MADAM CHAIRWOMAN AND MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE:

On behalf of the 2.1 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and our Auxiliaries, the VFW would like to thank this committee for the opportunity to present our views on this today’s pending legislation.

H.R. 114—Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act

This legislation seeks to allow a veteran to utilize Chapter 30 or Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits for business expenses, start up, and/or operation as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The VFW opposes to this legislation.  The intent of the GI Bill is to provide training and education.  The GI Bill is a unique program where veterans may attend business school or take classes to strengthen their business aspirations.  The purpose of the GI Bill is to provide education, training, and the skills to help veterans succeed, not to provide start up money.  The Small Business Administration (SBA) has programs, which address the specific needs of business start-ups.      

The VFW opposes this shift in the use of MGIB as VA has not historically managed business programs, and this may result in duplicative efforts between VA and SBA.  The SBA in association with the VA established the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE), which extends services to veterans who own or who want to start small businesses.  It helps federal contracting offices identify these businesses and provides potential contracting and subcontracting opportunities.  The CVE also works with Veterans Business Development Centers nationwide to help veterans with business financing, management, bonding, and technical support.  Further, the SBA provides opportunities for small grants and loan guarantees to help veterans start and grown their business.  Any veteran wishing to venture into entrepreneurship should be referred to these organizations and opportunities, not the VA.  The VFW supports improving these services wherever possible.

H.R. 3685—a bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website.

This legislation seeks to regulate VA’s Website by mandating that a link for the VetSuccess page be accessible from VA’s homepage under a unique subheading entitled, “Veterans Employment.”  This bill would also promote veterans employment tools through the use of advertisements and outreach. Currently, VetSucess is accessible through a dropdown menu on VA’s homepage.  While the VFW strongly supports all efforts to improve, outreach and promote veterans employment. 

We cannot support this bill because its mandate is too constrictive on the display of information on VA’s Website.  VA must present a vast number of programs and services to all visitors to the VA Website in the most clean and efficient manner.  Legislating specific menus, headings, or access points could have the effect of limiting VA from promoting other programs or services that are just as valuable to its visitors.      

H.R. 4319—Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement Act of 2009

The VFW supports this legislation to create a pilot program in Fiscal Year 2011 to provide financial assistance for disabled veterans to adapt the house of a family member they are temporarily residing in, and not have that dollar amount count against any assistance they are eligible to receive to build or buy and modify their own home.  According to a June 2009 Government Accountability Office report, only nine veterans have taken advantage of the temporary residence adaptation grants. The report listed the fact that these grants count against the money received for building their own home as one of the reasons the grant was applied for so infrequently.  H.R. 4319 will help disabled veterans modify a family member’s home without penalty.  This bill could be a significant step toward improving the quality of life for disabled veterans, which is a legislative improvement the VFW will always support. 

H.R. 4635—Foreclosure Mandatory Mediation Act of 2010 

This bill amends the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 to require the mortgagee, mortgagor, and a housing counseling agency to provide mediation as a prerequisite to a foreclosure proceeding or a sheriff sale.  This bill would impact the entire housing industry, help numerous Americans facing foreclosure, and is not exclusive for veterans or Veterans Affairs.  H.R. 4635 has the potential to save veteran’s home; the VFW supports this legislation. 

H.R. 4664—a bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for a one-year moratorium on the sale or foreclosure of property owned by surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, servicemembers are exempt from foreclosure or seizure of property for a period of 9 months following their return from deployment.   This legislation would extend this same protection, to a surviving spouse of a deceased servicemember supporting OIF/OEF.  This bill would also extend the period of protection for survivors from 9 months to one year. 

The VFW is proud to support this legislation, which would help provide some relief and peace of mind to survivors dealing with the financial and emotional aftermath associated with the servicemembers death.   

H.R. 4765—a bill to amend Title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes.

We support amending Title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes. 

As this subcommittee is well aware, the sunset date of the work-study pilot, authorizing work study for outreach/domiciliary care/cemeteries, is fast approaching on June 30, 2010.  Currently, this extension is tied up in the benefits bill (HR 1037) that has yet to be completed from last year.  The VFW would like to stress the importance of work-study programs in the offices that rely on these talented veterans, and attest to the education and professional development each veteran gains by participating in this program.  We look forward to continuing to work with both the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees to address this legislation and ensure these veterans continue to have the opportunity to develop professionally while in college. 

H.R. 5360 - Blinded Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act 2010

This legislation expands eligible ocular injuries for compensation under Title 38, Section 2101 (b)(2)(A).  It changes a “5/200 eyesight or less” to “20/200 eyesight or less, or a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less.” 20/200 eyesight is better than 5/200 eyesight.  Resulting in greater compensation for individuals with 20/200 vision. 

The top number represents the distance in feet from an object to discern the nature of the object. Also, peripheral field describes the area viewed outside of the direct line of sight; 20 percent means only 1/5th of a persons’ peripheral vision is clear.  Hence, this legislation expands compensation to veterans with restricted peripheral vision as well.

The VFW strongly supports this legislation. 

Draft Bill—Veterans-Friendly Business Act of 2010 

The VFW strongly supports this legislation.  This legislation, under the direction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, establishes an annual award program for businesses that dramatically contribute to veterans’ employment.  This bill will help raise awareness and stress the value of veterans in the American workplace.  The VFW applauds businesses who lead in this field.  They deserve due recognition to set the example for all employers.

The VFW encourages Congress to consider adding the accolades of the Secretary of Labor to this award.  In adding DOL, the government has the opportunity to elevate veterans’ employment among the two agencies that are charged with addressing this issue.  We feel employers would be further rewarded by the due recognition from both Secretaries. 

Thank you, this concludes our testimony.  I would be happy to answer any questions this committee may have.