[House Report 117-688]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 504
117th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Report 117-688
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
VETERAN'S AFFAIRS
ACTIVITIES REPORT
Submitted in accordance with House Rule XI,
Clause 1(D)(1)
December 30, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
50-177 WASHINGTON : 2023
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC, December 29, 2022.
Hon. Cheryl L. Johnson,
Clerk of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Clerk: Pursuant to rule XI, clause 1(d)(1), of
the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, I hereby submit
to the House a report on the legislative and oversight
activities of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs during the
117th Congress.
Sincerely,
Mark Takano,
Chairman.
C O N T E N T S
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Membership of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs................. VII
Jurisdiction of the Committee.................................... 1
Activities of the Full Committee................................. 2
Activities of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs............................................... 21
Activities of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity........... 29
Activities of the Subcommittee on Health......................... 45
Activities of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations... 57
Activities of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization....... 65
Activities of the Women Veterans Task Force...................... 75
Appendix I: Legislation That Passed the House of Representatives. 82
Appendix II: Public Laws Enacted................................. 90
MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
MARK TAKANO, California, Chairman
MIKE BOST, Illinois, Ranking Member
(17-14)\1\
JULIA BROWNLEY, California AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN,
CONOR LAMB, Pennsylvania American Samoa
MIKE LEVIN, California, Vice- JACK BERGMAN, Michigan
Chairman JIM BANKS, Indiana
CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire CHIP ROY, Texas
ELAINE G. LURIA, Virginia TRACEY MANN, Kansas
FRANK MRVAN, Indiana BARRY MOORE, Alabama
SHEILA CHERFILUS-McCORMICK, Florida NANCY MACE, South Carolina
GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, MADISON CAWTHORN, North Carolina
Northern Mariana Islands TROY NEHLS, Texas
LAUREN UNDERWOOD, Illinois MATT ROSENDALE, Montana
COLIN Z. ALLRED, Texas MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa
LOIS FRANKEL, Florida JAKE ELLZEY, Texas
ELISSA SLOTKIN, Michigan CONNIE CONWAY, California
DAVID TRONE, Maryland
MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio
RAUL RUIZ, M.D., California
RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona
------
Matt Reel, Majority Staff Director
Maria Tripplaar, Minority Staff Director
----------
\1\On February 2, 2022, Representative Anthony G. Brown of Maryland
resigned his Committee membership, including the Subcommittees on
Economic Opportunity and Technology Modernization.
On January 19, 2022, Representative Gregory F. Murphy of North Carolina
resigned his Committee membership, including the Subcommittee on
Health.
On August 24, 2021, Representative Jake Ellzey of Texas was appointed
to the Committee, including the Subcommittees on Disability Assistance
and Memorial Affairs and Health.
On February 2, 2022, Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was
appointed to the Committee, including the Subcommittees on Economic
Opportunity and Technology Modernization.
On June 22, 2022, Representative Connie Conway of California was
appointed to the Committee, including the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Union Calendar No. 504
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 117-688
======================================================================
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS ACTIVITIES REPORT
_______
December 30, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Takano, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, pursuant to House
Rule XI, Clause 1(D)(1), submitted the following
R E P O R T
JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE
Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives
establishes the standing Committees of the House and their
jurisdiction. Under that rule, all bills, resolutions, and
other matters relating to the subjects within the jurisdiction
of any standing Committee shall be referred to such Committee.
Clause 1(s) of rule X establishes the jurisdiction of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs as follows:
(1) Veterans' measures generally.
(2) Cemeteries of the United States in which veterans
of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in
the United States or abroad (except cemeteries
administered by the Secretary of the Interior).
(3) Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and
education of veterans.
(4) Life insurance issued by the Government on
account of service in the Armed Forces.
(5) Pensions of all the wars of the United States,
general and special.
(6) Readjustment of servicemembers to civil life.
(7) Servicemembers' civil relief.
(8) Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment
of veterans.
ACTIVITIES OF THE FULL COMMITTEE
BUSINESS MEETINGS
Full Committee Business Meeting--Organization of the 117th
Congress. On Thursday, February 11, 2021, the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs met to formally organize the Committee's
membership and to adopt the rules of the Committee for the
117th Congress.
Full Committee Business Meeting--Subcommittee Assignments.
On September 13, 2021, the Full Committee met to formally
assign Representative Jake Ellzey to the Disability Assistance
and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.
Full Committee Business Meeting--Subcommittee Assignments.
On March 17, 2022, the Full Committee met to formally assign
Representative Jake Ellzey to the Health Subcommittee and
Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to the Economic
Opportunity and Technology Modernization Subcommittees.
Full Committee Business Meeting--Subcommittee Assignments
and Reauthorization of the Women Veterans Task Force. On July
19, 2022, the Full Committee met to formally assign
Representative Connie Conway to the Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs Subcommittee and to remove Representative
Barry Moore from the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
Subcommittee. The Committee also voted to reauthorize the Women
Veterans Task Force for the remainder of the 117th Congress.
Full Committee Business Meeting--Discussion of VA Facility
Naming Bills. On September 21, 2022, the Full Committee met to
discuss the rules process designated by the Committee regarding
VA facility naming bills.
MARKUPS
Full Committee Markup. On February 11, 2021, the Full
Committee held a markup on A.N.S. to the Committee Print, to
comply with reconciliation directives included in section 2001
(k) of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year
2021, S. Con. Res. 5. The Committee Print's Recommendations to
the House Committee on Budget, was ordered reported, as
amended.
Full Committee Markup. On May 4, 2021, the full Committee
held a markup on the Committee's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Views
and Estimates Letter; H.R. 234, the Korean American VALOR Act;
H.R. 2911, the VA Transparency and Trust Act of 2021; H.R.
