislative panel at the National
Association of State Approving Agencies' (NASAA) annual
conference.
Site Visit--Orlando, Florida
On October 22, 2014, through October 23, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity travelled to Orlando,
Florida, to conduct oversight of VA's education programs and
participate on the legislative panel at the National
Association of Veterans' Program Administrators' annual
conference. Staff attended several workshops for school-
certifying officials, including a discussion conducted by VA on
GI Bill benefits and the administration of the in-state
provision of Public Law (P.L.) 113-146, the Veterans Access,
Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--The Role of the State Approving
Agencies in Ensuring Quality Education Programs for Veterans
On November 19, 2014, the Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity held a hearing to assess the role State Approving
Agencies (SAA) play in veterans' education and training
programs.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Ryan M.
Gallucci, Deputy Director, National Veterans Service, Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States; Mr. William Hubbard, Vice
President of Government Affairs, Student Veterans of America;
Mr. Steve Gonzalez, Assistant Director, National Veteran
Employment and Education Division, The American Legion; and Mr.
Keith Glindemann, Vice President and Legislative Chair,
National Association of Veterans' Programs Administrators.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Curtis
L. Coy, Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity,
Veterans Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Mr. Coy was accompanied by Major General Robert Worley
II, USAF (Ret.), Director, Education Service; Veterans Benefit
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr.
Joseph W. Wescott, President, National Association of State
Approving Agencies. Hearing entitled, ``The Role of the State
Approving Agencies in Ensuring Quality Education Programs for
Veterans,'' had not been printed at the time of this report's
submission to the House; and therefore has not been assigned a
House Serial No.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Second Session
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--Legislative Hearing on H.R. 183; H.R.
2527; H.R. 2661; H.R. 2974; H.R. 3508; H.R. 3180; H.R. 3387;
H.R. 3831; H.R. 4198; and, Draft Legislation To Authorize Major
Medical Facility Projects for the Department of Veterans
Affairs for Fiscal Year 2014, and for Other Purposes
On March 27, 2014, the Subcommittee on Health held a
legislative hearing on H.R. 183, the Veterans Dog Training
Therapy Act; H.R. 2527, to amend title 38, United States Code,
to provide veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual
trauma that occurred during inactive duty training; H.R. 2661,
the Veterans Access to Timely Medical Appointments Act; H.R.
2974, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the
eligibility for beneficiary travel for veterans seeking
treatment or care for military sexual trauma in specialized
outpatient or residential programs at facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; H.R.
3508, to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the
qualifications of hearing aid specialists of the Veterans
Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and for other purposes; H.R. 3180, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to include contracts and grants for residential
care for veterans in the exception to the requirement that the
Federal Government recover a portion of the value of certain
projects; H.R. 3387, Classified Veterans Access to Care Act;
H.R. 3831, the Veterans Dialysis Pilot Program Review Act of
2014; H.R. 4198, the Appropriate Care for Disabled Veterans
Act; and, Draft legislation to authorize major medical facility
projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year
2014, and for other purposes.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by The Honorable
Michael Grimm, Member, U.S. House of Representatives (NY-11);
The Honorable Dina Titus, Member, U.S. House of Representatives
(NV-1); The Honorable Jackie Walorski, Member, U.S. House of
Representatives (IN-2); The Honorable Sean Duffy, Member, U.S.
House of Representatives (WI-7); The Honorable Marcy Kaptur,
Member, U.S. House of Representatives (OH-9); The Honorable
Kyrsten Sinema, Member, U.S. House of Representatives (AZ-9);
The Honorable David P. Roe, Member, U.S. House of
Representatives (TN-1); and The Honorable Jeff Denham, Member,
U.S. House of Representatives (CA-10).
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Joy J.
Ilem, Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled American
Veterans; Ms. Alethea Predeoux, Associate Director of Health
Analysis, Paralyzed Veterans of America; and Mr. Aleks Morosky,
Senior Legislative Associate, National Legislative Service,
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
On the third panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Madhulka
Agarwal M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Under Secretary for Health for
Policy and Services, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Agarwal was accompanied by
Mr. Philip Matkovsky, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for
Health for Operations and Management, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Reneee
L. Szybala, Esquire, Acting Assistant General Counsel, Office
of General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
``Legislative Hearing on H.R. 183; H.R. 2527; H.R. 2661; H.R.
