VETS LEGISLATION
Woman Veterans Legislation
June 5, 2009
More than 1.8 million of the 23 million American. veterans
are women.
They have an array of unique health care needs that
many VA Medical Centers simply are not equipped to meet.
In the foreseeable future, it is anticipated that
there will be a surge of women seeking care from
the VA as they return to civilian life after having
deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq..
Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin has introduced
H.R. 1211, the "Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009."
Senator Patty Murray has introduced the companion
bill, S.597, in the Senate.
Passage of this legislation will provide benefits
and needed reforms that women who served
in the military warrant because of their service to
our nation
This legislation, when enacted into law, will facilitate
a needed study of barriers to women seeking VA health care; will require
an assessment of the women's health care programs
currently in place at VA healthcare facilities; will provide the VA the
authority to reimburse
the cost of medical care for the newborn children
of women veterans; will enhance VA sexual trauma counseling and PTSD treatment
for women; will
establish a pilot program for child care services;
and will require the addition of recently separated women veterans on various
VA advisory committees.
Please contact your Member of Congress and your Senators
now and ask them to co-sponsor and vote for H.R. 1211
in the House, and S.597 in the Senate, the Women Veterans
Health Care Improvement Act of 2009.
House Committee Marks up Vet Bills
Several bills cleared their respective subcommittees
this week. All of the bills now move to the full committee for consideration.
HR 952 would expand the meaning of combat with the
enemy to mean active duty service in a combat theater during a time of
war
not just during actual combat. The bill aims to shorten
the claims process for many veterans suffering from psychological injuries.
HR 2270 would establish a compensation fund for certain
WWII veterans who were not eligible for readjustment benefits.
Those eligible would receive a monthly payment of
$1000
HR 1037 would authorize $10 million annually to implement
a five-year pilot program to expand work-study activities for veterans
on campuses.
HR 1098, The Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009
would increase educational assistance for veterans pursuing internships
or on-
the-job training. It also increased the monthly training
assistance for eligible veterans and their dependents under
the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance
program.
HR 2180 would waive housing loan fees for veterans
with service-connected disabilities called to active duty.
HR 1821, The Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009
would extend VA's Vocational Rehabilitation program to 15 years following
discharge
or release from active duty. It also authorizes single
parents participating in the program up to $2000 a month for child care
services.
For more information on any of the bills cleared
visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/
OR type the bill # into the box at http://thomas.loc.gov/
Benefits Bill for Women Veterans Cleared:
A comprehensive bill that will improve health care
for female veterans cleared the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on
Health this week. HR 1211,
The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act is
a VFW priority goal. The bill as passed would:
**Authorize $4 million to VA to study barriers women
face in accessing care and another $5 million for an assessment
of the VA's health care services and programs provided
to female veterans.
**Create a new program to offer graduate medical education,
training and certification to mental health professionals who provide counseling,
care and services for veterans suffering from sexual
trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
**Authorize $1.5 million in 2010 and 2011 for a pilot
program to provide child care to veterans who are receiving mental health
or other intensive care services at VA facilities.
**Provide health care services for the newborns of
female veterans who delivered at VA facilities for 7 days after birth.
Last month, the Senate VA Committee passed similar
legislation in a large health care bill. VFW thanks both Senator Patty
Murray
and Representative Herseth-Sandlin for their leadership
on this most important bill.
House VA Committee Hearings
Wednesday: The Full Committee met to discuss homeless
veterans. Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) talked about the commitment
to end homelessness by the Administration and the
growing number of OIE/OEF and female veterans at risk because of poverty
and lack of support from family, friends and program
availability. Panelists discussed VA programs that have proven successful
such as
the Grant and Per Diem program which helps public
and non-profit organizations establish and operate transitional housing
and service centers.
Many suggested increasing the per diem amount for
the program as it uses an antiquated system that does not allow for geographic
differences
and changes in service costs. Witnesses all agreed
that a more comprehensive strategy to combat homelessness to include more
outreach by VA
would help prevent veterans from becoming homeless
in the first place. VA reported that the number of veterans who are
homeless has decreased from 195,000 in 2005 to 131,000
in 2008.
