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Working for Alaska's Veterans

Alaska is home to the largest per capita population of veterans in the nation. With veterans comprising 10 percent of Alaska’s population, Senator Begich has been proud to serve on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee throughout his tenure in the Senate, and recognizes the contributions and sacrifices of nearly 75,000 veterans who make Alaska their home.

Our state's history is closely intertwined with the sacrifices and contributions of our military. From that service, Alaska has benefited immeasurably and we can never lose sight of what we owe our veterans - past, present and future.

Improving VA Accountability and Veterans’ Access to Care

National VA audits have found thousands of veterans around the country waiting for months to receive care at VA clinics and hospitals.  Senator Begich was angered by news reports, and immediately wrote then-Secretary Shinseki, demanding to hold employees accountable for their failures.  Senator Begich also demanded a hearing from the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, which was held in May 2014.A few years before these reports surfaced nationally, Senator Begich learned up to 900 veterans were on a waitlist in Alaska and new VA enrollees were waiting 2 to 3 months for their first appointment.  Senator Begich was outraged and demanded the VA Secretary visit Alaska and see firsthand the unique challenges veterans face in receiving timely care.  Senator Begich introduced legislation in 2011 to establish the Alaska Heroes Health Card, which allows all eligible veterans in Alaska to use their veteran ID cards to access health care at most tribal health care providers.  As of mid-May 2014, the average wait time for new VA enrollees in Alaska was just 9 days and about a dozen veterans were on the waitlist.  These numbers will fluctuate every week, but clearly there is progress.  The June 2014 VA nationwide audit reflects Alaska far exceeds the rest of the country in access to care.  You can find a summary of the audit of Alaska’s VA Health Care System here.

Thanks to Senator Begich’s work, Alaska has led the way in negotiating contracts between local doctors and the VA for basic primary care to reduce wait and travel times.  Senator Begich has long pushed this model to be used around the country, and it was incorporated into the legislation that passed the Senate in June 2014.

Despite these successes, the Alaska VA system is still not perfect, and Alaska continues to face severe staffing shortages, claims management problems, and other challenges.  As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Begich continues the fight to increase health care providers and VA staff in Alaska, and improve access to quality health care for all veterans.

Senator Begich cosponsored landmark reform legislation, the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, which passed the Senate in June 2014.  Among many other provisions to improve accountability and management at the VA, the bill:

  • Provides the VA Secretary the authority to dismiss Senior Executive Service employees for underperformance, with the right to an appeals process without pay that would last no more than 30 days.
  • Requires the VA to establish disciplinary procedures for employees who knowingly falsify data.
  • Enhances collaboration between the VA and Indian Health Service (IHS): Modeled after Senator Begich’s work in Alaska, this bill expands VA outreach to IHS tribal health programs to negotiate reimbursement agreements.
  • Expands choices for health care providers: A veteran can choose a provider at Federally Qualified Health Centers, Department of Defense or IHS facilities if he or she experiences long wait times OR lives 40 miles or more from a VA hospital or clinic.
  • Provides expedited hiring authority for new VA doctors and nurses.
  • Require extensive reviews to identify staffing shortages at each VA Medical Center.
  • Would extend counseling and treatment to servicemembers who suffered sexual trauma while serving on inactive duty training.

While Senator Begich pushed for loan forgiveness for VA health care providers, like psychiatrists, and for filling staff vacancies with U.S. Public Health Service officers, this bill is a good step in the right direction.  Senator Begich knows there is still more work to be done, and will continue to fight for veterans’ access to care, as he has done since day 1 in the Senate.

Using his seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Appropriations Subcommittee for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Senator Begich supported increased funding for the VA for Fiscal Year 2015.  If Congress expects the VA to update its systems, streamline the claims process and deliver better care, then increased funding for the VA is necessary to keep our promise to veterans.

Senator Begich also supported funding for the investigations into waitlists and misconduct at the VA. The bill includes $5 million in additional funding for an inspector general (IG) review of scheduling procedures, wait times, and management practices at VA medical centers. Senator Begich also supported a provision that freezes salaries of senior VA staff until the review is complete.

