Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing Empty Chairs

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
June 7, 2014

Readers of Wounded Times have been taking a trip down memory lane into the abyss. When looking back at the problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs we know that it isn't political since both sides failed but it is about politicians.

As Americans were deluded into believing the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee was serious about the problems our veterans face, it turned out to be a lot of talk from a lot of politicians leaving empty chairs in their place.

As representatives of veterans groups sat down to talk about what veterans were dealing with, you can see the empty chairs around Senator Bernie Sanders

That video clip came after Senator Richard Burr walked out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee meeting as soon as veterans groups were seated.

After seeing all the empty chairs, we can be assured they really don't care or an issue this huge would have had every chair full of politicians actually doing something instead of just pretending to care.

After the veterans representatives were done testifying, Burr returned and dismissed them,

I lost count on how many groups I am involved with. It is not just something I do once in a while. It is an obsession because I have been surrounded by veterans all my life. The saddest part of all of this is things are this bad after decades of broken promises from politicians. Empty chairs may explain why things are the way they are. Too much political games and too few interested in doing the right thing.

The Veterans Affairs Committee has been doing a lot but no one seems to be willing to discuss what they did wrong.

Take a look at when Democrats held the House at all the things they did. Starting backwards makes a lot of sense.

111th Congress

1/22/2010 Improvements Ahead for Post 9/11-G.I. Bill Claims System

1/21/2010 House Veterans' Affairs Committee Meets with VSO Leaders

12/16/2009 Clear Need for Procurement Reform at VA:

12/7/2009 Herseth Sandlin Leads Discussion on Educational Options for Veterans

12/7/2009 House Committee Examines How Federal Dollars Get to Local Veterans for Health Care

12/7/2009 More than 200 Members of Congress Agree: Agent Orange Veterans Deserve Compensation for Their Sacrifice!!

11/4/2009 House of Representatives Votes to Enhance Veteran Protections: A Congressional “Thank You” for Veterans Day

10/28/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Advances Bills to Enhance Veteran Protections

10/23/2009 Landmark Legislative Victory for Veterans!

10/22/2009 Chairman Filner Supports Veteran Athletes and Military Paralympic Program

10/22/2009 Landmark Legislative Victory for America’s Veterans!!

10/21/2009 Emergency Stipends Successfully Reach Veteran Students

10/16/2009 Secretary Shinseki Provides Update on the State of the VA to Congressional Panel

10/14/2009 Chairman Bob Filner Releases Statement on Agent Orange Decision

10/14/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Advances Bills to Enhance Veteran Protections

10/14/2009 Hall Leads Discussion on Proposed Regulation Change Regarding PTSD Determinations for Veterans

10/8/2009 House Passes Historic Bill to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care

10/2/2009 VA Provides Encouraging Progress Report on Going Green

9/29/2009 Congressional Panel Spotlights Waste, Inappropriate Use of VA Resources

9/25/2009 Most – Not All – Veterans Getting Prescription Drugs They Need

9/25/2009 Congressional Panel Calls on VA to Do More to Honor Sacrifice of America’s Veterans

9/17/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Roundtable on Veterans’ Treatment Courts

9/15/2009 Filner Applauds VA Decision to Restart National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study

9/14/2009 The American Legion Presents Legislative Agenda to Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

9/14/2009 Herseth Sandlin Urges Stronger Management Oversight of VA Projects

September 2009

9/25/2009 Congressional Panel Calls on VA to Do More to Honor Sacrifice of America’s Veterans

9/17/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Roundtable on Veterans’ Treatment Courts

9/15/2009 Filner Applauds VA Decision to Restart National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study

9/14/2009 The American Legion Presents Legislative Agenda to Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

9/14/2009 Herseth Sandlin Urges Stronger Management Oversight of VA Projects

August 2009

8/5/2009 Filner Bill Allows Elderly Veterans to Use Their Earned Medicare Dollars for VA Health Care

8/5/2009 California Veterans to Get Full GI Bill Benefit: Agreement between State of California and VA Will Result in Dramatic Increase in Benefits for Yellow Ribbon Program

July 2009

7/31/2009 VA’s Limited Scope of Research Prevents Gulf War Vets From Getting the Benefit of the Doubt

7/31/2009 VA Stumbles in Providing Vocational Rehab to Veterans

7/30/2009 Paralympians Inspire Others to Be Better and Do More

7/30/2009 VA’s Limited Scope of Research Prevents Gulf War Vets From Getting the Benefit of the Doubt

7/27/2009 House Passes Bill to Provide Unprecedented Support to Veteran Caregivers

7/23/2009 Critical Warning Signs Missed at Philly VA Weak Oversight Efforts Fail to Protect Veterans

7/21/2009 State Approving Agencies See Expanded Role Under Post-9/11 G.I. Bill

7/21/2009 Hearing Spotlights Immediate Needs of Nation’s Women Veterans

7/15/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Bill to Provide Training and Support for Veteran Caregivers

7/14/2009 Deadline Looms for VA-DOD Interagency Office on Military Electronic Health Records

7/13/2009 House Votes to Strengthen Work Study Program for Returning Veterans

7/10/2009 House Passes Advance Appropriations for Veterans Health Care in Veterans Funding Bill

7/10/2009 House Approves Filner Amendment to Support Paralympic Program for Injured Vets

June 2009

6/26/2009 VA Set for Start of Post-9/11 GI Bill on August 1

6/25/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Provide Greater Support to Veterans and Survivors

6/24/2009 House Passes Historic Bill to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care

6/24/2009 House Votes to Improve Care for Women Veterans

6/23/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Claims Process for Veterans

6/19/2009 VA Addresses Failures of Contaminated Equipment Use

6/19/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health Reviews Legislation

6/12/2009 CARES Process Lacks Transparency, Performance Measures

6/10/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Historic Bill to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care

6/8/2009 House Affirms Commitment to Nation’s Veterans, Men and Women in Uniform

6/8/2009 More Support for Caregivers of Veterans Needed

6/3/2009 Too Many Unmet Needs for America’s Veterans: Losing Veterans to our Streets May 2009

5/21/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Roundtable to Address Issues Confronting Women Veterans

5/20/2009 VA Unresponsive to Questions, Needs of Gulf War Veterans

5/20/2009 As VA Reaches Out to Veterans, Health Care Access Issues Magnify

5/19/2009 House Passes Bills to Honor America’s Veterans: A Congressional Thank You for Memorial Day

5/14/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Appellate Process for Veterans

5/14/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Appellate Process for Veterans

5/14/2009 Federal Contractors Not Taking Necessary Steps to Employ Veterans, Say Veterans Groups

5/13/2009 Private Sector Groups Present Cutting Edge Technology and Treatment Options for Veterans at Hearing

5/12/2009 House Votes to Thank WWII Service of Merchant Mariners

5/8/2009 Congress Must Act to Restore Earned Benefits to All Vietnam Veterans – Including “Blue Water” Vets!

