Congressman
Henry E. Brown, Jr.

Posted by: Henry E. Brown, Jr. (March 21, 2010, 06:10 PM)

Several veterans organizations spoke out against the Democrats’ health care plan, H.R. 4872, saying that the bill “betrays our nation’s veterans and service members”.

The current legislation does not protect health care programs for our nation’s veterans, military retirees, military personnel and their families and survivors.  My Republican colleagues, Representative Steve Buyer and Representative Buck McKeon, offered an amendment that would protect these programs and ensure that those who have fought for our country are provided with the health care they have earned. Unfortunately, the amendment was ignored.

As Ranking Republican of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I am extremely disappointed. This is yet another reason why I am pushing for Democrats’ to scrap this bill and start over on health care reform.

Posted in Health Care, Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (September 11, 2009, 02:15 PM)

The VA reports that a reprehensible scam is targeting veterans.

Scammers are calling VA beneficiaries under the guise of a phony "Patient Care Group". The caller claims that VA prescriptions are being administered by this company.

The scammers ask for personal information, including credit card information, claiming that this is necessary for the beneficiary to keep receiving prescriptions through the VA.

This is completely BOGUS.

The VA does not call vets and ask them to disclose personal information over the phone, and the VA hasn't changed any prescription dispensing rules.

Be safe. Never give out personal information to any unsolicited phone caller.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (June 04, 2009, 05:05 PM)

This morning, the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health passed legislation aimed at improving health care services for female veterans, particularly those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As the Ranking Republican on the subcommittee, and a cosponsor of the bill, I was proud to speak in support of The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1211) as I believe it will reinforce the necessity of providing health care for female veterans that focuses on their unique needs.

Women make up about 8 percent of the total veterans population.  Therefore, it is essential for us to make sure that the VA is providing specialized programs and services to meet their unique physical and mental health needs.

Some of the main objectives of the bill are to provide more extensive care to newborns of female veterans, greater child care assistance, and to allow both minority and female veterans to serve on federal advisory committees on veterans’ affairs. The bill also looks to provide better heath care training programs for those caring for female veterans.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (May 01, 2009, 03:56 PM)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced MAY 1ST that Veterans can begin submitting applications on-line for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Click here for more information.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 30, 2009, 01:39 PM)

During this week’s Veteran’s Subcommittee on Health, Ranking Republican, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) made the following statement on Veteran mental healthcare:

“Thank you Mr. Chairman.  I appreciate your holding this hearing today.

Mental health is a critical component of a person’s well-being.  And, essential to the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to care for those who have borne the battle is to effectively intervene and care for the invisible wounds of war. 

The psychological toll of war is not always apparent and sadly has not always received the attention it should.  However, I think we can all agree that the VA has come a long way, especially in the past few years, to improve mental health services and encourage veterans in need of care to get help. 

Even though significant progress has been made, there is no doubt that we must still do more.  As we continue to hear about veterans facing barriers and service gaps.  We must ensure that if a veteran seeks help, that veteran gets the right care at the right time.    

In the past decade, we have made a substantial investment in VA mental health, increasing funding by eighty-one percent, from $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2001 to no less than $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2009.  That is why it was very disturbing when the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in November of 2006 that the VA had not allocated all the available funding for the mental health initiative.  It is our responsibility to see that funding we provide is spent as intended – to support a complete array of mental health prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation programs for our nation’s veterans. 

I look forward to hearing from our witness and this opportunity to take a good look at where we stand in taking care of the mental health needs of our veterans.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.”  

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Henry E. Brown Jr. (April 20, 2009, 11:31 AM)

It is offensive and unacceptable that the Department of Homeland Security has characterized the men and women returning home from defending our country as potential terrorists. These veterans should be welcomed home with open arms, not subjected to unfair treatment that could lead to discrimination. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration has, now, not only questioned the character and patriotism of returning veterans, but has also suggested that they should pay for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide.  These attacks, on the men and women who have risked their lives to protect our citizens and the liberty we cherish, must stop.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 08, 2009, 05:26 PM)

With over half a million veterans living in South Carolina, I have been a strong advocate for our nation’s heroes since coming to Congress. Currently I have the honor to serve as the Ranking Republican Member on the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, and have continued to work diligently to ensure that the all veterans are able to easily access adequate health care.

In addition to my work to improve the VA health care system, I prioritize the overall quality of life for veterans, including their ability to resume their civilian lives either in a job or in furthering their education after their service to our country.

In 2007, when the Department of Education was looking cut the Upward Bound Veterans Program, a service designed to help eligible U.S. military veterans refresh their academic skills so that they can successfully complete a secondary degree of their choosing,  I, along with several of my colleagues in the House, cosponsored legislation that would improve the program for the future.