Recent Veterans Affairs Videos

Expanding Benefits for All Veterans

Senator Begich introduced a number of bills this Congress that have gained wide support from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.  Many of these provisions were included in the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits Act, S. 1982, which failed to advance in the Senate in February 2014.

  • Advanced Appropriations for the VA: In May 2013, Senator Begich introduced S. 932, the Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013, long before the last government shutdown. This provision would protect against another government shutdown by ensuring veterans receive  the benefits they earned by establishing advanced appropriations for the Veterans Benefits Administration, which processes claims and provides payments for pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation programs. Advanced funding is already provided to most accounts of the Veterans Health Administration.
  • Veterans pilot program for psychiatrists loan in VA system:  S 2425 would carry out a pilot program to reduce the shortage of psychiatrists in the VHA by repaying loans for certain psychiatrists with emphasis on rural areas
  • Veterans Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act of 2014: S 2258 would provide for an increase in the rates of compensation of veterans with service connected disabilities and rates of dependency and indemnity compensation or the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
  • Veterans Outreach Enhancement: Senator Begich introduced S. 1558, the Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2013, to improve VA outreach to veterans. Enrolling eligible veterans in the VA health care system is a top priority for Senator Begich, and for rural communities, this can be especially difficult. This bill would provide small grants to states and VSOs in rural areas with a high concentration of veterans.
  • Veterans ID Cards: Senator Begich introduced S. 778 to issue ID cards to veterans that identify them as veterans, which would include their name and photo. The card would be given to every veteran regardless of enrollment in the VA system. The card would  allow veterans to receive commercial benefits like reduced prices on pharmaceuticals, discounts from retailers for consumer products, and from other businesses looking for ways to show their appreciation. Ensuring safe shelters for homeless veterans: Senator Begich introduced S. 1580, the Ensuring Safe Shelter for Homeless Veterans Act of 2013, to make sure housing services for homeless veterans are up to code with fire and safety regulations.
  • Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013: S. 287 would update the legal definition of homeless veteran to bring it to the same standard as the rest of the law to include domestic violence as homeless.
  • Veterans Research Transparency: Senator Begich introduced S. 877, the Veterans Affairs Research Transparency Act of 2013, to make peer-reviewed data and research publicly available.

Among many other bills, Senator Begich also co-sponsors the following:

  • S. 1624, Extend VOW to Hire Heroes Act through 2017: This program gives tax credits to encourage small businesses, non-profits, and other companies to hire veterans who are challenged with transitioning into the civilian world after military service. This bill would extend the tax credits through 2017.
  • S. 1061 Veterans Access to Care Act: A full year before national reports surfaced, Senator Begich signed on to this bill to designate VA medical facilities as health professional shortage areas so U.S. Public Health Service Officers can provide care at the VA.
  • S. 1586, Enhanced Dental Care for Veterans Act: Senator Begich knows quality health care does not stop at the physician’s office.  Access to quality dental care can help prevent heart disease, various kinds of cancers, and overall improve veterans’ quality of life.

Improving Mental Health Care and Combatting Suicide

Senator Begich understands the mental health challenges veterans face after returning from service. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are far too common among our nation’s heroes, and Alaska’s veterans are faced with a shortage in mental health providers. Many veterans also face challenges in transitioning from military to civilian life, and often struggle coping with those challenges. 

Senator Begich continues the fight to improve outreach to veterans in need of mental health care and to prevent suicide, especially in Alaska, where suicide rates are among the highest in the nation.  Most recently, Senator Begich introduced S. 2425, the Ensuring Veterans’ Resiliency Act.  This bill would create a pilot program to reduce the shortage of psychiatrists in the VA by repaying student loans and providing housing to eligible psychiatrists who accept positions in rural areas.

Knowing the need for more research about suicide prevention, Senator Begich introduced S. 2035, the Suicide Prevention Research INnovaTion Act (SPRINT Act).  This bill directs the National Institute of Health to conduct research on mental illness and the risk of self-harm, suicide, and violence, especially in rural communities that experience a shortage of mental health services.  Funding medical research is key to quality prevention and treatment, and Senator Begich believes this is long overdue, and knows this could help all Alaskans at risk for suicide.