2974; H.R. 3508; H.R. 3180; H.R. 3387; H.R. 3831; H.R. 4198;
and, Draft legislation to authorize major medical facility
projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year
2014 and for other purposes,'' Serial No. 113-61.
Subcommittee Hearing--Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4720; H.R. 4887; H.R.
4977; H.R. 5059; H.R. 5475; H.R. 5484; and H.R. 5686
On November 19, 2014, the Subcommittee on Health held a
legislative hearing on H.R. 4720, the Medal of Honor Priority
Care Act; H.R. 4887, the Expanding Care for Veterans Act; H.R.
4977, the Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery Act
(COVER); H.R. 5059, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for
American Veterans Act (SAV); H.R. 5475, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to improve the care provided by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to newborn children; H.R. 5484,
the Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2014; and H.R. 5686, the
Physician Ambassadors Helping Veterans Act.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by The Honorable
Tim Walberg, Member, U.S. House of Representatives (MI-7); The
Honorable Gus Bilirakis, Member, U.S. House of Representatives
(FL-12); The Honorable Tim Walz, Member, U.S. House of
Representatives (MN-1); The Honorable Doug Collins, Member,
U.S. House of Representatives, (GA-9); and The Honorable John
Culberson, Member, U.S. House of Representatives (TX-7).
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr.
Christopher Neiweem, Legislative Associate, Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America; Mr. Brad Adams, Staff
Attorney, Swords to Plowshares; Mr. Aleks Morosky, Deputy
Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States; and Mr. John Rowan, National
President, Vietnam Veterans of America.
On the third panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Rajiv
Jain, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Patient
Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Jain was accompanied by Jennifer Gray,
Esquire, Staff Attorney, Office of General Counsel, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Hearing entitled, ``Legislative
Hearing on H.R. 4720, H.R. 4887, H.R. 4977, H.R. 5059, H.R.
5475, H.R. 5484; H.R. 5686,'' had not been printed at the time
of this report's submission to the House; and therefore has not
been assigned a House Serial No.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Site Visit--Los Angeles, California and Ventura, California
On February 19, 2014, through February 20, 2014, staff for
the Subcommittee on Health accompanied the Subcommittee
Chairman on oversight travel to Los Angeles, California and
Ventura, California to evaluate the clinical operations of the
West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
and Ventura County Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans
Center.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--An Examination of Veteran Access to
Traditional and Alternative Forms of Mental Health Therapy
On February 20, 2014, the Subcommittee on Health held a
field hearing on the provision of mental health care services
to Southern California veterans through the Greater Los Angeles
Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Kimberly
Evans Logie, LMFT, Director, Military Collaborative of Ventura
County; Ms. Lyndsey Hale, Veterans Liaison, VITAS Innovative
Hospice; Ms. Julie Sardonia, M.A., LMFT, Founder/Executive
Director, Reins of H.O.P.E., H.O.P.E. for Warriors Program; and
Mr. Mike McManus, USAF (Ret.), Veteran Service Officer, Ventura
County Human Services Agency.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Donna M.
Beiter, RN, MSN, Director, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare
System, VISN 22, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms. Beiter was accompanied by
Dr. Daniel Flynn, Oxnard Community-based Outpatient Clinic, VA
Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, VISN 22, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms.
Jane Twombley, LMFT, Ventura Vet Center, VA Greater Los Angeles
Healthcare System, VISN 22, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``An Examination of
Veteran Access to Traditional and Alternative Forms of Mental
Health Therapy,'' Serial No. 113-52.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--VA Accountability: Assessing Actions
Taken in Response to Subcommittee Oversight
On February 26, 2014, the Subcommittee on Health held a
hearing on the progress made regarding physician staffing and
productivity standards of the Veterans Health Administration,
treatment for veterans who experienced military sexual trauma,
pain management programs, and procurement reform.
On the first and only panel, testimony was provided by The
Honorable Robert Petzel M.D., Under Secretary for Health,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Dr. Petzel was accompanied by Dr. Robert L. Jesse,
M.D., Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr.