5/6/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Committee Advances Legislation

April 2009

4/30/2009 Chairman Hall Holds Hearing to Discuss the COMBAT PTSD Act, H.R. 952

4/30/2009 Filner Applauds Passage of Budget Resolution that Increases Veterans’ Funding

4/30/2009 Care Coordination for Seriously Injured Veterans Improving

4/30/2009 Filner Holds Hearing on Advance Appropriations for Veterans’ Health Care

4/6/2009 Chairman Filner Names Martin L. Herbert Majority Staff Director of Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee

4/2/2009 Filner Applauds Passage of House Budget Resolution that Increases Veterans’ Funding March 2009

3/30/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Combat PTSD

3/30/2009 House Advances Important Veterans Bills

3/25/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Committee Advances Legislation

3/23/2009 Filner Reintroduces Bill to Help Vietnam Veterans Suffering from Parkinson’s Disease

3/19/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittees Advance Legislation to Improve Care and Benefits for Veterans

3/19/2009 Health Subcommittee Reviews New and Existing Health Care Programs for Rural Veterans

3/18/2009 VFW Presents Legislative Goals at Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

3/17/2009 Veterans Groups Present Legislative Goals at Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

3/17/2009 Billing Our Heroes: It’s DOA!

3/17/2009 DOD and VA Let Veterans with Eye Injuries Down

3/13/2009 Filner Releases Views on VA Budget Request

3/10/2009 Obama Budget 2010: Responding to the Needs of Our Veterans

3/6/2009 Veterans Groups Present Legislative Goals at Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

3/3/2009 Health Subcommittee Reviews Legislation

3/3/2009 House Subcommittees Probe Mishandling of Veterans Disability Claims

February 2009

2/26/2009 DAV Presents Legislative Agenda at Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

2/26/2009 Filner Honored for Protecting Veterans’ Education Benefits

2/26/2009 Obama Budget 2010: Responding to the Needs of Our Veterans

2/26/2009 New G.I. Bill On Track for August

2/14/2009 Finally, Equity for Filipino WWII Veterans!!

2/14/2009 Filner Pledges to Fight for Budgets Worthy of Our Veterans

2/13/2009 Filner and Akaka Reintroduce Legislation to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care through Advance Appropriations

2/13/2009 Filner Introduces Bill to Ensure Parity for Veterans Taking On-Line Courses

2/11/2009 Congressional Leaders, Veterans Orgs and Former VA Official to Hold Press Conference Supporting Advanced Funding of Veteran's Health Care

2/9/2009 Filner Reintroduces Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act
v 2/5/2009 “Shinseki Off to Great Start,” says Filner

2/2/2009 Keeping the Promise: A Veterans Agenda for the 111th Congress

2/2/2009 Filner Urges More Veterans Spending in Stimulus Package January 2009

1/22/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Adopts Oversight Plan for the 111th Congress and Officially Names Members

1/21/2009 FILNER APPLAUDS CONFIRMATION OF VA SECRETARY SHINSEKI

1/15/2009 FILNER APPALLED BY LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, LEADERSHIP AT VA

December 2008

12/17/2008 Filner Discusses Veterans Issues on Dr. Phil Show

12/8/2008 Filner Pleased With Obama Pick of General Shinseki to Run Troubled VA

November 2008

11/20/2008 Filner Re-elected Chair of House Vets Committee

11/19/2008 Filner to VA: Confidence in VA Completely Shattered by Recent Document Shredding

11/18/2008 Herseth Sandlin Continues to Monitor Progress of New G.I. Bill

October 2008

10/14/2008 Filner Victorious in Fight for Expansion of Veterans’ Health Care and Benefits

10/14/2008 Congressman Filner’s Bill Extends Purple Heart to All Deceased Prisoners of War!

10/1/2008 Filner Applauds Enactment of Veterans’ Spending Bill

September 2008

9/24/2008 Filner Leads House in Passage of Comprehensive Bills to Help Veterans Prevent Foreclosure, Access the Health Care They Need and Receive Earned Disability Benefits in a Timely Fashion

9/19/2008 Veterans Benefit Administration in Need of Improved Training, Performance Management and Accountability

9/18/2008 Chairman Filner Introduces Legislation to End Delays and Stop Budget Shortfalls for Veterans Health Care Funding

9/18/2008 House Passes Legislation to Honor Nation’s Veterans

9/16/2008 House Veterans’ Subcommittee Raises Concerns about VA Approach to Implementing New G.I. Bill Benefits

9/16/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Assesses Suicide Prevention Efforts at the VA

9/15/2008 The Veterans’ Affairs Committees of the House and Senate Hold a Joint Hearing for The American Legion to Present Legislative Priorities

9/11/2008 House Passes Bill to Improve VA Home Loan Program and Sends COLA Bill to President’s Desk

July 2008

7/31/2008 House Passes Comprehensive Legislative Package to Improve Veterans Care and Augment Needed Services

7/25/2008 REPRESENTATIVES BRADY AND FILNER CRITICAL OF VA LIMITATIONS ON VOTER REGISTRATION

7/24/2008 Important Veterans Provisions Included in Comprehensive Housing Bill

7/23/2008 Congress Must Act to Restore Earned Benefits to All Vietnam Veterans – Including “Blue Water” Vets!

7/18/2008 Agent Orange Equity Act Press Conference, Wednesday, July 23

7/16/2008 House Veterans Committee Approves Comprehensive Legislative Package to Improve Veterans Care and Augment Needed Services

7/15/2008 Understanding the Journey of War Veterans:

7/15/2008 VA Details New Suicide Awareness Campaign at House Veterans Oversight Hearing

7/10/2008 Subcommittee Approves Legislation to Increase Access for Mental Health Care for Veterans’ Families

7/10/2008 Improvement Needed for Rehab Program at VA

7/9/2008 First – DO NO HARM!!

June 2008

6/30/2008 New G.I. Bill for Nation’s Veterans Becomes Law

6/26/2008 House of Representatives Votes to Name VA Facilities after Heroic Veterans

6/26/2008 Subcommittee Approves Legislation to Help Veterans Readjust After Military Deployments

6/26/2008 Health Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Provide Mental Health Treatment for Family Members of Veterans

6/24/2008 Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: When the National Guard and Reserves Come Home

6/23/2008 Subcommittee Reviews Bills to Improve Quality of Life for Returning Veterans

6/17/2008 Filner to the VA: Suspend drug study IMMEDIATELY! IT MAY CAUSE SUICIDE!

6/12/2008 Veterans’ Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Bolster Disability Benefits for Veterans

6/11/2008 House of Representatives Passes Veterans Legislation

6/11/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Approves Legislation to Establish Epilepsy Centers of Excellence

6/11/2008 Improving Care for America’s Wounded Warriors

6/5/2008 Health Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Bolster Health Care for Veterans

May 2008

5/23/2008 Filner Releases Statement on VA Blue Ribbon Commissions

5/22/2008 Veterans in Need of Clear and Simple Outreach to Access VA Benefits & Services

5/22/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Hearing: Need for Health Care Providers at VA Continues

5/21/2008 House of Representatives Passes Veterans Legislation

5/8/2008 Chairman Filner Statement on Veterans Provisions in Housing Legislation

5/6/2008 The Truth About Veterans’ Suicides

5/1/2008 Chairman Filner Statement on the G.I. Bill

April 2008

4/16/2008 Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Improve Transition for Returning ServiceMembers and Veterans

4/10/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Reviews Historic Legislation to Reform the VA Benefits Claims Processing System

4/9/2008 Our Homeless Heroes: A Moral Disgrace for Our Nation
v 4/3/2008 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

4/2/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Oversight Hearing to Address Vision Needs of Veterans with TBI

4/1/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Hearing: More Research Needed on Effective and Comprehensive PTSD Treatment

March 2008

3/13/2008 Chairman Filner Lauds Passage of Budget

3/13/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Oversight Hearing to Examine Care of Seriously Wounded Veterans

3/13/2008 The U.S. Paralympic Military Program: A Dynamic Rehabilitative Therapy for Our Injured Heroes

3/11/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Examines Treatment of Substance Use Disorders and Associated Mental Health Conditions at the VA

3/6/2008 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

3/4/2008 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

3/4/2008 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

February 2008

2/28/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Explores Expanding Mental Health Services for Families of Veterans

2/28/2008 Will Our Veterans Survive the Housing Crisis?