Thursday: The Subcommittee on Health held a hearing
on meeting the needs of family caregivers of veterans. The hearing hoped
to identify
gaps in supportive services to those family members
providing care to severely disabled veterans. Witnesses included representatives
from the
Wounded Warrior Project, National Military Family
Association, VA, DOD, HHS, and groups that provide in-home and respite
care for individuals
in need. Chairman Michael Michaud (D-ME) asked panelists
to comment on recent legislation introduced and what the committee can
provide
by way of economic and other support for those caring
for their wounded family members. Lack of coordination between VA and DOD
when providing
services was the most common complaint of witnesses.
Retired Cmdr. Rene Campos, Deputy Director for government relations, Military
Officers
Association of America said it best when she commented
as a part of her testimony that "There needs to be a commitment from VA
and DOD to work
together to build a total package that will meet the
needs of the servicemember and their families now and into the future."
For more information on the hearings or to view the
recorded webcast go to: http://veterans.house.gov/
Japan Apologizes to American POWs
Japan's Ambassador to the U.S. delivered his government's
historic apology to the former POWs of Japan, their families,
and friends at the last convention of the American
Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor (ADBC) on May 30 in San Antonio, Texas.
In the Pacific Theater, during World War II, over
29,000 American military personnel were captured by the Japanese.
Nearly 40 percent
of those POWs died in captivity as a result of the
Bataan Death March and the horrific conditions that existed in the Japanese
POW forced labor
camps and enslavement at private Japanese companies.
The ADBC, for decades, has been pressing Japan for an apology for the inhumane
treatment American POWs suffered under Japan's colonial
rule during WWII. They also seek an apology from Japanese industry
for their
inhumane actions and to include the American POWs
in a new and permanent Peace, Friendship, and Exchange Fund. Note:
The VFW has
been working closely with the ADBC and the U.S. State
Department over the past six months to facilitate this apology, and to
pressure
Japan to include American POWs in the Peace, Friendship,
and Exchange program.
MAY 8, 2009
Good News for Veterans & The Military as we move
into Armed Forces Week May 8-17, 2009
1. VA Budget Released: President Obama rolled out the
specifics of his FY 2010 budget this week.
Under his proposal, VA will receive $55.9 billion
in discretionary funding, about $5.7 billion more than last year.
The amount exceeds the $54.6 billion recommended by
the Independent Budget.
The funding provided would allow 500,000 more Category
8 veterans to enroll in VA by 2013.
Other budget highlights include:
* $5.9 billion to expand institutional and non-institutional
long term care.
* $4.6 billion to expand inpatient, residential and
outpatient mental health clinics.
* $1.9 billion for five medical facility construction
projects already in progress, and funding for seven new projects.
* $1.8 billion to improve claims processing, which
includes sufficient funding for new GI Bill claims.
* $440 million to improve access to rural health care.
* $360 million for development and implementation
of an electronic health record.
* $183 million for women veterans' services.
* $144 million for a paperless claims processing system.
2. House Small Business Committee Action:
The hearing delved into veterans' employment with
specific emphasis on opportunities for entrepreneurship through legislation
sponsored by Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA). HR 1803,
would establish a veterans' small business program, and enhance opportunities
for veterans wanting to start their own business or
build on an existing one.
Title I of the bill would expand services by providing
entrepreneurial education, information, and resources to assist veterans
in
starting or maintaining a business. The bill
would allow $10 million in grants for veteran business centers in FY 2010
and $12 million in FY 2011.
3. House VA Committee Moves Bills: The House VA Committee
approved several VFW-supported bills by voice vote. The bills include:
* HR 1170 would provide grants up to $200,000 for
development of technologies to improve adaptive housing for disabled veterans.
* HR 1088, The Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training
Act of 2009, would provide a one-year period for training (instead of the
current three) for new DVOPs and LVOPs through the
National Veterans Employment and Training Institute.
* HR 1089 would enforce employment rights of veterans
and members of the armed services employed by the Federal Government.
* HR 466, The Wounded Veterans Job Security Act, would
prohibit any employment discrimination against veterans
who have an injury, illness or disability determined
by VA. The bill was amended to clarify reemployment protections afforded
to service members and veterans in the Uniformed Services
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
The bills now move to the full Committee and get moved
to the House floor for action. For more on any of
the bills, type the bill number into the search
box at: http://thomas.loc.gov/
4. Defense Budget Released: The President released
this week his proposed FY2010 budget, requesting $663.8 billion for defense.
