Veterans Issues
America’s Veterans deserve our utmost respect and our commitment to them must be unwavering. These men and women have fought, sacrificed and died to keep our country free and safe.
I am committed to ensuring that all those who have served our nation receive the care and benefits we've promised them, as well as the proper equipment and support during their time as active members of the military. Recent proposals to cut health and retirement benefits for Veterans are deeply misguided and I will oppose them.
Furthermore, during these challenging economic times, it is simply unacceptable to see young men and women returning from multiple deployments and unable to find work. The post-9/11 Veteran unemployment rate is staggering and clearly more needs to be done to provide a smooth transition to civilian life for our soldiers.
We have also seen alarming levels among Veterans of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from traumatic brain injuries, along with other mental health issues. Our gratitude is not enough. I will always fight to protect the benefits that Veterans earned.
America’s veterans deserve our respect and our commitment to them must be unwavering. These men and women have fought, sacrificed and died to keep our country free and safe.
For more information concerning my work to support our Veterans, please contact me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
More on Veterans Issues
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Representative LaMalfa (R-CA) attended the House Committee on Veterans Affairs’ oversight hearing and questioned the Department of Veterans Affairs on its implementation of H.R.3230, the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA). Passed with bi-partisan support from Congress and signed by President Obama on August 7th, H.R. 3230 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the “Choice Program” to allow eligible veterans to use healthcare providers outside of the VA.
As a member of this area’s veteran community I want to thank Congressman LaMalfa and his staff for their untiring efforts to bring veterans’ claims to light and have them processed. The regional office, in Oakland had been sitting on and hiding veterans’ claims for years. Some were found stacked in a broom closet. One veteran’s claim had languished in that office for over 30 years. That is right — over 30 years. Some of the Oakland staff were hiding claims to enhance their productivity results and increase their bonuses.
REDDING, California - After 36 years of waiting, Edward Defilippis finally got his first full disability benefits in June, while other parts of his veteran’s disability claim remain pending in appeal.
At a veterans meeting with U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, the Redding man credited the Republican lawmaker and his office for investigating his claim and giving it the push it needed at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Washington, DC – Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today met with the Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Benefits Allison Hickey to seek answers about the misconduct that has been uncovered at Oakland Regional Office. The meeting was part of an ongoing effort to hold VA officials accountable and came on the heels of an announcement that the Inspector General of the VA had begun an inquiry at the Oakland office.
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today released the following statement on the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki:
While Secretary Shinseki’s resignation is warranted, his departure will not fix the systemic dysfunction preventing our veterans from receiving the services they have earned. The fact that a decorated and accomplished officer like Secretary Shinseki could not overcome the VA’s problems demonstrates just how embedded the bureaucratic mindset truly is.
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today spoke on the floor of the House to demand accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs and read whistleblower statements detailing waste, fraud and abuse at the Oakland VA office. Yesterday the House passed a bill LaMalfa cosponsored authorizing the termination of Veterans Affairs officials who were complicit in abuses at the agency.
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today spoke in favor of a bill he cosponsored to authorize the termination of senior Veterans Affairs officials who have been complicit in abuses at the federal agency. He also authored and passed an amendment requiring Veterans Affairs offices to provide updates on veterans’ claims, regardless of whether claims had been reassigned to different VA offices.
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) voted in support of a package of bills this week to support much-needed reform within the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, which currently has a backlog of hundreds of thousands of cases. Among the bills are measures to eliminate millions in bonuses to VA staff, ensure that veterans denied serviced are automatically offered appeals and assist homeless veterans. The bills will now be considered in the Senate.
Washington, DC –Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today voted in favor of an amendment to the Veterans Affairs (VA) appropriations bill that shifts additional funding to VA offices with the longest case backlogs. Authored by Rep. Amodei (R-NV), the amendment passed with strong bipartisan support and direct $44 million in funds to the fifteen worst-performing VA offices.