2/27/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on VA Construction for 2009

2/26/2008 VA Disability Rating System in Need of Comprehensive and Immediate Repair

2/14/2008 House of Representatives Offers National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans

2/14/2008 “VA’s Claims Processing System is in Need of 21st Century Reform”

2/13/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Reviews Expiring Programs at the VA

2/13/2008 Bush Budget 2009: Misplaced Priorities for America’s Veterans

2/7/2008 Bush Budget 2009: Failing to Respond to the Needs of Our Veterans

2/6/2008 Veterans Group Recognizes Filner as “Legislator of the Year”

2/5/2008 No New Taxes for America’s Veterans!

January 2008

1/29/2008 Veteran Laments VA Claims Process: “We Are Not Alone”

1/29/2008 VA Inspector General: Marion VA Was In Disarray

1/28/2008 New Law Improves VA Health Care for America’s Returning Service Members and Veterans

1/17/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Update the Montgomery G.I. Bill

December 2007

12/19/2007 House of Representatives Passes Legislation to Modernize the VA Medical Center in Atlanta

12/19/2007 Filner Introduces Legislative Package to Help Veterans Survive the Subprime Mortgage Crisis

12/12/2007 Stopping Veteran Suicides: VA Not Reaching the Veterans that Need the Help

12/12/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Holds Joint Subcommittee Hearing to Examine VA Outpatient Waiting Times

12/11/2007 House of Representatives Passes Veterans Legislation

12/6/2007 Chairman Filner Names Kimberly Ross Staff Director of DAMA Subcommittee

12/6/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hosts Presidential Management Fellow

12/5/2007 Congressman Filner Introduces Bill to Provide Paralympics Programs to Disabled Veterans

November 2007

11/16/2007 Our Nation’s Veterans: Stopping Suicides and Ending Homelessness!

11/7/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes the Fair Benefits for Guard and Reserve Act

11/6/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement on the Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center:

11/5/2007 House of Representatives Passes Legislation Honoring America’s Veterans in Preparation for Veterans Day

11/1/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the VA Construction Process

October 2007

10/31/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hosts Army Congressional Associate

10/30/2007 Filner Statement on Nomination of James B. Peake

10/25/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the Department of Labor VETS Program

10/24/2007 House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the Sharing of Electronic Medical Records between DoD and VA

10/23/2007 House of Representatives Passes Veterans Legislation

10/18/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the Montgomery G.I. Bill

10/17/2007 Filner praises Dole/Shalala recommendations – but urges a more radical shake-up of the bureaucracy!

10/17/2007 House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Hearing Examines the Long-Term Costs of the Current Conflicts

10/16/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing Examines Benefits Disparities within the Veterans Benefits Administration

10/10/2007 House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Reviews Findings of the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission

10/4/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on VA Research Programs

10/3/2007 House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Hearing Examines Funding the VA of the Future

September 2007

9/27/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Improving Services for

Homeless Veterans

9/26/2007 House VA Committee Continues Oversight of VA Information Technology Security

9/25/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on VA’s Polytrauma Centers

9/25/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Holds Hearing on VA Appeals Process

9/20/2007 The American Legion Presents Legislative Agenda to Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

9/20/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Jobs for Returning Veterans

9/19/2007 Shalala and Dole Provide Details on Commission Recommendations to House VA Committee

9/18/2007 VA Secretary Jim Nicholson to Report on Current Issues – and to Say “Goodbye”!

9/6/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Jobs for Returning Veterans

July 2007

7/30/2007 House of Representatives Passes Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007

7/30/2007 House of Representatives Passes Legislation to Address the Immediate Needs of Returning Veterans and Expand Benefits for WWII Merchant Mariners

7/25/2007 “Personality Disorder”: A Deliberate Misdiagnosis To Avoid Veterans’ Health Care Costs!

7/18/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Symposium on Traumatic Brain Injury

7/17/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Five Bills

7/17/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007

June 2007

6/25/2007 House of Representatives Votes to Name Four VA Facilities after Medal of Honor Recipients

6/20/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Health Care Equity for All Veterans

6/18/2007 Chairman Filner Names David M. Tucker Chief Counsel for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

6/15/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Applauds House Passage of Veterans Spending Bill

May 2007

5/23/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds VA Disability Claims Roundtable

5/23/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Filner Pleased at House Passage of Bills Honoring America’s Veterans

5/22/2007 Congress Passes Resolution to Recognize the Service of United States Merchant Marine Veterans on National Maritime Day

5/17/2007 House Passes Budget Resolution

5/16/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Symposium on PTSD

5/3/2007 VA Officials that Miscalculated the Needs of our Veterans Awarded Significant Bonuses
v April 2007

4/19/2007 Progress for America’s Veterans

April 2007

4/16/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Past-due “Thank You” to Members of the United States Merchant Marines

March 2007

3/30/2007 VA Treatment Centers Lack Access to Troop Medical Records

3/29/2007 Budget Resolution Passes House

3/28/2007 Wounded Warrior Assistance Act Passes House

3/27/2007 Veterans Groups Join Democrats in Support of Budget Resolution

3/23/2007 Chairman Filner Supports Proposed Budget Increase for Veterans

3/22/2007 House Passes Three Bills to Improve Veterans’ Benefits

3/16/2007 Skelton-Hunter-Snyder-Mchugh-Filner Introduce the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007

3/15/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Reports Three Bills

3/6/2007 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

3/2/2007 Filner Statement on Walter Reed Army Medical Center

February 2007

2/27/2007 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

2/15/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Equity for Filipino Veterans

2/13/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Stakeholders Summit to Identify Legislative Priorities

Years and years later, things have gotten worse. Now we may finally know why. It seems that there have been far too many politicians pushing for the privatization of veterans care. In other words, turning "With the words, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan,” as President Lincoln said into "treat them like everyone else and let companies make money off them."

After all, when you have so many empty chairs, they really haven't paid much attention to their duty to the men and women after veterans did their duty with their lives.

Thank you Congressman Filner and Congresswoman Pelosi for what you did for veterans

There are a lot of people really happy this morning. I can see the people wanting to not pay taxes anymore happy but when I think about the people who will suffer because of this, it makes me heartsick. I only pray the Republicans who voted for the reversal of the leadership in the House will pay attention to what their politicans are doing and not doing for our veterans. You have to hold them accountable!