Read the article highlighting the Upward Bound Program’s efforts at work in the First District and learn more information on my efforts for our nation’s veterans and the specifics of the Upward Bound Program.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 06, 2009, 10:47 AM)

As the Ranking Republican Member of the Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health, I was extremely pleased to be able to offer my support for provisions of the Federal Reform Act that will decrease the burden placed on military survivors by the ‘widow’s tax.’

Read more of my comments on this essential veteran's legislation.

As a continuous and ardent supporter of all veterans, I have worked hard to draft and sponsor legislation to enhance the lives of our nation’s heroes and their families. Read my remarks on this legislation from this week’s the Veterans’ Affairs Committee Meeting. Learn more about the my efforts for all veterans.
   

Posted in Taxes, Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (March 31, 2009, 11:17 AM)

As the Ranking Republican Member of the Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health, I was extremely pleased that the House unanimously approved, by voice vote yesterday, H.R. 1377, legislation that would allow veterans to seek emergency care at the closest provider without fear of facing large out-of-pocket expenses.

Additionally, the House unanimously passed H.R. 1171, The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Reauthorization Act of 2009, legislation that extends the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP), a program that provides grants to local homeless veteran’s service organizations for job training, through 2014. An attached amendment would extend the HVRP’s services to homeless female veterans and homeless veterans with children. Also agreed upon unanimously by the House was H.R. 1513, The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, legislation that increases rates of disability, dependency and indemnity compensation for wartime disabilities, benefits, clothing allowance, and surviving spouses and children.

Read Congressman Brown's original statement from committee on H.R. 1377.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Henry E. Brown (December 30, 2008, 05:08 PM)

Good news! Beginning January 9th, any service-disabled or low income veteran who must travel to get health care at a VA hospital in the First District or any other VA facility across the nation will receive a larger reimbursement for their travel costs.

I have heard from many of my constituents that, with the ever fluctuating cost of gas, transportation to the necessary VA facilities can often be extremely expensive. It often was difficult for Horry County veterans to afford the cost of traveling to the Johnson VAMC in Charleston.  High energy costs and the proximity to a health care facility should not determine whether or not a veteran receives the necessary care. 

For this reason, I applaud a recent law that now enables the VA give more back to veterans for their mileage reimbursements. The VA will not only be able to keep $18/year per veteran for administrative expenses; previously the VA was keeping a maximum of $46.62 per year.

In addition to all service connected and low-income veterans now being eligible for reimbursement, other veterans traveling for Compensation and Pension examinations qualify for coverage of their travel costs as well. This change, combined with the November raise in the mileage reimbursement to 41.5 cents/mile, will now ensure that all veterans living in the First District, and across the nation, have access to the world-class health care provided by the VA.

Visit the Veterans' Casework page on my website to find VA facilities, find out information about VA health benefits, and apply for benefits.

Posted in Energy, Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (November 12, 2008, 09:42 AM)

Veterans affairs: Tighter records controls urged
By CHUCK CRUMBO
The State - Columbia, SC
November 8, 2008

After reports surfaced that 95 documents were erroneously dumped into a shredder bin at the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Columbia office, critics charge the agency needs to fix the way it handles and tracks records.

“Files tend to get lost or tend to grow feet and walk out the door,” said Larry Scott, publisher of the Web site vawatchdog.org.

VA employees keep documents in their desks, briefcases, filing cabinets and other places, Scott claimed.

The agency doesn’t have strict enough rules and procedures for tracking who handles veterans’ files and records, such as when the records are received, filed, mailed and processed, he added.

A VA spokeswoman said the agency is writing a new policy on how to handle and process records before they are destroyed.

Overall, 41 of the Department of Veterans Affairs 57 regional offices reported finding 500 documents improperly slated for destruction during an Oct. 3 audit.

The documents ranged from new claims for benefits to death certificates.

The shredder incident could have widespread impact in South Carolina, home of more than 413,000 former members of the military services.

One of those veterans wondered just how many records have been wrongly destroyed before the shredding incident came to light.

“How long has this been going on, and how many veterans and their families have been deprived of benefits they have earned?” said Army veteran Mike Bailey of Springdale.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee, which includes Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., plans to summon VA leaders to Capitol Hill in mid-November to explain the shredder incidents, an aide said. Representatives of veterans’ service organizations also are expected to join in the discussion.

“I look forward to working with the VA and my fellow committee members on not only getting to the bottom of this incident, but making changes that ensure our veterans see their claims processed in a timely and secure manner,” Brown said.

According to the VA, supervisors at the Columbia office found the documents erroneously slated for shredding.

“Their suspicions are that there was an employee in that facility who was improperly putting documents in that shredder intentionally,” said Alison Aikele, VA spokeswoman.

