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

SENATE PASSES SWEEPING REFORM FOR VETERANS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS 98-0

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:11:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 to pass the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009, a sweeping reform bill sponsored by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) for wounded warriors and the families who care for them. S. 1963 merges two veterans’ health bills which passed the Committee with unanimous bipartisan support this summer, only to be blocked from a floor vote by a single Senator until today.

“Today the Senate reaffirmed that caring for veterans is a cost of war, a cost wounded warriors and their family members should not be forced to pay alone,” said Akaka. “I applaud my colleagues for recognizing the urgent need to pass this bill, and I thank the many veterans, veterans’ organizations, and concerned Americans who pushed for today’s vote.” As passed by the Senate, this bill would, among many other things:

Establish an unprecedented permanent program to train, support, and assist the caregivers of disabled veterans;
Improve care for veterans in rural areas, reduce veteran homelessness, improve care for women veterans; and
Improve VA’s ability to recruit and retain a strong workforce and provide quality assurance at its medical facilities.

Over 20 veteran and military organizations recently called for passage of the bill’s caregiver provisions. That letter is available here.

To see the vote tally, click here. This bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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November 19, 2009

AKAKA HOLDS HEARING ON VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:11:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, held a hearing today on improving veterans’ employment support and opportunities.

“High unemployment rates have led to difficult times for many Americans, especially veterans returning from overseas service. The economy has been especially challenging for veterans whose service-connected disabilities impair their ability to secure and maintain meaningful jobs,” said Akaka. “I will continue to work with my colleagues and advocates to help veterans find and maintain rewarding jobs.”

Witnesses at today’s hearing included Ray Jefferson, the Department of Labor’s Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training; a former Navy SEAL and Nobel Laureate; a representative from Microsoft; and veterans who spoke from first-hand experience. Chairman Akaka and witnesses’ opening statements are available here.

For more information, visit veterans.senate.gov.

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November 18, 2009

AKAKA DELIVERS VETERANS DAY SPEECH AT WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:11:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, delivered the following remarks this morning at a Veterans Day ceremony at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall:

Keynote Veterans Day Address by U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka

Friends of the National World War II Memorial

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

It was a beautiful morning in Hawaii. I had other things on my mind on the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, as I am sure that all of you who remember it, did. I was seventeen-years-old, studying at the Kamehameha School for Boys on the island of Oahu.

From the roof of my dormitory, which overlooked Pearl Harbor, I watched the Japanese planes swarm. Bombs and torpedoes fell from those aircraft, delivering a crippling blow to the Pacific fleet. I did not know what life had in store for me, the Territory of Hawaii, or this nation, but I knew that the world had already changed.

Some people presumed that the attack on Pearl Harbor would break America militarily and frighten the public into a corner. They said that Americans were too caught up in their own concerns and self-interest to make the sacrifices necessary to win a fight of this magnitude. They would be proven wrong, by the young people who set their lives and dreams aside to fight that war; by the families who tended to “victory gardens,” and by the children who went house to house, rounding up scrap metal for the war effort.

When that war was over, and millions of men and women prepared to be citizens again, rather than soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen, there were doubts again. Some doubted that a generation of veterans could reintegrate into society without disaster. They were wrong. This is because when we came home, we returned to a grateful nation, and to a GI Bill of Rights that – while it did not always run smoothly – reminded us that we still had our lives ahead of us.

The young veterans that some feared went on to lead what would come to be known as the “greatest generation” – Presidents, Nobel laureates, and leaders in their communities. Their defining contribution would not be how they helped to win a war – great as that achievement was – it was what they did with the peace they had earned. The countless many that lived lives of service and sacrifice long after they took off the uniform.

Let us consider them when we reflect at this memorial on this day, the day first set aside to remember the day the First World War ended.

Their brothers, sons and daughters now fill the ranks of the Veterans Service Organizations. They advocate not only for the needs of today, but for the veterans of tomorrow, and for the nation and ideals they risked everything to defend. The Veterans Service Organizations deserve special thanks on this day, because of what they stand for and who they fight for.