For now I want to thank Congressman Filner and Congresswoman Pelosi for what their leadership did for the sake of our veterans.

110th "Liberal" House did these for veterans under Congressman Filner and Congresswoman Pelosi. But some voters still wanted to hate the "Dems" in congress no matter what they did that was right, just, long overdue and taking care of the veterans they claim to love.

December 2008
12/17/2008 Filner Discusses Veterans Issues on Dr. Phil Show

12/8/2008 Filner Pleased With Obama Pick of General Shinseki to Run Troubled VA
November 2008
11/20/2008 Filner Re-elected Chair of House Vets Committee

11/19/2008 Filner to VA: Confidence in VA Completely Shattered by Recent Document Shredding

11/18/2008 Herseth Sandlin Continues to Monitor Progress of New G.I. Bill
October 2008
10/14/2008 Filner Victorious in Fight for Expansion of Veterans’ Health Care and Benefits

10/14/2008 Congressman Filner’s Bill Extends Purple Heart to All Deceased Prisoners of War!

10/1/2008 Filner Applauds Enactment of Veterans’ Spending Bill
September 2008
9/24/2008 Filner Leads House in Passage of Comprehensive Bills to Help Veterans Prevent Foreclosure, Access the Health Care They Need and Receive Earned Disability Benefits in a Timely Fashion

9/19/2008 Veterans Benefit Administration in Need of Improved Training, Performance Management and Accountability

9/18/2008 Chairman Filner Introduces Legislation to End Delays and Stop Budget Shortfalls for Veterans Health Care Funding

9/18/2008 House Passes Legislation to Honor Nation’s Veterans

9/16/2008 House Veterans’ Subcommittee Raises Concerns about VA Approach to Implementing New G.I. Bill Benefits

9/16/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Assesses Suicide Prevention Efforts at the VA

9/15/2008 The Veterans’ Affairs Committees of the House and Senate Hold a Joint Hearing for The American Legion to Present Legislative Priorities

9/11/2008 House Passes Bill to Improve VA Home Loan Program and Sends COLA Bill to President’s Desk
July 2008
7/31/2008 House Passes Comprehensive Legislative Package to Improve Veterans Care and Augment Needed Services

7/25/2008 REPRESENTATIVES BRADY AND FILNER CRITICAL OF VA LIMITATIONS ON VOTER REGISTRATION

7/24/2008 Important Veterans Provisions Included in Comprehensive Housing Bill

7/23/2008 Congress Must Act to Restore Earned Benefits to All Vietnam Veterans – Including “Blue Water” Vets!

7/18/2008 Agent Orange Equity Act Press Conference, Wednesday, July 23

7/16/2008 House Veterans Committee Approves Comprehensive Legislative Package to Improve Veterans Care and Augment Needed Services

7/15/2008 Understanding the Journey of War Veterans:

7/15/2008 VA Details New Suicide Awareness Campaign at House Veterans Oversight Hearing

7/10/2008 Subcommittee Approves Legislation to Increase Access for Mental Health Care for Veterans’ Families
7/10/2008 Improvement Needed for Rehab Program at VA

7/9/2008 First – DO NO HARM!!
June 2008
6/30/2008 New G.I. Bill for Nation’s Veterans Becomes Law

6/26/2008 House of Representatives Votes to Name VA Facilities after Heroic Veterans

6/26/2008 Subcommittee Approves Legislation to Help Veterans Readjust After Military Deployments

6/26/2008 Health Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Provide Mental Health Treatment for Family Members of Veterans

6/24/2008 Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: When the National Guard and Reserves Come Home

6/23/2008 Subcommittee Reviews Bills to Improve Quality of Life for Returning Veterans

6/17/2008 Filner to the VA: Suspend drug study IMMEDIATELY! IT MAY CAUSE SUICIDE!

6/12/2008 Veterans’ Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Bolster Disability Benefits for Veterans

6/11/2008 House of Representatives Passes Veterans Legislation

6/11/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Approves Legislation to Establish Epilepsy Centers of Excellence

6/11/2008 Improving Care for America’s Wounded Warriors

6/5/2008 Health Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Bolster Health Care for Veterans
May 2008
5/23/2008 Filner Releases Statement on VA Blue Ribbon Commissions

5/22/2008 Veterans in Need of Clear and Simple Outreach to Access VA Benefits & Services

5/22/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Hearing: Need for Health Care Providers at VA Continues

5/21/2008 House of Representatives Passes Veterans Legislation

5/8/2008 Chairman Filner Statement on Veterans Provisions in Housing Legislation

5/6/2008 The Truth About Veterans’ Suicides

5/1/2008 Chairman Filner Statement on the G.I. Bill
April 2008
4/16/2008 Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Improve Transition for Returning Service Members and Veterans

4/10/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Reviews Historic Legislation to Reform the VA Benefits Claims Processing System

4/9/2008 Our Homeless Heroes: A Moral Disgrace for Our Nation

4/3/2008 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing
4/2/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Oversight Hearing to Address Vision Needs of Veterans with TBI

4/1/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Hearing: More Research Needed on Effective and Comprehensive PTSD Treatment
March 2008
3/13/2008 Chairman Filner Lauds Passage of Budget

3/13/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Oversight Hearing to Examine Care of Seriously Wounded Veterans

3/13/2008 The U.S. Paralympic Military Program: A Dynamic Rehabilitative Therapy for Our Injured Heroes

3/11/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Examines Treatment of Substance Use Disorders and Associated Mental Health Conditions at the VA

3/6/2008 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

3/4/2008 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

3/4/2008 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing
February 2008
2/28/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Explores Expanding Mental Health Services for Families of Veterans

2/28/2008 Will Our Veterans Survive the Housing Crisis?

2/27/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on VA Construction for 2009

2/26/2008 VA Disability Rating System in Need of Comprehensive and Immediate Repair

2/14/2008 House of Representatives Offers National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans

2/14/2008 “VA’s Claims Processing System is in Need of 21st Century Reform”

2/13/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Reviews Expiring Programs at the VA

2/13/2008 Bush Budget 2009: Misplaced Priorities for America’s Veterans

2/7/2008 Bush Budget 2009: Failing to Respond to the Needs of Our Veterans

2/6/2008 Veterans Group Recognizes Filner as “Legislator of the Year”

2/5/2008 No New Taxes for America’s Veterans!
January 2008
1/29/2008 Veteran Laments VA Claims Process: “We Are Not Alone”

1/29/2008 VA Inspector General: Marion VA Was In Disarray

1/28/2008 New Law Improves VA Health Care for America’s Returning Service Members and Veterans

1/17/2008 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Update the Montgomery G.I. Bill
December 2007
12/19/2007 House of Representatives Passes Legislation to Modernize the VA Medical Center in Atlanta
12/19/2007 Filner Introduces Legislative Package to Help Veterans Survive the Subprime Mortgage Crisis

12/12/2007 Stopping Veteran Suicides: VA Not Reaching the Veterans that Need the Help

12/12/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Holds Joint Subcommittee Hearing to Examine VA Outpatient Waiting Times

12/11/2007 House of Representatives Passes Veterans Legislation

12/6/2007 Chairman Filner Names Kimberly Ross Staff Director of DAMA Subcommitte

12/6/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hosts Presidential Management Fellow

12/5/2007 Congressman Filner Introduces Bill to Provide Paralympics Programs to Disabled Veterans
November 2007
11/16/2007 Our Nation’s Veterans: Stopping Suicides and Ending Homelessness!