The employee, who was not identified, was put on administrative leave while the situation is being investigated, Aikele added.

Documents are “shredded all the time because they contain so much personal information,” Aikele said. But before a document is destroyed, copies should be made and stored.

“If we just threw it in the garbage, it would be a serious security threat,” Aikele said.

“In this particular incident, there were things that should not have been in the shredder because they needed to be taken action on.”

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Brown Staff (November 11, 2008, 04:20 PM)

MAKING VETERANS A PRIORITY 365 DAYS A YEAR

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) made the following statement regarding America’s bravest citizens as he and the rest of the nation celebrated our Veteran’s individual sacrifices on this Veterans Day:

“In times of war, one is constantly reminded of the selflessness many of our uniformed men and women have displayed in recent years. Veterans Day is a time to reflect on those and the acts of all of our nation’s protectors.

I am proud to serve as a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, prioritizing the needs of our veterans and current service members, and am even more proud of the fact that, at a time when almost all federal agencies are seeing their budgets held level or reduced, veterans funding has more than doubled since I took office in 2001.

As a former Chair of the VA Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, I am especially glad that so many of these increases will help ensure that qualifying veterans have access to the highest quality health care and benefits at VA facilities, including the nearly 100,000 veterans living in the First District.

While increasing veterans’ benefits is a top priority, making sure that the delivery and execution of those benefits is swift and productive is important as well. I supported legislation to reform the disability claims review system to reduce the backlog and provide veterans with the benefits they deserve in a timely manner. 

I have also supported and introduced influential veteran’s legislation that has designated ALS as a service connected disorder as well as legislation that would double the pension for Medal of Honor recipients.  I am a proud cosponsor and supporter of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and a sponsor of The Military Surviving Spouse Equity Act, which would provide equality in benefits for the thousands of surviving spouses of military retirees. 

Locally, I worked with area veterans’ service organizations to bring the Moving Wall to the District this past October, allowing coastal South Carolina veterans, their families, and average citizens a unique opportunity to pay respects to the heroes of the Vietnam Era. 
 
It is important that we remember, not only on this day, but every day of the year, that our Veterans have risked their lives to protect us, and I remain tirelessly committed to working towards ensuring they receive the health care,  benefits and legislative support  they have earned in service to this country.”

###

Posted in Defense, Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Henry E. Brown (July 28, 2008, 02:45 PM)

Often, when our servicemen and women return home from combat, it is difficult for them to find new employment.  I believe that it is important to support our nation’s bravest and do all that we can to ensure a smooth transition into their next area of employment.

To help in this effort, I was proud to join with Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) to author a resolution that encourages the President to issue a proclamation calling upon employers, labor organizations, veterans’ service organizations, and federal, state and local government agencies to lend their support to increase employment of the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces.  The “Hire a Vet” week resolution was once of the first pieces of legislation passed during the 110th Congress.
 
In addition to my efforts, the Department of Veterans has partnered with Monster Government Solutions of Monster Worldwide, Inc., and they have come up with a new plan to help veterans find jobs. This partnership between the VA and the online employment website provides veteran-owned small businesses with the opportunity to post job openings for veterans at a large price discount. The postings will be up twice as long as other postings and will also offer specific options for service-disabled veterans.

"This government-corporate partnership represents the best kind of effort to help those who gave up time in their lives to serve their country and return to an economic community that may not recognize their skills," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "The program should make it easier for employers to find qualified job candidates as well as veteran suppliers and service contractors."  

To get involved, veteran business owners must go to http://www.VetBiz.gov and list their business on the VA’s online vendor page.  If you are a veteran looking for information about employment opportunities, visit http://www.hirevetsfirst.gov/.  As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of my district offices.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Posted by: Henry E. Brown (July 23, 2008, 06:50 PM)

When our service men and women return home from combat zones all over the world, they never expect to be denied entrance into the airports of their own country.

Believe it or not, this has been occurring to our nation’s bravest. In September 2007, soldiers returning home from Iraq were denied access to the terminal building at Oakland International Airport.  The passengers aboard this military charter had already been screened in Kuwait and granted access to the terminal at Kennedy International Airport in New York. 

My colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and I took particular notice of this occurrence.  After looking into things, we requested that the Department of Transportation investigate the incident. 

The report revealed the need for a uniform process for handling members of the Armed Forces coming into U.S. commercial airports. As a result, the Department of Defense, the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines proper protocols for ensuring that our soldiers are always treated with respect at commercial airports.

This new policy will be going into effect immediately.  Our fighting men and women should be able to see the families as soon as possible after landing – and not have to sit through a security line.  For more information on the Memorandum of Understanding go to http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=441.

Posted in Defense, Transportation, Veterans | View Full Posting