House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on seamless transition initiatives between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) servicemembers and veterans. The report, “VA and DoD Health Care: Efforts to Provide Seamless Transition of Care for OEF and OIF Servicemembers and Veterans,” was done at the request of Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.) as a follow-up to testimony before the Committee on Veterans Affairs in September 2005.

Master Chief Carl Brashear has set the bar high for all of us. At a time when Black Americans had limited opportunities in the military service, Carl Brashear transformed himself from a sharecropper’s son to become a Master Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy. He proved to the world that a Black American was equal to any task the nation asked of him. His passing leaves a legacy demonstrating the value of courage and persistence in the face of great odds. On behalf of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I wish Master Chief Brashear fair winds and following seas.

Washington, D.C. – Today, The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation held a press conference on the recently launched Veterans Business Training Center that was created to meet the needs of returning combat-wounded and disabled veterans with challenges they may encounter as they seek employment. The Veterans Business Training Center provides virtual job training for at-home combat-wounded and disabled veterans.

Washington, D.C. — Today, the House passed Concurrent Resolution 125, which expresses support for the designation and goals of “Hire a Veteran Week” by encouraging employers across the country to hire veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill also seeks a presidential proclamation in support of the event.

Washington, D.C. — Today, the House passed H.R. 3082, as amended, the Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006. The bill increases benefits for America’s veterans by establishing the annual contracting goals for VA to include a greater number of veteran-owned small businesses, clarifying the rules regarding contracts, prohibiting bonus payments to senior executives who do not meet veteran and disabled veteran contracting goals, and provisions to extend veteran business status to the spouses when the veteran dies.

Washington, D.C. — After two months of hearings on the data theft of sensitive information from the nation’s 26.5 million veterans, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs considered H.R. 5835, the Veterans Identity and Credit Security Act of 2006. At a markup today, the committee reported favorably H.R. 5835, as well as several other pieces of legislation, including H.R. 5815, as amended, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization Act.

Washington, D.C. — Witnesses at a Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing today told subcommittee members that the growing backlog of disability compensation claims awaiting decisions at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) could be reduced with more effective use of resources offered by veterans’ groups and state and local veterans’ service officers.

Washington, D.C. — Bipartisan legislation to improve information security at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received broad approval in testimony today from former VA chief information officers, veterans’ advocates and legislators who had previously submitted their own proposals. The legislation requires prompt, veteran-friendly responses to data breaches that include free credit monitoring and insurance and ultimately strengthens VA’s information management backbone.

Charleston, S.C. — Meeting today with Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Henry Brown (R-S.C.) discussed progress on options being considered for enhanced collaboration between MUSC and VA, which could include a co-located, joint-use facility in Charleston.

Washington, D.C. — Today, the full House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs marked up and passed H.R. 3082, as amended, the Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006. Among other things, the bill would increase benefits for America’s veterans by; establishing the annual contracting goals for VA to include a greater number of veteran owned small businesses, clarifying the rules regarding contracts, prohibiting bonus payments to senior executives who do not meet veteran and disabled veteran contracting goals, and provisions to extend veteran business status to the spouses when the veteran dies.

On behalf of the committee, I extend appreciation to Dr. Jonathan Perlin for his record of service to America’s veterans and their families, which culminated in his appointment by President Bush as under secretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs and his service as chief executive officer of the nation’s largest health care system.

Washington, D.C. — Today the IG released its report, “Review of issues related to the loss of VA information involving the identity of millions of veterans.” The report detailed weaknesses in IT management and information security at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that led to one of the largest data breaches in history.