This figure includes $533.8 billion in discretionary
budget authority and $130 billion to support overseas contingency operations.
This is a 4% increase over FY2009 defense spending,
but only 2.1% in real growth after adjusting for inflation. Some
budget highlights are:
* 2.9% across-the-board military pay raise.
* 6% average increase in Basic Allowance for Housing
and a 5% increase in Basic Allowance for Subsistence.
* 2% pay raise for civilian employees.
* Provides $11 billion to fund military housing and
support programs, to include constructing new barracks and family housing
units,
funding for child care centers, youth programs, and
morale, welfare, and recreation activities.
* Fully funds military healthcare this year with no
proposal to raise Tricare fees.
* Provides $3.3 billion to support injured service
members in their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.
* $6.8 billion to buy 30 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters,
and ends production of the Air Force F-22 air-superiority fighter.
* Halts production of the C-17 airlifter program as
analysis has concluded that 205 aircraft already in the force or in production
is sufficient.
* Reduces the Missile Defense Agency program by $1.2
billion by requesting only $7.8 billion.
The program will be restructured to focus on the rogue
state and theater missile threat.
S. 407, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment
Act of 2009:
This bill would provide a cost-of-living increase
for millions of disabled veterans and their families by updating veterans’
disability
compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation
for surviving spouses and children, and additional related benefits.
S. 514, the Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements
Act of 2009:
Following the enactment of the Post-9/11 GI Bill,
this legislation would upgrade the other critical aspect of VA’s education
and training
benefits system: rehabilitation for disabled veterans.
S. 514 would increase VA’s flexibility in paying for veterans’ rehabilitation-related
expenses, boost the living stipend for rehabilitating
veterans, and remove the existing cap on participation in VA’s independent
living services.
S. 728, the Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement
Act of 2009:
This comprehensive bill focuses on providing assistance
to veterans disabled while serving their country and assisting veterans
as
they transition from military to civilian life.
Improvements include a new insurance program for disabled veterans, better
coverage
options for existing insurance programs, extended
benefits for burn injured servicemembers and veterans, and increases
to certain benefits that have not been updated for
many years for veterans and their survivors.
S. 919, the Clarification of Characteristics of Combat
Service Act of 2009:
S. 919 would ease the burden on many combat veterans
seeking compensation for service-connected disabilities. VA would
be required to
issue regulations including standards that VA adjudicators
would use for evaluating the consistency between lay evidence and claimed
matters, such as exposure to factors common to servicemembers
serving in particular combat areas.
MAY 1, 2009
S. 407, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2009:
This bill would provide a cost-of-living increase
for millions of disabled veterans and their families by updating veterans’
disability
compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation
for surviving spouses and children, and additional related benefits.
S. 514, the Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements
Act of 2009:
Following the enactment of the Post-9/11 GI Bill,
this legislation would upgrade the other critical aspect of VA’s education
and training
benefits system: rehabilitation for disabled veterans.
S. 514 would increase VA’s flexibility in paying for veterans’ rehabilitation-related
expenses, boost the living stipend for rehabilitating
veterans, and remove the existing cap on participation in VA’s independent
living services.
S. 728, the Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement
Act of 2009:
This comprehensive bill focuses on providing assistance
to veterans disabled while serving their country and assisting veterans
as
they transition from military to civilian life.
Improvements include a new insurance program for disabled veterans, better
coverage options
for existing insurance programs, extended benefits
for burn injured servicemembers and veterans, and increases to certain
benefits that have not been updated for many years
for veterans and their survivors.
S. 919, the Clarification of Characteristics of Combat
Service Act of 2009:
S. 919 would ease the burden on many combat veterans
seeking compensation for service-connected disabilities. VA would
be required to
issue regulations including standards that VA adjudicators
would use for evaluating the consistency between lay evidence and claimed
matters, such as exposure to factors common to servicemembers
serving in particular combat areas.
April-2009
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtine introduced H.R.
1980 the `North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic
Nonrecognition Act of 2009,” in the House of Representatives.