11/7/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes the Fair Benefits for Guard and Reserve Act

11/6/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement on the Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center:

11/5/2007 House of Representatives Passes Legislation Honoring America’s Veterans in Preparation for Veterans Day

11/1/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the VA Construction Process
October 2007
10/31/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hosts Army Congressional Associate

10/30/2007 Filner Statement on Nomination of James B. Peake

10/25/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the Department of Labor VETS Program

10/24/2007 House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the Sharing of Electronic Medical Records between DoD and VA

10/23/2007 House of Representatives Passes Veterans Legislation

10/18/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the Montgomery G.I. Bill

10/17/2007 Filner praises Dole/Shalala recommendations – but urges a more radical shake-up of the bureaucracy!

10/17/2007 House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Hearing Examines the Long-Term Costs of the Current Conflicts

10/16/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing Examines Benefits Disparities within the Veterans Benefits Administration

10/10/2007 House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Reviews Findings of the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission

10/4/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on VA Research Programs

10/3/2007 House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Hearing Examines Funding the VA of the Future
September 2007
9/27/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Improving Services for Homeless Veterans
9/26/2007 House VA Committee Continues Oversight of VA Information Technology Security

9/25/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on VA’s Polytrauma Centers

9/25/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Holds Hearing on VA Appeals Process

9/20/2007 The American Legion Presents Legislative Agenda to Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

9/20/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Jobs for Returning Veterans

9/19/2007 Shalala and Dole Provide Details on Commission Recommendations to House VA Committee

9/18/2007 VA Secretary Jim Nicholson to Report on Current Issues – and to Say “Goodbye”!

9/6/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Jobs for Returning Veterans


July 2007
7/30/2007 House of Representatives Passes Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007

7/30/2007 House of Representatives Passes Legislation to Address the Immediate Needs of Returning Veterans and Expand Benefits for WWII Merchant Mariners

7/25/2007 “Personality Disorder”: A Deliberate Misdiagnosis To Avoid Veterans’ Health Care Costs!

7/18/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Symposium on Traumatic Brain Injury

7/17/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Five Bills

7/17/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007
June 2007
6/25/2007 House of Representatives Votes to Name Four VA Facilities after Medal of Honor Recipients

6/20/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Health Care Equity for All Veterans

6/18/2007 Chairman Filner Names David M. Tucker Chief Counsel for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

6/15/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Applauds House Passage of Veterans Spending Bill
May 2007
5/23/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds VA Disability Claims Roundtable

5/23/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Filner Pleased at House Passage of Bills Honoring America’s Veterans

5/22/2007 Congress Passes Resolution to Recognize the Service of United States Merchant Marine Veterans on National Maritime Day

5/17/2007 House Passes Budget Resolution

5/16/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Symposium on PTSD

5/3/2007 VA Officials that Miscalculated the Needs of our Veterans Awarded Significant Bonuses
April 2007
4/19/2007 Progress for America’s Veterans


April 2007
4/16/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Past-due “Thank You” to Members of the United States Merchant Marines
March 2007
3/30/2007 VA Treatment Centers Lack Access to Troop Medical Records

3/29/2007 Budget Resolution Passes House

3/28/2007 Wounded Warrior Assistance Act Passes House

3/27/2007 Veterans Groups Join Democrats in Support of Budget Resolution

3/23/2007 Chairman Filner Supports Proposed Budget Increase for Veterans

3/22/2007 House Passes Three Bills to Improve Veterans’ Benefits

3/16/2007 Skelton-Hunter-Snyder-Mchugh-Filner Introduce the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007

3/15/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Reports Three Bills

3/6/2007 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

3/2/2007 Filner Statement on Walter Reed Army Medical Center
February 2007
2/27/2007 House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees Hold Joint Hearing

2/15/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Equity for Filipino Veterans

2/13/2007 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Stakeholders Summit to Identify Legislative Priorities


111th Congress under the same leadership

1/22/2010 Improvements Ahead for Post 9/11-G.I. Bill Claims System

1/21/2010 House Veterans' Affairs Committee Meets with VSO Leaders

12/16/2009 Clear Need for Procurement Reform at VA:

12/7/2009 Herseth Sandlin Leads Discussion on Educational Options for Veterans

12/7/2009 House Committee Examines How Federal Dollars Get to Local Veterans for Health Care

12/7/2009 More than 200 Members of Congress Agree: Agent Orange Veterans Deserve Compensation for Their Sacrifice!!

11/4/2009 House of Representatives Votes to Enhance Veteran Protections: A Congressional “Thank You” for Veterans Day

10/28/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Advances Bills to Enhance Veteran Protections

10/23/2009 Landmark Legislative Victory for Veterans!

10/22/2009 Chairman Filner Supports Veteran Athletes and Military Paralympic Program

10/22/2009 Landmark Legislative Victory for America’s Veterans!!

10/21/2009 Emergency Stipends Successfully Reach Veteran Students

10/16/2009 Secretary Shinseki Provides Update on the State of the VA to Congressional Panel

10/14/2009 Chairman Bob Filner Releases Statement on Agent Orange Decision

10/14/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Advances Bills to Enhance Veteran Protections

10/14/2009 Hall Leads Discussion on Proposed Regulation Change Regarding PTSD Determinations for Veterans

10/8/2009 House Passes Historic Bill to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care

10/2/2009 VA Provides Encouraging Progress Report on Going Green

9/29/2009 Congressional Panel Spotlights Waste, Inappropriate Use of VA Resources

9/25/2009 Most – Not All – Veterans Getting Prescription Drugs They Need

9/25/2009 Congressional Panel Calls on VA to Do More to Honor Sacrifice of America’s Veterans

9/17/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Roundtable on Veterans’ Treatment Courts

9/15/2009 Filner Applauds VA Decision to Restart National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study

9/14/2009 The American Legion Presents Legislative Agenda to Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

9/14/2009 Herseth Sandlin Urges Stronger Management Oversight of VA Projects


September 2009
9/25/2009 Congressional Panel Calls on VA to Do More to Honor Sacrifice of America’s Veterans

9/17/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Roundtable on Veterans’ Treatment Courts

9/15/2009 Filner Applauds VA Decision to Restart National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study

9/14/2009 The American Legion Presents Legislative Agenda to Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

9/14/2009 Herseth Sandlin Urges Stronger Management Oversight of VA Projects
August 2009
8/5/2009 Filner Bill Allows Elderly Veterans to Use Their Earned Medicare Dollars for VA Health Care

8/5/2009 California Veterans to Get Full GI Bill Benefit: Agreement between State of California and VA Will Result in Dramatic Increase in Benefits for Yellow Ribbon Program
July 2009
7/31/2009 VA’s Limited Scope of Research Prevents Gulf War Vets From Getting the Benefit of the Doubt

