Press Releases

Today, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) awarded its House Staffer of the Year Award to House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Staff Director Mike Brinck. VVA recognized Brinck, along with two other Capitol Hill staff members for their “untiring efforts on behalf of America’s veterans and their families.” “As a Vietnam… Read more »

Today, Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) made the following statement regarding the new Department of Veterans Affairs initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for veterans who have waited one year or longer. “While this new approach sounds promising, we will be monitoring it closely to make sure it’s good policy rather than just good PR. Driving our skepticism is the… Read more »

Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs sent a bipartisan letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Chuck Hagel urging him to follow through on a February 2013 plan to improve disability benefits claims processing for transitioning service members and veterans. The mutually agreed upon plan that the DoD and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) struck calls for the DoD… Read more »

Today, Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) hosted the first HVAC Veterans Service Organization Roundtable of the 113th Congress. The event brought together representatives from nearly 30 Veterans Service Organizations, HVAC members and congressional leaders for an off-the-record discussion regarding perennial veterans-related challenges such as VA’s benefits claims backlog and mental… Read more »

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 »