The bills purpose; “To continue restrictions against
and prohibit diplomatic recognition of the Government
of North Korea, and for other purposes.”
What makes this bill special is that among the many
requirements for recognition is the release of “….an estimated
600 surviving South Korean POWs, and any other surviving
POWs from the Korean War, who have been held in
North Korea against their will and in violation of
the Armistice Agreement since hostilities ended in July, 1953.”
We thank Representative Ros-Lehtine for her inclusion
of our POWs in this important legislation.
April 23, 2009
S. 801, the Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009,
would establish a permanent program for the caregivers
of disabled veterans, providing them with training
and certification, access to VA health care and financial support, and
new travel benefits.
S. 734, the Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality
Act of 2009, would improve health care staffing,
enhance access to quality care, and provide travel
benefits, for veterans living in rural and remote areas.
S. 423, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and
Transparency Act of 2009, would promote timely and predictable
funding for the largest health care system in the
country, which has started 19 of the past 22 fiscal years without knowing
its budget for the year. S. 423 is cosponsored
by a bipartisan group of more than one-third of the Senate,
and is supported by the President and numerous veterans
service organizations.
Parkinson's Bill Reintroduced
April 06, 2009
Vietnam Veterans
Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Bob Filner reintroduced a bill that would grant service
connection for Parkinson's disease for Vietnam veterans.
H.R. 1428 would establish a presumption of service-connection
for Parkinson's disease due to exposure to Agent Orange
for Vietnam veterans afflicted with this degenerative and
incurable condition. Shortly following their military
service in Vietnam, some veterans reported a variety of health
problems and concerns due to exposure to Agent Orange
or other herbicides and pesticides.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee
on Veterans' Affairs.
Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of
2009
April 2009
Congressional Record Statement of Senator Daniel K. Akaka
Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Veterans'
Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009.
This comprehensive legislation, much of which was
considered and passed by the Senate in the last
Congress, would improve benefits and services for
veterans both young and old.
Mr. President, this legislation would make several
important improvements in insurance programs for disabled veterans.
It would establish a new program of insurance for
service-connected disabled veterans that would provide up to a maximum
of
$50,000 in level premium term life insurance coverage.
This new program would be available to service-connected disabled
veterans who are less than 65 years of age at the
time of application. More importantly, unlike VA's Service-Disabled
Veterans
Insurance program, the premium rates for this program
would be based on an updated mortality table,
meaning that premiums under this program would be
fairer to veterans.
This legislation would also expand eligibility for
retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage under
the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program.
This insurance program went into effect on December 1, 2005.
All insured servicemembers under SGLI from that point
forward are covered by traumatic injury protection regardless of
where their injuries occur. However, individuals
sustaining traumatic injuries between October 7, 2001, and November 30,
2005,
that were not incurred as a direct result of Operations
Enduring or Iraqi Freedom are not eligible for a retroactive payment
under the traumatic injury protection program.
This legislation would expand eligibility to these individuals.
This bill would also increase the maximum amount of
Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance that a service-connected disabled
veteran may purchase from the current maximum of $90,000
up to $200,000. In the event of the veteran's death, the veteran's
family is protected because VA will pay the balance
of the mortgage owed up to the maximum amount of insurance purchased.
The need for this increase is obvious in today's housing
market.
In addition, this legislation would increase the amount
of supplemental life insurance available to totally disabled veterans
from $20,000 to $30,000. Many totally disabled
veterans find it difficult to obtain commercial life insurance. This
legislation
would provide these veterans with a reasonable amount
of life insurance coverage.
This bill would also increase certain benefits for
veterans and their survivors that have not been updated for many years.
The minimum benefit rate for low-income parents of
children who have died during military service, or as the result of a
service-connected disability, has remained at only
$5.00 per month since 1975. This is unacceptable. Therefore,
this bill
would increase the minimum Parent's DIC benefit to
$100 per month, and also increase the basic benefit for a parent with
no income to the same level as that provided to low-income
spouses of wartime veterans. In addition, this bill would increase
the
amount of pension paid to VA pensioners who receive
Medicaid benefits from $90.00 per month, which was set in 1989, to $100
per month. In addition, all of these benefits
and benefits for surviving spouses with children would be adjusted by
cost-of-living allowances so that these VA benefits
would never again become so outdated.
