U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs RSS 2.0 Feed

Bill to Authorize Advanced Appropriations Heading to President's Desk

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT

October 14, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, applauded the full Senate's passage of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009. The bill calls for the advanced funding of critical services to veterans, which have recently been subjected to delays by Congress.

"I am pleased the full Senate acted yesterday to pass advanced appropriations for VA medical care, and I hope that the President will sign this important bill soon," Senator Burr said. "Too often, critical funding for veterans' health care is held hostage to political gamesmanship, which is unacceptable. In a time of war and an aging veteran population, we have an obligation to ensure that veterans can get the health care they need when they need it."

The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act funds the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in two-year cycles through advance appropriations. This would give the agency the ability to plan its budget one-year ahead of the regular federal funding process. Currently, VHA's budget is subject to delay, which hinders its ability to plan its budgets and provide quality care to our veterans.

"Yet again this year, VA does not have an on-time budget," Burr added. "Passing this bill is a step towards rectifying this problem. Our veterans made us a priority when they wore the uniform, now is the time to make them our priority."

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Veterans' Committee Addresses Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT

October 8, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing about veterans and families who have been exposed to toxic substances, such as the water contamination at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

"Over the years thousands of military personnel and their families have been exposed to dangerous chemicals where they were living and working while serving our country," Senator Burr said. "Because of its location in my home state, the exposure to water contamination at Camp Lejeune is very personal for me."

Burr's office has heard from many veterans who have had heart-breaking personal experiences with exposure issues, including Jerry Ensminger, a retired Marine master sergeant whose daughter was born on Camp Lejeune in 1975, diagnosed with leukemia at the age of six and, tragically, died three years later.

"Unfortunately, Jerry's case is not unique for veterans who served on Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987," Burr added. "A number of studies have suggested a link between the water at Camp Lejeune and various forms of cancer and other diseases, and we owe it to those exposed to complete these studies and give them concrete answers."

Senator Burr has introduced the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009, which would allow veterans and their family members stationed at Camp Lejeune while the water was contaminated to get medical care from the VA.

"Camp Lejeune veterans and their families deserve closure on this tragic situation and today’s hearing is a step towards meeting our moral obligation. For veterans and their families put at risk by exposures – whether in Japan, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Carolina, or elsewhere – we have a solemn duty to take care of those who were put in harm’s way while serving our nation," Burr concluded.

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Senator Burr Statement on The American Legion's Legislative Presentation

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:09:00 GMT

September 10, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) issued the following statement after today's joint hearing on the legislative presentation of The American Legion:

"I am encouraged that many of the priorities laid out in National Commander Hill's testimony are ones that Congress is moving forward with, including authorizing advance appropriations for VA. I look forward to working with The American Legion and Commander Hill to improve the lives of veterans and their families in the months ahead."

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Veterans Committee Holds Hearing on Disability Compensation

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:07:00 GMT

July 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing on how to improve the disability evaluation system for our nation’s veterans and heard about steps that have been taken to try to improve the situation, such as the joint VA/DoD pilot program for transitioning servicemembers and ongoing efforts to modernize information technology systems.

"The men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation deserve a system that meets their needs without hassles or delays," Senator Burr said. "Currently, it takes more than five months on average for VA to make an initial decision on a claim for veterans’ benefits and, if the veteran decides to appeal, the delays can go on for years. This is indefensible."

In fact, at a hearing earlier this year, Senator Burr asked several organizations to take a clean piece of paper and redesign the entire disability process, as if VA were standing up a new system. Today, the Committee heard from the Disabled American Veterans about a proposal they have developed in response to that request.

"I applaud DAV for their proposal and am pleased to be working with them to draft a bill that would help make some of their proposed changes a reality," Senator Burr added. "The disability compensation system has been plagued with problems for far too long and it is time to help veterans get decisions faster."

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Burr Bill Would Provide Care for Lejeune Vets Exposed to Water Contaminants

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:07:00 GMT

July 28, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009, legislation that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care to veterans and their family members who have experienced adverse health effects as a result of exposure to well water contaminated by human carcinogens at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

"Thousands of Navy and Marine veterans and their families who lived on Camp Lejeune have fallen ill with a variety of cancers and diseases believed to be attributable to their service at the base before it was designated a Superfund site in 1988," Senator Burr said. "We owe those who are sick the benefit of the doubt and the health care they need."

A recent National Research Council report on the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune assessed that there are numerous adverse health effects associated with human exposure to the chemicals known to have been in water at Lejeune. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is conducting scientific studies to further understand the extent of human exposure on Camp Lejeune and planning human health surveys to determine the frequency of certain illnesses among former Camp Lejeune residents.

Senator Burr's bill would allow a veteran or military family member who was stationed at Camp Lejeune during the time the water was contaminated to receive needed health care at a VA facility.

"Camp Lejeune veterans and their families deserve closure on this tragic situation," Senator Burr added. "While we continue to seek more answers, this bill is a step towards providing the Lejeune veterans and their families the respect and care they deserve."

Burr's Military Spouse Amendment Agreed to by Senate

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:07:00 GMT

July 23, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) offered the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill currently under consideration in the Senate. The amendment, which was approved by voice vote on the Senate floor, would allow military spouses to maintain residency in their home state regardless of military placement of their families.

"Military spouses play a very important role in the success of our Armed Forces," Senator Burr said. "But, even though military spouses frequently move in support of servicemembers and the military, the law currently does not grant them the same residency rights as their servicemembers. This means that every time they move in response to military orders, they must change their license plates, voter registration and even file taxes in a different state than their spouse. This just isn’t right."

