House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington, D.C. — House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today called on Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson to work cooperatively on key recommendations made by the President’s Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes.  Task force recommendations would dramatically improve the seamless transition of servicemembers from the military to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Washington, D.C. — Responding to reports of inadequacies in surgical services at a North Carolina Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center , a Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations oversight hearing today found systemic procedural problems in patient safety and other components of health care management.  Many of these problems have since been corrected; others are still a matter of concern.  

Washington D.C. — The ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), made the following remarks today during a legislative committee hearing on H.R. 23, the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007.  The bill would provide a benefit of $1,000 per month to World War II veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine and their surviving spouses.  These mariners were awarded status as veterans in 1988.  Supporters of this bill argue that the payment compensates these veterans for their inability to use G.I. Bill benefits in the years after the war. 

Washington D.C. — The ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), made the following excerpted remarks Tuesday during a legislative subcommittee hearing on four bills that address the backlog in compensation, pension, and other claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Lamborn also announced his introduction of two bills that would help reduce the claims backlog.  The four bills under consideration by the subcommittee are:

Washington, D.C. — House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) made the following statement today in honor of America’s former prisoners of war, on the occasion of National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, April 9.

Washington, D.C. — House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today made the following statement opposing attempts by the Democratic leadership of the House to ban use of the phrase “Global War on Terror.”