Printer Friendly Page

       

---------------

DEMOCRATIC PRESS RELEASE

April 19, 2007

Progress for America’s Veterans

First Quarter ‘A’ Grades Sets Stage for Productive Second Quarter

Washington, D.C. – Today, Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Bob Filner (D-CA) announced an ambitious agenda focused on providing funds for the warrior, reaching out to American’s veterans and providing Congressional oversight with results. In the first 100 days of the 110th Congress, the Committee worked with individuals and organizations to take the first steps to honor our commitment to our veterans.

“This Congress has demonstrated that Democrats recognize veteran’s health care as a cost of war,” said Chairman Filner. “In February, we passed a Continuing Resolution that included $3.6 billion above the 2006 baseline. Then the House passed a Supplemental Appropriations Act for 2007 that included $3.4 billion for key veterans programs.” On March 29, the House passed a budget for 2008 that would increase funding for VA health care by $6.6 billion of 2007 figures – the largest annual increase in VA health care in 77 years. The Committee is committed to addressing the serious shortfalls that exist in a VA budget that has suffered years of funding neglect.

Chairman Filner will continue to reach out to America’s veterans. A health care symposium has been planned for May to discuss the health care issues of the newest generation of veterans. The symposium will center its discussion on health issues such as traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. The Chairman will also continue his participation in future veterans service organization breakfast meetings sponsored by VA Secretary Nicholson. The breakfast will augment existing working relations between the Administration, House leadership, and veterans service organizations to ensure that issues important to our veterans are heard at the highest level of government.

“We have made promises to our veterans and we intend to honor our commitments,” said Chairman Filner. “Oversight is only useful when we can better understand and work together to improve the systems and processes that our veterans face.” The Committee will hold oversight hearings to ensure accountability and address continuum of care issues between the Department of Defense and the VA. The Committee has already begun a series of investigations into information security, procurement problems, and medical records sharing between the Department of Defense and the VA.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee will work to provide necessary funding for our nations’ veterans, restore accountability and reach out to the veteran community. This Committee will continue to work with veterans, members of Congress and the VA to deliver on the promises to America’s veterans.

To see the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Report Card for the First Quarter, go to:
 http://veterans.house.gov/spotlight/HVACReportCard.pdf

---------------

Larry Scott

Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage