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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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AKAKA CHAIRS HEARING ON VA'S $3 BILLION IN ANNUAL CARE CONTRACTING

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:09:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, held a hearing on VA’s purchase of health care from community providers, a $3 billion-a-year enterprise. Akaka raised concern regarding the extent to which VA oversees both the funding and the outcomes.

“When it is in a veterans’ best interest, contracting outside of the VA health system is a good option that the Department should continue to exercise. At the same time, it is clear from today’s hearing that VA needs to aggressively control and oversee quality and value.

“VA detailed steps being taken to improve, and this committee will continue to push for increased accountability,” said Akaka.
Chairman Akaka’s opening statement, as well as the written statements of the witnesses, is available here. More information on specific VA contracts is available here at http://usaspending.gov.

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September 30, 2009

AKAKA & TESTER CALL FOR DELIBERATE ACTION TO FIX VA'S VETERANS' DISABILITY COMPENSATION SYSTEM

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:09:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, heard testimony on the state of VA’s system for disability compensation. Witnesses from VA, veterans service organizations and the larger disability policy community urged cautious movement toward fixing what many acknowledge is a broken system.

Senator Akaka stated: “To bring the right changes to a process this complicated and important, we must be deliberative, focused, and open to input from all who are affected. At the same time, we cannot be paralyzed by complexity; the current system is already outdated, and it will get worse until we act.”

Senator Tester stated: “No doubt about it – we need to measure twice and cut once, not the other way around. I hope that among the experts in the room making decisions on ratings are the fighting men and women who are coming back. I would bring them in early in the process, not after the fact.” Later in the hearing, under further questioning from Tester, VA officials pledged that veterans would be involved early in the process of any revisions to the disability compensation process. Today’s hearing is the latest in a series on veterans’ disability compensation. Witnesses included representatives from VA, Economic Systems Inc,VA’s Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Easter Seals. Records of earlier hearings are available at http://veterans.senate.gov, and the full written opening statements and written testimony are available here.

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September 17, 2009

SENATE CONFIRMS OBAMA NOMINEE TO BE VA ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Fri, 7 Aug 2009 00:08:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Ms. Joan Evans to be Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Congressional and Legislative Affairs. Ms. Evans has spent nearly two decades on Capitol Hill, including a period as Chief of Staff for former House Veterans’ Affairs Committee member Darlene Hooley (D-OR). Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) issued the following statement after the vote:

“VA’s Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs plays a critical role in maintaining a strong working relationship between VA and Congress. Ms. Evans brings strong experience to this position and I look forward to working with her.”

Two weeks ago, Akaka held a hearing on Ms. Evans’ nomination. (For more on that hearing, click here.)

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August 7, 2009

SENATE CONFIRMS RAY JEFFERSON TO BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING

Fri, 7 Aug 2009 00:08:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Senate unanimously confirmed disabled veteran Ray Jefferson to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training. After being injured during his Army service, Mr. Jefferson served the State of Hawaii as Deputy Director for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).

“Ray is an example for all Americans, especially those living with disabilities due to their military service,” said Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI). “When I look at what he has achieved in his life, and how many of those achievements occurred after he lost his hand protecting his fellow troops, I believe that he will do great things for his fellow veterans in his new position. I look forward to working with him to meet the employment and transition needs of veterans and returning servicemembers.” Two weeks ago, the Committee met to review the nomination. Soon thereafter, the Committee unanimously approved Jefferson. The next day he was approved by the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sending his nomination to the full Senate.

Mr. Jefferson is a West Point graduate and veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as an officer with Infantry and Special Forces units. In 1995, while attempting to protect his fellow servicemembers from a live grenade, he lost all five fingers on his left hand. Following his injury, he spent six months recovering at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. After graduating from Harvard’s Business School and School of Government and serving as a White House and Fulbright Fellow, he returned to the islands to serve as the number two leader at DBEDT.

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August 7, 2009