Veterans |
Caring for those who have worn the uniform and their families has always been one of Mike's highest priorities. He remains a strong voice for the over 155,000 veterans of Maine and the millions more across our country. Mike serves as Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health. He is devoted to ensuring that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget meets the needs of our veterans, as well as improving rural veterans' access to health care, caring for our returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and ending homelessness among veterans. In this section:
Additional resources:
Chairman, Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health
Mike is
dedicated to providing our veterans the respect and care that they deserve. He currently serves as the Chairman of the
Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health.
The Subcommittee on Health has legislative and oversight jurisdiction
for VA health care system, programs, and research apparatus. From his position as Chairman, Mike
successfully fought for an increase in the VA health care budget, passed
legislation to improve health care for veterans, and provided oversight of the
VA health care system.
The Health
Subcommittee had an ambitious schedule in the 110th Congress including hearings
on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
mental health, long-term care, women and minority veterans, access to care in
rural areas, and Gulf War exposures. For more information on the
activities of the Health Subcommittee or the full House Veterans' Affairs
Committee, click HERE.
In his
first term, Mike became the only freshman in the 108th Congress (2003, 2004) to
serve in a committee leadership position when he became the Ranking Member on
the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits. He is only the second freshman to serve in
this position since 1957. In the 109th
Congress (2005, 2006), Mike served as the Ranking Member of the House Veterans'
Affairs Subcommittee on Health.
VA Funding for Fiscal Year 2008:
Mike worked
hard with a bipartisan group of his colleagues in promoting increased FY2008 funding
for the VA. The result of their hard
work was H.R. 2642, Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008. As a result of this legislation, the VA
received $43.2 billion in FY2008. This represents $6.7 billion above FY2007
funding limits, and $3.8 billion over the President's request. In fact, the level of funding for FY 2008 was
the single largest budget increase for the VA in its history. The legislation covers funding for veterans'
medical care, claims processing, personnel, and facility improvements within
the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA). This bill demonstrated that Congress
is serious about following through on a commitment to provide veterans with the
best care possible. It sends a clear
message to America's
servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans that the nation deeply
respects their service and sacrifice.
VA Funding for Fiscal Year 2009: Enhancing Benefits for Veterans Improving Job Training Opportunities for Veterans
The
hardworking men and women who fight for our nation deserve affordable job
training opportunities. Under the current
Montgomery GI Bill, veterans receive benefits to pay
for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and other expenses associated with
enrollment in an array of approved education and training programs. Unfortunately, while there are plenty of
accelerated benefits going towards training programs for high-tech occupations,
there are fewer benefits available for training in the transportation and
construction industries. These
industries face a critical shortage of employees now and in the near
future. Nationwide, the trucking industry needs an additional 20,000
drivers today, and expects to face a shortage of 110,000 drivers by 2014.
On March
29, 2007, Mike introduced H.R. 1824, which expands the scope of the Montgomery
GI Bill benefits to include accelerated payments of educational assistance to cover
commercial driver's license training programs.
These programs would give veterans the training they need for jobs in
the commercial trucking industry.
Mike is
also a co-sponsor of H.R. 5684, the Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008. This bill amends the
Montgomery GI Bill by increasing the rates of basic educational assistance
for veterans.
GI Bill for the 21st
Century Promoting Economic Security and Ending Homelessness
Many low
income veterans and veteran families live at the financial margins. In the absence of permanent housing solutions
and support services, they are at risk of becoming homeless. Currently, 1.5 million veterans have incomes
that fall below the federal poverty level, including 634,000 with incomes 50%
below the poverty line. According to the
VA, nearly 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night - living on the
streets, in shelters or in community based organizations. More needs to be done to provide housing for
homeless veterans and economic stability for other low-income veterans.
Veteran Home Equity Conversion
Mortgage Act
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2007
Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living adjustment (COLA) Act of 2008 Providing Quality Health Care to Veterans Upon returning home, those who have volunteered to risk their lives and defend our nation deserve the very best care. Many servicemen and women come home with injuries and disabilities that require quality assistance. Unfortunately, access to care is a significant challenge for rural veterans. Throughout Maine and elsewhere, VA hospitals are too far apart to be accessible and convenient to those they are supposed to service. Through his position as the Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, Mike has worked tirelessly to improve rural veterans' access to health care.
Expanding Access to Health Care for Maine Veterans
Making progress on these health care sites is critical to
the well-being of our veterans.
Addressing the health care access issue for rural veterans remains a
high priority for Mike and his subcommittee and he'll continue to monitor the
VA's progress.
Rural Veterans Access to Care Act
Mike's
Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing on H.R. 1527 on April 26,
2007. As a cosponsor of the bill, Mike
worked closely with the sponsor in making sure that it became law. The House of Representatives passed the bill on
September 10, 2008, and it became public law on October 10, 2008 as a part of
S. 2162, the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008.
VA Mileage Reimbursement Rate
Increase
Department of Veteran's Affairs
Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008
Mike has
also co-sponsored veteran health care legislation. For instance, he is a co-sponsor of H.R.
2812, the Veterans' Epilepsy Treatment Act of 2008. This bill establishes six VA health-care
facilities as Epilepsy Centers of Excellence. It also seeks to coordinate better access to
diagnosis, research, care, and education for epilepsy and traumatic brain
injury. He is also a co-sponsor of H.R.
6122, the Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008.
This piece of legislation directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain
experienced by veterans.
On May 21st,
2008, Mike helped pass H.R. 3819, the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of
2007, in the House of Representatives.
This legislation requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse
veterans without a service-connected disability for the cost of emergency
treatment received in a non-VA facility.
This legislation is especially important for rural veterans who are not
always close to VA facilities. H.R. 3819 currently awaits action in the Senate.
Taking Care of Wounded Warriors Improving Long-Term Support for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic
brain injury has become the signature health care issue of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. A traumatic brain
injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. Common problems associated with TBI include physical
symptoms and emotional issues such as post traumatic stress disorder,
depression, and anxiety disorders. Since
the VA began screening veterans who fought in Iraq
or Afghanistan,
11,804 (19.26%) of the veterans screened have screened positive for TBI
symptoms. Many of these veterans
live in rural areas.
Traumatic Brain Injury Health
Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007 Treating Veterans with Substance Abuse Disorders Of the approximately 300,000 veterans from Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom who have accessed VA health care, nearly 50,000 have been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder. Additionally, more than 70% of homeless veterans suffer from alcohol and other drug abuse problems. Mike is extremely concerned about this issue.
Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use
Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008
Suicide is
a growing problem among veterans suffering from PTSD. Veterans have an increased chance of suicide
due to various increased risk factors such as combat exposure, traumatic brain
injury (TBI), strained social support structures, and access to lethal
means. It is estimated that veterans
could account for 20% of the suicide deaths in the United States. Mike believes that everything possible must be done to take care of our veterans suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues. He was an original cosponsor of H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which passed the House on March 21, 2007 and was signed into law on November 5, 2007. The bill, named for an Iraq veteran who took his own life, requires a comprehensive VA program to reduce suicides among veterans, including placing suicide prevention counselors at VA medical facilities and 24-hour mental health care access for at-risk veterans. The program also requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to train staff who interact with veterans to recognize suicide, conduct a mental health assessments of all veterans, research the best practices for suicide prevention, provide mental health care for veterans who have experienced sexual trauma while in military service, and establish a toll-free hotline for veterans seeking assistance. |