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The U.S. House Veterans
Affairs Committee (HVAC) has oversight of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) and works to create, review, and strengthen legislation
on veterans' issues. This includes
veterans' health care, disability compensation, GI bill education and job
training, home loan guarantees, life insurance policies, and national veterans'
cemeteries.
I am proud to be a member of this committee and to represent
the millions of brave men and women of Texas
who served our nation in uniform. Additionally,
I sit on the Subcommittee
on Oversight and Investigations (OI) and the Subcommittee
on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA).
Click here
for a list of organizations providing
services to veterans. Please feel free
to contact my office with any concerns.
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Over the last decade, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
transformed its health care system into regional service networks that include
over 600 health care facilities, medical
centers, nursing homes, and community-based outpatient clinics that care for over
5 million veterans.
While the VA continuously strives to better its quality of
service and opportunity of access, there are still several areas of concern
that remain. From new veterans returning
from Iraq and Afghanistan
who needs physical and mental health services to those seeking assistance with
health and disability benefits, Congress is working to provide the oversight
and change to ensure every veteran receives the support they have earned.
In June of this year, I supported the Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08)
Military Construction and Veterans
Affairs Appropriations bill which includes significant funding for
veterans' health care, support for military facilities and new measures of accountability
for the VA.
Unfortunately, the President has yet to sign this important
and critical legislation that will affect every veteran in America. In addition to including the largest single
funding increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration, this
bill will:
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Significantly reduce the 400,000 claims backlog of
veterans waiting for disability and other benefits by adding
more than 1,100 new claims processors.
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Support critical maintenance of Veterans Affairs
health care facilities.
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Establishes five polytrauma centers and three
Centers of Excellence for Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that
will provide care for those returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan.
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Direct the development and operation of a
toll-free telephone and web-based hotline for veterans to report on
deficiencies in Veterans Affairs medical facilities and care.
In
addition to supporting this funding for our veterans, I have introduced
legislation that would provide improvements and expansion of existing veterans
programs. In May, I introduced H.R.
2173, the Mental Health Enhancement Act,
which increases access to mental health services for our veterans and returning
soldiers. This legislation would provide
the VA with the ability to contract out to community mental health centers, thereby
extending the reach of mental health services provided to those who need them.
In
June, I introduced H.R.2689,
which requires the Secretary of the VA to establish a program for
OEF/OIF veterans and their families to assist in a smooth transition for the
veteran back to civilian life. This
program would include: peer-to-peer outreach and counseling; mental health
services; and the use of telehealth services to ensure rural veterans are
covered. The services proposed by my
legislation were included in H.R. 2874, the Veterans Health Care Improvement
Act, which passed the House on July 30th.
America's
veterans are our heroes and we must honor them with both our words and our
deeds. I am proud to support legislation that will ensure our veterans have the
resources and benefits they have earned and I am pleased with the progress
Congress has made in aiding the well-being of our veterans. I will continue to keep the interests of the
nation's veterans a priority, both as a member of the House Veterans Affairs
Committee and as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Task Force on
Veterans.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office
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