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WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, the House Veteran’s Affairs Committee held a roundtable discussion with representatives from 40 different Veterans Service Organizations (VSO). As a member of the Veteran’s Affairs Committee and the Ranking Republican on the Health Subcommittee, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) attended the roundtable to learn more about VSO priorities for 2010 and how the Veterans Affairs Committee can best serve our nations veterans.
During the roundtable some of the top priorities noted by various VSO’s included increasing benefits and compensation for veterans, dependents and survivors, providing assistance for homeless veterans, and ensuring our nations veterans have access to an education and the necessary health services.
“The Veterans Affairs Committee has already taken steps towards solving many of the VSO’s top concerns and I am confident that we are on the right path towards addressing more of our veteran’s needs in 2010,” Brown remarked after the roundtable.
Having written the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act (H.R. 775), and as a cosponsor of the Surviving Spouses’ Benefit Improvement Act (H.R. 2243), Brown has worked towards ensuring our nations heroes and their families are adequately provided for. In addition, Brown made reducing the number of homeless veterans a priority in 2009 by helping pass the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1171) and placing an emphasis on accessible health services for veterans, whose risk of homelessness is increased due to undiagnosed or untreated illnesses.
In a meeting with Secretary Shinseki following the VSO roundtable, Brown echoed many of the VSO’s priorities when discussing the budget.
Brown commented, “We must take care of our veterans and show these men and women how much their incredible bravery and sacrifice truly means to us. We made significant steps in 2009, but the VSO roundtable emphasized that there is still work to be done.
Of the over 25 million veterans living in the United States, half a million live in South Carolina and nearly 100,000 live in the First District alone. I will continue to make all veterans a priority in 2010 and ensure they receive the benefits, healthcare, education and basic needs they deserve.”
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