On Friday, October 14, 2011, the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Representatives Jeff Miller and Bob Filner, and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Senators Patty Murray and Richard Burr, submitted a joint letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.
The letter urges the… Read more »
In a 418-6 vote, the House stands behinds veterans. (Click here to learn more about the VOW Act)
The U.S. House of Representatives passed six pieces of veteran legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support this week (H.R. 2433, as amended; H.R. 2074, as amended; H.R. 2302, as amended; H.R. 2349, as amended; H.R. 1263, as amended; and H.R. 1025).
“The House of Representatives… Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs heard testimony from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on problems that have plagued the Miami VA Medical Center (VAMC) for years including patient safety, compliance, budget and leadership issues, as well as several recent incidents involving veteran deaths. Members of the Committee were clearly disturbed by trends, which have… Read more »
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the most comprehensive jobs legislation introduced to end veteran unemployment – the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011 (the VOW Act). On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the latest unemployment figures, and while the national unemployment rate held at 9.1%, there was an alarming rise in veteran unemployment… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs received an update on the state of Arlington National Cemetery. After years of poor management and neglect, it was revealed in 2010 that problems at the nation’s preeminent cemetery were rampant and included inaccurate burial records, unmarked graves, and a lack of accountability among senior management.
In… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Health held an oversight hearing on the Federal Recovery Coordination Program (FRCP) and uncovered a worsening problem of care coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). The hearing was in response to a previous oversight hearing in May that exposed significant issues with the FRCP, which is meant to… Read more »
Today, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity received an update on the VA-U.S. Paralympic Adaptive Sports Program. In the past year, the program has funded 72 organizations across the nation, helping disabled veterans overcome their injuries through adaptive sports. Through the program, U.S. Paralympics and VA hope to reach out to an additional 30 organizations in the coming… Read more »
Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs announced two new Members to its roster with the addition of Reps. Mark Amodei (NV-02) and Bob Turner (NY-09), both veterans of the U.S. Army.
“I am pleased that Rep. Amodei and Rep. Turner have joined the Committee to represent America’s veterans,” stated Rep. Jeff Miller (FL-01), Chairman of the House Committee on… Read more »
Today, during a joint hearing, the members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs heard testimony from The American Legion on its 2012 legislative priorities—priorities that focus on ending unemployment for America’s veterans.
“The jobless issue facing our veterans is critical. We have a goal at the… Read more »
Today, the House of Representatives passed the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011 (H.R. 2646—as amended), with a vote of 412-3. The Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011 ensures funding for VA hospital construction projects and medical facility leases in FY2012, as well as extends special at-need programs for homeless veterans,… Read more »
