Chairwoman Herseth-Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, members of the Subcommittee, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) would like to thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the various bills that have been introduced. We appreciate the efforts of this Subcommittee to address the different needs of the men and women who are currently serving in the War on Terror and those men and women who served during past conflicts.

H.R. 2721, BENEFITS INFORMATION ON COMPACT DISK

PVA supports H.R. 2721, a bill that will require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and the Department of Defense to distribute to all service members upon discharge a compact disk (CD) that explains all health care, compensation, education, and other benefits and services available from the VA. This initiative would seem to support the idea of greater outreach that PVA and all other veterans’ service organizations have been advocating for the VA to conduct. Furthermore, it reinforces the fact that this newest generation of veterans is very much in tune with the information age. The only caution we would offer is that this initiative still may not benefit a great many veterans who may live in highly rural areas, or may have limited or no access to computer and internet services.

H.R.3786, THE “SERVICEMEMBERS TELECOM CONTRACT RELIEF ACT”

PVA fully supports the provisions of this proposed legislation. Just as we testified in 2003, when motor vehicle leases were added to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, it makes no sense to require a service member to maintain a cellular phone, cable or satellite television, or internet contract when they will have no opportunity to use it while on active duty and deployed. The inability of the service member to take advantage of the service should preclude his or her requirement to pay for that service.

H.R. 4255, THE “UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PARALYMPIC PROGRAM ACT”

While we generally supported this legislation in the past, we now have serious concerns about the long-term impact that this association between the VA and the USOC could have on the programs that the veterans service organizations have developed with VA that serve a similar purpose. To this point, the USOC has not been completely open and forthright with any of the veterans’ service organizations who have long-standing partnerships with the VA to conduct the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the Winter Sports Clinic, and similar sports and recreation programs. We believe that there needs to be assurances that VA continues to have independence administering sports and recreational activities for disabled veterans, assurances that the USOC has yet to provide. We also believe separate funding should be provided outside of the direct health care dollars appropriated to the VA. Ultimately, the concepts outlined in this legislation are what need to be reinforced—that sports and recreation programs are about improved health and rehabilitation, not elite competition.

PVA became aware of the VA-United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Military Paralympic Program by its association with VA, as co-presenter of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The NVWG, established in 1981 by VA, is a week-long, multi-sport event designed to introduce the newly injured veteran to a variety of wheelchair sports and recreation activities in hopes that this participation will lead to a healthy lifestyle. PVA’s involvement began in 1985 due to its unique expertise in sports and recreation programs for our members and other severely disabled veterans. We have contributed countless financial and personnel resources throughout the years to these types of programs. Moreover, approximately 80 percent of the 550 total average participants at the Games each year are PVA members. As a result, PVA has a vested interest and commitment to the Games and we are seriously concerned with this new relationship that the VA is developing with the USOC.

H.R. 6070, THE “MILITARY SPOUSES RESIDENCY RELIEF ACT”

PVA supports the “Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.” This legislation would amend the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to state that a military spouse who moves out of state because of the service member’s military orders would have the same option to claim one state of domicile regardless of where they are stationed.

This logical correction in the law will ease transition for military families from one location to another. Both parties in a marriage should be able to file taxes together paying to one state, own property together claiming the same residence, vote at the same location, and have their driver’s licenses from the same state.

H.R. 6221, THE “VETERAN –OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PROTECTION AND CLARIFICATION ACT”

PVA supports H.R. 6221, the “Veteran-Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act.” Almost universally, federal agencies are not living up to standards established for initiating contracts with veteran-owned businesses and disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Public Law 106-50 originally outlined the responsibility of federal agencies to provide at least three percent of contracts with veteran-owned small businesses and three percent of contracts with disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Due to the intransigence of federal procurement officers, new legislation was passed in 2003—P.L. 108-183—that made three percent a mandatory federal procurement policy.

This bill will clarify the process of placing contracts for the VA. If the VA places a contract with any government entity for goods or services and that entity contracts for those goods or services, then the requirement for using a veteran-owned business will apply. This will help veteran-owned businesses receive their share of federal contracts from VA, as Congress has intended all along.

H.R. 6224, THE “PILOT COLLEGE WORK STUDY PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS ACT”

As we stated in testimony on similar legislation earlier this year, PVA supports the provisions of H.R. 6224, the “Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act.” This legislation would create a 5-year pilot program for on-campus work-study positions that may include work in academic departments serving as tutors, research assistants, teaching assistants, and lab assistants or work in student services including positions in career centers and financial aid, campus orientation, cashiers, admissions, records, and registration offices. We believe this work-study program can be very beneficial for many students.

H.R.6225, THE “INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FOR VETERANS ACT”

PVA fully supports the language change to the section of Title 38 that governs enforcement of employment of reemployment rights with respect to state or private employers. The War on Terror has provided unexpected hardship for many National Guardsmen and Reservists seeking employment or a return to a previous job. This simple language change from “may” to “shall” will give the service member a greater hope that a meaningful decision will be made when it comes to his or her employment or reemployment following military service. PVA appreciates the efforts of this Subcommittee, and Mrs. Herseth-Sandlin in particular, to ensure that service members are not punished by a state or private employer with loss of a job when they are called to serve.

THE “SMOCTA REAUTHORIZATION ACT”

PVA supports the “SMOCTA Reauthorization Act.” We recommended the reauthorization of the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act (SMOCTA) program, or a program similar to that at a hearing before this Subcommittee last October. SMOCTA was established during the downsizing of the military for veterans discharged after August 1, 1990, to help those veterans that had limited transferable job skills. This program was a cooperative venture funded by the Department of Defense and administered by the VA and the Department of Labor. This was considered one of the better programs to serve transitioning military personnel.

This program provided assistance in the form of reimbursements to employers who provided training for veterans that led to permanent employment. The program also included funds for assessments, development of training plans, and supportive services for the trainee. The Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER) staff developed the employment and training plans. Veterans eligible for assistance were those with military occupations that were not transferable; those that were unemployed for a long period of time; and those with a 30 percent or greater service-connected disability.

At this time we are facing a similar situation with a large number of young men and women leaving the military, many of whom will not have transferable job skills. A similar program would help these men and women transitioning from the military today, and those Reserve and Guard members reentering the workforce.

Chairwoman Herseth-Sandlin and Ranking Member Boozman, we appreciate the emphasis you have placed on providing for the needs of the men and women who have served and continue to serve in harm’s way. We look forward to working with you to ensure that the best benefits and services are made available to them.

Thank you again for the opportunity to testify. I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.