Madhulika Agarwal, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Under Secretary for
Health for Policy and Services, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Rajiv Jain, M.D.,
Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Patient Care Services,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Mr. Phillip Matkovsky, Assistant Deputy Under
Secretary for Health for Administrative Operations, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
``VA Accountability: Assessing Actions Taken in Response to
Subcommittee Oversight,'' Serial No. 113-54.
Subcommittee Roundtable Discussion--Analyzing Organizational Obstacles
To Improving Quality Care for Veterans
On May 22, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Health hosted
and attended a Roundtable discussion entitled, ``Analyzing
Organizational Obstacles to Improving Quality Care for
Veterans.'' The Roundtable provided an opportunity for the
Subcommittee, the Department, key stakeholder groups, and
representatives from the veterans' service organizations to
thoroughly discuss organizational impediments to quality care
throughout the VA health care system and analyze actions needed
to overcome them. Particular topics of discussion included: the
lack of a standard organizational chart for Veterans Integrated
Service Networks (VISNs) and VA Medical Centers (VAMCs); the
lack of a base set of medical positions for VAMCs; and, the
inconsistent implementation of key VHA policies, which has led
to significant deviations from the standards of care and, in
some cases, patient harm and preventable death.
Attendees present included: Dr. Robert L. Jesse, Principal
Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr.
Carolyn Clancy, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health,
Safety, and Quality, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. John D. Daigh, Jr.,
Assistant Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections, Office
of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Ms. Debra Draper, Director, Veterans Health Care, U.S.
Government Accountability Office; Ms. Lana McKenzie, Associate
Executive Director of Medical Services, Paralyzed Veterans of
America; Mr. Carl Blake, National Legislative Director,
Paralyzed Veterans of America; Dr. Samuel Spagnolo, President,
National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists; Mr. Tim
McClain, President, Humana Government Business; Dr. Scott Wise,
Chief Operating Officer, Community Based Outpatient Clinics,
Humana Government Business; Mr. Ian de Planque, Deputy
Legislative Director, The American Legion; and, Mr. Adrian
Atizado, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--An Examination of Rural and Native American
Veteran Access to Care
On August 27, 2014, the Subcommittee on Health held a field
hearing to evaluate and assess non-VA care, telehealth, and
transportation services available to Native American veterans,
as well as rural veterans located in northern Michigan and
throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Fred
Kiogima, Tribal Chairman, Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa
Indians; Mr. Curtis Chambers, Veteran; Mr. Carl Archambeau,
Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2780; LTC Linda
Fletcher, USA (Ret), Executive Director, A Matter of Honor; and
Mr. Charles R. Lerchen, ACVSO, Director of Veterans Services
Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Benzie Counties.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Paul
Bockelman, Director, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)
11, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Mr. Bockelman was accompanied by Ms. Peggy Kearns,
Director, Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, VISN 11, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Mr. James Rice, Director, Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center,
VISN 12, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. See ``An Examination of Rural and Native
American Veteran Access to Care,'' Serial No.113-85.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--VA's Caregiver Program: Assessing
Current Prospects and Future Possibilities
On December 3, 2014, the Subcommittee on Health held a
hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) Family
Caregiver Program, established by Public Law (P.L.) 111-163.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Randall
B. Williamson, Director, Health Care, Government Accountability
Office; and Mr. Rajeev Ramchand, Senior Behavioral Scientist,
RAND Corporation.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Maureen
McCarthy, Deputy Chief Patient Care Services, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr.
McCarthy was accompanied by Mr. Michael Kilmer, Chief
Consultant of Care Management and Social Work; and Ms. Margaret
Kabat, Acting National Director, Caregiver Support Program
Veterans, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Statements for the record were provided by Disabled
American Veterans; Paralyzed Veterans of America; the Wounded
Warrior Project; and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States.
Hearing entitled, ``VA's Caregiver Program: Assessing
Current Prospects and Future Possibilities,'' had not been
printed at the time of this report's submission to the House;
and therefore has not been assigned a House Serial No.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3593, H.R. 4261, H.R. 4281, and Other Draft
Legislation
On March 25, 2014, the Subcommittee held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 3593, the VA Construction Assistance Act of
2013; H.R. 4261, the Gulf War Health Research Reform Act of
2014; H.R. 4281, the Protecting Business Opportunities for
Veterans Act of 2014; and other draft legislation.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Stella S.