2195, the Protecting the Employment Rights of Servicemembers
Act; H.R. 1948, the VA Employee Fairness Act; H.R. 958, the
Protecting Moms Who Served Act; H.R. 239, the Equal Access to
Contraception for Veterans Act; H.R. 2441, the Sgt. Ketchum
Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021; H.R. 2545, to amend
title 38, United States Code, to clarify the role of doctors of
podiatric medicine in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and
for other purposes; H.R. 2093, the Veterans and Family
Information Act; H.R. 2935, the VA Beneficiary Debt Collection
Improvement Act; H.R. 293, the VA Hospitals Establishing
Leadership Performance Act; H.R. 1257, the Homeless Veterans
Credit Act; H.R. 2704, the Improving VA Accountability to
Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act; H.R. 2788,
the VA Equal Employment Counseling Modernization Act; H.R.
2429, the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act; H.R.
2726, the VA FOIA Reform Act of 2021; H.R. 290, to amend title
38, United States Code, to render an individual, who transfers
certain educational assistance, to which the individual is
entitled because of an agreement by such individual to serve in
the Armed Forces, to a dependent of that individual, and who
fails to complete such agreement, solely liable for the
overpayment of such educational assistance; H.R. 2419, the
Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act; H.R. 2494, to
amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the
Department the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition
Administration, and for other purposes; H.R. 2082, the VA
Supply Chain Resiliency Act; A.N.S. to H.R. 711, the West LA VA
Campus Improvement Act of 2021; A.N.S. to H.R. 1510, the
Veterans Camera Reporting (VCR) Act; H.R. 2082, the VA Supply
Chain Resiliency Act; A.N.S to H.R. 1448, the PAWS for Veterans
Therapy Act; A.N.S. to H.R. 2167, the GI Bill NEED Act; and
A.N.S. to H.R. 2878, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and
Universities Pilot Program. The Committee's Fiscal Year 2022
Budget Views and Estimates Letter, H.R. 234, H.R. 2911, H.R.
2195, H.R. 1948, H.R. 958, H.R. 239, H.R. 2441, H.R. 2545, H.R.
2093, H.R. 2935, H.R. 293, H.R. 1257, H.R. 2704, H.R. 2788,
H.R. 2429, H.R. 2726, H.R. 290, H.R. 2419, H.R. 2494, and H.R.
2082 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 711, H.R.
1510, H.R. 1448, H.R. 2167, and H.R. 2878 were ordered
reported, as amended.
Full Committee Markup. On June 24, 2021, the full Committee
held a markup on H.R. 3967, the Honoring our Promise to Address
Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021 and an A.N.S. to H.R. 3967.
The Committee ordered H.R. 3967 reported, without amendment.
Full Committee Markup. On July 28, 2021, the full Committee
held a markup on an A.N.S. to H.R. 4657, the Veteran Home
Energy Savings Act; an A.N.S. to H.R. 912, the American Indian
and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act; an A.N.S. to H.R.
3856, to require the Comptroller General of the United States
to conduct a study on disparities associated with race and
ethnicity with respect to certain benefits administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs; an A.N.S. to H.R. 147, the
Bringing Registered Apprenticeships to Veterans Education
(BRAVE) Act; H.R. 4673--Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition
(EVEST) Act; an A.N.S. to H.R. 4626, the VA Assessment by
Independent Measures (AIM) Act; H.R. 4625, the VA Caregiver
Transparency Act; and H.R. 4233, the Student Veterans
Counseling Centers Eligibility Act. H.R. 4673, H.R. 4625, and
H.R. 4233 were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 4657,
H.R. 912, H.R. 3856, H.R. 147, and H.R. 4626 were reported, as
amended.
Full Committee Markup. On September 13, 2021, the full
Committee held a markup on an A.N.S. to the Committee Print, to
comply with reconciliation directives included in section 2002
of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year
2022, S. Con. Res. 14. The Committee Print's Recommendations to
the House Committee on Budget, was ordered reported, as
amended.
Full Committee Markup. On November 4, 2021, the full
Committee held a markup on H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI
Bill Parity Act of 2021; H.R. 3944, the Burial Equity for
Guards and Reserves Act of 2021; H.R. 5603, the Protections for
Student Veterans Act; H.R. 4591, the VA Electronic Health
Record Transparency Act of 2021; H.R. 2250, the VA IT Reform
Act of 2021; H.R. 5721, the VIPER Act; H.R. 2916, the VA
Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2021; H.R. 5029, the Expanding
the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act;
H.R. 5516, the VITAL Assessment Act; H.R. 5529, the Veterans
Justice Outreach Improvement Act; H.R. 5671, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza
vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes; H.R.
2385, the Justice for Women Veterans Act; H.R. 5562, to amend
title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for
hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care from the
Department of Veterans Affairs to include veterans of World War
II; H.R. 1596, the Commission to Study the Stigmatization,
Criminalization, and Ongoing Exclusion and Inequity for LGBTQ
Servicemembers and Veterans Act; H.R. 4845, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to establish the Advisory Committee on
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Veterans; H.R.
3730, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in
the Department of Veterans Affairs an Advisory Committee on
United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, and
for other purposes; H.R. 5607, the Justice for ALS Veterans
Act; H.R. 5151, the Col. James Floyd Turner IV USMC GI Bill
Transfer Act of 2021. H.R. 2916, H.R. 3730, H.R. 4845, H.R.
5029, H.R. 5562, H.R. 5607, and H.R. 5721 were ordered
reported, without amendment. H.R. 1596, H.R. 1836, H.R. 2250,
H.R. 2385, H.R. 3944, H.R. 4591, H.R. 5151, H.R. 5516, H.R.
5529, H.R. 5603, and H.R. 5671 were ordered reported, as
amended.
Full Committee Markup. On February 2, 2022, the Full
Committee held a markup on H.R. 5575, the VA Nurse and
Physician Assistant RAISE Act, and H.R. 6411, the STRONG
Veterans Act of 2022. H.R. 5575 was ordered reported, as
amended. H.R. 6411 was ordered reported, without amendment.
Full Committee Markup. On April 6, 2022, the Full Committee
held a markup on H.R. 5738, the Lactation Spaces for Veteran
Moms Act; H.R. 6961, the Dignity for MST Survivors Act; H.R.
2724, the VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act;
H.R. 7335, the Improving Military Sexual Trauma Claims
Coordination Act; H.R. 6052, the VA OIG Training Act; H.R.
