House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington, DC – Veterans, especially those living in rural areas, may benefit from a demonstration project to be conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as heard today by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The oversight hearing was held for members to learn about Project Healthcare Effectiveness through Resource Optimization (HERO), a series of demonstration projects seeking to improve and enhance health care for veterans.

Washington, DC – Today Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, made the following statement on the retirement of Congressman Lane Evans (D-Ill.), the committee’s ranking member:

Saturday, March 25, is National Medal of Honor Day, a day to reflect on the uncompromising valor demonstrated by American patriots at war, often at the cost of their lives.

“On behalf of the Committee, I thank Bob McFarland for tackling a difficult and challenging assignment as chief information officer at VA.  His resignation should be a wake-up call to Congress that essential reforms are not progressing well.  I call upon Secretary Nicholson to execute and implement the plans of his federated model as recommended by Gartner Consulting. 

Washington, D.C. — American families suffering the loss of a loved one will be protected as they grieve by legislation soon to be introduced by Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN), Representative Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.).  Chairman Buyer and Congressman Rogers have been working on draft language to restrict protests at funerals at national cemeteries for 60 minutes before or after a funeral.  This bill also restricts protesters to 500 feet or more from the grave site or individuals they are protesting.

Washington, D.C. — Seeking to broaden access and enhance the efficiency with which health care is provided to America’s veterans, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs full committee held an oversight hearing on collaboration opportunities among the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), state affiliated medical institutions and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Citing concerns about the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program and the progress towards closer collaboration between VR&E and the Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) heard today from representatives of the VA, VETS and veterans’ service organizations.

My colleagues, I come to the House to address a national virtue—the proper tone and tenor of a nation. It is outrageous, appalling and indecent for an American citizen to commit crimes and perversions against a family grieving at the loss of their son.