Thursday, June 30, 2005
Washington, D.C. – Today, Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN) called on Congress for immediate action to pass a fiscal year 2005 veterans’ funding supplemental. At a hearing called by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson notified Congress that the administration is requesting $975 million in additional funds for veterans’ healthcare.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Washington, D.C. — Tonight, the House passed H.R. 3130, the Veterans’ Healthcare Supplemental Appropriations Act. This bill will provide the necessary $975 million to fund the VA for fiscal year 2005. At a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing earlier today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson notified Congress that the administration is requesting $975 million in additional funds for veterans’ healthcare. In response, Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN) called on Congress to pass a fiscal year 2005 veterans’ funding supplemental.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Washington, D.C. — House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN) joined today with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson; James Walsh (R-NY), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs; and Congressman Henry Brown (R-SC), Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health to discuss solutions to the shortfall in veterans healthcare funding for fiscal years 2005 and 2006. Secretary Nicholson asked for supplemental funding for FY 2005 and thanked Chairman Buyer and the Congress for “responsiveness and leadership” in moving quickly to ensure funding for veterans healthcare.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Washington, D.C. – Today, Chairman Steve Buyer of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs urged colleagues to recognize the importance of getting veterans good jobs by supporting two programs that have proven beneficial to our returning servicemembers and homeless veterans.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs marked up the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005. H.R. 1220, as amended, which would provide, effective December 1, 2005, a cost-of-living adjustment to the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation paid to certain spouses and dependent children of service-disabled veterans. The bill would also codify the 2005 dollar amounts for disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation. This bill was passed by the Committee by a voice vote. Floor action is anticipated in July.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Washington, D.C. — In a Committee hearing today on veterans’ healthcare cost forecasting, Chairman Buyer uncovered key weaknesses in the processes used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to predict healthcare demand and shape budgets. Testifying before the Committee, VA officials said that largely because of flaws in its forecasting model, VA must conduct workarounds in the Fiscal Year 2005 veterans’ healthcare budget, using $400 million in carryover funds intended for FY2006. Further, VA has moved $600 million in FY2005 non-recurring maintenance and equipment accounts to pay for FY2005 healthcare services, thus creating a gap in these accounts for next year.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Yesterday, America lost a great patriot and a brave Marine. General Louis H. Wilson, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, was the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the battle of Guam in July 1944. He passed on June 21, 2005.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations held a markup of the Veterans Medical Care Revenue Enhancement Act of 2005, which authorizes a two year demonstration project to improve business practices within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) relating to third-party billing collections and by voice vote, reported the bill favorably to full committee for markup this Thursday.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Washington, DC – Today, House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, Chairman Henry Brown, held a hearing to receive the testimony of VA doctors and specialists in telemedicine. Testimony was provided by doctors from the Department of Veterans Affairs; Care Coordination, Education, Telemental Health, and Rehabilitation programs. The hearing explored the use and development of telemedicine technologies in VA, particularly in the areas of mental health, rehabilitation, long-term care and care in rural areas.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Washington, D.C. — Sparked by recent comments from Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04), Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called on the Senator to apologize to U.S. servicemembers for comparing them to Nazis.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) held a hearing to consider draft legislation to amend the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program; the Traumatic Injury Protection provisions in PL 109-13; and H.R. 1618, the Wounded Warrior Servicemembers Group Disability Insurance Act of 2005.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Washington, D.C.—Today, Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a markup of H.R. 1220, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005. The bill would also codify the 2005 dollar amounts for disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Normandy, France, May 30, 2005 – Chairman Steve Buyer and Veterans Health Subcommittee Chairman Henry Brown (R-SC) addressed an international audience in the 2005 Normandy Memorial Day ceremony held Sunday at the American Cemetery and Memorial overlooking Omaha Beach, site of D-Day’s heaviest fighting, on June 6, 1944.