|
Bush Signs Veterans’ Department
Terrorism
 Preparedness Law
New Research and Response Centers To Develop Vaccines & Treatments for
Chemical, Biological and Radiological Threats
(November 8, 2002)
As the United States prepares for a possible war with
Iraq, President Bush signed into law H.R. 3253, the “Department of
Veterans Affairs Emergency Preparedness Act”, now Public Law 107-287,
which could help protect future veterans of this and other conflicts.
 President
Bush Signs Jobs for Veterans Bill
New Law Boosts Job
Training, Placement Programs for Veterans
(November 8, 2002)
President George W. Bush has signed H.R. 4015, the “Jobs for Veterans
Act”, sponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson, legislation that
will give veterans increased opportunities to find quality employment.
 Veterans'
Day Message of Chairman Chris Smith
(November 8, 2002)
For more than 225 years, Americans have
been blessed with unprecedented freedoms and opportunities. Every year
in November, our Nation celebrates these Blessings on three very
important occasions – Election Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving –
each of which helps to define what it means to be an American.
 Statement
of Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Smith on Senator Paul
Wellstone's Death
(October 25, 2002)
“Today’s tragic accident that took the
life of Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila, daughter Marcia, three
campaign aides and two pilots, reminds us of the frailty of human life
and the strength of our enduring truths...."
Health
Subcommittee Looking Into Project SHAD
 (October
7, 2002)
DOD to Release Latest
Information on Investigations of Secret Cold War Chemical and Biological
Tests on US Servicemembers
The House Veterans’ Affairs
Subcommittee on Health (Chairman Jerry Moran) will conduct an
investigative hearing on Wednesday, October 9, 2002 at 10:45 AM on
Project SHAD (Shipboard Hazard and Defense), a series of secret tests
conducted in the 1960s by the Department of Defense on the effects of
chemical and biological attacks on military naval vessels.
 Subcommittee Examines Issues of Equal
Access for Women in Veterans’ Health Programs
Chairman Moran Calls on VA to Upgrade Facilities and
Expand Programs to Accommodate Increasing Number of Women Veterans
(October
3, 2002) “With our
country at war, and with nearly 20% of our current active duty soldiers,
sailors, airmen and marines being servicewomen, the VA must improve
their services and facilities to accommodate even more women veterans in
the coming years,” Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran (KS-1) said at a
Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee hearing this week.
 2nd
GI Bill Increase Takes Effect
Veterans College Educational Benefits Jump Another 12.5% on October 1st
(September
30, 2002) At a morning
press conference on the campus of Thomas Edison State College in New
Jersey, Congressman Chris Smith
(NJ-4) today announced that a second major increase in the
G.I. Bill college education
benefit authorized by his legislation will take effect tomorrow, October
1st, raising the monthly benefit from $800 to $900.
 Simpson
Introduces Prisoner Of War Compensation Bill
Bill Would Finally Reimburse
POWs for Service
(September
17, 2002)
“It’s hard to imagine the horror that our
POWs went through on behalf of the United States. Every conceivable evil
was inflicted on them: painful interrogation, sleep deprivation, torture
and performing slave labor for the enemy. We must not forget their
sacrifices.”
– Congressman Mike Simpson
 House Gives Final Approval
to Smith Counter-Terrorism Legislation;
New Law
Would Leverage VA Health Care System To Protect Against Bioterror
Threats
(September
17, 2002)
The House of
Representatives today gave final approval to a measure authored by
Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman
Chris Smith that would take advantage of the massive health
care infrastructure of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the fight
against terrorism.
 Homeless Veterans
Subject of Congressional Hearing
Chairman Chris Smith Calls VA Secretary Principi to Testify on
progress in the implementation of the Homeless Veterans
Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001
(September
11, 2002)
One year after passage of the
Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 (P.L.
107-95), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-4)
will hold a public hearing to examine the implementation of that law, as
well as the status of other legislation to create transitional housing
for homeless veterans.
 Statement
of Chairman Chris Smith (NJ) on the passing of Former Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown
(August
16, 2002)
"Jesse
Brown was a great Marine, American patriot and lifelong veterans'
advocate. As Secretary of Veterans Affairs, his only loyalty was to his
fellow veterans, always striving to secure for them the benefits they
earned through their service to our nation.
