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

POSTPONED: Hearing on VA's FY 2011 Budget

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:02:00 GMT

Due to inclement weather, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs has postponed its hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs' Fiscal Year 2011 budget, previously scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, 2010.

The hearing will be held at a later date, yet to be determined.

VA VOWS TO IMPROVE TRACKING OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA CARE FOLLOWING INSPECTOR GENERAL FINDINGS

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 00:02:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An Inspector General investigation requested by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) found that the Department of Veterans Affairs is unable to sufficiently monitor whether veterans are being wrongly charged for care related to military sexual trauma. Last year, Akaka requested an investigation after being contacted by a veteran who was being inappropriately charged for care at a VA facility in Texas.

Under existing law, veterans are entitled to free VA treatment for conditions related to military sexual trauma. In response to the investigation, VA leadership committed to changing monitoring across the VA health care system so potential billing errors can be corrected.

“I am concerned that some veterans may still be charged for care they should receive for free, unnecessarily adding complications to the recovery process,” said Akaka. “However, I am pleased that VA’s leadership is ordering changes system-wide as the Inspector General recommended. I will continue to monitor this issue.”

Senator Akaka also thanked the veteran who initially contacted him to share evidence of this problem last year. “If she had not stood up for her fellow veterans, these national changes would not be in the works. Once again, this veteran has served her country well.”

The VA Inspector General report is available here: LINK.

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February 4, 2010

PRESIDENT SIGNS VETERANS' EMERGENCY CARE FAIRNESS ACT

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 00:02:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) today praised President Barack Obama’s signing of the Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009.

“For veterans with limited insurance, a trip to the emergency room should not result in financial ruin,” said Chairman Akaka, who introduced the bill in the Senate last year. “With this new law, VA will be positioned to help veterans who are enrolled in VA care whose insurance does not cover the full cost of emergency treatment.”The Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act, signed into law by President Obama last night, will enable the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse veterans enrolled in VA health care for the remaining cost of emergency treatment if the veteran has outside insurance that only covers part of the cost. Previously, VA could reimburse veterans or pay outside hospitals directly only if a veteran has no outside health insurance.

In addition to reimbursing veterans for emergency care in the future, the bill allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide retroactive reimbursements for care received prior to the passage of this bill. Akaka has received correspondence from veterans who were unable to receive financial assistance under the previous rules, and plans to share their information with Secretary Shinseki.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this legislation will cover approximately 700 future claims per year and as many as 2,000 veterans retroactively.

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February 2, 2010

AKAKA APPLAUDS PRESIDENT'S BUDGET INCREASE FOR VETERANS

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:02:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, applauded President Barack Obama’s proposal to significantly increase funding for veterans’ programs in the next fiscal year.

“The President’s budget for the year ahead would continue the historic increases Congress has provided for veterans’ programs in the past few years. I am pleased by the proposed boost in resources to battle the backlog of disability claims, reduce homelessness, and treat the signature wounds of the current conflicts,” said Akaka.

Overall, President Obama requested $125 billion for VA for Fiscal Year 2011. This is an increase of nearly $11 billion from the previous fiscal year, including a $4 billion increase in VA’s medical care account. The President’s budget would provide funds to increase the number of Veterans Benefits Administration staff by more than 4,000 above last year’s level.

The President’s proposed budget includes $410 million in additional funding for mental health care, $597 million more than FY10 for the care of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, $294 million more to reduce and prevent veteran homelessness, and $19 million more for women veterans.

For more budget information from the White House, click here: LINK.

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February 1, 2010

VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE APPROVES BILLS AIMED AT MILITARY EXPOSURES, HOMELESSNESS AND HEALTH CARE

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:01:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, chaired by Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), approved comprehensive legislation to respond to potential environmental hazard exposures on military installations, expand efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, and strengthen VA health care. Chairman Akaka’s military exposure legislation would provide care for individuals exposed to environmental hazards at Camp Lejeune and Atsugi Naval Air Facility, and set up a national response for other potential military installation exposures.

“I am pleased that the Committee approved legislation to provide health care to troops, veterans and military dependents potentially exposed to environmental hazards at Camp Lejeune and Atsugi Naval Air Facility,” said Akaka.

“There is a strong basis for concerns about the potential exposure to toxic substances at Camp Lejeune. Based on what I have seen, it appears clear that elements of the Department of Defense have been less than forthcoming in addressing those concerns. That failure does not relieve the Defense Department of its responsibility, nor mean that the burden should be placed on the Veterans Affairs Department. Today, we moved forward with a balanced solution that shares responsibility between the two Departments, without jeopardizing the quality of care for wounded veterans.”

“I look forward to working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to secure enactment of these bills,” said Akaka.

For Chairman Akaka’s full opening statement, click here.

