110th Congress Press Releases

House approves legislation broadly improving veterans health care and transitional benefits, creates ‘thank you’ payment for WW II Merchant Mariners

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Washington, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives approved four veterans-related bills that make hospice care more affordable for veterans, broadly enhance veterans health care, create a “thank you” payment to World War II Merchant Mariners and improves benefits for servicemembers transitioning to civilian life.    

VA subcommittee examines how veteran-owned businesses can be better supported

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Washington, D.C. — The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held an oversight hearing today on contract bundling to determine how to ensure that veteran entrepreneurs get their fair share of the federal procurement pie.

Questions still cloud understanding of Gulf War exposures, illnesses

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Washington, D.C. — The Subcommittee on Health held an oversight hearing today on Gulf War exposures and to prepare for a comprehensive report expected later this year on scientific research done on Gulf War illnesses. 

Improvements to VA’s IT inventory management still necessary

Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Washington, D.C. — At a Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing today, the subcommittee learned how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to improve security, controls, maintenance and management of their information technology equipment.

VA Committee approves five veterans’ bills

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Washington, D.C. —The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved three bills, which would provide veterans and families with necessary enhancements in health care and benefits.  Two remaining bills, which passed over the objections of the committee’s ranking member, Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), and other members, would create an unprecedented entitlement for World War II Merchant Mariners and Filipino Veterans. 

Lawmakers gain better understanding of traumatic brain injury

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Washington, D.C. —The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs today held a symposium on traumatic brain injury (TBI) to examine services available to servicemembers and veterans with head trauma and injury.  “With better equipment and advanced medical care on the front lines, more of our soldiers are surviving battle injuries than in any previous war,” stated Ranking Republican Member Buyer (R-Ind).  “However, because a majority of the injuries are caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the nature and extent of the injuries our soldiers are returning home with may be complex and severe.”

Democrats Make Billion Dollar Cut in Veterans Benefit

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Washington, D.C. —In a party line vote over the objections of Republican Members, House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Democrats voted to cut nearly a billion dollars in pension benefits for wartime, elderly, indigent, severely disabled or house-bound American veterans to fund unprecedented benefits for World War II Filipino veterans.

Ranking Member Buyer statement on Secretary Nicholson Resignation

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Washington, D.C.Today, Steve Buyer, Ranking Member on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs reacted with regret at the announcement that Secretary of Veterans Affairs, James Nicholson has submitted his resignation to the President.

Federal government stumbles on federal procurement and three percent set-aside for veterans

Friday, July 13, 2007
Washington, D.C. — A Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity oversight hearing today on federal procurement and the three percent set aside confirmed that the federal government as a whole has done a poor job of meeting the requirements set forth in PL 106-50 and 108-183, and Executive Order 13360 in which three percent of all federal contract dollars are to be set aside for business owned-by service-disabled veterans. 

Women and minority veterans see progress in VA care; more must be done

Friday, July 13, 2007

Washington, D.C. — A joint oversight hearing held today by the subcommittees on Health and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs considered challenges encountered by minority and women veterans as they seek care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Veterans’ field hearing shows need for south Louisiana health care planning

Friday, July 13, 2007

Washington, D.C. — A July 9 House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs field hearing considered the future of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care in South Louisiana.