 House Approves New
Battle of the Bulge Memorial, Revised Arlington Burial Rules & VA Procurement Reform
(July 22, 2002)
The House of Representatives has approved legislation that would
authorize the placement of a new memorial honoring veterans of the
Battle of the Bulge, as well as legislation revising burial eligibility
at Arlington National Cemetery, and reforming the way the Department of
Veterans Affairs procures its health care supplies and equipment.
 Subcommittee Reviews
Military Transition Assistance Programs
Chairman Simpson Calls for TAP
Programs on Overseas Bases
(July 19, 2002)
With more than 1.1
million
servicemen and women transitioning back into civilian life over the next
five years, the progress and effectiveness of federal
programs to help them find jobs was the focus of a Veterans’ Affairs
Benefits Subcommittee public hearing.
Committee Backs New
Battle of the Bulge
Memorial,
 Revised Arlington Burial Rules & VA Procurement Reform
(July 17, 2002)
The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has OK’ed three new bills that
would authorize the placement of a new memorial honoring veterans of the
Battle of the Bulge, revise the rules governing burial eligibility at
Arlington National Cemetery, and reform the way the Department of
Veterans Affairs procures its health care supplies and equipment.
 Committee Reviews Smith-Evans Bill To Allow
Vets’ Medicare Funds to Pay for Their VA Health Care
“Federal health care funds should go to the actual providers of health
care services, and that includes VA health care.”
(July 16, 2002)
“Federal health care funds should go to
the actual providers of health care services, and that includes VA
health care,” said Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-4) at a Committee hearing
today. Smith comments came during discussion of new legislation (H.R.
4939) he is proposing to allow the premiums paid by veterans for
Medicare Part B coverage to be transferred to the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
 Legislation OK’ed to Reform Arlington Burial Rules &
Honor Battle of the Bulge Veterans
(July 10, 2002)
Legislation reforming eligibility standards for burial at Arlington
National Cemetery was favorably reported out of the House Veterans’
Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits today.
 Original ‘GI Bill’ Author To Be Honored in
Ceremony at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel Chairman Smith, Secretary
Principi, Senator Dole To Join in Recognizing Historic Achievement
(June 19, 2002)
Fifty-eight years after the signing of the original GI Bill, national
veterans leaders will gather at Washington’s Mayflower Renaissance Hotel
to honor the man credited with writing the first draft of this historic
legislation. The GI Bill provided educational, housing and other
benefits to millions of military veterans following World War II.
 Health
Subcommittee Plans Hearing to Investigate Conditions at Kansas City
Veterans Medical Center
(June 12, 2002)
Congressman Jerry Moran, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs
Subcommittee on Health, will hold a Congressional Field Hearing on the
results of two reports, released last week, on the Veterans Affairs
Medical Center in Kansas City. A 23-member inspection team is
investigating sanitation and management issues at the VA Medical Center.
 Smith Anti-Terrorism Legislation Approved by House
Bill
Would Create New VA Medical Research Centers To Develop Vaccines &
Treatments for Biological, Chemical, and Radiological Terror Threats
(May
21, 2002)
New, more effective vaccines and treatments for anthrax, smallpox and
other biological, chemical and radiological terror threats could result
from legislation (H.R.
3253) written by
Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4), Chairman of the House Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs, and
approved by the House of Representatives today.
 Hearing
Advisory: Subcommittee to Review VA Medical Research Programs
$1.2 Billion Budget Funds 10,000 Research Projects
(May
15, 2002)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
medical research programs and the activities of research corporations
will be the focus of a joint hearing of the Veterans’ Affairs
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation (Chairman
Steve Buyer, IN-5) and the Subcommittee on Health (Chairman
Jerry Moran, KS-1) on
Thursday, May 16 at 10:00 AM in Room 334 of the Cannon
House Office Building.
House Backs
Smith Amendment to Promote VA-DoD Health Care
 Sharing Partnerships
(May
10, 2002) The House of
Representatives has adopted an amendment offered by Veterans’ Affairs
Committee Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-4), which will move the Departments
of Defense and Veterans Affairs towards greater cooperation and
collaboration in the delivery of health care to veterans, military
personnel and their families.