The Committee approved the following bills:

An original bill S. ____ (Committee Print), Examination of Exposure to Environmental Hazards During Military Service and Health Care for Camp Lejeune and Atsugi Naval Air Facility Veterans and Their Families Act of 2010

• Provides health care for troops, veterans and dependents with potential exposures from Camp Lejeune and Atsugi Naval Air Facility,
• Creates a VA/DOD-joint Advisory Panel to study potential troop, veteran, and dependent exposure to environmental hazards on military installations, and
• Requires an annual report to monitor the recommendations of the Advisory Board, including information on individuals receiving care and benefits under the Act.

S. 1237 (Committee Print), Homeless Veterans and Other Health Care Authorities Act of 2010:

• Expands and creates programs to reduce veteran homelessness at the local, state, and national level;
• Automatically enrolls eligible demobilizing Guard and Reserve units into VA health and dental care;
• Increases transparency within VA health care by establishing a VA Medical Center Report Card; and
• Extends health care eligibility for Gulf War veterans until 2012, including those exposed to sodium dichromate at Qarmat Ali.

Senator Akaka’s approach on military exposures garnered the support of several national Veterans Service Organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Vietnam Veterans of America.

Today the Committee also approved the nomination of Dr. Raul Perea-Henze to be VA’s Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning. Dr. Perea-Henze was reviewed by the Committee at a previous hearing.

The bills and nominee approved today will be reported to the full Senate for consideration. For a copy of today’s agenda, please visit the Committee’s website by clicking here.

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January 28, 2010

COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES NOMINEE TO LEAD VA HEALTH CARE

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:12:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs unanimously approved the nomination of Dr. Robert A. Petzel to be Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement after the vote:

“Dr. Petzel has won the confidence of the Committee, and stands ready to provide new leadership for the nation’s largest health care system. I urge the Senate to confirm Dr. Petzel before we adjourn this month.”

Last week, Akaka chaired a hearing to review Dr. Petzel’s nomination. Dr. Petzel is currently VA’s Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, and has served as a VA Network Director and as a Chief of Staff of a VA Medical Center. As Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Petzel would lead a growing health care system with hundreds of points of care, millions of patients, and VA’s mental health care, medical education, research and rehabilitative operations. For a short bio on Dr. Petzel, click here: LINK.
The nomination now moves to the Senate floor for a final confirmation vote.

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December 16, 2009

AKAKA PRAISES STRONG VA FUNDING IN APPROPRIATIONS BILL

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:12:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) applauded the veterans provisions included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act which was passed by the Senate on Sunday and sent to the President’s desk. Senator Akaka noted that the bill includes a multi-billion-dollar increase in the annual budget of the Department of Veterans Affairs and, for the first time, advance funding for the subsequent fiscal year as authorized by the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act.

“Caring for veterans is a cost of war, and must be treated as such,” said Senator Akaka. “This bill recognizes our sacred obligation to those who have served. It substantially increases VA’s budget and provides the first appropriation for advance funding of veterans’ health care, which will provide veterans’ hospitals and clinics with the timely and predictable funding they need.”

H.R. 3288, The Consolidated Appropriations Act, includes $109.6 billion in funding for VA in fiscal year 2010, $15.3 billion above the previous year. The bill also provides $48.2 billion in advance appropriations for VA health care in fiscal year 2011.

President Obama signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act into law on October 22, 2009: LINK.

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December 14, 2009

AKAKA CALLS FOR CONFIRMATION OF VA LEADERS THIS MONTH

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 00:12:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, held a hearing today to review two of President Barack Obama’s nominees to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Dr. Robert A. Petzel, to be Under Secretary for Health, and Dr. Raul Perea-Henze, to be Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning. Senator Akaka also announced his intent to schedule a Committee vote on the nominees next week.

“If confirmed, these nominees will face tremendous responsibilities. VA operates the largest health care system in the nation and needs strong leadership as troops continue to return from the ongoing conflicts. The President’s nominees are qualified, and I urge my colleagues to support their confirmation,” said Akaka.

Dr. Petzel is currently VA’s Acting Principal Under Secretary for Health, and has served as a VA Network Director and VA Medical Center Chief of Staff. As Under Secretary of Health, Dr. Petzel would lead a growing health care system with hundreds of points of care across the nation, including VA’s mental health care, medical education, research and rehabilitation operations.

Dr. Perea-Henze has served in leadership positions in the public and private sector, most recently as Senior Executive in Global Health Policy and Medical Operations for Merck and Pfizer. As Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, Dr. Perea-Henze’s responsibilities would touch on many aspects of the second-largest Cabinet-level Department.

Chairman Akaka’s full statement on the nominees, witness testimony and a webcast are available at www.veterans.senate.gov.

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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