Veterans

As the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), I have consistently worked to ensure that our veterans receive the benefits and treatment they deserve for their years of faithful service. These benefits are critical for veterans, retirees, and their dependents, as well as those who are considering a career in the military.  It is Congress’ responsibility to provide access to quality benefits, assistance programs, and medical treatment upon separation from the Armed Forces.  Many veterans have chosen to live in the Puget Sound region, and it is my honor to represent them in Congress.

Earlier this year it was reported that the VA clinic in Phoenix, Arizona maintained secret lists to hide lengthy delays in providing veterans the care they need. Since then, an internal audit of the VA found that more than 57,400 veterans have had to wait 90 days or more for appointments at medical facilities. It was also discovered that schedulers were routinely instructed to alter and falsify data to hide the amount of time it took for veterans to see a doctor.  As a result of these findings, the VA’s Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin announced that 69 VA facilities would be placed under investigation for potential criminal wrongdoing. In May, after public outcry and calls for his resignation by other Members of Congress, retired Army General Eric Shinseki stepped down as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a post at which he had served since 2009.
 

Since the VA scandal broke, I have been closely monitoring the situation and engaging both constituents and organizations that work closely with veterans to hear their concerns. In June I hosted a Veterans Advisory Council, where concerns about manipulated wait times and ways to improve the Veterans Health Administration system were discussed. Following the release of the internal audit, my office has been engaged with the Director of VA Puget Sound  on the situation in our region. The average wait time at the VA Puget Sound is unacceptable and far exceeds the department’s stated 14-day goal. I am very concerned by how long our veterans are being forced to wait for medical care.
 
At the end of July, the House and Senate reached an agreement on legislation to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs and address many of the problems that have been exposed. The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 (H.R. 3230) provides $10 billion to pay for providing medical care to veterans through non-VA facilities and $5 billion to hire more doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals. In addition, the bill allows veterans to seek medical care from alternative health-care providers if the VA cannot provide care within 30 days of seeking an appointment or if the veteran lives more than 40 miles away from a VA clinic. H.R. 3230 also gives the VA Secretary greater ability to fire or demote senior officials for poor job performance or misconduct. I voted in support of this bill because this is an important effort to provide veterans with the benefits and treatment they deserve.

In the last several years, I have supported historic increases in Department of Veterans’ Affairs funding.  Since Fiscal Year 2004, VA funding has increased by more than 77 percent.  These dramatic increases reflect not only Congress’ priority to care for our veterans, but also a need to care for a new generation of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. I will continue to support full funding for the VA and continue working to improve its efficiency.

There is an alarming trend of increasingly high rates of unemployment and homelessness among veterans. On average, veteran unemployment is 5-10 percent higher than civilian unemployment.  This includes young veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In Congress, I am committed to doing more to bring the veteran unemployment rate down. 

I have supported apprenticeship programs for veterans to learn new trades from skilled craftsmen.  The Post 9/11 GI Bill, which I strongly supported, was the single largest improvement in helping veterans access higher education opportunities.  The bill and subsequent improvements to the Post 9-11 GI Bill have only increased those opportunities for veterans. I have also supported tax credits for business who hire veterans. I also co-sponsored the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, designed to help veterans transition successfully from the military to the civilian working world by taking advantage of the incredible training and experience they have already accrued during their service.

During my time in Congress I have also supported the elimination of Concurrent Receipt and the SBP-DIC offset.  Concurrent Receipt, or the "disabled veterans tax," requires that veterans' retirement pay be reduced by the amount they get in disability pay.  The SBP-DIC offset, also known as the “widows’ tax,” which requires that benefits received under the Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP) be offset by the amount of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) received.  I believe these brave veterans and their families have earned both types of pay and should be allowed to receive the full amounts. In recent years, Congress has made progress to address these discrepancies.  I will continue working with my colleagues in an effort to find a responsible way to end the current policy and provide full payment to veterans and their families through these important programs in a fiscally responsible manner. 

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