House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington, D.C. — Chairman Steve Buyer announces a new monthly feature on the Committee’s website.  This monthly column, “Veterans Affairs Review,” will provide information on the Committee’s legislation, changes to the agenda, as well as accomplishments.  This column will also include developments on the budget process.  

Washington, D.C. — Speaking at the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) discussed the Committee’s Budget Views and Estimates for the Fiscal Year 2007 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget.  These Views and Estimates give the House Budget Committee recommendations for its formulation of the FY 2007 VA budget.

Washington, D.C. —Today, with the release of the report by the House of Representatives Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, Chairman Buyer (R-IN) issued the following statement:

Washington, D.C. — Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today held a full committee legislative hearing where veterans’ and military service organizations (VSOs and MSOs, listed below) presented their annual legislative views and priorities for Fiscal Year 2007.  Some representatives of these organizations expressed measured praise for the Administration’s FY2007 budget request as a good start.  Concerns were also voiced about proposals to increase co-pays and enact an enrollment fee for Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans (those who do not have service-connected disabilities and also presumably have other health care options).

Washington, D.C. - Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today held the second of two full committee legislative hearings, where veterans’ and military service organizations (VSOs and MSOs, listed below) presented their annual legislative views and priorities for Fiscal Year 2007.   These VSO representatives reiterated concerns about proposals to increase co-pays and enact an enrollment fee for Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans (those who do not have service-connected disabilities and also presumably have other health care options).

Washington, D.C. — Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today held a full committee oversight hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget request for Fiscal Year 2007.  Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson detailed the Administration’s $80.6 billion request, the largest dollar increase in discretionary funding for VA ever requested by a president.   

Washington, D.C.—The Government Accountability Office (GAO), reporting initial findings from an investigation requested by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), and members of the Senate, has found that unrealistic assumptions, errors in estimates, insufficient data, and an unresponsive budget model contributed to health care funding shortfalls at the Department of Veterans Affairs in fiscal years 2005 and 2006.