Fiotes, Executive Director, Office of Construction and
Facilities Management, Office of Acquisition, Logistics and
Construction, at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms.
Fiotes was accompanied by Mr. Tom Leney, Executive Director,
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Gregory
Wilshusen, Director, Information Security Issues, U.S.
Government Accountability Office; Mr. Raymond Kelley, Director,
National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
Diane Zumatto, National Legislative Director, AMVETS; Mr. James
H. Binns, Chairman, Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War
Veterans' Illnesses; Mr. Louis Celli, Legislative Director, The
American Legion; Mr. Davy Leghorn, Assistant Director, Veterans
Employment and Education Division, The American Legion; and Mr.
Frank Wilton, Chief Executive Officer, American Association of
Tissue Banks. See ``Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3593, H.R.
4261, H.R. 4281, and Other Draft Legislation,'' Serial No. 113-
58.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Vendors in the OR--VA's Failed
Oversight of Surgical Implants
On January 15, 2014, the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing to assess and evaluate VA's
tracking and handling of, and vendor involvement in, surgical
implants administered at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Randall
Williamson, Director, Health Care, U.S. Government
Accountability Office. Mr. Williamson was accompanied by Mr.
Wayne McElrath, Director, Forensic Audit and Investigative
Services, U.S. Government Accountability Office; and Mr. Roscoe
Butler, Assistant Director for Health Care, National Veterans
Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, The American Legion.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Philip
Matkovsky, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for
Administrative Operations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mr. Matkovsky was accompanied Dr. Thomas Lynch, Assistant
Deputy Under Secretary for Health Clinical Operations, at the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``Vendors in the OR--
VA's Failed Oversight of Surgical Implants,'' Serial No. 113-
49.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--VA and Human Tissue: Improvements
Needed for Veterans Safety
On April 2, 2014, the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing on VA's continuing problems with
tracking and management of biological implants.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Philip
Matkovsky, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for
Administrative Operations, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Matkovsky was accompanied
by Dr. William Gunnar, M.D., National Director of Surgery,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Dr. Michael Icardi, M.D., National Director of
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Marcia
Crosse, Director, Health Care, U.S. Government Accountability
Office.
On the third panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Frank
Wilton, Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Tissue
Banks. See ``VA and Human Tissue: Improvements Needed for
Veterans Safety,'' Serial No. 113-62.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Construction Conundrums: A Review of
Continued Delays and Cost Overruns at the Replacement Aurora,
Colorado VAMC
On April 22, 2014, the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a field hearing to review continued delays
and cost overruns occurring at the replacement VA Medical
Center in Colorado.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Lorelei
St. James, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, U.S.
Government Accountability Office; Mr. Kirk Rosa, State
Commander, Department of Colorado, Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the United States; Mr. Ralph Bozella, Chairman, Veterans
Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, The American Legion; Mr.
Dave Davia, Executive Vice President and CEO, Colorado
Association of Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors; and Mr.
Michael Gifford, MPA, IOM, President, Associated General
Contractors of Colorado.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Glenn
Haggstrom, Principal Executive Director, Office of Acquisition,
Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Mr. Haggstrom was accompanied by Ms. Stella S. Fiotes,
Executive Director, Office of Construction and Facilities
Management, Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``Construction
Conundrums: A Review of Continued Delays and Cost Overruns at
the Replacement Aurora, Colorado VAMC,'' Serial No. 113-65.
Subcommittee Field Hearing--Access to Mental Health Care and Traumatic
Brain Injury Services: Addressing the Challenges and Barriers
for Veterans
On April 24, 2014, the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a field hearing to assess and evaluate the
Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to provide accessible
mental health care and other health care services for veterans
suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Derek
Duplisea, Regional Alumni Director, West, Wounded Warrior
Project; Ms. Ariana Del Negro, Co-Founder, Veterans Leadership
Assistance; Captain Charles Gatlin, USA (Ret.), Veteran; Mr.
