VA

Directs VA to examine gender differences in prevalence, treatment

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner today successfully amended S.1407, a military construction and veterans appropriations bill, to include language directing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to study how it addresses combat stress in women veterans. A final vote on S.1407 is expected later this afternoon.

The amendment, co-sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Kay Hagan (NC), Dianne Feinstein (CA) and Barbara Boxer (CA), directs the VA to examine the gender differences in the prevalence and diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other combat-related conditions.    » read more »

Bill contains billions of dollars for medical care, women veterans, homeless veterans; includes specific language on Walla Walla VA, South Puget Sound CBOC

November 17, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) helped pass legislation through the full Senate that provides $109 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill passed by a 100-0 vote.

The funding, which is included in the fiscal year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill, is $150 million more than the President requested. The majority of the funding will go directly to health care services which will help cut wait-times, increase access to quality care and mental health services for our veterans.    » read more »

Veterans' Affairs Committee Leaders Suggest Improvements on GI Bill Processing

November 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) wrote Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to suggest ways to improve the processing of the post-9/11 GI Bill.

"Men and women at VA are working hard and working overtime to reduce the backlog of new GI Bill claims. This is a huge transition, and I hope our suggestions will help the Department speed up the process," said Akaka. "I want Secretary Shinseki to know that I am committed to helping him do whatever needs to be done - whether that be in resources or legislation."

The letter outlines potential improvements, including:    » read more »

November 6, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Kit Bond (R-MO) today introduced an amendment that would increase funding to provide transitional housing for homeless veterans, calling it our nation's sacred responsibility to support the men and women who answered America's call to duty.

The amendment would add $6 million to the $144 million already allocated for the Homeless Grant and Per Diem Program through the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. This additional funding would bring the program to its full authorization level of $150 million. The appropriations bill is currently being debated by the full Senate.    » read more »

Five-Year Plan Unveiled at Homeless Summit

November 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, at the “VA National Summit Ending Homelessness among Veterans,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki unveiled the department’s comprehensive plan to end homelessness among Veterans by marshalling the resources of government, business and the private sector.

“President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years,” said Shinseki. “Those who have served this nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope.”    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2009 – The secretary of veterans affairs today announced the framework of a bold initiative to end homelessness among veterans within five years.

VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki outlined the comprehensive plan to an audience of VA officials, other government representatives and private-sector homeless outreach organizers at the VA National Summit Ending Homelessness Among Veterans here. He called the goal an ambitious one that will take a nationwide collaborative effort to be successful.    » read more »

VA Secretary unveils plan at DC homeless summit

November 3, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today praised a plan released by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Erik Shinseki to end homelessness among veterans by marshalling the resources of the government, business and the private sector. According to the VA, the comprehensive plan includes preventive measures like discharge planning for incarcerated veterans re-entering society, supportive services for low-income veterans and their families, and a national referral center to link veterans to local service providers.    » read more »

10/19/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Zack Space (OH-18) today applauded the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for their decision to fast track the application process for Vietnam veterans suffering from Parkinson’s disease, B-cell leukemia, or ischemic heart disease as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.

“This is the right decision for veterans across Ohio and the nation,” Space said. “It will expand access to medical care for millions of our men and women who served in uniform, and it will provide many of our veterans long overdue care for the conditions contracted as a result of their service. “    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – An innovative, far-sighted partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) will improve the health care system for Veterans and dramatically change the way health care is delivered to all Americans, according to Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs W. Scott Gould.

“The future will see VA and DoD working even closer together,” said Gould, “as we fulfill the President’s requirement for a single Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record that will support Veterans from their day of induction to their day of interment.”

Gould spoke Oct. 15 at the second annual DoD “Breakthrough Convention” devoted to improving business practices in the nation’s largest government agency.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2009 – The Veterans Affairs Department continues its efforts to provide the best support possible to the nation’s military veterans, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told a House committee here today.

“We have been busy putting into place the foundation for our pursuit of the president’s two goals for this department: transform VA into a 21st-century organization, and ensure that we provide timely access to benefits and high quality care to our veterans over their lifetimes -- from the day they first take their oaths of allegiance until the day they are laid to rest,” Shinseki said in his written statement provided to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.    » read more »

10/14/09 -- Washington, DC – Just days after meeting with local veterans who have been struggling to obtain benefits under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) is asking for answers from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

At a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning, Secretary Shinseki told Congressman Nye and others that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had anticipated that there would be delays in administering the tuition benefit program, but that they had underestimated the magnitude of the problem.    » read more »

Historic Bill will Provide Advanced Appropriations for the VA

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-Dover) that will provide advanced appropriations for veterans' health care for the first time in history is on its way to being signed into law by President Obama. H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, provides funding one year in advance for veterans medical programs.

The legislation, which Congressman Hall is an original co-sponsor of, passed the House in July. Yesterday, the Senate passed a final version of the legislation. Historically, funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been late in reaching its many critical programs.    » read more »

10/13/09 -- Washington, DC – Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) today applauded the announcement that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki has decided to establish a service-connection for Vietnam veterans with Parkinson’s disease, hairy-cell leukemia or ischemic heart disease. Veterans with these conditions, along with twelve other previously-recognized diseases, will no longer have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service.    » read more »

October 13, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today released the following statement in response to the Veterans’ Administration’s decision to allow Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange to file for service-connected disability benefits and medical care if they are now suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, B-cell (“hairy cell”) leukemia or ischemic heart disease:

“I thank the Secretary for making this important decision. It’s another significant step in the right direction. And it gives many folks who served honorably during the Vietnam War overdue recognition that their service and sacrifice is honored and appreciated by all of us.    » read more »

Senator also working to put downward pressure on prescription drug costs; would save consumers $50 billion

October 2, 2009 -- (GRAND FORKS, N.D.) – As Congress considers ways to improve the overall health care system, Veterans health care remains a top priority, said U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) at the Grand Forks VA Community Based Outreach Clinic today.    » read more »