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Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the first of three annual joint House and Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs veteran service organization (VSO) hearings to discuss the organization’s legislative priorities, concerns, and initiatives on behalf of veterans, their families, and their survivors they represent nationwide. This hearing includes testimony from DAV, AMVETS, VVA, MOPH, BVA, VES, BSW, and ROA.

Good morning.

Thank you all for being here and welcome to my Senate colleagues, Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Blumenthal.

I would like to thank D.A.V.’s National Commander, Mr. Daniel Contreras [Kohn-TRAIR-us], and his wife Teresa for being here today.

I would also like to give a welcome to the D.A.V. Auxiliary National Commander, Christopher Easley. Thank you for being here.

And I’m pleased that there are folks here from the greatest state in the union, Illinois.

THANK YOU for traveling here from our home state, please stand if you are able, let’s give a warm welcome to these folks.

Before we get started, I would like to acknowledge Peter Dickinson and Shane Lierman from the D.A.V.’s National Legislative Staff.

Their hard work on behalf of Veterans has made a real difference,

I am praying for their health and speedy recovery.

This Congress marks a decade on this sacred Committee, and this is my second term as Chairman.

It is an honor to serve all of you.

The mission of the V.A. Committee has always been personal to me.

I grew up around veterans, I know veterans, they are members of my family, and I am a veteran.

Every time I sit on the dais and we’re getting into a debate – whether it’s with the agency, or the other side of the aisle, I’m always thinking of them.

For me, it’s always about the veteran; it’s not about protecting government bureaucracy.

I know the sacrifices each of you have made – especially our disabled veteran community.

Each of you has fought to protect our constitutional rights.

I am particularly proud of the work D.A.V. has done to help disabled Veterans and their spouses find meaningful employment.

You wrote in your testimony that recovery from injury is not complete until veterans are able to find meaning and purpose.

I look forward to hearing more about what D.A.V. is doing to help disabled veterans and spouses reach their professional goals and how Congress can help.

D.A.V. plays a vitally important role in making sure we advance commonsense proposals and conduct oversight to meet the needs of the entire veteran community, no matter where they live, or where they want to work.

Veterans should have the freedom to use the benefits V.A. offers in exchange for their service to meet their individual needs.

And they shouldn’t be spending hours driving in the car to get them.

Or combing through wonky paperwork for months on end.

Or needlessly waiting for a phone call to get a simple answer.

You know where V.A. is falling short.

And you know where we need to push the agency to bring it out of the stone age and into the new age.

You have my commitment that as long as I’m in charge, we will continue to fight for you – and the voices you represent – the hundreds of thousands of veterans outside the D.C. beltway who just want their healthcare on time, and their benefits when they need them.

This old corporal takes that mission seriously, and I know our new V.A. Secretary, my friend Doug Collins, does too.

Under President Trump’s leadership, I know we are going to put you, the veterans V.A. serves, back at the center of V.A.’s mission.

And when the bureaucracy tries to get in the way, I’ll continue to be the first to hold them accountable and get answers for you.

We made great progress through the Dole Act last Congress and I appreciate D.A.V.’s support for this legislation.

By working together, we accomplished some tremendous wins.

Because of the Dole Act, we have a law that will help streamline the disability claims process, reduce veteran homelessness, strengthen mental health care, improve access to at-home care, and much more.

The Dole Act was a great victory for our veterans,

But there is much more that we can do, and will do, with your help.

My door has and always will continue to be open for you.

We must deliver for veterans to protect their healthcare choice, expand economic and education opportunities, streamline benefits, and get it done.

I promise to keep up the fight we are all in together. Now is not the time to take our foot off of the gas.

I look forward to completing our mission alongside all of you.

Thank you, again, for being here today.

With that, I will recognize Chairman Moran for his opening comments.