Another provision included in this bill would reaffirm
Congress' intent with regard to who should be eligible for a special
monthly pension. Low income, nondisabled wartime
veterans 65 and older qualify for a VA service pension benefit. Those
who
are totally and permanently disabled are eligible
to receive a disability pension with additional monies if they are housebound,
blind, or need help in everyday living activities.
In a 2006 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims ruled
that
an older veteran no longer had to have a disability
rated permanent and total in order to receive housebound benefits.
The legislative history is clear that Congress intended
that only those veterans with a permanent and total disability would
qualify for housebound benefits. This provision
would require VA to provide this benefit as Congress originally intended.
Mr. President, this is not a comprehensive recitation
of all the provisions within this important veterans' legislation.
However, I hope that I have provided an appropriate
overview of the benefits this legislation would provide for
America's veterans and servicemembers. I urge
our colleagues to support the legislation
March 27, 2009
HR 1377, legislation that expands veteran eligibility for reimbursement
by
VA for emergency treatment furnished in non-VA facilities.
HR 1171 was amended and includes provisions from HR 293 and now authorizes
$300 million over five
years for homeless veterans' reintegration programs, to include special
provisions
for homeless female veterans and homeless veterans with children.
HR 1513 which provides a cost-of-living increase for disability and
DIC payments
equal to rates determined by the Social Security index.
All of the bills now move to the House floor for debate and votes.
President Announces New Afghanistan Strategy: "The terrorists who planned
and supported the
9/11 attacks are in Pakistan and Afghanistan," said President Obama,
who announced a new strategy
today to confront the growing threat in the two countries. In
addition to the previously announced troop buildup,
he announced plans for 4,000 more troops into Afghanistan, new legislation
that would help the economies in
Pakistan and Afghanistan, more training to bolster Afghan security
forces, and an increase in civilian expertise
to help develop Afghanistan's economic, social and governmental institutions.
VA Provides Precautionary Screenings: The VA has notified and is providing
free medical screenings
to thousands of veterans across the South who had colonoscopies and
other procedures with equipment
that was not properly sterilized. The precaution applies to:
6,400 veterans who received colonoscopies at the Alvin C. York Campus
in Murfreesboro, TN, between
April 23, 2003, and Dec. 1, 2008. These veterans should call 1-877-345-8555.
More information is available at:
http://www.tennesseevalley.va.gov/news/endoscopyquestions.asp.
3,260 veterans who had colonoscopies at the Miami VA Healthcare System
Special Care Clinic between May 2004
and March 12, 2009. These veterans should call 1-877-575-7256. A press
release is at:
http://www.miami.va.gov/pressreleases/MVAHSSCCUpdate001.asp.
And to 1,800 veterans who had Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic procedures
at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center
in Augusta, GA, from January through November 2008. These veterans
should call 1-888-483-9674.
A press release is at: http://www1.va.gov/augustaga/page.cfm?pg=16.
Veterans Data Theft Settlement: A federal judge last month approved
government plans to pay a total of $20
million to veterans exposed to possible identity theft from a 2006
incident in which personal data on 26.5 million
veterans was stolen and later recovered. The payments will range
from $75 to $1,500 for veterans who incurred
out of pocket expenses for credit monitoring or physical symptoms of
emotional distress. In exchange, lawyers for
the veterans agreed to drop their class-action lawsuit alleging invasion
of privacy in a case involving the government's
largest data security breach. All claims must be postmarked by
Nov. 27, 2009.
To submit a claim or for more information, go to: http://www.veteransclass.com/.
PRESIDENT OBAMA DROPS PROPOSAL TO CHARGE
VETERANS’ INSURERS FOR COMBAT INJURIES!
March 18, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI),
Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called Secretary
Eric Shinseki and issued the following statement today
praising President Barack Obama for dropping a proposal to shift the
responsibility to pay for care for service-connected
injuries from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the private insurers
of wounded veterans:
“I thanked Secretary Shinseki for listening to the
concerns the veterans service organizations, my colleagues and I had
over this proposal to charge veterans’ insurers for
combat injuries. President Obama made the right decision not to move
forward.
