VFW Washington Weekly - July 27, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007 at 05:17 PM
by washington
In This Issue:
1. Senate Hearing on VA Funding
2. House VA Committee Holds Hearings
3. Wounded Warrior Commission Recommendations
4. Military Pay Raise Update
1. Senate Hearing on VA Funding
On Wednesday, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss various funding methods for VA. VFW supports an adequate, reliable funding method to ensure timely, high quality health care for all veterans. The Partnership for Veterans Healthcare Budget Reform, of which VFW is a member, called on Congress to approve legislation that would replace the current discretionary funding mechanism with a funding system that is sufficient, predictable and reliable. Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) promised to hold more hearings on the subject. “Taking care of veterans is not a commitment we can continue to subject to the whims of political wrangling and other factors. The time has come for real change in how VA is funded, because we owe that to the men and women we are sending overseas, into battle," he said.
For more on the hearing, visit the Senate VA website at: http://veterans.senate.gov
2. House VA Committee Hearings
The House VA’ Committee and Subcommittees held several oversight hearings this week:
- The full committee held a hearing on PTSD and personality disorders and the challenges facing VA. Witnesses testified on how VA addresses personality disorders, and discussed a recent report by the Institute of Medicine on VA PTSD claims. Current estimates show that approximately one-third of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans may show signs of PTSD. A national report last year said that the number of veterans seeking help for PTSD at Vet Centers rose from 4,500 to more than 9,000 between October 2005 and June 2006.
- The Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Gulf War exposures and what strides VA and DOD have taken to provide help to those veterans who served during 1990/91. According to several servicemembers who served in the first Gulf War, troops exposed to a host of toxic substances are experienced lasting health effects and undiagnosed illnesses. Witnesses agreed that research dollars provided to DOD and VA need to be increased to identify all possible Gulf War exposures and their health-related issues
- The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity heard testimony on contract bundling, the consolidation of two or more contracts into one and its impact on veterans and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The hearing is part of a series on entrepreneurship and self employment, and concerns that many federal agencies are not meeting the 3% set aside for veterans and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. VFW testified earlier this month on federal procurement in support of service-disabled small businesses.
To read our testimony, go to: http://veterans.house.gov
For more information on any of the hearings from this week, go to the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/
3. Wounded Warrior Commission Recommendations
The Presidential Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors announced its recommendations this week after three months of gathering information. The commission put together reports of problems after visiting 23 sites and speaking with injured servicemembers, their families, and with veterans groups and healthcare professionals. The VFW supports 5 of the 6 recommendations. For more information, click here for the VFW press release and Commission’s Report:
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm
4. Military Pay Raise Update
This week the Senate passed HR 1585, the Wounded Warrior Act, and tacked on a 3.5% military pay raise to the bill that would go into effect Jan 1. The House Appropriations Committee also approved the FY08 defense spending measure that fully funds a 3.5% raise. The House version of the Wounded Warrior Act does not include the raise. However, this action demonstrates Congressional support to increase military pay over the President’s request of 3%.