7277, the Improving Oversight of Veterans Community Care
Providers Act of 2022; H.R. 7393, the Improving VA Workforce
Diversity through Minority-Serving Institutions Act of 2022;
H.R. 2428, the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of
2021; H.R. 7369, the Veteran Eligibility for Necessities to
Undertake Rewarding Entrepreneurship (VENTURE) Act; H.R. 6376,
the Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act; H.R. 7375, to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update the payment
system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow for
electronic fund transfer of educational assistance,
administered by the Secretary, to a foreign institution of
higher education; H.R. 2326, the Veterans Cyber Risk Awareness
Act; H.R. 7158, the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act; H.R.
5754, the Patient Advocate Tracker Act; H.R. 6064, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an
agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,
and Medicine for a review of examinations, furnished by the
Secretary, to individuals who submit claims to the Secretary
for compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States
Code, for mental and physical conditions linked to military
sexual trauma; H.R. 7153, the Department of Veterans Affairs
Principles of Benefits Automation Act; and H.R. 6604, the VETS
Credit Act. H.R. 7393, H.R. 6052, H.R. 2428, H.R. 7369, H.R.
7375, H.R. 7335, H.R. 2326, H.R. 7158, H.R. 5754, and H.R. 6064
were ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 6961, H.R. 2724,
H.R. 7277, H.R. 6376, H.R. 5738, H.R. 7153, and H.R. 6604 were
ordered reported, as amended.
Full Committee Markup. On July 19, 2022, the Full Committee
held a markup on H.R. 8260, the Fast Payments to Veteran
Survivors Act of 2022; H.R. 7846, the Veterans' Compensation
Cost of Living Adjustment Act of 2022; H.R. 7299, the
Strengthening VA Cybersecurity (SVAC) Act of 2022; H.R. 8003,
the Restore Veterans Dignity Act of 2022; H.R. 8215, the VOICE
Act of 2022; H.R. 6647, to amend title 38, United States Code,
to make certain improvements relating to the eligibility of
veterans to receive reimbursement for emergency treatment
furnished through the Veterans Community Care program, and for
other purposes; H.R. 5606, the Return Home to Housing Act; H.R.
5776, the Serving our LGBTQ Veterans Act; H.R. 6823, the
Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Service for Veterans
and Caregivers Act of 2022; H.R. 3693, the VA CPE Modernization
Act; H.R. 291, the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancement Act; H.R. 5752,
the Emergency Relief for Servicemembers Act; H.R. 7939, the
Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act of 2022; H.R. 7188, the
Modernizing Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Benefit
Questionnaires Act; H.R. 7735, the Improving Access to the VA
Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022; H.R. 8313, the House Every
Veteran Act; H.R. 5916, the Wounded Warrior Access Act; H.R.
6671, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that a
member of the Armed Forces, granted a general discharge under
honorable conditions on the sole basis that such a member
failed to obey a lawful order to receive a vaccine for COVID
19, is eligible for certain educational assistance administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R. 8260, H.R. 7846,
H.R. 8003, H.R. 8215, H.R. 6647, H.R. 5606, and H.R. 5776 were
ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 7299, H.R. 6823, H.R.
3693, H.R. 291, H.R. 5752, H.R. 7939, H.R. 7188, H.R. 7735,
H.R. 8313, H.R. 5916, and H.R. 6671 were ordered reported, as
amended.
Full Committee Markup. On September 21, 2022, the Full
Committee held a markup on H.R. 6273, the VA Zero Suicide
Demonstration Project Act of 2021; H.R. 3793, the Supporting
Families of the Fallen Act; H.R. 8888, the Food Security for
All Veterans Act; H.R. 8852, the End Veteran Hunger Act of
2022; H.R. 8875, the Expanding Home Loans for Guard and
Reservists Act; H.R. 2800, the WINGMAN Act; H.R. 8510, the
Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of
Veterans Affairs Act; H.R. 5918, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
repays members of the Armed Forces to certain contributions
made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance;
H.R. 1957, the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2021; H.R.
4601, the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act; H.R.
3304, the CARS for Vets Act; H.R. 2521, the Doula for VA Act of
2021; H.R. 7589, the REMOVE Copays Act. H.R. 6273, H.R. 3793,
H.R. 8888, H.R. 8852, H.R. 8875, H.R. 2800, were ordered
reported, without amendment. H.R. 5918, H.R. 1957, H.R. 8510,
H.R. 4601, H.R. 3304, H.R. 2521, H.R. 7589 were ordered
reported, as amended.
Full Committee Markup. On November 16, 2022, the Full
Committee held a markup on H. Res. 1379, of inquiry requesting
the President and directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of
Representatives relating to wait times for veterans to receive
primary care, mental health care, and specialty care
appointments at medical centers of the Department of Veterans
Affairs; H.R. 4772, the Mark O'Brien VA Clothing Allowance
Improvement Act. H.R. 4772 was ordered reported, without
amendment. H. Res. 1379 was reported unfavorably, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Full Committee Hearing--``Joint House and Senate Committees on Veterans
Affairs Hearing to receive the Legislative Presentation of
Disabled American Veterans and Multi-VSOs''
On March 3, 2021, the Full Committee held a joint hearing
with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive the
legislative priorities of Disabled American Veterans (DAV),
Student Veterans of America (SVA), Blinded Veterans Association
(BVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA),
National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs
(NASDVA), Minority Veterans of America (MVA), and National
Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV). DAV, SVA, BVA, MOAA,
NASDVA, MVA, and NCHV presented their legislative priorities to
the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees for fiscal
year 2021. There were two witness panels. The following
witnesses from DAV testified on the first panel: Mr. Stephen
``Butch'' Whitehead, National Commander; Mr. Edward R.
