Legislative
Priorities of the as presented by on February 26, 1998 INTRODUCTION Chairman Stump, Chairman Specter, Members of the Joint Senate-House Committee on Veterans Affairs, my fellow veterans and friends, I am Jack Berman, the National Commander of Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.
I am accompanied today by our JWV's National Legislative officer, the Honorable Benjamin A. Gilman, the President of our Ladies Auxiliary, Rita Panitz, the President of our Descendants of JWV, Mark Greenberg and our National Executive Director, Colonel Herb Rosenbleeth. In the audience today are those JWV members who are here to visit with their Senators and Representatives.
Members of the Committee, it was a singular honor for me to present the JWV Medal of Merit to the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, the Honorable Arlen Specter, at our Congressional Reception yesterday evening, in recognition of his many years of work for America's veterans. It was equally rewarding to JWV to have so many of you participate with us!
I especially express our thanks to the leadership of this joint session, Bob Stump, Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Arlen Specter, Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and a member of our Philadelphia Post 575 of JWV, and the Ranking Minority Members Senator John "Jay" Rockefeller, IV, a previous JWV Medal of Merit recipient, and Representative Lane Evans, the 1997 Medal of merit recipient, for their continuing efforts on behalf of veterans and the national defense of our beloved country.
For over 100 years, JWV has stood for a strong national defense and for just and fair recognition and compensation for veterans. Jewish War Veterans prides itself in being in the forefront among our nation's civic groups in supporting the well-earned rights of veterans, in promoting American democratic principles, in defending universal Jewish causes and in vigorously opposing bigotry, anti-Semitism and terrorism - both here and abroad. Today, even more than ever before, we stand for these principles. Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. represents a proud tradition of patriotism and service to the United States of America!
KEEPING FAITH WITH AMERICA'S VETERANS
Keeping faith with America's veterans is an unbreakable contract the American people must honor. Though the U.S. has not been involved in a "major" conflict for approximately 25 years, we have been involved in a number of regional conflicts, such as Somalia, Panama, Haiti and Bosnia-Herzegovina. I want to remind the Congress that our nation's sacred contract with its citizen soldiers has no statute of limitations. Our veterans deserve to be respected and honored for fulfilling their duty to their country.
It must be recognized that the costs of war or even peacekeeping are not only the immediate costs of the battlefield and logistic costs, but, of necessity, must include the post-conflict costs involved in veteran treatment and benefits.
VETERANS BENEFITS
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) continues to oppose any change in veterans' benefits legislation that would, in fact, result in a reduction in America's obligation of benefits for veterans. Our federal and state legislatures need to be ever mindful of the contributions and sacrifices of our veterans.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (VHA)
JWV is opposed to the reallocation of funds away from certain areas of the country to other areas of the country which is based primarily on quantity of care rather than on quality of care. The gainers are states in the south and the west, the "retirement" states who are deserving of and should receive the additional consideration. The areas sustaining losses are specifically New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois and the Boston area. Our national obligation to veterans doesn't warrant that there be any losers. The nation owes all our veterans, in all parts of the United States, equal access to quality medical care.
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) opposes any attempts by the Congress or the Administration to merge our veterans hospitals with any other hospital or medical facility which will, ultimately, result in the elimination of VA sponsorship or VA usage.
Therefore, all VA facilities must remain open and to those facilities there must be more access and local outpatient clinics must be created. New VA health care rules of eligibility must permit complete access.
VHA assets must include the delivery of high quality care, special capabilities in rehabilitation, long-term care and mental health services, research programs and academic training programs.
The most vital issue confronting VA health care today is its total reliance on appropriated funding. To make qualitative improvements, new additional funding sources are needed and are available through third party reimbursements and Medicare.
FULL FUNDING OF VA HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS
Veterans health care faces a funding crisis. Under the current budget agreement, funding for VA medical care is frozen at current appropriated levels through FY 2002. This planned freeze is incorrectly premised on overly optimistic estimates of non-appropriated funding, specifically the Medical Care Cost Recovery Fund. VA faces the difficult situation of not being able to provide the entitled benefits to veterans that is obligated to do, and steps must be taken this year to prevent those shortfalls.
The veterans community is in agreement that VA should be protected against any shortfall in recoveries from the MCCR fund. Even the General Accounting Office has concluded that recovered funds will be difficult to attain.