Senator Begich also signed on to S. 2182, the Suicide Prevention for America’s Veterans Act (SAV Act).  Supported by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, this bill would extend veteran combat eligibility to 15 years so that veterans can receive treatment for PTSD by the time they experience their worst symptoms.  This bill would also set up a review process for potentially wrongful discharges for behavior associated with TBI or PTSD.  This bill would also improve care and provide incentives for VA and DOD to hire more mental health care providers.

Senator Begich has long supported the effort to allow more mental health care professionals to provide treatment in the VA.  As a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Senator Begich worked to incorporate a bill he cosponsored, the Rural Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act, into the funding bill for next year to allow licensed professional mental health counselors (LPCs) and marriage and family therapists (MFTs) to provide quality health care to veterans enrolled in the VA. 

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention presented Senator Begich with the Allied in Action Award in 2013 for his hard work to prevent suicide and improve mental health care.

Understanding the Unique Challenges Facing Alaska’s Veterans

Senator Begich continues to work on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to ensure quality health care and full funding for the VA.  Since day 1 in the Senate, Senator Begich continues to fight veteran homelessness, expand veterans’ access to the finest healthcare, reduce claims backlog, ease veterans’ transitions to the civilian workforce, and expand education opportunities. America has a contract with the nation’s veterans, and Senator Begich believes we must take care of those who have sacrificed so much on our behalf.

Senator Begich continues to push for innovative solutions such as providing telehealth services to remote communities. Telehealth services would eliminate the need for travel to major hubs like Fairbanks or Anchorage for routine requirements by taking advantage of modern technology, allowing veterans to interact with service providers via videoconferencing. Senator Begich consistently searches for new and better solutions to the challenges facing rural Alaskans.

Alaska Heroes Card

Senator Begich introduced a bill and pushed the VA to establish the Alaska Heroes Card to expand health care accessibility for Alaska’s veterans. The VA established a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Health Service to allow eligible veterans living in rural Alaska to access health care from a qualified facility in their community, instead of having to fly to a VA facility in Anchorage or Seattle. In addition, the historic Tribal Agreements with 26 Alaska tribes allows them to provide care closer to home for Alaska Native and non-Native veterans.

Ending the VA Claims Backlog

Senator Begich continues to push the VA to reduce the backlog of claims for veterans from Alaska and across the country. While there is still a ways to go, the VA has made progress toward the goal of eliminating veterans’ claims backlog by 2015. Since Senator Begich took office in 2009, he has intervened on behalf of hundreds of Alaska’s veterans to assist them with delayed or denied claims.

In May 2013, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Begich grilled VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to address the backlogged claims in the VA. Senator Begich recognizes the problem of the backlog goes beyond the VA as the DOD also needs the tools to make sure servicemembers can transition to civilian life. In December 2013, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) thanked Senator Begich for his support in ending the backlog.

Fighting Homelessness

In November 2013, Senator Begich’s bill, the Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013 (S. 287) passed the Senate by unanimous consent. This bill closes a loophole in current law that prevents veterans who are homeless as the result of domestic violence from receiving certain benefits such as counseling and housing. The bill also increases the per diem payment for transitional housing assistance and authorizing per diem payments to dependents of homeless veterans.

Agent Orange

Senator Begich supports new rules by the VA that presume service connections for 16 major diseases suffered by Vietnam veterans, including heart disease. In addition to supporting these new rules, Senator Begich co-sponsored the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, which provides comprehensive new benefits for veterans, including provisions for Vietnam veterans suffering from disorders related to Agent Orange exposure.

Recent Legislation

113th Congress

Enacted Legislation:

Related Documents

  • DC Office Staff

    Diane DiSanto

    Legislative Assistant

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  • Alaska Office Staff

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Recent Veteran's Affairs Press Releases

October 2014
Date Title
10/30/14 ICYMI: DAV Applauds Upcoming Vote on Begich Bill to Fund Critical Veterans’ Services
10/1/14 In Case You Missed It: Begich Op-ed Focuses on Putting Veterans First
September 2014
Date Title
9/26/14 Begich Bill to Increase Payments to Veterans is Signed into Law
9/11/14 Begich Bill Would Increase Payments to Veterans and Their Families
9/5/14 Begich Wants Accountability, Apologies to Victims