As we stand here at the World War II Memorial, we who fought that war know too well that today’s service men and women face challenges similar to those from our youth. So does our nation. But if we remember the lessons of World War II: that our warriors can do great things if they return to a grateful nation that provides them with the care and support they have earned; and that all Americans have a role to play in winning whatever measure of peace we gain, we can do more than honor the legacy of the World War II generation – we can extend it.

Thank you.

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November 11, 2009

VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE LEADERS SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS ON GI BILL PROCESSING

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 00:11:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) wrote Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to suggest ways to improve the processing of the post-9/11 GI Bill.

“Men and women at VA are working hard and working overtime to reduce the backlog of new GI Bill claims. This is a huge transition, and I hope our suggestions will help the Department speed up the process,” said Akaka. “I want Secretary Shinseki to know that I am committed to helping him do whatever needs to be done – whether that be in resources or legislation.”

The letter outlines potential improvements, including:
• Utilizing staggered work hours at the Education Call Center so West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii veterans have ample opportunities to contact VA;
• Working to generate award letters automatically, which currently take a significant amount of time for VA staff to process manually; and
• Establishing a centralized website for educational institutions to reduce confusion and improve communication.

The letter is available here: LINK

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November 9, 2009

AKAKA CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF OMNIBUS BILL FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:11:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor today calling for immediate passage of S. 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009. This bill merges two omnibus veterans’ health bills which passed the Committee with unanimous bipartisan support, but which have been blocked by a lone Senator. Committee Members Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mark Begich (D-AK) also delivered floor speeches today calling for the passage of this vital legislation.

Chairman Akaka’s Senate floor statement as prepared for delivery:

Mr. President, I have come to the floor today to discuss an important veterans’ bill. Before I do so, I wish to express my great sadness about the horrible tragedy yesterday at Fort Hood. My thoughts and prayers are with those wounded, the families of those killed, and to all the soldiers and civilians defending our great nation at Fort Hood.

Mr. President, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I take my responsibility to the nation’s veterans very seriously. We are an active Committee and are working hard to make improvements in VA care and benefits. I am delighted to note that the President signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 into law last month. This measure will provide timely and predictable funding for the veterans health care system. I’m grateful to all who worked on this, including the Committee’s Ranking Member, and the Veterans Service Organizations that made this one of their priorities.

Despite this success, we, as a Committee, have not been able to achieve action on S. 1963, the proposed “Caregiver and Veterans Health Services Act of 2009”. This vitally important veterans’ health bill is being held up by a single senator. Each day that this measure is delayed means that vital benefits for veterans are delayed. This is a bi-partisan bill, the provisions of which were reported by the Committee as S.801 and S. 252, with the full support of our Ranking Member, Senator Burr.

This bill is supported by many veterans’ organizations, including The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Wounded Warrior Project. Various other advocates support this bill, as well, including the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, the Brain Injury Association of America, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and many others.

By blocking S. 1963, this single senator is denying veterans many benefits and services.

One of the key benefits is caregiver assistance for our most seriously wounded veterans. The Committee continues to hear about family members who quit their jobs, go through their savings, and lose their health insurance as they stay home to care for their wounded family members. For those family members who manage to keep their jobs, their employers, including many small businesses already struggling in these economic times, lose money from absenteeism and declining productivity.

The toll on the caregivers who try to do it all can be measured in higher rates of depression, and poor health as they struggle to care for these wounded warriors, an obligation that ultimately belongs to the government. This legislation fulfills VA’s obligation to care for the nation’s wounded veterans by providing their caregivers with counseling, support, and a living stipend. The measure also provides health care to the family caregivers of injured veterans. These caregivers deserve our support and assistance. As a representative of the Wounded Warrior project said in testimony before the Committee, “The time has surely come to create a robust, nationwide wounded warrior family caregiver program to address the urgent needs of these family members.” S. 1963 creates such a program.

By blocking S. 1963, this senator is also blocking benefits specifically for women veterans. This bill, and Senator Murray has been a leader on this, would do a number of things, such as increase funding for mental health care for women who suffered military sexual trauma, and for medical services for newborn children.