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) urges the U.S. Congress to fully fund VA health care programs, not just through 2002, but in perpetuity. Our nation's veterans deserve nothing less than that.
EXPAND HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR VETERANS WITH MEDICARE SUBVENTION
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV), along with its brother and sister veteran organizations, has been a long-time supporter of a program to open access to the VA health care system by allowing Medicare payments for services.
This January, an agreement was reached that outlined a Medicare subvention proposal that will expand access to services at the VA for the millions of veterans eligible for Medicare. The agreement came at the behest of Chairman Stump of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, and Representative Bill Archer of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health. To those two members of Congress, JWV expresses its appreciation for their dedication to pursuing this important legislation with appropriate sincerity. After the announcement that the agreement had been reached, a commitment was made to "introduce this legislation in the near future and move it as expeditiously as possible through [the] committees." We would like to express our fervent wish that this commitment holds true.
Medicare subvention is one of the most important issues that veterans are interested in today. It's speedy enactment will allow veterans who do not have a service-connected disability or are financially needy to have access to the quality care that is delivered in the VA hospitals around the country. It will allow access to certain classes of veterans who are in geographically remote or inaccessible areas to medical care. Currently, many of these veterans are denied access to VA facilities because funding does not cover the cost of their care. This program will change that, and that is why it is imperative that you complete this legislation as soon as possible.
This legislation will address the critical health care needs of our nation's veterans. Creating this program will fill an unfortunate void in the care of our veterans. Allow Medicare subvention and remind these veterans that their service to their nation has not been forgotten.
VETERANS PREFERENCE
JWV considers the enactment of S. 1021 - the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1997 - a critical step toward moving veterans into the 21st century.
For more than 200 years, America's men and women have been ordered into combat and other hazardous environments, often to the detriment of their careers and well-being. It's high time this Nation reciprocated by eliminating the obstructionist hurdles that bar these dedicated men and women from the opportunity to continue serving in governmental agencies.
This legislation, introduced on July 16, 1997 by Senators Chuck Hagel and Max Cleland, does not guarantee anyone a job. Rather, it addresses the critical need to make those laws which help veterans get and hold federal jobs, more user friendly. Most importantly, this legislation would make it a prohibited personnel practice to single out veterans during federal reductions-in-force (RIF's).
S. 1021 reinforces our nation's commitment to our veterans seeking federal employment and retention of those jobs. JWV urges you to do your utmost to facilitate the enactment of this legislation which provides appropriate recognition of the discipline, loyalty and experience inherent in the uniformed services.
DESERT STORM
When Persian Gulf veterans first began to complain of health problems, VA and DOD refused to acknowledge these problems existed. As a result, VA initiated the Persian Gulf Registry and requested legislation which would authorize the treatment of sick Persian Gulf veterans in VA facilities. However, DOD consistently and repeatedly refused to acknowledge the health problems of veterans and active duty personnel until just recently.
Once again, as with Vietnam, we have a conflict without an ultimate victory but with a defined loss of credibility by our government. The Department of Defense and the CIA, by their callous indifference, have lost their credibility in this issue. The lack of acknowledgment of the ramifications of biological and chemical agents present in combat regions of the Persian Gulf, by both the Department of Defense and the CIA, is comparable to refusal by these same agencies to acknowledge the effects of Agent Orange on U.S. troops in Vietnam. The ending result was disastrous to America and the American personnel in the field and continues to plague America and the world still today.
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) calls for full disclosure of all information which was suppressed and which is vital to the resolution of this issue. JWV urges that a Congressional investigation on this cover up issue be conducted immediately, and that any responsible individuals or agencies be held accountable.
In this regard, the announcement by Pentagon officials that military logs for an eight-day period in which thousands of American troops might have been exposed to nerve gas and other Iraqi chemical weapons shortly after the Persian Gulf War in 1991 appear to have been removed or lost and cannot be located despite an exhaustive search.
It is inconceivable that, as testified to, the commanders in the field were unaware of the intelligence and medical reports dealing with the chemical danger in the Gulf.
The American personnel who served in the Gulf War are entitled to be presented with all of the available material in helping them seek cures and treatment for injuries received from undisclosed chemical information at the time due to the intentional or negligent withholding of such information. The situation demands a full and complete investigation by the Congress with resultant corrective action for those who served and who were the victims of governmental indifference.
