The hearing will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 9, in room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building.   It will be webcast live on the committee's website: http://veterans.senate.gov.  An audio version of the hearing may also be available at C-SPAN's hearings website, located at http://www.capitolhearings.org.

The bills (sponsors in parentheses) to be considered are:

C                S.1182  (Chairman Craig), the "Veterans Health Care Improvements Act of 2005"

C                S. 481, (Ranking Member Akaka),a bill to extend the period of eligibility for health care for combat service in the Persian Gulf War or future hostilities from two years to five years after discharge or release

C                S. 716 (Ranking Member Akaka), the "Vet Center Enhancement Act of 2005"

C                S. 1176 (Ranking Member Akaka), "Neighbor Islands Veterans Health Care Improvements Act of 2005"

C                S. 1177 (Ranking Member Akaka), The "Veterans Mental Health Care Capacity Enhancement Act of 2005"

C                S. 614 (Senator Specter), the "Veterans Prescription Drugs Assistance Act"

C                S. 1180 (Senator Obama), the "Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act"

C                S. 1189 (Senator Salazar), a bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish a strategic plan for long-term care, and for other purposes

C                S. 1190 (Senator Salazar), the "Blinded Veterans Continuum of Care Act of 2005"

C                S. 1191 (Senator Salazar), a bill to establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in remote rural areas.

Panel I (Department of Veterans Affairs)

C                The Honorable Jim Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, accompanied by --

                        The Honorable Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Ph.D., Under Secretary for Health, and

                        The Honorable Tim S. McClain, General Counsel

Panel II (Veterans Service Organizations)

C                Donald Mooney, Principal Deputy Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, The American Legion

C                Dennis M. Cullinan, Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars

C                Adrian Atizado, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans

C                Carl Blake, Associate National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America

C                Richard Jones, National Legislative Director, AMVETS