David Anderson, Veteran and American Legion Commander, Post 51,
Sacaton, Arizona; Mr. Jerry Boales, Veteran and Chairman, Rock
Soldiers for Wounded Warriors; Mr. John Davison, father of a
Wounded Warrior; and Mr. Bradley Hazell, Veteran.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Lisa
Kearney, PhD, Senior Consultant, National Mental Health
Technical Assistance, Office of Mental Health Operations,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Dr. Kearney was accompanied by Dr. Joe Scholten, M.D.,
National Director of Special Projects, Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation Services, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Jonathan H. Gardner, MPA,
FACHE, Director, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Mr. Joshua D. Redlin, LCSW, Team Leader, Tucson
Vet Center, at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See
``Access to Mental Health Care and Traumatic Brain Injury
Services: Addressing the Challenges and Barriers for
Veterans,'' Serial No. 113-66.
Site Visit--Phoenix, Arizona and Cheyenne, Wyoming
On May 13, 2014 through May 15, 2014, staff of the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations visited the
Phoenix VA Health Care System and the Cheyenne VA Medical
Center as part of an oversight investigation into data
manipulation of patient schedules.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Assessing Inadequacies in VA Data Usage
for and Services Provided to Visually-Impaired Veterans
On May 29, 2014, the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing to assess shortfalls and to
evaluate potential improvements in VA data usage for visually-
impaired veterans.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Mr. Glenn
Minney, Director of Government Relations, Blinded Veterans
Association; Mr. Terry Kebbel, Veteran; and Mr. Travis Fugate,
Veteran.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Dr. Maureen
McCarthy, M.D., Deputy Chief Patient Care Services, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms.
Lorraine Landfried, Deputy Chief Information Officer for
Product Development, Office of Information Technology, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms. Landfried was accompanied
by Dr. Mary Lawrence, M.D., Deputy Director, Vision Center of
Excellence; and Mr. Pat Sheehan, Director, 508 Compliance
Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``Assessing
Inadequacies in VA Data Usage for and Services Provided to
Visually-Impaired Veterans,'' Serial No. 113-70.
Site Visit--Atlanta, Georgia
On June 21, 2014, staff of the Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations visited with a whistleblower as part of an
oversight investigation.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--Metrics, Measurements and Mismanagement
in the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA)
On September 10, 2014, the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing to assess shortfalls and to
evaluate potential improvements in the BVA appeals process.
On the first panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Kelli
Kordich, Senior Counsel, Board of Veterans' Appeals, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Zachary Hearn, Deputy
Director for Claims, The American Legion; and Mr. Joe Violante,
National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans.
On the second panel, testimony was provided by Ms. Laura
Eskenazi, Executive in Charge and Vice Chairman, Board of
Veterans' Appeals, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ms.
Eskenazi was accompanied by Mr. James Ridgeway, Chief Counsel
for Policy and Procedure, Board of Veterans' Appeals, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. See ``Metrics, Measurements,
and Mismanagement in the Board of Veterans' Appeals,'' Serial
No. 113-86.
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMUNICATIONS
January 10, 2014: Communication 04449, a letter from the
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting a
letter reporting the FY2013 expenditures from the Pershing Hall
Revolving Fund for projects, activities, and facilities that
support the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
January 15, 2014: Communication 04503, a letter from the
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Department of
Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule--
Duty Periods for Establishing Eligibility for Health Care (RIN:
2900-AO25) received January 6, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
January 17, 2014: Communication 04525, a letter from the
Deputy Director of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of
the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting the Department's final rule--Copayments for
Medications in 2014 (RIN: 2900-AO91) received January 8, 2014,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
January 28, 2014: Communication 04588, from the Director,
Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting, the
Department's final rule--Loan Guaranty: Minimum Property and
Construction Requirements (RIN: 2900-AO67) received January 14,
2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
January 28, 2014: Communication 04589, from the Director,
Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--VA Compensation Service and Pension
and Fiduciary Service Nomenclature Changes (RIN: 2900-AO64)
received January 14, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
January 31, 2014: Communication 04626, letter from the
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting
the Department's final rule--Community Residential Care (RIN:
2900-AO62) received January 10, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
January 31, 2014: Communication 04627, letter from the
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting
the Department's final rule--Removal of Penalty for Breaking
Appointments (RIN: 2900-AO51) received January 10, 2014,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
February 26, 2014: Communication 04828, from the Director,
National Legislative Division, The American Legion,
transmitting the financial statement and independent audit of
The American Legion, proceedings of the 95th Annual National
Convention of the American Legion, held in Houston, Texas from
August 23-August 29, 2013, and a report on the Organizations
activities for the year preceding the Convention. Referred to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and ordered to be printed on
February 26, 2014.
