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Committee Considers Klobuchar, Johanns, & Murray Bill to Develop Premier Web Site for Veterans

Veterans One Source Act would consolidate,expand existing Internet resources into a one-stop site

May 19, 2010

Washington, D.C. – A bill authored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Mike Johanns (R-NE), and Patty Murray (D-WA) calling on Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a modern, one-stop, user-friendly Web site for veterans is being considered today in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The Veterans One Source Act of 2010, S. 3355, urges the VA to develop a site that provides comprehensive information and advice for veterans, and it encourages the VA to think creatively in developing interactive web interfaces to facilitate online communication.

“Veterans of all ages deserve a state-of-the-art, modern Web site that serves as a one-stop resource for anything a veteran would ever need,” Klobuchar said. “The private sector, the Department of Defense and other federal agencies have already incorporated new, interactive technology into their web services.  It’s time the Department of Veterans Affairs provided our veterans with the quality of online services they need to effectively transition back to civilian life.”

 “I am proud to cosponsor this commonsense legislation to streamline access to services for our veterans,” Johanns said. “A broad range of services are available to our veterans that span several Federal agencies, and this legislation will provide a one-stop-shop to ensure veterans know what’s available to them.  After serving our country, our veterans should not have to navigate a maze of several confusing and frustrating Federal bureaucracies just to access the benefits they have earned.”

“The last thing our veterans need when they return home is added frustration caused by a confusing VA website” Murray said. “We need to be doing everything we can to make our vets’ transition home as seamless as possible and improving the VA’s online services is just a small way to make big difference.  A more user-friendly system will make it easier for our veterans to access the services they need in a faster more efficient way.”

The Web site would cover all issues of concern to veterans, their families and caregivers, including health and education benefits, employment opportunities, veteran-specific discounts, child care locators, and other services for families. The Web site would also incorporate new virtual tools such as animated virtual guides to help veterans navigate the available resources.

Various veterans’ organizations have endorsed the legislation, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Association of Veterans County Service Officers, the Military Officers Association of America, and the Student Veterans Association.