``Randy'' Reese, Jr., Executive Director of the National
Service and Legislative Headquarters; Mr. Jim Marszalek,
National Service Director; and Ms. Joy J. Ilem, National
Legislative Director.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Thomas A. Zampieri, Ph.D., National President, BVA; Mr. John
Hilgert, Director of the Nebraska Department of Veterans'
Affairs, NASDVA; Mr. Cory Titus, Director of Government
Relations for Veterans' Benefits, MOAA; Mr. Jared Lyon,
National President and CEO, SVA; Ms. Lindsay Church, Executive
Director and Co-Founder, MVA; and Ms. Kathryn Monet, Chief
Executive Officer, NCHV.
Full Committee Hearing--``Joint House and Senate Committees on
Veterans'' Affairs Hearing to receive the Legislative
Presentation of The American Legion and Multi-VSOs''
On March 4, 2021, the full Committee held a joint hearing
with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive the
legislative priorities of The American Legion (TAL), Vietnam
Veterans of America (VVA), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA),
Jewish War Veterans (JWV), Military Order of the Purple Heart
(MOPH), Wounded Warriors Project (WWP), and Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). TAL, VVA, PVA, JWV,
MOPH, WWP, and IAVA presented their legislative priorities to
the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees for fiscal
year 2021. There were two witness panels. The following
witnesses from TAL testified on the first panel: Mr. James
``Bill'' Oxford, National Commander; Mr. Vincent James Troiola,
Chairman of the Legislative Commission; Mr. Lawrence Montreuil,
National Legislative Director; Mr. Ralph Bozella, Chairman of
the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission; Mr. Mario
Marquez, Director of Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation; Mr.
Daniel Seehafer, Chairman of the Veterans Employment and
Education Commission; and Mr. Joe Sharpe, Director of Veterans
Employment and Education.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
John Rowan, National President/CEO, VVA; Mr. David Zurfluh,
National President, PVA; Mr. Jeffrey Sacks, National Commander,
JWV; Mr. Ernie Rivera, National Commander, MOPH; Mr. Michael S.
Linnington, LTG (ret), U.S. Army, Chief Executive Officer, WWP;
and Mr. Jeremy Butler, CEO, IAVA.
Full Committee Hearing--``Joint House and Senate Committees on
Veterans'' Affairs Hearing to receive the Legislative
Presentation of The American Legion and Multi-VSOs''
On March 18, 2021, the full Committee held a joint hearing
with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive the
legislative priorities of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States (VFW) and Multi VSOs: American Veterans (AMVETS),
Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Gold Star Wives of America,
Inc. (GSW), National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and
National Association of Black Veterans (NABVETS). There were
two witness panels. The following witnesses from VFW testified
on the first panel: Mr. Hal J. Roesch II., National Commander;
Mr. Vincent ``BJ'' Lawrence, Executive Director--Washington
Office; Mr. Patrick Murray, Director--National Legislative
Service; Mr. Ryan Gallucci, Director--National Veteran Service.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Jan Brown, National Commander, AMVETS; Mr. Michael F. ``Mick''
Fulton, National President, FRA; Ms. Nancy Menagh, National
President, GSW; Ms. Fawn Sharp, President, NCAI; and Mr.
Richard Kingsberry, President, NABVETS.
Full Committee Legislative Hearing--``H.R. 1273, H.R. 1355, H.R. 1585,
H.R. 1972, H.R. 2127, H.R. 2268, H.R. 2368, H.R. 2372, H.R.
2436, H.R. 2530, H.R. 2569, H.R. 2580, H.R. 2607, H.R. 2742,
H.R. 2825''
On May 5, 2021, the Full Committee met in open session for
a legislative hearing on the above legislation. The following
witnesses testified on the first panel: Representative Mike
Bost (Illinois), Representative Elaine G. Luria (Virginia),
Representative Troy E. Nehls (Texas), Representative Chris
Pappas (New Hampshire), Representative Elissa Slotkin
(Michigan), Representative Raul Ruiz (California),
Representative Stephen F. Lynch (Massachusetts), Representative
Bruce Westerman (Arkansas), Representative Lee M. Zeldin (New
York), Representative Paul Tonko (New York), Representative
Matt Cartwright (Pennsylvania), Representative Jahana Hayes
(Connecticut), and Representative Gregory F. Murphy (North
Carolina).
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Ronald Burke, Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Oversight,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Ms. Beth Murphy, Executive Director for Compensation
Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Ms. Patricia R. Hastings, Chief Consultant
for Post Deployment Health Services, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr.
Karl Kelsey, Professor of Epidemiology, Pathology, and
Laboratory Medicine, National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine.
The following witness testified on the third panel: Mr.
Aleksandr Morosky, Government Affairs Specialist, Wounded
Warrior Project; Mr. Travis Horr, Director, Government Affairs,
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Mr. Shane L.
Liermann, Deputy National Legislative Director for Benefits,
Disabled American Veterans; Ms. Kristina Keenan, Associate
Director, Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the U.S.; and Mr. James L. Price, Veteran.
Full Committee Hearing--``Joint House and Senate Committees on
Veterans'' Affairs Hearing to receive the Legislative
Presentation of the Disabled American Veterans''
On March 1, 2022, the Full Committee held a joint hearing
with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive the
legislative priorities of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
There was one witness panel. The following witnesses from DAV
testified on this panel: Mr. Andrew H. Marshall, National
Commander; Mr. J. Marc Burgess, National Adjutant; Mr. Barry
Jesinoski, Executive Director, National Headquarters; Mr.
Edward R. Reese, Jr., Executive Director, Washington
Headquarters; Mr. Jim Marszalek, National Service Director; Ms.
Joy Ilem, National Legislative Director; and Mr. John
Kleindienst, National Director, Voluntary Services.
Full Committee Hearing--``Joint House and Senate Committees on
Veterans'' Affairs Hearing to receive the Legislative
Presentation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States and Multi VSOs''
On March 2, 2022, the Full Committee held a joint hearing
with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive the
legislative priorities of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States (VFW) and Multi VSOs: Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America (IAVA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP),
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), American Veterans (AMVETS),
the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), the
Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), the Blinded Veterans
Association (BVA), the Black Veterans Empowerment Council
(BVEC), and the National Association of State Directors of
Veterans Affairs (NASDVA). There were two witness panels. The
following witnesses from VFW testified on the first panel: Mr.
