|
VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.
Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases
Download your
free copy of the
2008 VA benefits
handbook here...
|
Printer-Friendly Version
DEMOCRATIC PRESS RELEASE
July 31, 2008
-------------------------
House Passes Comprehensive Legislative
Package to Improve Veterans Care and Augment Needed Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, July 31, 2008, Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman
of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the House of
Representatives approved seven bills that would improve health care
delivery and augment services for veterans provided by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA).
 Chairman
Filner offered the following statement: “Today, we have considered several
comprehensive and bi-partisan bills that go a long way to address the
health care needs of our veterans and provide for their necessary and
earned benefits. I believe that the tireless work of the members of the
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has provided this Congress with strong
legislation which will help to improve the lives of our Nation’s veterans.
I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate so that we can
further increase access and improve health care treatment for our
veterans.”
The following bills were considered and approved by the House of
Representatives:
H.R. 6445, as amended – The Veterans Health Care Policy Enhancement Act of
2008 (Introduced by Representative Cazayoux)
Provisions of this bill include:
* Prohibiting the collection of copayments from veterans who are
catastrophically disabled (Category Group 4) for hospital or nursing home
care,
* Removing the requirement for written informed consent for HIV testing
among veterans thereby reducing existing barriers to the early diagnosis
of HIV infection and would require VA to follow the same standard of HIV
care that is recommended to non-VA patients,
* Directing VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the
management of pain experienced by veterans enrolled for health care
services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs,
* Mandating the VA to centralize third party billing functions at
consolidated centers, instead of individual VA Medical Centers, and
* Repealing the specification that in order for family members of
non-service connected veterans to be eligible for counseling services, the
counseling must be essential to permit the discharge of the veteran from
the hospital.
Chairman Filner offered the following comment on H.R. 6445: “One very
important provision of the Veterans Health Care Policy Enhancement Act of
2008 addresses VA’s ability to provide counseling, training or mental
health services to family members of veterans who are seeking treatment
for non-service connected disabilities. Accessing mental health services
for family members is particularly important for our newest generation of
veterans and their families, many of whom are struggling with
post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.”
H.R. 2192, as amended – Establishment of the Ombudsman in the Veterans
Health Administration (Introduced by Representative Hodes)
This bill establishes an Office of the
Ombudsman in the Veterans Health Administration to act as a liaison for
veterans and their family member with respect to receiving health care and
serve as a last resort for resolving issues that cannot be resolved at
local or regional level.
H.R. 4255, as amended –United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program
Act of 2008 (Introduced by Representative Filner)
The bill would authorize the VA to make a
grant to the United States Olympic Committee to provide and develop
activities for service members and veterans with physical disabilities.
Chairman Filner provided the following comment on H.R. 4255: “Our nation’s
current commitment in fighting the Global War on Terror has brought to
light the need for H.R. 4255. As the number of disabled service members
has substantially increased over the years, it has become necessary to
expand available rehabilitative services to ensure these men and women are
afforded the best possible care after their service to our country. As
America looks forward to the Olympics this year, it is fitting to provide
this support to our veterans so they can take part in the Paralympic
Program now and in the future.”
H.R 6225, as amended – Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act of 2008
(Introduced by Representative Herseth Sandlin)
Provisions of this bill include:
* Ensuring that equitable relief is available to all Uniformed Services
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) victims when appropriate,
* Protecting the student service member by capping interest at six percent
during deployments, require institutes of higher learning to refund
tuition and fees for unearned credit, and in addition, guarantee our
service members a place when they return to school,
* Providing a service member 13 months to begin paying their student loans
after an activation should they decide not to return to school
immediately,
* Amending the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to cover service
contracts to allow our men and women in uniform with deployment orders to
more easily terminate or suspend their service contracts without fee or
penalty, and
* Amending the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow a military spouse
to claim the same state as the service member in regards to state and
property taxes, and voter registration.
Chairman Filner provided the following statement in support of H.R. 6225:
“When called to duty, service members across our nation must leave their
loved ones behind, along with other responsibilities like school and work.
Unfortunately, as we are witnessing today, some of these service members
are finding it difficult to maintain their job, their residential housing,
or their enrollment at an institute of higher education. H.R. 6225 honors
the sacrifice of our service members by providing them with adequate
protections so they may have the peace of mind that their interests and
their families are protected while serving our nation.”
H. R. 6221, as amended – Improving Veterans’ Opportunities in Education
and Business Act (Introduced by Representative Boozman)
Provisions of this bill include:
* Requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in each contract
the Secretary enters for the acquisition of goods and services a provision
that requires the contractee to comply with the contracting goals and
preferences for small business concerns owned or controlled by veterans,
* Conducting a five-year pilot project to expand on existing work-study
activities for veterans and allow those veterans the option of working in
academic departments and student services, and
* Assisting veterans in obtaining meaningful employment after their
military service by reimbursing employers to offset their cost of training
recently separated service members that could lead to permanent
employment.
H.R. 674 – Repeal the Law Requiring Termination of the Advisory Committee
on Minority Veterans (Introduced by Representative Gutierrez)
This bill would eliminate the provision in
current law that requires the VA Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans
to cease to exist on December 31, 2009.
Chairman Filner offered the following statement in support of H.R. 674:
“Last week, our country observed the 60th anniversary of President
Truman’s executive order desegregating the United States Armed Forces. As
we rededicate ourselves to redeeming our Constitution’s promise of equal
rights for every American, we have the opportunity here today to ensure
that the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans within the Department of
Veterans Affairs can continue its work uninterrupted and fully supported.
Today, more than fourteen percent of veterans are from racial or ethnic
minority groups and the percentage of minorities who will join the
military is steadily on the rise. I ask for your support for this Advisory
Committee as it serves to bring awareness to cultural, racial, and ethnic
issues among veterans to Congress and VA leadership.”
H.R. 5892, as amended – Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization
Act of 2008 (Introduced by Representative Hall)
Provisions of this bill include:
* Directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability
benefits claims processing system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to
ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and
their families and survivors; and,
* Establishing an Office of Survivors Assistance within the Department.
Chairman Filner stated, “H.R. 5892 would comprehensively modernize the VBA
claims processing system and arm it with the up-to-date tools and
paradigms it needs to process claims using integrated information
technology and platforms, while improving accountability, timeliness, and
quality of adjudicated claims. Additionally, it would enhance the annual
reporting requirements of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims as well as provide the Court with more discretion to decide all
issues raised on appeal by appellate veterans. This bill will help VA
update its claim processing system so that the VBA will become a 21st
century, world-class entity that reflects the selfless sacrifices of those
it serves – our veterans, their families, and survivors.”
-------------------------
posted by Larry
Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
Don't forget to read all of today's VA
News Flashes (click here)
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
email Larry
(go
back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page) |
Military
Medical Malpractice
Legal
Network
VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.
|