Currently, servicemembers have the ability to claim and maintain one state of residence, regardless of where military orders may send them. The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act would extend similar rights to military spouses, easing the burden and headaches they now face.

"The approval of this amendment sends a clear message to military spouses that we, as a nation, appreciate their sacrifices and are grateful for the contributions they make to the success of our Armed Forces," Senator Burr added. "It is one small way we can not only ease the burden they currently bear in caring for children and supporting our troops through frequent deployments, but I also hope this legislation will keep more of our military families together."

Committee Holds Hearing on Women Veterans Health Care

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:07:00 GMT

July 14, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing on the adequacy of health care services VA provides to a growing number of individuals who have proudly worn the nation's uniform -- women veterans.

According to the VA, in 2007 just over 146,000 women veterans used gender-specific health care services at VA. In 2008, despite the growing number of women veterans, there were close to 141,000 users of the system -- a decline of 3 percent from one year to the next.

"In order to provide the quality health care our women veterans have earned, we need to know where improvements need to be made," Senator Burr added. "It is important to ensure that the VA health care system is providing the unique services required by women veterans. I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve the accessibility and quality of care they deserve."

Committee Holds Oversight Hearing; Focuses on Use of Contaminated Endoscopy Equipment

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:06:00 GMT

June 24, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held an oversight hearing on VA quality management focusing largely on the use of contaminated endoscopy equipment at VA facilities. In the wake of what appears to be extreme negligence after repeated directives, VA officials testified and answered questions before the Committee.

"When veterans have lost confidence in VA, we have all failed in our mission to deliver world class health care to those who fought for us," Senator Burr said. "Despite numerous and multiple warning signs, directives, and patient safety alerts, VA apparently chose not to learn from their mistakes and take steps to ensure they didn’t happen again."

Last week, VA’s Inspector General released their report on the endoscopy failures, finding that more than half of VA facilities visited by investigators are currently not in compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures and competency guidelines for the reprocessing of endoscopy equipment.

"After eleven patient safety alerts on the topic of medical device and equipment reprocessing, enough is enough," Senator Burr said. "VA must improve quality management for the sake of all veterans. They depend on the VA system, and we owe them nothing less than the highest quality care," Senator Burr added.

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Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Meets to Vote on Pending Legislation

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:05:00 GMT

May 21, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs met to vote on pending legislation affecting veterans’ health care and benefits.

“I am pleased the Committee voted to send a bill directing advance appropriations for VA health care to the full Senate,” Senator Burr said. “It is wrong to put the quality of care our nation’s veterans receive at risk because VA doesn’t know what its budget will be.”

The Committee voted to send Senator Burr’s Military Spouses Residency Relief Act to the full Senate. In recent decades, there has been a growing recognition that military spouses play a very important role in the success of our Armed Forces. But, even though they frequently move in support of servicemembers and the military, they are not provided with the same residency benefits afforded to servicemembers. Currently, servicemembers have the ability to claim and maintain one state of residence, regardless of where military orders may send them. The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act would extend similar rights to military spouses, easing some of the burden and headaches they now face.

The Committee voted favorably on two other provisions authored by Senator Burr. One would allow veterans with severe traumatic brain injury to qualify for the highest levels of so-called “aid and attendance” benefits – benefits provided to veterans who, as a result of service-connected disabilities, need the assistance of others in carrying out their daily activities. The other would end the delay in receiving disability checks that certain veterans who are medically retired from the military face after they separate.

In addition, the Committee approved the Caregiver and Veterans Health Services Act of 2009 to provide long overdue assistance to the family caregivers of seriously injured veterans. They also voted to approve Senator Burr’s Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, which would prohibit VA from sending the names of veterans and other VA beneficiaries to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System – a government database used to deny individuals the ability to purchase a firearm – unless an appropriate judicial authority first makes the determination that these individuals pose a danger to themselves or others.

“With Memorial Day fast approaching, and Americans taking the time to remember the service and sacrifice of veterans who paid the ultimate price for our country, we must also take the opportunities to support our current servicemembers and veterans, as well as their spouses and families who also put military service ahead of self and contribute to making our nation what it is today,” Burr added.

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Senator Richard Burr Introduces Legislation to Help Veterans with TBI and Servicemembers Transitioning to Civilian Life

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:05:00 GMT

Monday, May 11

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement after he introduced two bills to improve benefits for veterans who are challenged by the effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and helping medically separated and medically retired servicemembers make a seamless transition to civilian life:

“Today, I, along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), introduced legislation that would allow veterans with severe traumatic brain injuries to qualify for the highest levels of “aid and attendance” benefits provided by VA. This bill would give these veterans the financial resources to arrange whatever services they need to live in their own homes, with their families, and within their communities.

“For veterans with traumatic brain injuries, this bill would allow them to choose how their needs will be met, give them more flexibility and independence, and ultimately improve the quality of their lives. It is important to help severely injured veterans return to civilian life as closely as possible to the way they left it, and this bill is one step in that direction.

“I also introduced legislation to eliminate the delay – now required by law – in how soon VA disability payments begin after a veteran is medically retired or medically separated from the military. This bill would allow these veterans to leave the military at the time that best suits their needs, without the stress and financial burden caused by a delay in receiving their VA disability checks. It is my hope that this bill will help injured servicemembers experience a more seamless transition from active duty to civilian life.”

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