Bio-Terrorism, Health Care,
Jobs, and Benefits Bills Approved by Full Committee
(May 9, 2002) New
legislation to strengthen domestic bio-terrorism defenses, bolster
national health care infrastructure, improve federal job training and
placement programs, and expand benefits for veterans and their widows,
have all approved by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Benefits Subcommittee OKs
Two Bills to Strengthen Job Programs & Increase Pensions and Benefits for
Veterans
(May 2, 2002)
The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on
Benefits approved legislation (H.R. 4015) to reform and strengthen federal
job training and placement programs for veterans. The Subcommittee also
backed legislation (H.R. 4085) to increase disability compensation payments,
and expand several other benefit programs for veterans, their dependents and
survivors.
Health
Subcommittee Backs Bills to Strengthen VA Health Infrastructure & Nation’s
Defenses Against Bio-Terrorism
(May 1, 2002)
The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on
Health this week approved three bills to strengthen the Department of
Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) health infrastructure (H.R. 4514), increase the
VA’s role in homeland security related to bio-terrorism (H.R. 3253), and
name a VA medical center after former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas.
Smith, Evans Honored
for Legislative Efforts to Help America’s Homeless Veterans
(May 1, 2002)
Congressman Chris Smith
(NJ-4), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and
Congressman Lane Evans (IL-17), Ranking Democratic Member, were honored by
the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) with Legislative
Leadership Awards “in recognition of leadership in influencing public policy
for the benefit of homeless veterans.”
Committee to Hold Field Hearing in NJ to Examine National Health Care
Funding Formula for Veterans
(April 23, 2002)
Congressman Chris Smith
(NJ-4), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs today announced
that he would hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 in Trenton,
NJ to examine the VA’s health care funding formula that determines where
federal health care dollars for veterans are spent.
Bio-Terrorism Defense Would Be Strengthened By Expanded VA Role
(April
10, 2002) “Our
war on terror demands that we use every weapon in our arsenal, and that
includes the full strength of the VA health care infrastructure,”
said
Rep. Jerry Moran (KS-1), Chairman of the
Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee. Moran’s statement
came while chairing a legislative hearing today to consider expanding
the role of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in preventing and
responding to biological, chemical and radiological terrorism threats to
the United States.
Subcommittee
Looks To Expand VA’s Role in Bioterrorism Prevention and Response
(April
9, 2002) On Wednesday,
April 10, 2002 at 3:00 PM, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on
Health will conduct a hearing to consider legislation (H.R. 3253, H.R.
3254) which would expand the role of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) in preventing and responding to biological, chemical and
radiological terrorism threats to the United States.
SIMPSON AUTHORS
VETERAN JOB TRAINING LEGISLATION
(April 2, 2002)
Idaho
Congressman Mike Simpson, Chairman of the House Veterans Benefits
Subcommittee, has authored legislation to enhance veterans’ job training
programs.
BUYER LETTER LEADS TO
INVESTIGATION OF MAGGOT INFESTATION AT VA HOSPITAL
(April 2, 2002)
Indiana Congressman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.),
Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations, applauded the swift actions taken by Secretary Anthony
Principi in response to a letter he wrote the morning of March 28,
demanding an explanation regarding the unsanitary conditions at the
Kansas City VA Medical Center that led to the maggot infestation of two
patients back in 1998.
Chairman Smith
Lauds Record $2.8 Billion Budget Increase
for Veterans' Health Care
(March 20, 2002)
Chairman Chris Smith today lauded the
budget resolution approved by the House of Representatives for
containing "a record $2.8 billion increase in spending on veterans'
health care that will fulfill our obligations to veterans."
Tribute
to the Department of Veterans Affairs on their Thirteenth Anniversary
(March 14, 2002) Chairman
Chris Smith today inserted a tribute to the Department of Veterans
Affairs into the official Congressional Record.
Smith
Praises Record Increase for Veterans
(March 13,
2002) Chairman
Chris Smith today backed the 2003 budget proposal of the House Budget
Committee, saying it will, "maintain our commitments and sustain
vital VA health care programs."
Medal
of Freedom Urged for GI Bill Author
(March 12,
2002) Three
Members of Congress, including the Chairman of the House Committee of
Veterans' Affairs, today called on President Bush to award a
Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to the Kansan who drafted the
historic GI Bill of Rights legislation in 1943.
|
![Proudly Serving America's Veterans [Image]](/congress109th/20061114023018im_/http://veterans.house.gov/images/longlayout_r2_c1.jpg){kind=small}