March 27, 2014: Memorial 0179, Under clause 3 of rule XII,
a memorial of the following title was presented as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of Michigan, relative to House Resolution No. 300
memorializing the Congress and the Department of Veterans to
take a stronger role in investigating and eliminating delays in
veterans' health care.
April 7, 2014: Communication 05262, from the Deputy
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting
the Department's final rule--VA Dental Insurance Program--
Federalism (RIN: 2900-AO85) received March 24, 2014, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
April 7, 2014: Communication 05263, from the Director,
Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment Program: Changes Related to the Honoring America's
Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (RIN:
2900-AO87) received March 24, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
April 7, 2014: Communication 05264, from the Deputy
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Disclosures to Participate in State
prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (RIN: 2900-AO45) received
March 19, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
April 10, 2014: Petition 0079, Under clause 3 of rule XII,
the following petition and papers were presented, as follows:
By the Speaker: A petition of the County of Saratoga Board of
Supervisors, New York, relative to Resolution 45-2014 urging
the Senate to introduce a companion bill of H.R. 1494 and
ensure its passage within the 113th Congressional Session.
Referred jointly to the Committees on Armed Services and
Veterans' Affairs.
May 1, 2014: Communication 05522, from the Principal Deputy
Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, transmitting
fourth quarterly report of FY 2013 on Uniformed Services
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. Referred
jointly to the Committees on the Judiciary and Veterans'
Affairs May 1, 2014.
May 1, 2014: Communication 05523, from the Principal Deputy
Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, transmitting
first quarterly report of FY 2014 on Uniformed Services
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. Referred
jointly to the Committees on the Judiciary and Veterans'
Affairs May 1, 2014.
May 8, 2014: Memorial 0200, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following title was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of Arizona, relative to House Memorial 2001 urging the
Congress to restore the presumption of a service connection
between Agent Orange exposure and subsequent illnesses to
United States Vietnam War veterans.
May 15, 2014: Communication 05685, from the Principal
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice,
transmitting the second quarterly report of FY 2014 on
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of
1994. Referred jointly to the Committees on the Judiciary and
Veterans' Affairs on May 15, 2014.
May 21, 2014: Communication 05748, from the Adjutant
General, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., proceedings
of the 114th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States, held in Louisville, Kentucky, July
21-24, 2013, pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 1332.
May 28, 2014: Communication 05810, from the Director of
Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Loan Guarunty: Ability-to-Repay
Standards and Qualified Mortgage Definition under the Truth in
Lending Act (RIN: 2900-AO65) received May 7, 2014, pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
June 19, 2014: Memorial 213, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following title was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of Hawaii, relative to House Resolution No. 23 urging the
Congress to support the Veterans Health and Benefits
Improvement Act of 2013.
June 19, 2014: Memorial 214, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following title was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of Hawaii, relative to House Resolution No. 22 urging the
Congress to grant veterans benefits to Filipino Veterans who
fought in World War II.
June 19, 2014: Memorial 215, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following title was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of Hawaii, relative to House Resolution No. 19 urging the
Congress to restore the presumption of a service connection for
Agent Orange exposure to United States veterans who served in
the waters defined by the Combat Zone and in the airspace over
the Combat Zone in Vietnam.
June 19, 2014: Memorial 216, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following title was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of Hawaii, relative to House Resolution No. 68 urging the
Congress to support House Bill 2074.
June 19, 2014: Memorial 218, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following titles was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, relative to House Resolution No.
663 urging the Congress and the President to restore a
presumption of a service connection for Agent Orange exposure
for the United States Navy and Air Force veterans who served on
the inland waterways, territorial waters and in the airspace of
Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
June 19, 2014: Memorial 219, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following titles was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of Hawaii, relative to House Resolution No. 18 supporting
the Troop Talent Act of 2013. Referred jointly to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services.
June 23, 2014: Communication 06113, from the Acting Under
Secretary and Deputy Secretary, Departments of Defense and
Veterans Affairs, transmitting Veterans Affairs and Department
of Defense Joint Executive Council Fiscal Year 2013 Annual
Report, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8111(f).