7/31/2009 VA Stumbles in Providing Vocational Rehab to Veterans

7/30/2009 Paralympians Inspire Others to Be Better and Do More

7/30/2009 VA’s Limited Scope of Research Prevents Gulf War Vets From Getting the Benefit of the Doubt

7/27/2009 House Passes Bill to Provide Unprecedented Support to Veteran Caregivers

7/23/2009 Critical Warning Signs Missed at Philly VA Weak Oversight Efforts Fail to Protect Veterans

7/21/2009 State Approving Agencies See Expanded Role Under Post-9/11 G.I. Bill

7/21/2009 Hearing Spotlights Immediate Needs of Nation’s Women Veterans

7/15/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Bill to Provide Training and Support for Veteran Caregivers

7/14/2009 Deadline Looms for VA-DOD Interagency Office on Military Electronic Health Records

7/13/2009 House Votes to Strengthen Work Study Program for Returning Veterans

7/10/2009 House Passes Advance Appropriations for Veterans Health Care in Veterans Funding Bill

7/10/2009 House Approves Filner Amendment to Support Paralympic Program for Injured Vets
June 2009
6/26/2009 VA Set for Start of Post-9/11 GI Bill on August 1

6/25/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Provide Greater Support to Veterans and Survivors

6/24/2009 House Passes Historic Bill to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care

6/24/2009 House Votes to Improve Care for Women Veterans

6/23/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Claims Process for Veterans
6/19/2009 VA Addresses Failures of Contaminated Equipment Use

6/19/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health Reviews Legislation

6/12/2009 CARES Process Lacks Transparency, Performance Measures

6/10/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Historic Bill to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care

6/8/2009 House Affirms Commitment to Nation’s Veterans, Men and Women in Uniform

6/8/2009 More Support for Caregivers of Veterans Needed

6/3/2009 Too Many Unmet Needs for America’s Veterans: Losing Veterans to our Streets
May 2009
5/21/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Roundtable to Address Issues Confronting Women Veterans

5/20/2009 VA Unresponsive to Questions, Needs of Gulf War Veterans

5/20/2009 As VA Reaches Out to Veterans, Health Care Access Issues Magnify

5/19/2009 House Passes Bills to Honor America’s Veterans: A Congressional Thank You for Memorial Day

5/14/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Appellate Process for Veterans

5/14/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Appellate Process for Veterans

5/14/2009 Federal Contractors Not Taking Necessary Steps to Employ Veterans, Say Veterans Groups

5/13/2009 Private Sector Groups Present Cutting Edge Technology and Treatment Options for Veterans at Hearing

5/12/2009 House Votes to Thank WWII Service of Merchant Mariners

5/8/2009 Congress Must Act to Restore Earned Benefits to All Vietnam Veterans – Including “Blue Water” Vets!

5/6/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Committee Advances Legislation
April 2009
4/30/2009 Chairman Hall Holds Hearing to Discuss the COMBAT PTSD Act, H.R. 952

4/30/2009 Filner Applauds Passage of Budget Resolution that Increases Veterans’ Funding

4/30/2009 Care Coordination for Seriously Injured Veterans Improving

4/30/2009 Filner Holds Hearing on Advance Appropriations for Veterans’ Health Care

4/6/2009 Chairman Filner Names Martin L. Herbert Majority Staff Director of Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee

4/2/2009 Filner Applauds Passage of House Budget Resolution that Increases Veterans’ Funding
March 2009
3/30/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Combat PTSD
3/30/2009 House Advances Important Veterans Bills

3/25/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Committee Advances Legislation

3/23/2009 Filner Reintroduces Bill to Help Vietnam Veterans Suffering from Parkinson’s Disease

3/19/2009 Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittees Advance Legislation to Improve Care and Benefits for Veterans

3/19/2009 Health Subcommittee Reviews New and Existing Health Care Programs for Rural Veterans

3/18/2009 VFW Presents Legislative Goals at Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

3/17/2009 Veterans Groups Present Legislative Goals at Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

3/17/2009 Billing Our Heroes: It’s DOA!

3/17/2009 DOD and VA Let Veterans with Eye Injuries Down

3/13/2009 Filner Releases Views on VA Budget Request

3/10/2009 Obama Budget 2010: Responding to the Needs of Our Veterans

3/6/2009 Veterans Groups Present Legislative Goals at Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

3/3/2009 Health Subcommittee Reviews Legislation

3/3/2009 House Subcommittees Probe Mishandling of Veterans Disability Claims
February 2009
2/26/2009 DAV Presents Legislative Agenda at Joint Hearing of House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees

2/26/2009 Filner Honored for Protecting Veterans’ Education Benefits

2/26/2009 Obama Budget 2010: Responding to the Needs of Our Veterans

2/26/2009 New G.I. Bill On Track for August

2/14/2009 Finally, Equity for Filipino WWII Veterans!!

2/14/2009 Filner Pledges to Fight for Budgets Worthy of Our Veterans

2/13/2009 Filner and Akaka Reintroduce Legislation to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care through Advance Appropriations

2/13/2009 Filner Introduces Bill to Ensure Parity for Veterans Taking On-Line Courses

2/11/2009 Congressional Leaders, Veterans Orgs and Former VA Official to Hold Press Conference Supporting Advanced Funding of Veteran's Health Care

2/9/2009 Filner Reintroduces Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act

2/5/2009 “Shinseki Off to Great Start,” says Filner
2/2/2009 Keeping the Promise: A Veterans Agenda for the 111th Congress

2/2/2009 Filner Urges More Veterans Spending in Stimulus Package
January 2009
1/22/2009 House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Adopts Oversight Plan for the 111th Congress and Officially Names Members

1/21/2009 FILNER APPLAUDS CONFIRMATION OF VA SECRETARY SHINSEKI

1/15/2009 FILNER APPALLED BY LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, LEADERSHIP AT VA

House Veterans Work

It is terrible that we're going to head backwards because no one on the news bothered to tell veterans and their families how much was done for them and who did it. I talk to Republican voters all the time and none of them had a clue. Too bad the media never told them what was going on and who was lying about what.

More "CYA" from Congress on VA scandal

The headline over on Politico reads "House creates VA conference committee" but we're laughing at this one. Why? Because it was the JOB OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO STAY ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS ALL THESE YEARS!

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs’ historic legacy is captured in the Committee’s hearing rooms in the Cannon House Office Building, Rooms 334 and 340. The Committee has been formerly known by many names including the Committee on Naval Affairs and the Committee on World War Veterans’ Affairs. After the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the Committee became formally known as the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Even though the Committee’s name has changed over the years, its mission has remained constant – to represent America’s veterans, their families, and survivors.

History and Jurisdiction
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives was authorized by enactment of Public Law 601, 79th Congress, which was entitled "Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946." Section 121(a) of this Act provides: "there shall be elected by the House at the commencement of each Congress the following standing committees": Nineteen Committees are listed and No. 18 quotes: "Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to consist of 27 Members." This Act has since been amended so that there are now 22 Standing Committees in the House of Representatives. The number of Members (Representatives) authorized to serve on each Committee has been changed from time to time. There are currently 29 members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is the authorizing Committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Committee recommends legislation expanding, curtailing, or fine-tuning existing laws relating to veterans' benefits. The Committee also has oversight responsibility, which means monitoring and evaluating the operations of the VA. If the Committee finds the that VA is not administering laws as Congress intended, then it is "corrected" through the hearing process and legislation. We are the voice of Congress for veterans in dealings with the VA.

Jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Clause 1 and clauses 2, 3, and 4 of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives establishes the jurisdiction and related functions for each standing committee. Precedent is also used to determine committee jurisdiction.

Clause 1 of Rule X states "all bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to subjects within the jurisdiction of any standing committee as listed in this clause shall (in accordance with and subject to clause 5) be referred to such committees, as follows":

(r) Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
(1) Veterans' measures generally.
(2) Cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in the United States or abroad, except cemeteries administered by the Secretary of the Interior.
(3) Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education of veterans.
(4) Life insurance issued by the Government on account of service in the Armed Forces.
(5) Pensions of all the wars of the United States, general and special.
(6) Readjustment of servicemembers to civil life.
(7) Servicemembers' civil relief.
(8) Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of veterans.

For more information, please consult the Committee's Rules of Procedure for the 111th Congress.

The Committee has oversight responsibility for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. On a regular basis, the Committee with subcommittees, convenes hearings which examine issues such as: VA compliance with statutory provisions; VA's effectiveness in providing timely benefits and quality heath care; Management practices and efficient expenditure of resources. The Committee's legislative responsibilities cover a wide range of veterans issues. However, veterans and other interested people may be surprised to learn that the Veterans' Affairs Committee does not have legislative jurisdiction over the following issues:

Tax status of veterans benefits and contributions to Veterans Service Organizations (Committee on Ways and Means);
Military retiree issues, including COLA’s and disability pay (Committee on Armed Services);
CHAMPUS and Tri-Care (Committee on Armed Services);
Survivor Benefit Program (Committee on Armed Services);
Veterans Preference in Federal civil service hiring practice (Committee on Government Reform and Oversight);
Congressional charters for veterans service organizations (Committee on Judiciary);
Immigration issues relating to veterans (Committee on Judiciary); and
Issues dealing with Prisoners of War (POWs) and service members missing in action (MIAs) (Committee on Armed Services)

House creates VA conference committee
Politico
By LAUREN FRENCH
6/18/14

House and Senate lawmakers moved closer on Wednesday to new reforms to help fix problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities.

The House approved legislation to convene a conference committee on the two VA-focused bills that would allow veterans to seek private care if they waited longer than a “standard” period of time for treatment. The bill would also give VA leadership the ability to fire department officials found to be involved with misconduct or who are under-performing.
read more here

So exactly how did they expect to get away with all that has happened all these years without fixing any of it?

They don't get to use the excuse they didn't know. It was their jobs to know. They don't get to use the excuse no one told them since veterans told them over and over again when they called their offices looking for justice from the guys they elected.

They say people at the VA need to be fired but never seem to mention the fact they were supposed to be on top of all of it!

Close VA Is Dumbest Thing I've Ever Heard

Why do we pay politicians a salary plus benefits if they do everything possible to make sure the government doesn't work? Do they really think we're that dumb?

Getting really tired of hearing them complain about the Affordable Care Act not working at the same time they want to send veterans into all that mess. Plus the kicker is, they've have since 1946 to make it work right for all our veterans. You know, the men and women putting their lives on the line at the same time politicians try to kill off the VA.

None of what we see today is new. Look it up! Backlog of claims followed by hearings, followed by more money, followed by more generations suffering because nothing got fixed right in the first place.

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs’ historic legacy is captured in the Committee’s hearing rooms in the Cannon House Office Building, Rooms 334 and 340. The Committee has been formerly known by many names including the Committee on Naval Affairs and the Committee on World War Veterans’ Affairs. After the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the Committee became formally known as the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Even though the Committee’s name has changed over the years, its mission has remained constant – to represent America’s veterans, their families, and survivors.

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

From: Encyclopedia of the United States Congress.

One of 16 standing committees in the Senate in the 108th Congress (2003–04), the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over matters concerning military veterans. These issues include veterans' benefits and pensions, readjustment of service members to civilian life, military life insurance benefits, veterans' hospitals and medical facilities, vocational rehabilitation and education of veterans, and national cemeteries. The committee has no subcommittees.

The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee was created by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 and was organized for the first time at the start of the 92nd Congress on January 3, 1971. It was the first standing committee of the Senate to specifically consider legislation of concern to veterans. The committee maintains a low public profile and has a fairly narrow scope of policy to consider. The committee's constituency is made up mainly of veterans and veterans' organizations. Veterans' Affairs has developed close working relationships with veterans' groups and often begins each session of Congress with public hearings to receive each group's legislative agenda for the year.

Veterans' Affairs has had a precarious existence from the very beginning. When the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 created the modern congressional committee system, the House of Representatives established a Veterans' Affairs Committee, but the Senate did not. Instead, in the Senate legislation pertaining to veterans was referred to several different committees, including the Finance Committee, the Labor and Public Welfare Committee, the Interior Committee, and the Post Office and Civil Service Committee. A number of senators sympathetic to veterans' groups who wanted a Senate standing committee for veterans' issues made several attempts to create one in the years between 1946 and 1970.

During the 1970 legislative reorganization, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee was finally established. Only six years later, in 1976, a legislative reorganization committee recommended that the committee be abolished. It survived because the Senate Rules Committee did not adopt the recommendation.

When you have politicians pretending it was not their job to make sure they got it right, this is what you end up with.

VA health panel on closure report: ‘Nothing was done in secret’
Military Times
Patricia Kime
April 11, 2016

Members of a blue-ribbon panel studying VA health care defended the group’s work last week, deflecting charges they want to shutter all Veterans Affairs medical facilities in favor of government-paid private care for veterans.

George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (Photo: VA)

Commission on Care member Darin Selnick and chairwoman Nancy Schlicting said last week that a “strawman" paper drafted by seven commissioners "was created to jot down initial ideas” and did not represent a final report from the congressionally mandated group.

"The scenario presented is one of several that have been proposed. As the term strawman implies, the document was created by a subset of commissioners to describe their personal ideas ... it represents options on a range of possibilities the commissioners are evaluating," Schlichting wrote in a statement on the commission's website.

"We are going to continue to take input, continue to shape [our views] ... No one is going to fully understand our position until we understand our position, and that’s not going to happen until we create the final report. And that comes out in June,” Selnick said.

The 34-page document proposes giving all veterans access to private health services and closing VA health facilities gradually over 20 years, starting with those that are obsolete or underutilized in a process similar to a base realignment and closure.

The report also calls for VA to become “primarily a payer,” much like Medicare, to provide health care for veterans.
read more here

It Doesn't Matter Unless Veterans Really Matter

Why It Matters written by Matthew Daily of Associated Press had this part that is very important.

THE ISSUE: There are an estimated 21.6 million veterans in the United States. Among them, nearly 9 million are enrolled in health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. About 4.3 million veterans get disability compensation from the VA and nearly 900,000 have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

A 2014 law signed by President Barack Obama aimed to alleviate delays many veterans faced in getting treatment at VA hospitals and clinics and end the widespread practice of fake wait lists that covered up long waits for veterans seeking health care. Two years later, many of the problems remain.

