TESTIMONY OF THE HONORABLE MIKE DOYLE (PA-18) Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Hearing on H.R. 3256, The Veterans’ Right to Know Act
Thank you Chairman Quinn and Ranking Member Filner for extending the opportunity to testify before the Subcommittee today regarding legislation introduced by my distinguished colleague Representative Pascrell. I am particularly appreciative to be able to voice my support for H.R. 3256, The Veterans’ Right to Know Act, as well as contribute to the broader discussion on matters directly impacting the delivery of veterans benefits. First, I want to formally thank Representative Pascrell for being so responsive to my concerns regarding the informational needs of veterans widows and for incorporating related provisions into the legislation before us today. I also want to recognize his longstanding record on working to improve the quality of life for our nation’s veterans. It is always refreshing to see that Members of Congress who do not serve on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee care strongly about the issues that you and I devote so much of our time, effort, and commitment towards. As members of the Committee, you are well aware of how often a lack of a full set of information is made available to us by the Department. Without information, be it basic and rudimentary in nature or in-depth analysis, sound decision making becomes elusive and at times nearly impossible. Thus, whether the matter at hand is the Committee’s evaluation of the Department’s Capital Asset Plan, review of initiatives to reduce health care waiting times, or an individual’s attempt to determine what their benefits are - the level of frustration is the same and should be taken just as seriously. I truly believe this and that is why I think it is beneficial whether it be in putting together witnesses to testify before the Committee or in drafting legislation that it is prudent to always put the thoughts and concerns of the people directly affected at the forefront. That is why I took great note of the first hand experiences relayed to me by members of the Veterans’ Widows International Network when they visited my office last Spring. At that time members of the Network detailed the personal difficulties they had endured and strongly advocated for the establishment of a central national office within the Department to oversee all needs of veterans widows and other related beneficiaries. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this organization, the Veterans’ Widows International Network was established in 1995 and has dedicated itself to reaching out to veterans’ widows to inform them of benefits for which they might qualify, to providing them with a point of contact for processing their claims, and to keeping them abreast of changes. The Network has done an admirable job in this respect, but if you are like me you are probably wondering why the Department isn’t providing these services. There are a whole host of challenges that the Department would argue that preclude them from improving adequate access to, and the timely processing of, such information. But that just isn’t good enough and that is why Congress should make it a priority to pass The Veterans’ Right to Know Act as well as other important legislative initiatives such as Representative Evans’ Duty to Assist Veterans Act. While we all recognize what needs to be done to improve the flow of information to veterans and their families which in turn will better facilitate the delivery of appropriate health care, I want to briefly touch upon what is actually happening in the networks in my area of western Pennsylvania. All ten networks in VISN 4 will be embarking on an initiative appropriately named "Family Matters". The Family Matters initiative is committed to ensuring that family involvement is present in every aspect of the provision of care to the veteran. Furthermore, in keeping with the outreach aspects of the Veterans Right to Know Act "family" means not only the traditional family unit of the spouse, children, and extended family relatives, but also all of the non-traditional families of significant others who are interested and involved in the welfare of the veteran. I think the decision to implement such an initiative makes good sense, but again its success is predicated on an individual veteran being aware of what benefits they are indeed entitled to. So again, on many fronts it is clear that there is a great need for legislation such as The Veterans Right to Know Act. It is my hope that members of the Subcommittee will recognize this fact and act expeditiously to move the bill through the Committee. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Back to Witness List |