June 24, 2014: Communication 06139, from the Director,
Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Burial Benefits (RIN: 2900-A082)
received June 6, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
June 25, 2014: Petition 0086, under clause 3 of rule XII,
the following petition and papers were presented, as follows:
By the Speaker: A petition of Ontario County Board of
Supervisors, New York, relative to Resolution No. 265-2014
urging the adoption of H.R. 543.
July 15, 2014: Communication 06438, from the Assistant
Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting additional
legislative proposals that the Department requests be enacted
during the second session of the 113th Congress. Referred
jointly to the Committees on Armed Services, Oversight and
Government Reform, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space and
Technology, the Judiciary, Rules, Natural Resources,
Transportation and Infrastructures, Financial Services, Foreign
Affairs, and Veterans Affairs.
July 18, 2014: Memorial 0268, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following titles was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
state of Michigan, relative to House Resolution No. 371 urging
the Department of Veterans Affairs to follow Federal Housing
Administration guidelines as they apply to the site
condominiums and view them as single-family homes as long as
they meet certain criteria.
July 18, 2014: Memorial 0269, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following titles was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the Senate of the State of Hawaii,
relative to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 84 urging the
Congress to restore the presumption of a service connection for
Agent Orange exposure to United States Veterans who served in
the waters defined by the Combat Zone and in the airspace over
the Combat Zone in Vietnam.
July 23, 2014: Communication 06569 from the Deputy
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting
the Department's final rule--Grants for Adaptive Sports
Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the
Armed Forces (RIN: 2900-AP07) received July 2, 2014, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
July 24, 2014: Memorial 0288, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following titles was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
state of North Carolina, relative to House Resolution 1256
honoring the brave men, women, and children who valiantly
served our country as Coastwise Merchant Mariners during World
War II.
July 25, 2014: Memorial 289, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following titles was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of North Carolina, relative to House Resolution No. 1256
honoring the brave men, women, and children who valiantly
served our country as Coastwise Merchant Mariners during World
War II.
July 31, 2014: Communication 06765 from the Director of
Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance--
Veterans' Group Life Insurance Regulation Update--ABO, VGLI
Application, SGLI-2--Year Disability Extension (RIN: 2900-AO74)
received July 30, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
August 4, 2014: Memorial 306, Under clause 3 of rule XII, a
memorial of the following title was presented, as follows: By
the Speaker: A memorial of the House of Representatives of the
State of Rhode Island, relative to House Resolution No. 318
urging the Congress to restore the presumption of a service
connection for Agent Orange exposure to the United States
Vietnam Veterans who served in the water defined by the combat
zone, and in the airspace over the Combat Zone.
August 4, 2014: Communication 06860 from the Director,
Regulation Policy and Managemnet, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Schedule for Rating Disabilities--
Mental Disorders and Definition of Psychosis for Certain VA
Purposes (RIN: 2900-AO96) received July 31, 2014, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
September 9, 2014: Communication 06968, from the Acting
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting a
letter regarding the state of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
September 10, 2014: Communication 07022, from the Director,
Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Specially Adapted Housing Eligibility
for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Beneficiaries (RIN: 2900-
AO84) received August 14, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
September 18, 2014: Communication 07335, from the Deputy
Director, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of
the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs,
transmitting the Department's final rule, Special Home
Adaptation Grants for Members of the Armed Forces and Veterans
with Certain Vision Impairment (RIN: 2900-AP12) received
September 11, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
September 18, 2014: Communication 07336, from the Director,
Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule, Substitution in Case of Claimant (RIN:
2900-AN91) received September 4, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
September 18, 2014: Communication 07337, from the Deputy
Director, Regulation Policy Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule, Updating Certain Citations in VA
Medical Regulations (RIN: 2900-AP04) received September 11,
2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
September 18, 2014: Communication 07347, from the Acting
Director, Office of the National Drug Control Policy,
transmitting 2014 National Drug Control Strategy, pursuant to
21 U.S.C. 1504. Referred jointly to the Committees on
Judiciary, Agriculture, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce,
Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign
Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means,
Veterans' Affairs, Homeland Security, Natural Resources,
Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Education and the
Workforce.
