Senate Veterans' Committee To Consider Education, Disability Modernization Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs will examine two pieces of legislation sponsored and co-sponsored by Senator Richard Burr during a legislative hearing on Wednesday, May 7. The committee will look at S.2938, legislation introduced by Senators Graham, Burr, McCain, and 15 other Senators that would enhance education benefits provided to veterans, those on active duty, and members of the Guard and Reserve. The panel will also examine the America's Wounded Warriors Act (S.2674), which is designed to simplify and modernize the veterans' disability system at the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
S.2938, the Graham-Burr-McCain education bill, would enhance the Montgomery G.I. Bill by improving education benefits for servicemembers, veterans, and members of the Guard and Reserve. The legislation would immediately increase education benefits for active duty personnel and would help more military personnel attend college debt-free. The legislation would also allow more military personnel to transfer their education benefits to their spouse or children. This would help recruitment and retention efforts by encouraging servicemembers to continue their military careers.
America's Wounded Warriors Act would require the VA to replace its outdated rating schedule with a new schedule that takes into account both loss of earning capacity and loss of quality of life. It would also create "transition" payments to help medically discharged veterans focus on rehabilitation, training, and getting back into the workforce. The legislation would simplify the claims process by ending the duplicative system that requires many injured veterans to get rated by both VA and the Department of Defense. These updates provide common sense solutions for today's veterans living in the modern world.
The committee will also examine a variety of other bills and hear from VA representatives, veterans' service organizations, and others.
WHO | U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs |
WHAT | Legislative Hearing |
S.2683, A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify certain authorities relating to educational assistance benefits for veterans, and for other purposes S.2701, A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the eastern Nebraska region to serve veterans in the eastern Nebraska and western Iowa regions S.2737, Veterans' Rating Schedule Review Act S.2768, A bill to provide a temporary increase in the maximum loan guaranty amount for certain housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs S.2825, Veterans' Compensation Equity Act of 2008 S.2864, Training and Rehabilitation for Disabled Veterans Enhancement Act of 2008 S.2889, Veterans Health Care Act of 2008 S.2934, A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a plot allowance for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in State cemeteries S.2938, A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces and veterans in order to enhance recruitment and retention for the Armed Forces S.2946, A bill to make stillborns insurable dependents for purposes of the servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program S.2951, A bill to require reports on the progress of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in addressing causes for variances in compensation payments for veterans for service-connected disabilities S.2961, A bill to enhance the refinancing of home loans by veterans S. 2965, A bill to require a report on the inclusion of severe and acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among the conditions covered by traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance S.XXXX, Preventing Unnecessary Foreclosure for Servicemembers Act of 2008 S.XXXX, Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008 Witness Panel I Mr. Keith Pedigo, Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Programs, Department of Veterans Affairs Accompanied by: Mr. Jack Thompson, Deputy General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs Mr. Keith Wilson, Director, Education Service, Department of Veterans Affairs
Witness Panel II Mr. Carl Blake, National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America Mr. Richard Paul Cohen, Executive Director, National Organization of Veterans' Advocates Mr. Eric A. Hilleman, Deputy Director of the National Legislative Service, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars Mr. Ray Kelley, Legislative Director, AMVETS Mr. Steve Smithson, Deputy Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, American Legion Mr. Joseph Violante, National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans Mr. Rick Weidman, Governmental Affairs Director, Vietnam Veterans of America
Witness Panel III Mr. Herman Gerald Starnes, U.S. Merchant Marine with service during World War II Mr. Charles Dana Gibson, U.S. Merchant Marine with service during World War II and Maritime Historian
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