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Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a joint hearing to hear the 2019 Legislative Presentation of The American Legion.

Below are Ranking Member Rep. Phil Roe's, M.D. (R-Tenn.) remarks:



Opening Remarks As Prepared for Delivery:

Welcome, Commander Reistad, to you and to all of members of The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of The American Legion who are with us today.

It is an honor for me to be here with you this morning and it is a particular honor to be here with Legionnaire’s from my home state of Tennessee.

Will my fellow Tennesseans please stand, if you are able, or raise your hand and be recognized?

Thank you.

I know from personal experience the commitment to country and to service that The American Legion members exemplify in communities, including mine, across this great nation.

I also know from personal experience the leadership that The American Legion’s top-notch executive and legislative team exemplify right here in our nation’s capital.

Last Congress saw a record number of transformative pieces of legislation signed into law to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs in ways both large and small.

That would not have been possible without the dedication, the partnership, and the support of The American Legion.

I look forward to continued collaboration with you, Commander Reistad, to ensure that the legislation that we worked so hard to see signed into law is implemented as we intended and serves to further our common mission to uphold President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have borne the battle.

Last week, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 - or AMA - went live.

The AMA completely revamped the way disability claims appeals are processed at VA and, critically, gives veterans greater choice and control over how their appeal is handled by VA.

I remain committed to continuing to work with The American Legion in making sure that veterans are well served by that new process.

Another issue that is near and dear to my heart - and, I know, to all of yours as well - is the fight for our Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans.

Last Congress, the House passed 382-0 the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018.

I will do all in my power to see that bill passed by the House again this Congress and then taken up and passed by the Senate soon after so that all Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans receive the benefits they are due.

Another top priority of mine is to ensure strong, effective, ongoing oversight of the VA MISSION Act.

The MISSION Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation.

When enacted, it will impact virtually every facet of the VA health care system and increase access to high-quality care in VA medical facilities, in the community, and via telehealth.

It will result in a VA health care system that is stronger and better able to care for veterans and their caregivers both today and for generations to come.

It will NOT result in privatization.

That said, a law as transformative as the MISSION Act doesn’t come with an instruction manual and I anticipate that there will be some stumbling blocks and struggles in the weeks and months ahead that will once again require our collective effort to overcome.

I remain committed to that process and to keeping my door open to The American Legion throughout it.

I will also continue to holding Secretary Wilkie’s feet to the fire with regard to the implementation of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 until I am confident that every veteran has received the benefits to which they are entitled -- and to the implementation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 until I am confident that VA is appropriately adjudicating allegations of misconduct or poor performance and treating whistleblowers with the respect and seriousness with which they are entitled. 

Last, but certainly not least, I am also committed to closely overseeing the Electronic Health Record modernization.

Greater information technology support, generally, and improved coordination between VA and the Department of Defense, particularly, are key to VA’s future on every front.

I commend Chairman Takano for retaining the Technology Modernization Subcommittee that we established last Congress and look forward to significant work this Congress to address VA’s myriad technology needs.

Commander Reistad, we should all be extremely proud of the work that we have accomplished together the last two years.

However, as you can see, we still have quite a bit of work still ahead of us. 

I am glad to have you and your fellow Legionnaire’s as our steadfast partners in that work and thank you all again for being with us here in Washington this morning.

I look forward to receiving your testimony and I yield back my time.