Thank you Mr. Chairman,

Mr. Chairman, getting the word out about veteran benefits to our nation’s heroes should be a high priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Printing brochures and handbooks in this day of the internet and instant messaging is still an option, but 21st Century technology needs to be explored. 

On May 20, 2008, the House passed H.R. 3681, as amended, the Veterans Benefits Awareness Act of 2007, which would provide authorization to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to advertise in the national media to promote awareness of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary by allowing the purchase of advertising in national media outlets for the purpose of promoting awareness of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.  This advertising would promote awareness of veterans programs provided by the Secretary, including but not limited to:

• homeless veterans;
• promotion of veteran owned small businesses;
• opportunities for employment in the Department of Veterans Affairs;
• opportunities for education, training;
• compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, and healthcare benefits;
• mental healthcare including the prevention of veteran suicide.

This bill, authored by Congressman John Boozman, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, the Chair of that Subcommittee, was introduced due to concerns raised by officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs that they did not have proper authority to advertise their services to the general public in the national media.  The bill is currently waiting to be taken up in the Senate. 

On June 4, 2008, you and I, following meetings of your personal staff with the VA, sent a letter requesting the Chairman and Ranking Member of the full Committee use the resources of the Committee to explore the potential efficacy of a broadcast public awareness campaign as a means of conducting outreach to veterans at risk for suicide.

On June 16, 2008, Secretary Peake sent out a Memorandum to the Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries and other Key Officials at the Department, clarifying the ability of the VA to produce advertising in the national media.  The memorandum provided that within two months after the delegation of authority, the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs review the purchases of media advertising under this memorandum and provide a recommendation to the Secretary either a continuation of the existing delegation or a new policy. 

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the Secretary’s Memorandum be included in the official record.

Mr. Chairman, I am looking forward to hearing from the witnesses today on the implementation of the Secretary’s Memorandum.  It has been one month since the Memorandum has been issued, and it will be interesting to learn what steps the VA has taken to further inform our veterans about the services the VA provides.

I yield back my time.