House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington, D.C.– On Thursday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, led by Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), conducted a legislative hearing to review eight bills that would enhance benefits for veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

“Reevaluating existing laws and reviewing legislative proposals ensure that our men and women in uniform, our veterans and their dependents, are provided the benefits and safeguards they need to reintegrate back to civilian life,” said Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin.  “This hearing has provided the Subcommittee with good feedback and I look forward to continuing this important dialogue.”

The bills reviewed at the Economic Opportunity legislative hearing:

H.R. 2721 – To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to distribute to members of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active duty, information in a compact disk read-only format that lists and explains the health, education, and other benefits for which veterans are eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary for Veterans Affairs (Rep. Cardoza)

H.R. 3786 – Servicemembers Telecom Contract Relief Act (Rep. Lofgren)

H.R. 6070 – Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (Rep. Carter)

H.R. 4255 – United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2007 (Rep. Filner)

H.R. 6221 – Veteran-Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act of 2008 (Rep. Boozman)

H.R. 6224 – Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2008 (Rep. Herseth Sandlin)

H.R. 6225 – Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008 (Rep. Herseth Sandlin)

H.R. 6272 – Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act (SMOCTA) Reauthorization Act of 2008 of 1992 (Rep. Welch)

Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, provided testimony on H.R. 4255: “We know that there is a growing population of veterans that have survived serious injuries that would benefit from the good work being done by the United States Olympic Committee.  I have introduced H.R. 4255, the United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2007, to support our heroic men and women as they transition through this difficult phase in their lives.  This bill will authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make a grant to the USOC to provide paralympic instruction, competition activities, and training program development activities for service members and veterans with physical disabilities.”

Witness List:

Panel 1

The Honorable Bob Filner, California, U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Zoe Lofgren, California, U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Dennis A. Cardoza, California, U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable John R. Carter, Texas, U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Peter Welch, Vermont, U.S. House of Representatives

Panel 2

Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics, United States Olympic Committee

Bobby Franklin, Executive Vice President, CTIA The Wireless Association

Panel 3

Kerry Baker, Associate National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans

Joseph C. Sharpe Jr., Deputy Director, National Economic Commission, The American Legion

Richard Daley, Associate Legislation Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America

Rick Weidman, Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs, Vietnam Veterans of America

Panel 4

R. Keith Pedigo, Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Program Management, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Accompanied by:

·        Diane Hartmann, Director, National Programs and Special Events,  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Prepared testimony for the legislative hearing is available on the internet at this link: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=259.