With the help of Senator Tester, this bill also would improve access to care in rural areas. States which have an especially high number of veterans living in rural areas, such Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, Virginia, Idaho, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, would benefit greatly from these programs.

Mr. President, the bill also attacks another problem – that of homeless veterans. On any given night we know that more than 130,000 veterans are homeless. We know that homelessness is often a consequence of multiple factors, including unstable family support, job loss, and health problems. S. 1963 would also create programs to help ease the burden of veteran homelessness, including programs aimed at outreach, so veterans know that they are eligible for benefits.

This lone senator also is blocking provisions that would improve quality controls for VA health care, from the facility level to the national level. Two years ago, the VA hospital in Marion, Illinois had nine veterans die following surgery. The VA’s Inspector General found that the Marion VA’s quality controls were not adequate to ensure that veterans received good quality care. This month, the IG published another report on the Marion hospital, finding that it still did not have adequate quality controls. It is time for this body to act, so that no more veterans receive less than the best care VA can provide. Senator Durbin drafted provisions in this bill that will help improve overall quality management so as to help fix the problems at Marion and other facilities.

S. 1963 would provide uniform allowances for VA police officers. Many organizations have expressed support for these provisions, including the Fraternal Order of Police. VA police officers ensure the security of veterans and their families while they are visiting VA hospitals and clinics. To refuse to provide for these officers because it is too expensive is not only penny-wise and pound-foolish, it cheapens the sacrifices of these uniformed officers and the nation’s veterans who are protected by them.

Mr. President, while I understand that the senator who is refusing to agree to allow this bill to go forward questions the cost of the underlying bill. I would say that we cannot now turn our back on the obligation to care for those who fought in those efforts. When we, as a body, vote to send American troops to war, we are promising to care for them when they return. I firmly believe the cost of veterans’ benefits and services is a true cost of war and must be treated as such.

We are preparing to observe Veterans Day. Let us remember that we owe our veterans our gratitude and appreciation year round, and not merely on the day set aside for the commemoration of their service and sacrifice. It would be truly disgraceful if veterans were made to feel forgotten, except for this one day per year. Indeed, our gratitude should be as steadfast as the great monuments that Americans have built in commemoration of the very service and sacrifices our veterans made.

There should be no ambivalence in our attitude toward those who serve in the United States Armed Forces, and this legislation should be immediately cleared by the Senate.

Thank you.

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November 6, 2009

PRESIDENT SIGNS VA HEALTH CARE ADVANCE FUNDING INTO LAW

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) joined President Barack Obama at the White House today as he signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 into law. The new law will provide timely, predictable funding for the Veterans Health Administration, the nation’s largest health care system, one-year ahead of the regular appropriations process. Chairman Akaka sponsored the legislation in the Senate.

“Today we bring fundamental change to VA health care by replacing a dysfunctional process with a procedure for timely, predictable funding,” said Akaka. “I thank the President for his support and give due credit to the veterans, servicemembers, families, and concerned citizens who came together to help us turn this great idea into law. Hospital mangers will now be able to plan wisely for the year ahead, and I look forward to seeing VA’s resources go further for veterans and taxpayers.”

Akaka introduced the measure in the Senate with the backing of leading veterans service organizations, shepherded the bill through the Committee, secured the backing of a majority of the Senate and negotiated the final version which was signed into law today. The text of the new law is available here: LINK

Highlights of a press conference held when the bill was introduced in February is available here: LINK

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AKAKA HOLDS HEARING ON PENDING VETERANS LEGISLATION

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) held a hearing today to review pending veterans’ benefits and health care legislation. The Committee questioned witnesses and reviewed 22 bills in preparation for later legislative action.

“I am pleased with the support we have in Congress and among the public to improve the care and benefits veterans have earned by their service,” said Akaka. “We will develop legislation based on the bills pending in Committee, while we continue to push for Congressional action on important veterans’ bills unanimously approved in the summer. Two of those bills -- the Veterans Health Care Authorization Act and the Caregiver and Veterans Health Services Act – are being blocked from Senate consideration by a single Senator. Until the Senate is allowed to act, wounded warriors and their families will continue to be denied the much needed improvements those bills would provide.”

