Aloha. Welcome to today's markup of legislation that is pending before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
At the outset, let me say that I have enjoyed working with all of you - in a most bipartisan manner - to help our Nation's veterans. Much of what is before us today came about through compromise from all sides, and I appreciate the willingness of our Committee Members to work together where possible. In particular, I am pleased that Senator Craig and I were able to come to agreement on his provisions relating to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, as well as on provisions on traumatic brain injury care. I also thank Senator Webb for concurring that education issues deserve special focus and agreeing to delay action on his bill until this Committee can discuss the broader issues surrounding education in a hearing next month. I appreciate all of our Members' cooperation in allowing the Committee to fully examine issues of such magnitude prior to action.
I am pleased that today's markup includes legislation enhancing benefits and services for veterans both young and old - but with a necessary emphasis on returning servicemembers. Provisions that will specifically benefit new veterans include: improved care for those suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, increased automatic eligibility for VA health care from two to five years for servicemembers returning from combat, the traumatic brain injury provisions I mentioned, expansion of the traumatic injury insurance program, and enhancements in adaptive housing. These are just a few of the provisions included in the legislation before us today that would benefit our youngest generation of veterans.
Another provision before us today gives the Committee an opportunity to rectify a wrong done to Filipino World War II veterans over 60 years ago. In the years since the end of the Second World War, Filipino veterans and their advocates, especially my distinguished colleague, Senator Inouye, have worked tirelessly to secure these veterans the status they were promised when they agreed to fight under U.S. command in defense of their homeland and to protect U.S. interests in the region. Today, I am proud to say, many Filipino veterans enjoy eligibility for benefits and health care services as U.S. veterans. However, there remains a distinction in law between certain groups of Filipino veterans. I hope that today we can take another step toward removing that unjust distinction.
I will briefly highlight several provisions included in the legislation pending before the Committee that were derived from bills I introduced this session.
S. 423, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007, which I introduced with my friend and Ranking Member, Senator Craig, and five other members of this Committee, would increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, among other benefits, effective December 1, 2007. As has been this Committee's practice, my intent is to move a clean COLA.
The Committee Print of S. 1163, Blinded Veterans Paired Organ Act of 2007, which I introduced along with three other members of this Committee, would amend eligibility requirements for benefits provided to veterans with a service-connected disability due to blindness. This bill also contains provisions derived from a bill sponsored by Senator Craig that would serve to improve VA's burial program.
The Committee Print of S. 1315, the omnibus benefits bill, includes provisions derived from bills that I introduced, including: increases in the maximum amount of supplemental life insurance available to totally disabled veterans and in the maximum amount of Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance that a service-connected disabled veteran may purchase; as well as the establishment of a new life insurance program for disabled veterans. Also, as I noted before, provisions in this bill would improve transitional benefits for servicemembers - especially for those with severe burns or traumatic injuries - and enhance benefits for Filipino World War II veterans. This bill also includes a modified version of Senator Craig's court bill. Senators Murray, Obama, Sanders, and Graham also have offered legislation or amendments included in this bill.
S. 479, the Joshua Omvig Veterans' Suicide Prevention Act, calls on VA to develop a comprehensive program to reduce suicides among veterans. I commend Senator Harkin for listening to the Omvig family and crafting this legislation to help ensure that other families will not experience a tragedy such as theirs. Many of you heard Joshua Omvig's father, Randall, testify at the Committee's April 25th hearing on mental health. It was an emotional experience, and I am proud to have cosponsored this bill, along with Senators Rockefeller, Murray, Obama, and Brown, of this Committee. Although VA has recently begun implementing some elements of S. 479, the bill contains a number of innovative concepts to invigorate veterans' suicide prevention efforts. These include a Peer Support Program for troubled veterans and a 24-hour mental health crisis capacity for those in imminent danger.
The Committee Print of S. 1233, the Traumatic Brain Injury and Other Health Programs Enhancement Act of 2007, would make significant improvements in the delivery of health care to veterans. Building on the provisions included in S. 1233, as introduced, the bill would also rescind the regulation issued by VA in January 2003 which prohibited enrollment of Priority 8 veterans. This provision was derived from legislation introduced by Senator Murray, and I thank her for her hard work and cooperation on this provision. The prohibition on Priority 8 veterans has gone on longer than needed, and veterans who need and deserve care are being turned away. This change would not modify the enrollment management provisions contained in the 1996 law, but would merely permit the enrollment of Priority 8 veterans during Fiscal Year 2008.
The Majority members of this Committee, in our Views and Estimates letter to the Budget Committee, recommended a $2.9 billion increase over the Administration's request for veterans' medical care, which took into account the costs of enrolling Priority 8 veterans. The Budget Committee, in turn, followed our total recommendation for VA health care.
This legislation would also extend the period of automatic eligibility for VA health care from two to five years for servicemembers returning from combat. It would ensure access to care for conditions that may not be apparent when a servicemember first leaves active duty, and would contribute to the "seamless" transition from military to civilian life. Extending this window is especially critical for National Guard and Reservists, who do not have any other recourse for health care upon deactivation from service.
Additionally, the Committee's veterans' health care bill aims to improve access to VA care for rural veterans. The major provision of this effort is a substantial increase in the mileage reimbursement rate for qualifying veterans who travel long distances for VA care. The present rate of 11 cents per mile has not changed since 1978, and is not reasonable given inflation and the high cost of gasoline. I thank Senator Tester for pushing forward with this long-overdue provision, which matches VA's rate to the current GSA rate of 28.5 cents per mile. It also caps the deductibles that VA can make to its reimbursement payouts. Senator Tester, I appreciate you working with me to find common ground on this provision, so that veterans who travel hundreds of miles each month for medical care are not left out in the cold.
Also included are a grant program to provide transportation alternatives for rural veterans, a demonstration program to explore options for the care of rural veterans, and extensive reporting requirements on VA's efforts to improve access for rural veterans.
Finally, the omnibus health bill before us contains numerous other provisions that will benefit homeless veterans, as well as seek to prevent veterans from becoming homeless. I thank Senator Burr for his cooperation on these provisions, and for his dedication to preventing homelessness among veterans.
In conclusion, I again thank all the Members of the Committee for their participation, and hope that we can continue to move forward in the legislative process in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation. Thank you.
Hear an mp3 of Senator Akaka's statement at the hearing:
http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/akaka/akaka070627.mp3