Matthew ``Fritz'' Mihelcic, Commander-in-Chief; Mr. Patrick
Murray, National Legislative Director; Mr. Ryan Gallucci,
National Service Director; and Mr. Jay Hoffman, Legislative
Committee Chair.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Jeremy Butler, CEO, IAVA; Lieutenant General Michael S.
Linnington, U.S. Army (Ret.), CEO, WWP; Mr. Jack McManus,
National President, VVA; Mr. Greg Heun, National Commander,
AMVETS; Ms. Kathryn Monet, Executive Director, National
Headquarters, NCHV; Captain Lory Manning, U.S. Navy (Ret,),
SWAN; Mr. Joseph D. McNeil, Sr., National President, BVA; Mr.
Victor LaGroon, Director, BVEC; and Mr. Thomas ``Tom''
Palladino, President and Executive Director of the Texas
Veterans Commission, NASDVA.
Full Committee Hearing--``Joint House and Senate Committees on
Veterans'' Affairs Hearing to receive the Legislative
Presentation of the American Legion and Multi VSOs''
On March 8, 2022, the Full Committee held a joint hearing
with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to receive the
legislative priorities of the American Legion (TAL) and Multi
VSOs: the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial
Society (BATAAN), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA); Student
Veterans of America (SVA), Military Offices Association of
America (MOAA), Gold Star Wives of America (GSW), National
Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), Tragedy
Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc. (TAPS), and Modern
Military Association of America (MMAA). There were two witness
panels. The following witnesses from TAL testified on the first
panel: Mr. Paul E. Dillard, National Commander; Mr. Lawrence
Montreuil, National Legislative Director; Mr. Ralph Bozella,
Chairman of the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission,
Mr. James LaCoursiere, Chairman of the Veterans Employment and
Education Commission; Mr. Joe Sharpe, Director of Veterans
Employment and Education; and Ms. Katie Purswell, Director of
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Jan Thompson, President, BATAAN; Mr. Charles ``Charlie'' Brown,
National President, PVA; Mr. Jared Lyon, National President and
CEO, SVA; Commander Rene Campos, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Senior
Director, Government Relations for Veterans--Wounded Warrior
Care, MOAA; Ms. Claire Manning-Dick, Vice President, GSW;
Brigadier General J. Roy Robinson, U.S. Army (Ret.), President,
NGAUS; Major Bonnie Carroll, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), President
and Founder, TAPS; and Ms. Jennifer Dane, CEO and Executive
Director, MMAA.
Full Committee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on a
discussion draft, the VA Housing Loan Forever Act of 2022''
On December 14, 2022, the Full Committee held a legislative
hearing on the discussion draft of the ``VA Housing Loan
Forever Act of 2022.'' The following witness testified on the
first panel: Representative Jim Clyburn (South Carolina). The
following witness testified on the second panel: Mr. John Bell
III, Executive Director of the VA Home Loan Guaranty Service,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. The following witnesses testified on the third panel:
Mr. Richard Brookshire, Co-Founder, Black Veterans Project; Ms.
Mitria Spotser, Consultant, The Center for Responsible Lending;
and Mr. Joseph Sharpe, Director of Veterans Employment and
Education, The American Legion.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Full Committee Hearing--``Restoring Faith by Building Trust: VA's First
100 Days''
On March 25, 2021, the full Committee met in open session
to allow the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to
lay out his priorities and goals for the Department. This
hearing provided an opportunity for the Secretary present to
the Committee how he intends to lead VA in delivering care and
services to veterans now and in the future, while taking into
account veterans' rapidly changing demographics and the
multiple large, ongoing projects that seek to modernize the
enterprise. The following witnesses testified on the first
panel: The Honorable Denis R. McDonough, Secretary, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Full Committee Hearing--``Committee on Veterans'' Affairs Bipartisan
Member Day Hearing''
On May 26, 2021, the full Committee met in open session to
receive testimony from Members of Congress on legislation and
veterans' issues within the Committee's jurisdiction for the
117th Congress.
There were two witness panels. The following Members
testified on the first panel: Representative Peter Welch
(Vermont), Representative Robert Wittman (Virginia),
Representative Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), Representative Ashley
Hinson (Iowa), Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas),
Representative Brian Higgins (New York), Representative Grace
Meng (New York), Representative Michael Cloud (Texas),
Representative Lizzie Fletcher (Texas), and Representative
French Hill (Arkansas). The following Members testified on the
second panel: Representative Derek Kilmer (Washington),
Representative Fred Keller (Pennsylvania), Representative Mikie
Sherrill (New Jersey), Representative Brian Fitzpatrick
(Pennsylvania), Representative Michael San Nicolas (Guam),
Representative Andy Biggs (Arizona), Representative Brad
Wenstrup (Ohio); Representative Buddy Carter (Georgia),
Representative Vern Buchanan (Florida), Representative Warren
Davidson (Ohio), Representative Gus Bilirakis (Florida),
Representative Peter Meijer (Michigan), Representative Angie
Craig (Minnesota), and Representative Kaiali`i Kahele (Hawaii).
Full Committee Hearing--``Investing in a Better VA: Examining the Role
of Infrastructure in Veterans' Access to Care and Benefits''
On May 27, 2021, the full Committee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to examine all aspects of VA
infrastructure, particularly in light of the Biden
Administration's proposal to invest in VA through the American
Jobs Plan (AJP). Specifically, the Committee examined three
facets of infrastructure investment at the hearing: (1)
physical infrastructure, which includes modernized facilities
that meet the changing needs and demographics of veterans,
information technology (IT), advances in research, and
emergency preparedness; (2) human capital, which includes
investment in VA's clinical, IT, and management workforce that
enable it to expand and promote veteran-focused care and
services, and (3) systems of support, which includes
investments in programs and processes that ensure veterans can
access VA no matter who they are, when they served, or where
they live.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. Brett Simms, Executive
Director, Office of Asset and Enterprise Management, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Paul Brubaker, Acting
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Information and
Technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms.