The 22 bills reviewed today included several which address veteran homelessness. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has highlighted this issue, calling for an end to homelessness among veterans.

Chairman Akaka’s full statement, written testimony from today’s witnesses, and a webcast are available here: LINK. The Committee markup has not yet been scheduled. For more information, visit veterans.senate.gov.

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AKAKA APPLAUDS PASSAGE, URGES PRESIDENT TO SIGN VETERANS' HEALTH CARE ADVANCE FUNDING BILL

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With Congress’s unanimous approval this week, legislation to secure timely and predictable funding for the veterans’ health care system now awaits the President’s action. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), chief sponsor of the Senate bill, applauded his colleagues and urged President Barack Obama to quickly sign it into law. Akaka introduced the measure in the Senate with the backing of leading veterans service organizations, shepherded the bill through the Committee, secured the backing of a majority of the Senate and negotiated the final version which is now headed to the White House.

“We are one step away from securing timely, predictable, and transparent funding for the veterans’ health care system, for the millions of veterans who rely on VA for care and the nation that is indebted to them. I applaud my colleagues in the House and Senate for supporting this important measure, and I thank the veterans service organizations that came together to help us bring this bill to the President’s desk.

“President Obama cosponsored my advance funding legislation when he served on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and made good on his promise to support it this year. I look forward to him signing this bill into law. I urge him to do so soon," said Akaka.

The Senate passed the Veterans’ Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 by unanimous consent Tuesday night. The legislation would secure funding for veterans’ health care one-year in advance of the regular appropriations process. It would ensure transparency in the funding process by requiring public reports and GAO audits on VA’s funding forecasting. Currently, VA is funded year-by-year; a process which has resulted in late funding 20 of the past 23 years. VA operates the largest health care system in the nation, providing care for millions of wounded and indigent veterans.

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October 16, 2009

AKAKA CHAIRS HEARING ON MILITARY EXPOSURES

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today held a hearing on how the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense respond to in service exposures to environmental hazards.

The four exposures examined involved an incinerator near the Atsugi Naval Air Facility, water contamination at the Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina, chemicals at the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant in Iraq, and burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Committee heard testimony from VA, DOD, scientific experts, as well as affected veterans and veterans’ family members.

Senator Akaka said: “As the Committee charged with oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs, we must be certain that VA is providing appropriate health care and compensation to those who are harmed by exposures while serving in the military. For VA to do that, however, the Department of Defense must first determine who was exposed, what they were exposed to, and the health consequences of such exposure, and then share that information with VA.”

Although the Veterans’ Affairs Committee is not charged with direct oversight of DOD, the Committee does share with the Armed Services Committee responsibility for oversight where the roles of DOD and VA intersect. Issues relating to claimed in service exposure are one such instance of overlap. Six members of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee also service on the Armed Services Committee. As a practical matter, when issues arise in the Veterans’ Affairs Committee that fall under the jurisdiction of the Armed Services Committee, members can take their concerns to the appropriate forum.
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SENATE PASSES VETERANS' BENEFITS LEGISLATION

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, the Senate unanimously approved legislation designed to enhance a number of benefits for veterans and their families, including compensation, housing, employment, education, burial, and insurance benefits.

One key provision of the legislation would provide for retroactive payments to those servicemembers who suffered traumatic injury while on active duty on or between October 7, 2001, and November 30, 2005. Previously, this benefit was only available to servicemembers who suffered a traumatic injury in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom theaters of operation during that time period.

“I am pleased that the Senate passed this much needed legislation. Without it, some servicemembers who suffered traumatic injuries would be denied the same retroactive payment given to their wounded comrades,” said U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and author of this bill.

Among other things, S. 728, as amended, the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009, would:

• Strengthen life insurance and mortgage insurance programs for disabled veterans;
• Remove the enrollment cap on the number of veterans allowed in VA’s Independent Living program; and
• Ease the burden of proof on veterans seeking to establish that their disabilities are related to their service.

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