News List

Today, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) received testimony considering eight pieces of pending legislation: H.R. 4142, H.R. 4114, H.R. 2051, H.R. 2498, H.R. 2377, H.R. 2717, H.R. 4168, and H.R. 4213. The American Heroes COLA Act (H.R. 4142), introduced by DAMA Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jon Runyan provides for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be… Read more »

The largest contractor building Orlando's overdue VA Hospital told Congress on Tuesday that red tape and design errors could add $120 million or more to the original $665-million price tag – an overrun that ultimately would fall on U.S. taxpayers. Read more »

Contractors building a new veterans hospital in Orlando told a congressional panel Tuesday that the complex — already months behind schedule — will be delayed longer and could cost more than $100 million extra to finish. Read more »

When the Veterans Affairs Department broke ground on a $717 million, 1-million-square-foot hospital in Orlando, Fla., in October 2008, it expected to be finished by October 2012. Read more »

U.S. House lawmakers reviewing the construction of major veterans hospitals got a positive report on Tuesday from the company that built the new VA medical center in North Las Vegas. Read more »

The Department of Veterans Affairs says it’s trying to recover millions of dollars from prosthetic limb manufacturers that have been overcharging for the artificial arms and legs used by veterans. Read more »

Today, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) held a hearing to review the progress made by the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) in implementing the Integrated Disability Evaluation System, or IDES. A servicemember is referred to IDES when their active duty status is questioned through either physical or mental injuries incurred on… Read more »

Today, members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs questioned VA officials regarding four major construction projects in Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, Denver, Colorado, and New Orleans, Louisiana, estimated to cost more than $3 billion, as well as to receive status updates on VA major medical facility leases, which collectively have start up costs of $442 million,… Read more »

In my travels to military installations around the world, and visiting with veterans around the country, I have witnessed the powerful symbolism of an empty chair draped in a POW/MIA flag representing those missing in action... Read more »

Today and yesterday, during joint hearings with members of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees, the Committees heard testimony from numerous veterans’ organizations on their legislative priorities for 2012. The organizations represented included the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the National Association of… Read more »