Jessica Bonjorni, Chief, Veterans Health Administration Human
Capital Management, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
following witnesses testified on the second panel: The
Honorable Anthony Principi, former Secretary of Veterans
Affairs (2001-2005); Mr. Phillip Longman, Author, Best Care
Anywhere: Why VA Healthcare is Better Than Yours; Mr. Patrick
Murray, National Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign
Wars; Ms. Joy Ilem, National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans; Mr. Morgan Brown, Legislative Director,
Paralyzed Veterans of America; and Mr. Bruce Carruthers,
Steering Committee Member, Save Our VA.
Full Committee Hearing--``U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget
Request for Fiscal Year 2022''
On June 8, 2021, the full Committee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to examine the VA's fiscal year
(FY) 2022 budget and how the Administration plans to fund VA
priorities in the coming year and beyond.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: The Honorable Denis McDonough,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Jon
Rychalski, Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief
Financial Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr. Richard
C. Loeb, Senior Policy Counsel, American Federation of
Government Employees; Mr. Shane Liermann, Deputy National
Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Mr. Roscoe
Butler, Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of
America; Mr. Patrick Murray, Director, National Legislative
Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Mr. Joe Chenelly,
National Executive Director, AMVETS.
Full Committee Hearing--``Veteran Suicide Prevention: Innovative
Research and Expanded Public Health Efforts''
On September 22, 2021, the full Committee met in open
session to conduct an oversight hearing to examine ongoing and
new suicide research and prevention efforts of the Veterans
Health Administration.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Kameron Matthews, Assistant
Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services, Veterans
Health Administration; Dr. Matthew Miller, Executive Director,
Suicide Prevention Program, Veterans Health Administration; and
Dr. Lisa Brenner, Director, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness
Research Education and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention,
Veterans Health Administration. The following witnesses
testified on the second panel: Ms. Tammy Barlet, Deputy
Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Kaitlynne
Hetrick, Associate for Government Affairs, Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America; Ms. Jennifer Silva, Chief Program Officer,
Wounded Warrior Project; Chief William Smith, Chairman,
National Indian Health Board; Mr. Nick Armendariz, veteran; and
Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, Co-Director, RAND Epstein Family Veterans
Policy Research Institute, RAND Corporation.
Full Committee Roundtable--``The True Cost of Our Promise to Toxic-
Exposed Veterans''
On January 19, 2022, the Full Committee hosted a public-
facing, virtual roundtable to discuss the Honoring our PACT
Act--Chairman Takano's bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to
address in-service toxic exposures. The roundtable format
consisted of opening statements from the Chair and Ranking
Member, immediately followed by an open discussion guided by
talking through each of the seven titles of the bill one at a
time, with designated VSO representatives called on by the
Chair and leading off title conversations.
The following individuals participated in the roundtable
discussion: Mr. Jon Stewart, Veterans Advocate; Mr. John Feal,
Veterans Advocate; Ms. Rosie Lopez Torres, Executive Director,
Burn Pits 360; Mr. Patrick Murray, Director, National
Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Mr. Shane
Liermann, Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans; Mr. Ronald Brown, Toxic Wounds Consultant,
Vietnam Veterans of America; Lindsay Church, Executive
Director, Minority Veterans of America; Mr. Aleks Morosky,
Deputy Director, Government Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project;
Ms. Jen Burch, Government Relations and Communications
Associate, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Mr.
Advaith Thampi, Legislative Associate, The American Legion; Mr.
Cory Titus Director, Veteran Benefits and Guard/Reserve
Affairs, Military Officers Association of America; Mr. Roscoe
Butler, Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of
America; and Mr. Jim Vale, National Service Director, Veterans
Benefits and Policy, Blinded Veterans Association.
Full Committee Oversight Hearing--``Building a Better VA: Addressing
Healthcare Workforce Recruitment and Retention Challenges''
On March 17, 2022, the Full Committee met in open session
to conduct an oversight hearing on hiring and staffing
challenges at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
This hearing examined the state of human resources management
at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the extent to
which VA is addressing longstanding challenges with clinical
workforce recruitment and retention that may impede veterans'
access to timely, high-quality health care. The Committee
evaluated the effectiveness of VA's recent reorganization of
human resources staff, which resulted in the consolidation of
services at the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)
level, and the extent to which VHA recruitment and onboarding
actions are being completed in a timely manner. In addition,
the Committee examined the implementation of the ``HR Smart''
information technology system and the extent to which it has
helped improve VA's ability to manage clinical positions and
document various human resources transactions. Further, the
Committee also reviewed the Department's progress in validating
existing positions, developing position descriptions, and
developing staffing models for each VHA occupation.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Ms. Gina Grosso, Assistant
Secretary for Human Resources Administrations, Operations
Security, and Preparedness, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Ms. Jessica Bonjorni, Chief, VHA Human Capital
Management, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The following
witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms. Mary Jean ``MJ''
Burke, First Executive President, National VA Council, American
Federation of Government Employees; and Ms. Irma Westmoreland,
RN, Vice President and Veterans Affairs Chair, National Nurses
United.
Full Committee Oversight Hearing--``U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2023''
On April 28, 2022, the Full Committee met in open session
to conduct an oversight hearing reviewing the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for fiscal year 2023. There
were two witness panels. The following witness testified on the
first panel: The Honorable Denis McDonough, Secretary, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. The following witnesses
testified on the second panel: Mr. Shane Liermann, Deputy
National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms.
Tammy Barlet, Deputy Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign
Wars; and Mr. Morgan Brown, National Legislative Director,
Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Full Committee Oversight Hearing--``Examining Women Veterans' Access to
the Full Spectrum of Medical Care, Including Reproductive
Healthcare, Through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veterans Health Administration''
On September 15, 2022, the full Committee met in open
session to conduct an oversight hearing on women veterans'
access to the full spectrum of medical care, including
reproductive healthcare, through VHA. The Committee addressed
women veterans' access to primary care, mammography,
contraception, prenatal care, maternity care, infertility
treatment, care for pregnancy complications, abortion care, and
peri- and post-menopausal care.