November 12, 2014: Communication 07654, from the Acting
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting,
the Department's final rule--Payment or Reimbursement for
Certain Medical Expenses for Camp Lejeune Family Members (RIN:
2900-AO79) received September 22, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
November 12, 2014: Communication 07655, from the Acting
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting,
the Department's final rule--Standard Claims and Appeals Forms
(RIN: 2900-AO81) received September 22, 2014, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
November 12, 2014: Communication 07656, from the Acting
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting,
the Department's final rule--Hospital Care and Medical Services
for Camp Lejeune Veterans (RIN: 2900--AO78) received September
22, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
November 12, 2014: Communication 07657 from the Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting a report on wait-
time goals of the Veterans Health Administration.
November 13, 2014: Communication 07694 from the Acting
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting,
the Department's ``Major'' final rule--Copayments for
Medications in 2015 (RIN: 2900-AP15) received October 29, 2014,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
November 18, 2014: Memorial 0322, Under clause 3 of rule
XII, a memorial of the following title was presented as
follows: By the Speaker: A memorial of the Legislature of the
State of Alaska, relative to House Joint Resolution 25, urging
Congress to restore the presumption of a service connection for
Agent Orange exposure to United States veterans.
November 18, 2014: Memorial 0323, Under clause 3 of rule
XII, a memorial of the following title was presented as
follows: By the Speaker: A memorial of the Legislature of the
State of Alaska, relative to Senate Joint Resolution 24,
relating to certain holiday practices at federal Veterans
Health Administration Facilities.
November 19, 2014: Memorial 0330, Under clause 3 of rule
XII, a memorial of the following title was presented as
follows: By the Speaker: A memorial of the Legislature of the
State of Alaska, relative to Senate Joint Resolution 24,
relating to certain holiday practices at federal Veterans
Health Administration Facilities.
November 20, 2014: Memorial 0333, Under clause 3 of rule
XII, a memorial of the following title was presented as
follows: By the Speaker: A memorial of the House of
Representatives of the State of Michigan, relative to House
Resolution No. 385 urging the Congress to investigate the
Department of Veterans Affairs' treatment of military veterans
seeking health care at facilities throughout the country.
November 20, 2014: Petition 0112, Under clause 3 of rule
XII, the following petition and papers were presented, as
follows: By the Speaker, A petition of the Blinded Veterans
Association, Washington, D.C., relative to Resolution 21-14
supporting legislation to require the President, Vice
President, and Members of Congress to enroll for VA medical
care services and receive health care exclusively from the VA
health care system. Referred jointly to the Committees on House
Administration, Oversight and Government Reform in addition to
Veterans' Affairs.
November 20, 2014: Communication 08076, from the Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting a letter regarding
the use of private sector health care for the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
November 20, 2014: Communication 08077, from the Chief
Regulations Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Technical Corrections Based on Public
Law 104-262 (RIN: 2900-AO93) received November 13, 2014,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
November 20, 2014: Communication 08078, from the Chief,
Regulations Policy, Tracking and Control, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Designee for Patient Personal Property
(RIN: 2900-AO41) received November 13, 2014, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
November 20, 2014: Communication 08079, from the Acting
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting,
the Department's ``Major'' final rule--Expand Access to Non-VA
Care Through the Veterans Choice Program (RIN: 2900-AP24)
received November 4, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
November 20, 2014: Communication 08080 from the Acting
Director, Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting
the Department's final rule--Exempting Mental Health Peer
Support Services from Copayments (RIN: 2900-AP11) received
November 18, 2014, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
November 20, 2014: Communication 08081 from the Chief,
Regulations Policy, Tracking and Control, Office of General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the
Department's final rule--Designee for Patient Personal Property
(RIN: 1900-AO41) received November 18, 2014, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
November 20, 2014: Communication 08111 from the Assistant
Attorney General, Department of Justice, transmitting fourth
quarterly report of FY 2014 on Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. Referred jointly to the
Committees on the Judiciary and Veterans' Affairs Committees.
December 1, 2014: Communication 08118 from the National
Adjutant, Chief Executive Officer, the Disabled American
Veterans, transmitting, the 2014 National Convention
Proceedings of the Disabled American Veterans.