Veterans’ care and benefits are a cost of war and
treatment for conditions directly related to service is the responsibility
of the
government alone. I look forward to working
with my colleagues and the Administration to enact the President’s funding
increases
and targeted programs to help VA adapt to the changing
needs of veterans and their families,” said Akaka.
AKAKA INTRODUCES BILL TO IMPROVE
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR DISABLED VETERANS
March 3, 2009
Legislation would result in more flexible, better funded vocational
rehab and remove enrollment cap for Independent Living program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman
of the Veterans’ Affairs
Committee, introduced the Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements
Act of 2009.
“Veterans disabled in our current wars are transitioning from military
service into a challenging economy that is contracting at historic rates.
This bill will give these new veterans more of the help they need by
increasing program flexibility and boosting the
living stipend for disabled veterans undergoing rehabilitation.
These men and women have paid the cost of war,
and now we must do more to assist them as they transition back into
civilian life,” said Akaka.
Chairman Akaka’s veterans’ rehabilitation bill would:
Allow the VA Vocational Rehabilitation program more flexibility in
paying for rehabilitation-related
expenses incurred by recovering veterans who successfully complete
programs;
Boost the living stipend for veterans undergoing rehabilitation, which
will narrow the difference
between the vocational rehab stipend and the 21st Century GI Bill;
and
Remove the annual cap on the number of veterans who may enroll in VA’s
Independent Living program, which assists
severely-disabled veterans in achieving greater independence in their
daily lives.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2009
AKAKA INTRODUCES VETERANS’ EMERGENCY CARE FAIRNESS BILL
Bill would cover gaps in emergency care reimbursement for vets with
limited insurance
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday
U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs
Committee,
introduced the Veterans’
Emergency Fairness Act of 2009. This bill would enable the Department
of Veterans
Affairs (VA) to reimburse
veterans enrolled with VA for the remaining costs of emergency treatment
received
outside of VA’s health
care system if the veteran has outside insurance that only covers part
of the cost.
Under current law, VA
can reimburse veterans or pay outside hospitals directly only if a veteran
has no outside health insurance.
“Because insurance may
not cover all costs, a trip to the ER can leave insured veterans financially
crippled.
My bill would enable
VA to fill the gap for veterans whose outside insurance does not meet their
needs,” said Akaka.
In addition to reimbursing
veterans for future costs of emergency care, the bill would allow the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to
provide retroactive reimbursements back to May 2000 when VA was first authorized
generally to cover the
cost of outside emergency care for veterans enrolled with VA for their
care.
President
of the United States
Barrack Obama
Vice
President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden
Department
of State
Secretary
Hillary Rodham Clinton
http://www.state.gov
Department
of the Treasury
Secretary Timothy F.
Geithner
http://www.treasury.gov
Department
of Defense
Secretary Robert M. Gates
http://www.defenselink.mil
Department
of Justice
Attorney General Eric
H. Holder, Jr.
http://www.usdoj.gov
Department
of the Interior
Secretary Kenneth L.
Salazar
http://www.doi.gov
Department
of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
http://www.usda.gov
Department
of Commerce..?
Secretary-designate:
Judd Gregg
http://www.commerce.gov
Department
of Labor..?
Secretary-designate:
Hilda L. Solis
http://www.dol.gov
Department
of Health and Human Services..?
http://www.hhs.gov
Department
of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Shaun L.S.
Donovan
http://www.hud.gov
Department
of Transportation
Secretary Raymond L.
LaHood
http://www.dot.gov
Department
of Energy
Secretary Steven Chu
http://www.energy.gov
Department
of Education
Secretary Arne Duncan
http://www.ed.gov
Department
of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
http://www.va.gov
Department
of Homeland Security
Secretary Janet A. Napolitano
http://www.dhs.gov
110th
Congress Legislation -Vets Bills Enacted into Law-2008
Senate
Vets Committee Members
House
Vets Committee Members
Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).
SENATE
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Aloha! As the Chairman on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
I am determined to honor this Nation's Veterans
by ensuring they receive the care and benefits they have earned through
selfless service.
I take my leadership role seriously and am constantly looking for new
ways to assist veterans.

CONGRESSMAN BOB FILNER
CHAIRMAN
HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
VISIT DOC'S SITES BELOW
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