There were two witness panels. The following witness
testified on the first panel: Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Under
Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Patricia Hayes, Chief
Officer, Women's Health, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Amanda Johnson, Director,
Women's Reproductive Health, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr. Julianne Flynn,
Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Community Care,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. The following witnesses testified on the second panel:
Dr. Ginny Ryan, Professor and Division Chief, Reproductive
Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Washington Medical
Center Montlake; Lindsay Church, U.S. Navy Veteran; and Kayla
M. Williams, Senior Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation.
Full Committee Oversight Hearing--``Veteran Suicide Prevention:
Capitalizing on What Works and Increasing Innovative
Approaches''
On September 29, 2022, the full Committee met in open
session to conduct an oversight hearing to examine ongoing and
new suicide research and prevention efforts of the Veterans
Health Administration.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Tamara Campbell, Acting
Executive Director, Office of Mental Health and Suicide
Prevention, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Dr. Matthew Miller, Executive Director,
Suicide Prevention Program, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr. Lisa Brenner,
Director, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and
Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
following witnesses testified on the second panel: Chuck
Hoskin, Jr., Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation; Shauna
Humphreys, Director of Behavioral Health, Choctaw Nation; Jenna
Larson, Youth Services Coordinator, Aleutian Pribilof Island
Association; Michael Blecker, Executive Director, Swords to
Plowshares; Wendy McClinton, CEO, Black Veterans for Social
Justice; and Jim Lorraine, President and CEO, America's Warrior
Partnership.
Full Committee Oversight Hearing--``Fulfilling our PACT: Ensuring
Effective Implementation of Toxic Exposure Legislation''
On Wednesday, December 7, 2022, the House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs met in open session to conduct an oversight
hearing titled ``Fulfilling our PACT: Ensuring Effective
Implementation of Toxic Exposure Legislation.'' The Committee
assessed a range of issues related to implementation of the
Honoring our PACT Act, including but not limited to clear and
consistent application of new presumptive illnesses, accurate
and timely processing of disability claims, information
technology upgrades and automation of claims processing, and
implementation of new recruitment and retention authorities.
There was one witness panel. The following witnesses
testified on this panel: Dr. Shereef Elnahal, Under Secretary
for Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Joshua
Jacobs, Senior Advisor for Policy performing the delegable
duties of the Under Secretary for Benefits, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Guy T. Kiyokawa, Assistant Secretary for
Enterprise Integration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Mr. John W. Boerstler, Chief Veterans Experience Officer, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Michael R. Brumage, Deputy
Chief Consultant, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr.
Robert T. Reynolds, Deputy Under Secretary for Disability
Assistance, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Tracey Therit, Chief Human Capital
Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Full Committee Oversight Hearing--``Review of the Role of VA's Fourth
Mission and Pandemic Response''
On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, the full Committee met in
open session to conduct an oversight hearing examining VA's
fourth mission and pandemic response.
There were two witness panels. The following witness
testified on the first panel: Maj. Gen. (RET) Richard Stone,
MD, former Executive in Charge, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr. Paul Kim, former
Executive Director, Office of Emergency Management, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
following witnesses testified on the second panel: Dr. Steven
Lieberman, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Tammy
Czarnecki, Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health for
Operations, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Dr. Jane Kim, Executive Director for
Preventative Medicine, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Carla Boyce, Executive
Director, Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Roselyn Tso,
Director, Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
INVESTIGATIVE HEARINGS
Full Committee Hearing--``Domestic Violent Extremist Groups and the
Recruitment of Veterans''
On October 13, 2021, the full Committee met in open session
to conduct a two-panel investigative hearing to examine the
nature of the scope of threats posed by domestic violent
extremist groups which seek to recruit and radicalize veterans.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. Joe Plenzler, Retired
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps; Mr. Jeremy Butler, Chief
Executive Officer, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America;
Dr. Seth Jones, Senior Vice President, Center for Strategic and
International Studies; and Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Director
of the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab,
American University. The following witnesses testified on the
second panel: Dr. Sam Jackson, Assistant Professor in the
College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and
Cybersecurity, University at Albany; Dr. Amy Cooter, Senior
Lecturer in Sociology, Vanderbilt University; Mr. Oren Segal,
Vice President of the Center on Extremism, Anti-Defamation
League; and Dr. Heidi Beirich, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy
Officer, Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.
Full Committee Hearing--``Helping Veterans Thrive: The Importance of
Peer Support in Preventing Violent Extremism''
On March 31, 2022, the full Committee met in open session
to conduct a two-panel investigative hearing to examine various
risk factors that place a small but growing number of military
veterans at risk of radicalization and recruitment domestic
violent extremist groups and to identify and evaluate various
civil society efforts to combat violent extremism.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. John Horgan, Distinguished
University Professor, Department of Psychology, Georgia State
University; Dr. Pete Simi, Associate Professor, Department of
Sociology, Chapman University; Mr. William Braniff, Co-Founder
and Board Member, We the Veterans; Ms. Vidhya Ramalingam, CEO
and Founder, Moonshot; and Mr. Chris Purdy, Director, Veterans
for American Ideals, Human Rights First. The following
witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr. Chris Buckley,
Veteran, U.S. Army; Ms. Emma Jouenne, Director of Programs &
Research on Extremism, Parents for Peace; Mr. Joe Chenelly,
National Executive Director, American Veterans; and Ms. Sarah
Streyder, Executive Director, Secure Families Initiative.
ROUNDTABLES
Full Committee Roundtable--``The True Cost of our Promise to Toxic-
Exposed Veterans''
On January 19, 2022, minority members held a roundtable
that was open to the public regarding toxic exposure and costs.
Attendees included: Mr. Jon Stewart, Veterans Advocate; Mr.
John Feal, Veterans Advocate; Ms. Rosie Lopez Torres, Executive
Director, Burn Pits 360; Mr. Patrick Murray, Director, National
Legislative Services, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Mr. Shane
Liermann, Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled
Veterans of America; Mr. Ronald Brown, Toxic Wounds Consultant,
Vietnam Veterans of America; Lindsey Church, Executive
Director, Minority Veterans of America; Mr. Aleks Morosky,
Deputy Director, Government Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project;
Ms. Jen Burch, Government Relations and Communications
Associate, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Mr.
