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109th Congress Press Releases
Marine Corps to explore helmet redesign for improved blast protection
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today commended a decision by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to study the issue of how best to protect the heads all Marines and servicemembers from traumatic brain injuries from blasts caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
STOLEN LAPTOP HAS BEEN RECOVERED
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Today VA Secretary Nicholson announced that the laptop storing the sensitive information of over 26 million veterans and military personnel was recovered and is undergoing forensic investigations to determine whether or not the information was duplicated. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has said that it appears that data was not accessed.
Stolen laptop recovered, Committee lauds VA secretary’s efforts to change culture, improve security
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Washington, D.C. — In response to concerns lodged by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Information and Technology will now have broad authority over the department’s information resources and security. At the committee’s fifth hearing on the recent data theft, VA Secretary R. James Nicholson made this announcement of this fundamental policy change as well as satisfying Buyer’s wish that VA provides detection, protection and insurance to any veteran who becomes a victim of fraud in connection with VA’s data loss.
Chairman Buyer calls for VA CIO to be under secretary
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Washington, D.C. — At today’s oversight hearing on the recent data theft at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), committee members heard a familiar refrain: testimony about the culture of resistance to change and opposition to centralized authority over the department’s information technology system. Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) seeks to elevate the chief information officer (CIO) to the level of under secretary, giving VA greater control over its IT resources.
VA challenged to keep pace for rural veterans’ healthcare
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health heard testimony from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Health Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin on efforts to provide high quality health care to remote veterans in rural communities. One in five veterans who enroll to receive health care through VA lives in a rural area, and the health subcommittee is exploring ways to improve health care access for these veterans.
Buyer urges VA secretary to include insurance in credit monitoring services for veterans
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Washington, D.C. — During a full committee hearing today on Department on Veterans Affairs (VA) information security and VA’s data loss, Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) called for the VA to insure veterans against loss from fraud resulting from the data breach, amid testimony from academic and private-sector experts that reinforced the image of an agency whose entrenched culture of bureaucracy had stalled information management reform and invited disaster in the compromise of sensitive information.
Buyer secures support to direct funds to improve servicemembers protective helmets
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Today, on the floor of the House of Representatives, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), secured support to direct funds to conduct a series of tests and evaluations on combat helmets to improve the helmet and force protections for servicemembers.
Veterans Benefits Administration’s data security procedures examined
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a joint oversight hearing on the Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) data security procedures and explored deficiencies that have been identified in the past by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Oversight Hearing on Safeguarding Veterans' Medical Records within the Veterans Health Administration
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Subcommittee on Health held an oversight hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) efforts to maintain the security and integrity of the electronic health records of enrolled veterans, while safeguarding personal veteran information from internal and external security threats.
Chairman Steve Buyer and Ranking Member Lane Evans honored for service to veterans
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Washington, DC — Last night, Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) and Ranking Member Lane Evans (D-Ill.) were the guests of honor at the weekly summer “Sunset Parade,” held at the Marine Corps War Memorial, commonly known as the Iwo Jima memorial for its subject, the 1945 raising of the national colors at Mount Suribachi.
National VSO commanders engage in positive dialogue with Chairman Buyer
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Commanders of four leading national veterans’ service organizations (VSOs) met today with Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) and will accompany him as his guests to the United States Marine Corps Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial this evening.
VA patient safety eroded by unclear package labeling, inadequate protocols, and failures to adopt GAO recommendations
Monday, June 19, 2006
Washington, D.C. – At a hearing yesterday of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on patient safety at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, testimony indicated inadequate coordination between top levels within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and VA, showed how unclear package labeling and instructions contributed to patient safety errors and revealed a lack of standard protocols for safe operating room procedures at VA.
Buyer to work with House Armed Services Committee on helmet improvements
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) participated in a hearing held by Congressman Curt Weldon (R-Penn.), Chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. This hearing was the third in a series held this year regarding Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom force protection issues. The hearing detailed existing combat helmet programs of the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.
Committee highlights repeated failures of VA’s IT system and management
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Vulnerabilities in the Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Department (VA IT) were exposed and made worse when cyber security recommendations went unheeded, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) assessed during a Full Committee Oversight hearing.
Majority Leader Boehner meets with veterans, Chairman Buyer broaches special claims process for data theft
Friday, June 09, 2006
Committee to hold five hearings in June on VA IT Security
Friday, June 09, 2006
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Assesses VBA Fiduciary Program
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Washington, D.C. — Today the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held an oversight hearing on the Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) fiduciary program. Testimony was received on VBA’s implementation of Title 5 of Public Law 108-454, a law to improve fiduciary accountability and enhance protections for the beneficiary.