September 20, 2007

Legionnaires at joint hearing applaud Buyer’s refusal to cut veterans benefits

For more information, contact: Brian Lawrence, (202) 225-3527

Washington D.C. — Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today commended the largest and most senior veterans’ service organization (VSO), and its former and current national leaders for the Legion’s steadfast support of servicemembers and veterans.

 

“The Legion and the other VSOs are the voice of veterans. You recognize the sons and daughters who serve and sacrifice; you know them, they are from your community,” Buyer said to Legionnaires gathered from around the country for their annual presentation of its views before a joint hearing of the House and Senate. “For serving them, I commend you.”

 

Buyer praised American Legion programs that provide direct support to veterans, such as Operation Landstuhl, which provides comfort items for troops recovering at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in , and the Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund, which funds the education of children who have lost a parent in our nation’s service.  Buyer also cited the Legion’s Heroes to Hometowns program, which works as part of the government’s seamless transition effort to coordinate with the community to ensure returning servicemembers and families have the resources needed for a successful transition.

 

Buyer also commended the Legion for its principled objection to efforts in the committee, on a partisan vote for H.R. 760, as amended, to cut nearly $1 billion in benefits for wartime, indigent, disabled and homebound veterans. “If we can’t stand up and defend those who need us most, then shame on us,” Buyer said to applause. “We must never take from one group of veterans to give to another group of veterans.”

 

Buyer also expressed his commitment to the seamless transition of servicemembers as they transition from the military.  Calling on the administration to act, he pointed out that legislation dating back to 1982 mandated cooperation between VA and the Pentagon, but compliance has been inadequate.  Buyer cited that as committee and subcommittee chairman, he held nineteen hearings on seamless transition. 

 

Buyer commended outgoing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary R. James Nicholson for centralizing the management of information technology and the security of veterans’ sensitive data.  He said that the committee must remain vigilant for any lapse in security at the department.  Committee member Tim Walz (D-Minn.) voiced his agreement with Buyer’s emphasis on the need for continuing oversight of VA’s IT management.

 

Progress with IT systems, as well as VA’s widely recognized success in providing quality health care make VA an example for other government agencies, according to Buyer.

 

“It is the VA that we have invested so much money in that is becoming the tip of the spear.  It is an example for government,” Buyer said, noting that these investments in VA benefit ’s most precious assets – our veterans, especially those to whom harm has come in service to the nation.

 

Buyer welcomed temporary Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-N.C.).  He cited Burr’s experience in developing legislation that led to Medicare Part D legislation, saying the senator brings “a tremendous amount of knowledge on health care.”


 

For more news from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Republicans, please go to:


http://www.veterans.house.gov/republicans/

 

 

###