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF TOGO WEST AS SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Since July of 1997, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been without a Secretary, its principal advocate and leader, following the departure of Jesse Brown from the office. The morale and welfare of DVA is, of necessity, a primary concern of ours. Last fall, President Clinton nominated Togo West as Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Mr. West has since taken that office. We implore the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to speedily and without hesitation move forward on the process of confirmation hearings for Mr. West. It is imperative that the veterans of this country know that the office of Secretary of Veterans Affairs is filled, that the Congress is concerned about an extended vacancy, and that the business of providing the benefits these veterans have earned is being carried out without complication.
PURPLE HEART VETERANS AND VA ACCESS
The Combat Veterans Medical Equity Act of 1997 was introduced to guarantee eligibility for VA hospital care and medical services based on award of the Purple Heart Medal. The bill also sets the enrollment priority for combat-injured veterans for medical service at the second tier- the same level as former Prisoners of War and veterans with service disconnected disabilities between 10 and 20 percent. Under current law, the Purple Heart does not qualify a veteran for medical care at VA facilities. The bill would change the law to ensure combat-wounded veterans receive automatic access to treatment at VA facilities.
Purple Heart recipients are automaticly qualified to be buried in our nation's most sacred cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery, but because of current restrictions in the law, they are not.
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) supports the immediate ratification of this legislation, and the extension of these benefits to this deserving populations of veterans.
VETERAN'S EDUCATION
During a time when the cost-of-living is increasing, and costs of education continue to skyrocket, it is imperative that the U.S. government continue to make available those educational benefits that help smooth transition from the military life to an increasingly competitive civilian workforce. Without the assistance these young men and women need, they will not be able to compete with those entering the workforce from college.
Younger veterans, those that returned from the Persian Gulf, for example, unfortunately experience an unnaturally high unemployment rate compared to national averages. Why? It is our position that inadequate transition opportunities, especially education benefits, is part of the solution to this problem. These veterans want to learn, but are hampered by the costs of today's higher education, the inability of the Montgomery GI Bill to purchase those education benefits, and the penalties they incur for using the benefits they have earned.
The average cost of college tuition has risen to approximately $10,000 dollars per year. Yet, the GI Bill pays only a little over a third of those costs. Other government programs recognize the high costs and provide various options to augment the education stipend. Also disconcerting was last year's Balanced Budget Agreement, which increased higher education spending by over $50 billion, except the agreement didn't include veterans. These are only a few of the negative reasons why the GI Bill is not helping our younger veterans. The time has come for America to deliver on those obligations it makes to each and every veteran who leaves service to his or her country. Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) believes immediate consideration needs to be made towards the expansion of education benefits for all veterans, and not just of the "regular" branches of service, but for the Guard and Reserve components, as well. It is impingent on this government to allow for every opportunity to use the vital and unique resources that come from men and women who have served in the military. Significant improvements in the GI Bill program would be the correct expression of America's gratitude to its young veterans and their families.
BURIAL RITES FOR VETERANS AT NATIONAL CEMETERIES
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) has been concerned by recent news reports that the traditional military honors afforded those who served in our armed forces are now not available, even in our nation's national cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery. Those honors, which include the presence of an honor guard, a rifle salute and the playing of taps, have apparently ben "downsized" due to cutbacks in staffing and the overwhelming increase in the number of requests. Immediate action must be taken by every branch of the Armed Forces to reinstate full military honors for those who have served. To do less is an insult to their service and to their families.
WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL
In a stunning display of contempt for American World War II veterans, the Commission on Fine Arts shot down in July the award-winning design of a memorial to be placed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., despite hours of testimony and pleas from the veterans community across the nation. Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV), has been a supporter of the Memorial since its conception, and both its design and location, and considers this latest insult beyond belief.
The memorial, authorized by Congress ten years ago, was only two steps away from beginning the building process, when the seemingly omnipotent Commission on Fine Arts decided that the design for the Memorial would be confusing for visitors.
America is losing 30,000 World War II veterans a month, and the fact that no memorial is yet built in their honor erases one of the foundations of their lives, their service to this country.
