House Vet Affairs Committee mark-up legislation...

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House Veterans Affairs Committee mark-up pending legislation

CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION - VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 18, 2009 - 5:32 p.m.
House Markups Set for Several VA Bills
By Matthew M. Johnson, CQ Staff

A pair of House Veterans' Affairs subcommittees are expected to mark up several veterans' health care and welfare bills Thursday.

The Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee will mark up a bill (HR 1377) that would expand veterans' eligibility to be reimbursed for care they receive in non-Veterans Affairs Department emergency rooms.

The legislation, introduced by Chairman Bob Filner of California, would extend coverage to veterans who have received coverage from an insurer for non-service-related injuries but still have unpaid emergency-treatment expenses. The bill would not require the department to pay veterans' co-payments for emergency treatment.

An amendment is likely to be introduced to stipulate that funding for the bill would come from discretionary spending, according to a committee source.

The Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee will meet later to mark up five additional measures.
A bill (HR 228) introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, would establish a scholarship for students pursuing degrees or certificates in medical studies to help the visually impaired. The measure aims to increase the number of blind rehabilitation specialists who serve at VA hospitals.

Under the bill, students could receive as much as $15,000 a year and a maximum of $45,000 over the course of their studies. In exchange for the scholarship, recipients would have to work in VA hospitals for three years. The measure does not appropriate new funds, instead making the establishment of the program "subject to the availability of appropriations."

Other legislation slated for action includes:
A bill (HR 1089) to authorize the Office of Special Counsel to enforce employment and unemployment rights on behalf of veterans and military personnel who work for federal executive agencies. Subcommittee Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., introduced the measure.
A bill (HR 1088) that would require new disabled-veterans' outreach specialists and veterans' employment representatives to complete a year of special training. Sandlin introduced the measure.
A bill (HR 1171) that would reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, which provides employment assistance to homeless veterans, for fiscal 2010 through 2014. Subcommittee ranking Republican John Boozman of Arkansas introduced the measure.
A bill (HR 466) to prohibit discrimination and reprisals against people with illnesses, disabilities or injuries that resulted from military service. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, introduced the measure.
The markup of HR 1377 is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday in 334 Cannon. The markups of HR 228, HR 466, HR 1088, HR 1089 and HR 1171 are scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday in 340 Cannon.