WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, offered several amendments in yesterday’s mark-up session that were accepted by the full committee.  In addition to the amendments, Senator Burr’s legislation to provide $43 million for additional transitional housing units for homeless veterans was approved.

Senator Burr’s amendments addressed issues vital to veterans in North Carolina and nationwide.  Information on the amendments that were accepted is below:

1.      Commission an action plan to improve correlation between employee pay and performance [Burr Amendment #1]

2.      Provide for automatic cost-of-living-adjustments to veterans’ disability compensation without the need for Congress to act each year [Burr Amendment #2]

3.      Address the backlog of veterans’ benefits claims by authorizing retroactive effective date for awards of disability compensation in connection with applications that are fully-developed at submittal [Burr amendment #3]

4.      Require that bid savings on major medical facility projects of Department of Veterans Affairs be used for other  major medical facility construction projects of the Department [Burr amendment #4]

5.      Help ensure veterans’ Second Amendment due process rights are respected [Burr amendment #6]

6.      Establish a pathway to help America’s servicemembers transfer their military skills into jobs that will protect our borders and other law enforcement positions [Burr Amendment #8]

Additionally, the Veterans Affairs committee approved legislation that addressed much needed improvements to the new Post-9/11 GI Bill (S. 3447, Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010).

“The Committee has acted on legislation that would help make the GI education program fair and generous, no matter where a veteran lives or chooses to go to school.  By taking steps such as covering vocational training, the bill would allow more veterans and their families to pursue the educational programs that best meet their needs,” Sen. Burr said regarding this bill.

Senator Burr also offered an amendment that would provide health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to veterans and their family members exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.  This amendment was not accepted by the committee. 

“I am, once again, deeply disappointed that my colleagues have failed to approve an amendment providing care for the veterans and families who suffer illness due to exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.  These veterans and their families were harmed in the service of our country.  They deserve better,” said Sen. Richard Burr.