Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, March 18, 2009, Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a joint hearing to receive the legislative presentation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). The hearing was the fourth of the 111th Congress in which the Senate and House came together to receive the legislative agendas from veterans service organizations.
“Congress must fund the Department of Veterans Affairs in a sufficiently and timely manner,” said Chairman Filner. “This Congress understands that we must keep our promises to veterans. The service and sacrifice of our veterans are real and the VA’s budget must provide the realistic funding to meet their needs. We must spend these resources wisely as we work to create a 21st Century organization that serves our veterans. Americans demand this and our veterans deserve nothing less.”
VFW Commander-in-Chief Glen M. Gardner, Jr. represents 2.2 million men and women of the VFW and its Auxiliaries. He stated, “Despite our diversity, we share the experience of the battlefield. We know what it’s like to be thousands of miles away from friends and family, far from safety and security. We know the struggles that those who now wear the uniform face. For that reason, we understand the obligation this nation has to all these brave men and women.”
Commander Gardner praised the efforts of 110th Congress to create and implement a new G.I. Bill as well as strengthen the health care benefits and services provided to veterans. He also raised concerns with the disability claims processing system after reports surfaced of misdated claims and documents wrongly placed in shredder bins. Panelists discussed the need for full funding of the VA health care budget, improving care for female veterans, advancing mental health services for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and ensuring that veterans have viable opportunities for employment, education, and housing.
The House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees have held previous hearings to receive the legislative presentations of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, Blinded Veterans Association, Gold Star Wives of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, Air Force Sergeants Association, Fleet Reserve Association, Non Commissioned Officers Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, The Retired Enlisted Association, Military Officers Association of America, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Disabled American Veterans.
Witness List:
· Glen M. Gardner, Jr., Commander-in-Chief, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
· William Bradshaw, Director, National Veterans Service
· Robert E. Wallace, Executive Director
· Dennis Cullinan, Director, National Legislative Service
· Precilla Wilkewitz, Legislative Committee Chair
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