HOUSE DEMOCRATS PICK FILNER TO LEAD VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

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VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
DECEMBER 8, 2006  
Congressional Quarterly
By Rachel Van Dongen, Cq
Staff Writer Friday, Dec. 8, 2006 – 2:39 P.M.
Edited By Charles Hoskinson 

HOUSE DEMOCRATS PICK FILNER TO LEAD VETERANS’ AFFAIRS 

Rep. Bob Filner, of California won an unusual runoff today for the chairmanship of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, beating Michael H. Michaud of Maine by a vote of 112-69 by the full Democratic caucus.   The decision came a day after the Democratic Steering Committee, headed by incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., voted 24-20 to award the chairmanship to Filner. Michaud, however, invoked a caucus rule that entitles a candidate to a second ballot before the full caucus if they receive at least 14 votes.   While Filner won by a wide margin, his apparent lock on the chairmanship was imperiled by members who worried he is too hot-tempered for the job.   "This whole fuss was made about style, that Filner is too emotional, too passionate," said a member leaving the caucus room.   Outgoing ranking member Lane Evans and Rep. Tom Allen late Thursday sent a letter to House Democrats, asking them to support Michaud. Evans sited Michaud's "political contributions to our party," in addition to other positive attributes.   Congressional Quarterly By Rachel Van Dongen, CQ Staff Writer FRIDAY, DEC. 8, 2006 – 2:39 P.M. Edited by Charles Hoskinson   CONTINUING RESOLUTION HOLDS FORMULA, BUT ALLOWS VA FUND TRANSFER FOR HEALTH CARE

The stopgap spending measure to ensure that the government can continue to function past midnight tonight does not include major deviations from the funding formula used in the current continuing resolution.   It calls for agencies that have not yet had their fiscal 2007 appropriations measures enacted to get the lowest of the House-passed, Senate-passed or previous year funding level. But in a nod to concerns that veterans health care would be harmed by that lowest-of formula, the resolution (H J Res 102) would allow the Veterans Affairs Department to transfer up to $684 million to the Veterans Health Administration for medical services.   Though some senators have pushed for more money for veterans’ health care, the House is likely to take up the resolution late Friday, making it difficult, if not impossible, for the Senate to make changes and still get the measure to President Bush for signing before midnight.   The stopgap spending measure also incorporates a proposal that Democrats had been planning to offer as an amendment  a delay in the congressional pay raise until Feb. 16. The resolution will last through Feb. 15.     VA GETS A+ ON TONIGHT'S CBS EVENING NEWS – LAURA BALUN, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS – DECEMBER 8, 2006   CBS Evening News is scheduled to broadcast a positive story tonight about VA's health care system.  Anchor Katie Couric described it yesterday as "Why VA health care gets an A-plus."  Reporter Wyatt Andrews spent a day in September at the Baltimore VA Medical Center along with a film-crew, interviewing staff and patients.  Check with your local listings for the broadcast time. (6:30 p.m. WUSA, channel 9     House Veterans Affairs Committee – Immediate Release December 7, 2006 BUYER TO SERVE AS RANKING MEMBER ON HOUSE VETERANS' COMMITTEE   Washington, D.C.- Dedicated to continuing the work done during his two years as Chairman, Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04) will serve as Ranking Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee in the 110th Congress. Once again, Buyer was elected by the House Republican Steering Committee to lead the Committee for the Republican Conference.  The Committee has jurisdiction over the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA), the largest healthcare delivery system in the nation.  Buyer will also continue to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

"We are a nation at war and the challenges the VA faces are many, but one thing remains constant: I will continue to serve those veterans with service-connected disabilities, those with special needs and the indigent. As Chairman and now Ranking Member, my vision for the future of the VA includes attaining a seamless transition between the Department of Defense and the VA, and providing the veterans coming home today and those who have served in the past every opportunity to live full lives," Buyer stated. 

House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said, "In a time of war, America's veterans deserve someone who understands their needs and will work to fulfill them.  Steve Buyer is that person. As a veteran himself, he understands the issues facing our veterans and he will continue to serve them as Ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee." 

"I look forward to continuing the work I started as Chairman-perfecting the VA budget model, ensuring that veterans are protected from the past data theft, and funding research and construction projects so that VA healthcare remains the best in the nation," Buyer added. 

During a hearing held in July 2005, Buyer highlighted key weaknesses in the VA budget modeling which led to a funding shortfall. Buyer quickly introduced Fiscal Year 2005 supplemental funding for the VA.  In addition, he pushed to change the way the VA creates its budget, which it has since adopted. 

Buyer was also instrumental in uncovering the flaws of the Information Technology (IT) system at VA.  These flaws led to the theft of a laptop containing sensitive information of the nation's 26 million veterans, their dependents and military personnel. Buyer held a series of hearings and introduced wide ranging legislation to reorganize VAIT. 

"As a veteran, my service on this Committee is personal.  It has been an honor and a privilege to be the leading advocate for our nation's veterans and I look forward to continuing this service in the 110th Congress," Buyer commented.  Please visit our website at http://veterans.house.gov

LEGISLATION CLEARED FOR WHITEHOUSE

H.R. 6342 Veterans Programs Extension Act of 2006 cleared for Whitehouse on December 7 and once signed into law, would:   Reauthorize health care services for veterans exposed to chemical and biological testing under Projects 112 and SHAD, and it extends treatment and rehabilitation programs for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans until December 31, 2007.   

Extend VA's grant and per diem program for homeless veterans until September 30, 2007.  Further, it would extend VA's Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, and the program to provide government markers for veterans interred in private cemeteries, until December 31, 2007. 

Extend until June 30, 2007 the VA's work study program where in veterans assist VA and other government agencies.  The work study program is an increasingly popular benefit that provides veterans with an alternative use of their GI Bill if they choose not to go to college. 

Reauthorize the requirement for the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to each submit a report to Congress on use of educational assistance programs by veterans and servicemembers.  It would also reauthorize the biennial report on women veterans.   Permanently authorize six Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers.   Parkinson's disease affects as many as 1.5 million Americans.  While treatment exists, we are still searching for a cure.  In addition, the bill also codifies two existing multiple sclerosis centers. 

Authorize major medical facility leases, similar to H.R. 5815, which passed the House on September 13, 2006.   Makes technical and clerical amendments to title 38, and codifies the payment amounts of the already enacted veterans' disability compensation COLA.   S. 1988/H.R. 3352 Stolen Valor Act of 2005 cleared for Whitehouse on December 6 and once signed into law, would:   

Amends the federal criminal code to expand the prohibition against wearing, manufacturing, or selling military decorations or medals without legal authorization to prohibit purchasing, soliciting, mailing, shipping, importing, exporting, producing blank certificates of receipt for, advertising, trading, bartering, or exchanging such decorations or medals without authorization. Prohibits falsely representing oneself as having been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces or any of the service medals or badges. Increases penalties for violations if the offense involves a distinguished service cross, an Air Force Cross, a Navy Cross, a silver star, or a Purple Heart.