Criticism of the plan, which came from Members of Congress and civic groups, stymied a memorial to the watershed event of the 20th century. Millions of American men and women, whose only wish was to have their sacrifices memorialized for their country and the world, will pass on without that knowledge. This may be America's greatest shame.
With one fell swoop, an agency of the U.S. government, a government that alleges to have the interests of American citizens and veterans in mind, destroyed the hopes of millions of living veterans to have their lives, their efforts, their sacrifices honored in this particular way.
The tragedy will only continue and grow, as the years pass on and the World War II Memorial is not built. Because as the government drags its feet, the population meant to be honored will disappear. The dedication ceremony will come, and there will be no World War II veterans alive to witness it. Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) calls upon the U.S. Congress to expedite the process of having the Memorial design approved and construction begun as soon as possible.
100TH ANNIVERSARY STAMP FOR JEWISH WAR VETERANS
In 1996, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (JWV) marked its one hundredth anniversary as America's oldest, active, national veterans' organization. Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America and its members continue to be outraged by the arrogance and refusal of the autocratic Postmaster General Marvin Runyon to authorize the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp honoring JWV on its Centennial. JWV finds itself at a loss to understand this denial, especially after we met all of the Postmaster General's necessary good faith requirements, including attaining the support of a majority in both houses of Congress. Yet, Mr. Runyon will not abide by his own agreement. JWV views the actions of Mr. Runyon as an insult to all veterans and calls on all to join with JWV in demanding the immediate resignation of Mr. Runyon, and without any grant to him of his required "golden parachute".
JWV appreciates the support of our fellow veteran, military and Jewish organizations who recognize the fairness of our request.
JWV vows to continue fighting for the postage stamp honoring its over 100 years of service to our nation commitment and dedication. JWV also especially thanks Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (R-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on International Relations and JWV National Legislative Officer continue with us in the effort in this noble endeavor.
JWV looks forward to that time when a new Postmaster General will see the moral certitiude in granting commemorative stamps to honor America's veteran organizations.
SUMMARY
Chairman Stump, Chairman Specter and members of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees, JWV members ask for your full support for adequate and meaningful programs and benefits for veterans. I also ask that you consider, among many others, the following positions in your deliberations:
Veteran benefits must be a matter of national obligation and responsibility and must not be considered as being merely a gift or entitlement to be bestowed on a disadvantaged group.
Veterans preference is a matter of recognition of service. As relates to volunteer military service, one of the considerations for entry is knowing that the nation will provide a post-service benefit for the placement of one's life in harms way.
When the veteran was discharged from service he/she received a discharge and a package of rights and not merely a discharge with a living will to be used when we got ill.
A vital part of the rights granted to the veteran is health care -- the caring of those who sustained injuries in the service of their country, who came away with residual injuries and conditions of ill health.
Complete the creation of a demonstration program to test Medicare subvention in the VA system. By creating this program, Congress will remind those veterans who do not have access to VA health care services that their sacrifice in service to their nation does not go unrewarded. This program can be accomplished at no addtional cost to American taxpayers, and should be one of this Congress' highest priorities.
The use of a managed health care approach should involve the delivery of quality care and not be based on costs or quantity. Regional delivery of health care based on such a quantity approach is unacceptable and denies treatment based on need and condition of the veteran patient.
First there was a restriction on funding, so wards were closed for lack of qualified personnel, then managed care made outpatients of those who were confined to the hospitals in treatment so more beds became available, JWV believes that such hospital areas must be reconsidered for its use in the long-term care of our veterans. There must also be an expansion of access and outpatient clinics.
While health care is vital, economic care is also vital to make available housing and job opportunities for the homeless veteran and his/her family. They should not be made into a predicament of economic blight and downsized into a state which deprives them of their pride.
And finally, Jewish War Veteransof the U.S.A. (JWV) request that you consider and pursue our cause for the issuance by the U.S. Postal Service of a commemorative stamp honoring our one hundred years of service as a veterans organization. This will open the door for similar recognition of our brother and sister veteran organizations. They together with us -- side by side -- afford the availability of opportunity on a daily basis by implementing a recognition of service to the twenty seven million living American veterans.
As JWV's National Commander, I thank each of you for affording me this opportunity to appear before you this morning and present JWV's agenda of priorities and concerns. I am prepared to answer any questions, respond to any of your concerns or to clarify any remarks I have made in this presentation. |