But the problem is, none of this is new and since we live with it every day, every year, we know the struggles do not belong to who sits in the Oval Office. Every issue veterans and families face belong to Congress. The President sets, or is supposed to set, the direction the country needs to go in. The Congress has the obligation to fulfill their end of the deal, but they don't.

Congress has had since 1946 to find a way to take care of veterans. Think about that for a second. Then add in the simple fact that no wound is new. They declared two wars when there was already a line of older veterans waiting to be cared for in return for what their service did to them. Congress did not come close to honoring those they sent.

Want proof? Ok, here is what the House Veterans Affairs Committee had been in charge of since 1946.

House Veterans Affairs Committee
History And Jurisdiction
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives was authorized by enactment of Public Law 601, 79th Congress, which was entitled "Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946." Section 121(a) of this Act provides: "there shall be elected by the House at the commencement of each Congress the following standing committees": Nineteen Committees are listed and No. 18 quotes: "Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to consist of 27 Members." This Act has since been amended so that there are now 22 Standing Committees in the House of Representatives. The number of Members (Representatives) authorized to serve on each Committee has been changed from time to time. There are currently 29 members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is the authorizing Committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Committee recommends legislation expanding, curtailing, or fine-tuning existing laws relating to veterans' benefits. The Committee also has oversight responsibility, which means monitoring and evaluating the operations of the VA. If the Committee finds the that VA is not administering laws as Congress intended, then it is "corrected" through the hearing process and legislation. We are the voice of Congress for veterans in dealings with the VA.

Legislation Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Veterans' measures generally.
Pensions of all the wars of the U.S., general and special.
Life insurance issued by the government on account of service in the Armed Forces.
Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education of veterans.
Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of veterans.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief.
Readjustment of servicemen to civilian life.
National Cemeteries
Complete Jurisdiction of the Committee

The Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established March 15, 1989, with Cabinet rank, succeeding the Veterans Administration and assuming responsibility for providing federal benefits to veterans and their dependents. Led by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, VA is the second largest of the 14 Cabinet departments and operates nationwide programs of health care assistance services and national cemeteries.

Care for veterans and dependents spans centuries. The last dependent of a Revolutionary War veteran died in 1911, the War of 1812's last dependent died 44 years ago, the Spanish American War's, in 1962. There are widows and children of Civil War and Indian War veterans who still draw VA benefits. Some 2,190 children and widows of Spanish-American War veterans are receiving VA compensation or pension benefits. The last American Doughboy, Corporal Frank Buckles, passed away on February 27, 2011. His passing signified the passing of the last of the World War I veterans.

As long as we are avoiding the fact that members of Congress have ditched their duty, it really doesn't matter who ends up in the chair. Veterans will continue to be failed by the same people who created their wounds in the first place. It has been going on for decades. Look up the voting record of the people you sent to do their jobs in Washington and then ask them why they didn't take care of those who went to war to do their jobs.

When you're done with that, ask them how much more money they plan on spending while veterans keep committing suicide after they survived those wars and came home to the mess Congress created. The reported number is the same as it was back in 1999 but there are about 5 million less veterans now.

Congressman Jeff Miller taking lead on House Veterans Affairs Committee

Congressman Filner did a great job for our veterans and now in January Rep. Jeff Miller, from Florida, will take leadership of the Veterans Affairs Committee. His voting record seems pretty good on veterans.

Two Florida Republicans Chosen to Lead Congressional Committees
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to chair Foreign Affairs Committee, Jeff Miller will head up Veterans Affairs Committee
BY: KEVIN DERBY | POSTED: DECEMBER 9, 2010


Two Florida Republicans were selected to lead committees in the U.S. House Wednesday, as U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was chosen to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee and U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller was named to lead the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

First elected to Congress in 2001, Miller represents the Panhandle -- Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties. He was chosen to chair the Veterans Affairs Committee.

“It is certainly a great honor to have the opportunity to serve as chairman of an important committee that is so critical to our country,” said Miller. “I’m eager to work hard in this new capacity for our veterans and retirees.”

“I can’t think of anyone in the House more capable to serve as the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs than Jeff Miller,” said incoming U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. “Jeff’s efforts for veterans are well-documented and his credentials as a conservative leader are without question. Jeff will continue to work to ensure that all of our nation’s heroes receive the proper respect and care that they earned.”

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the more than 22 million veterans who have so proudly served this great nation,” added Miller. “I will work to ensure that we meet our veterans’ needs.”

read more here
Two Florida Republicans Chosen to Lead Congressional Committees

He has courage and stood up for what he believed so there is hope for veterans as well.

GOP Rep. Jeff Miller calls for Barton to step down from top committee spot over BP comments.
Earlier this morning, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) called the $20 billion escrow fund BP agreed to set up yesterday to pay for oil spill damages a “slush fund” resulting from a “shakedown” by the White House. Though many conservatives agree with Barton, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) refused to endorse Barton’s position. Now, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) has called for Barton to step down as the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee because of his comments:

Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), whose Pensacola district is among the most-impacted areas in the Gulf by the oil spill, condemned Barton for apologizing to BP CEO Tony Hayward during a committee meeting on Thursday.

“I condemn Mr. Barton’s statement. Mr. Barton’s remarks are out of touch with this tragedy and I feel his comments call into question his judgment and ability to serve in a leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee,” Miller said in a statement. “He should step down as Ranking Member of the Committee.”
read more here
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/06/17/miller-barton-step-down/

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee forgot about CSPAN

This hearing by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee shows how long the problems with the VA has been going on, or at least, in recent time. The fact is, veterans have always had a harder time dealing with getting their care taken care of. Simple as that. While members of Congress have been able to pacify the press, pretending they were shocked by the recent crisis, the truth is far from it.

Members of the House and Senate have gotten away with the Sgt. Schultz excuse (Hogan's Heroes) of "I see nothing, I was not here and I didn't even get up this morning."
Fiscal Year 2007 Veterans' Affairs
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007 Veterans' Affairs budget. Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Jim Nicholson and other officials testified about administration funding requests, the needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and the operation of the department.

"Forced to take drastic measures to make ends meet."

Force other veterans out of the system.

Mandatory overtime and contracted out care plus cuts in research.

Budget for VBA, (Veterans Benefits Office) Not enough and the warning was given for increased need.

18,000 OEF and OIF veterans needing lifetime care. Medicare callers were told to go to the VA. Vietnam veterans entering into the system. Employers not providing health care.

Let's start with then Senator Obama now, President Obama.

.04% Increase in veterans spending last year then followed by needing $1 billion in emergency funds.

Significant fiasco.

$800 Million in the VA budget that was supposed to come from raising fees for veterans that the congress had turned down many times before and was not planning on doing but it was in the budget anyway.

Cuts funding for VA nursing home care and does not allow for building any more.

And then move onto Senator Lindsey Graham asking for veterans to make sacrifices.....Yes, he wanted veterans to make sacrifices if they could afford it.



You can watch the whole hearing with the link above. Here are some more you may be interested in.








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They wanted veterans to pay the price. Take a look at the folks on the Veterans Affairs Committee and then ask them how they thought they could pretend to not know what was was, what was coming and now, what happened as if they never even got up this morning.