Legislation Review - Provide Greater Support-Vets&Survivors

[boardman]

Rep. Hall Chairman of House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hold hearing on Veterans legislation

NEWS FROM...
CHAIRMAN BOB FILNER
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Kristal DeKleer at (202) 225-9756
http://veterans.house.gov
House Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Provide Greater Support to Veterans and Survivors

Washington D.C. - On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, led by Chairman John Hall (D-NY), held a hearing to review legislation relating to veterans' insurance benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Bob Filner (D-CA), Chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said, "I applaud the Members of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs as they work tirelessly to ensure that our veterans, their families and survivors are able to plan appropriately for their financial security and have the best and most affordable options available. In this time of war, our grateful nation honors the sacrifices made by our service members and must honor the promises made to our veterans."

Chairman Hall stated the following in his opening remarks: "These measures are all critical and common sense bills intended to ensure that our veterans and their families who have insurance-related needs while they are living receive the full measure of the benefit-and, that their survivors have ample replacement income to meet their needs. Additionally, these bills would allow veterans to make the necessary plans to ensure that their loved ones are provided for adequately and have financial security. All of the bills would give veterans greater flexibility in their insurance choices, and consequently greater peace of mind."

The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs considered the following bills:
H.R. 2379, Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 (Buyer, R-IN)
H.R. 2379 would allow veterans insured under Veterans' Group Life Insurance, no more than once in each five-year period, to increase such coverage amount if: (1) the veteran is under 60 years of age; (2) the increase is not more than $25,000; and (3) the total amount of such insurance does not exceed $400,000 (the limit authorized for a veteran under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance).
H.R. 2713, Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act (Donnelly, D-IN)
H.R. 2713 would update the VA's Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance program, including increasing basic and supplemental coverage amounts and updating the 1941-based rate tables.
H.R. 2774, Families of Veterans Financial Security Act (Halvorson, D-IL)
H.R. 2774 would make permanent the 2-year extension of the free Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage period for service members who are totally disabled on the date of their separation from active duty or reserve status.
H.R. 2968, To eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill persons insured under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance or Veterans' Group Life Insurance. (Kirkpatrick, D-AZ)
H.R. 2968 would amend the provision that allows a terminally-ill service member or veteran to receive half of their Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance or Veterans' Group Life Insurance while they are alive, by eliminating the discount rate that VA applies to this payment. This bill would also make VA policies consistent with the commercial insurance industry.

Witness List

Panel 1
The Honorable Steve Buyer, Indiana, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Joe Donnelly, Indiana, United States House of Representative
The Honorable Deborah L. Halvorson, Illinois, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Ann Kirkpatrick, Arizona, United States House of Representatives

Panel 2
Bonnie Carroll, Chairman and Executive Director, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc.
John Wilson, Associate National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veteran

Panel 3
Thomas M. Lostowka, Director, VA Regional Office and Insurance Center, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by
o Richard J. Hipolit, Assistant General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
###
Prepared testimony and a link to the webcast of the hearing are available on the internet at this link: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hear ... newsid=430