Press Releases

Today, Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) introduced the Veterans’ Privacy Act, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to obtain the personal consent of patients before installing cameras in any VA medical center treatment rooms. The bill comes in response to findings last year that officials at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, Fla., installed a… Read more »

Yesterday, Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) and Ranking Member Mike Michaud (Maine-02) introduced the Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013. The bill would require Congress to fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs’ discretionary budget a year ahead of schedule, ensuring that all VA services will have timely, predictable funding in an era where continuing resolutions and… Read more »

Today, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement ahead of President Obama’s State of the Union address: “While I expect President Obama to acknowledge the faithful service and enormous sacrifice of our nation’s veterans during tonight’s State of the Union address, I sincerely hope he will also take… Read more »

The chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs today faulted the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs for backing off plans to create a single computer system to integrate electronic medical records for troops and veterans. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said: “I am deeply… Read more »

Today, Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) introduced H.R. 562, the VRAP Extension Act of 2013. The bill would extend the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) through June 30, 2014, a move that would make it easier for program participants to finish job-training programs they have already started. Originally created as part of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, VRAP provides up to 12… Read more »

At a hearing today investigating a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak among patients of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS), Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations (O&I) Chairman Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06) blasted Department of Veterans Affairs officials for a culture of complacency that led to the deaths of five veterans. “VA officials admitted under… Read more »

Today, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement in response to the new Department of Veterans Affairs report on veteran suicides: “The VA’s report reveals that, despite a dramatic increase in the number of VA resources and programs devoted to suicide prevention, the number of veterans committing suicide has… Read more »

Today, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement on the latest unemployment report: “Today’s jobs report is a sobering reminder of just how bad this economy is for our nation’s veterans. More than 800,000 veterans are jobless and nearly 12 percent of recent veterans are returning home to an unemployment… Read more »

Today, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement honoring the life of former Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield: “I was deeply saddened to learn of former Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield’s passing. Gordon’s life was defined by his service to our country and… Read more »

Today, Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) and Ranking Member Mike Michaud (ME-02) of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs introduced bipartisan legislation (H.R. 357) that would require schools eligible for GI Bill education benefits to give veterans in-state tuition rates even though they may not be residents of the states where the schools are located. “The men and women who… Read more »