Advaith Thampi, Legislative Associate, The American Legion, Mr.
Cory Titus, Director of Veteran Benefits and Guard/Reserve
Affairs, Military Officers Association of America; Mr. Roscoe
Butler, Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of
America; and Mr. Jim Vale, National Service Director, Veterans
Benefits and Policy, Blinded Veterans of America.
Full Committee Roundtable--``VA Asset and Infrastructure Review''
On April 5, 2022, the minority members conducted a
roundtable to discuss VA's recommendations for medical facility
realignments and closures and the forthcoming Asset and
Infrastructure Review (AIR process). Attendees included: The
Honorable Anthony Principi, former Secretary of Veterans
Affairs (2001-2005, Chair of the 2005 Military Base Realignment
and Closure Commission; and Mr. Darin Selnick, Senior Advisor
for Concerned Veterans for America, former Veterans Affairs
Advisor, White House Domestic Policy Council.
Full Committee Roundtable--``Improving Servicemember's Transition to
Civilian Life''
On June 16, 2022, the minority members conducted a
roundtable on making improvements of a servicemembers'
transition to civilian life. The participants included: Ms.
Binal Patel, Vice President, Act Now Education; Mr. Michael
Quinn, CEO, HireMilitary; Ms. Julie Howell, Associate National
Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Mr.
Darrell Owens, Director of Government Affairs, America's
Warrior Partnership; and Ms. Brittany Dymond, Associate
Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign
Wars.
Full Committee Roundtable--``Protecting Veterans' Second Amendment
Rights''
On, May 13, 2022, the minority members conducted a
roundtable on VA's policy of reporting veterans, who have been
appointed a fiduciary to manage their VA financial benefits, to
the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal
Background Check System. Attendees included Mr. Shane Liermann,
Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled American
Veterans; Mr. Alex Large, Director, Federal Affairs, National
Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action; Mr.
Advaith Thampi, Legislative Associate, The American Legion; Mr.
Bob ``Shoebob'' Carey, Executive Vice President, Advocacy and
Strategy, The Independence Fund; Ms. Tammy Barlet, Deputy
Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign
Wars; and Mr. Sherman Gillums, Jr., Veteran Advocate.
SITE VISITS
Alton and St. Louis, MO. From May 24-May 27, 2021, Ranking
Member Bost performed oversight visits of the Alton National
Cemetery, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, National
Cemetery Administration National Training Center, St. Louis
Regional Office, National Personnel Records Center, and the
John Cochran VA Medical Center. This visit was supported by
minority staff members.
Arlington National Cemetery, VA. On June 22, 2021, Ranking
Member Bost performed an oversight visit of Arlington National
Cemetery. The purpose of the trip was to tour the cemetery and
learn more about the Southern Expansion and revised eligibility
criteria. This visit was supported by minority staff members.
Columbia, MO. From July 14-15, 2021, Ranking Member Bost
visited with minority staff the Veterans United Production
Facility and Welcome Home homeless shelter in Columbia, MO. The
purpose of this trip was to review one of the top full-service
home loan providers and provide oversight over the Welcome Home
homeless shelter, where issues of GPD and COVID-19 impacts were
discussed. This visit was supported by minority staff members.
Los Angeles, CA. From September 15-16, 2021, Chairman
Takano and Ranking Member Bost traveled on an oversight visit
to the Greater Los Angelos VA Medical Center and Riverside
National Cemetery. Majority and minority staff supported this
trip. Issues covered during this visit include: new programs
and initiatives regarding the caregiver and community care
offices, homeless resources on campus, COVID-19 impacts, the
performance of the Cerner Electronic Health Record
Modernization, and transition.
Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. From November 19-November
27, 2021, Chairman Takano led a bipartisan congressional
delegation (CODEL) on a trip to Okinawa, Japan; Seoul, South
Korea; and Taipei, Taiwan. In addition to Chairman Takano,
Representative Colin Allred (TX-32), Representative Elissa
Slotkin (MI-8), Representative Sara Jacobs (CA-53), and
Representative Nancy Mace (SC-1) participated in the CODEL.
Five majority staff and two minority staff accompanied the
delegation. The purpose of the trip was to conduct meetings
with military personnel and overseas veterans, conduct
oversight, and hold bilateral discussions with international
leaders on matters that are critical to our nation's security
and global cooperation. These issues include delivery of health
care for our military personnel and veterans and updates on
implementation of National Defense Authorization Act provisions
that relate to quality military transitions. In addition, the
members of the delegation spent Thursday, November 25, 2021,
serving Thanksgiving Day lunch to deployed military personnel
at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.
Arlington National Cemetery, VA. On June 22, 2021, Ranking
Member Bost, Representative Jim Banks (IN-3), Representative
Chip Roy (TX-21), Representative Matthew M. Rosendale (MT), and
Representative Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (AS) visited
Arlington National Cemetery. Minority staff supported this
oversight visit. The purpose of the trip was to tour the
cemetery and learn more about the Southern Expansion, revised
eligibility criteria, wait times for burial, and progress
improving the conditions of the horses in the caisson.
Tunisia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and England. From May
21-May 30, 2022, Chairman Takano led a bipartisan congressional
delegation (CODEL) on a trip to Tunis, Tunisia; Vilnius,
Lithuania; Warsaw, Poland; Helsinki, Finland; and London,
England. In addition to Chairman Takano, Representative Ed Case
(HI-1), Representative Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), and
Representative Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (AS) participated
in the CODEL. Four majority staff and one minority staff
accompanied the delegation. The purpose of the trip was to
conduct meetings the military personnel and overseas veterans,
conduct oversight, and hold bilateral discussions with
governments and international officials on matters critical to
national security and global cooperation. These issues include
OCONUS cemeteries and memorials honoring segregated and diverse
members of the U.S. Armed Services, the delivery of healthcare
for military personnel and veterans, the status of refugees,
and the delivery of benefits related to overseas GI bill usage.
Richland, Walla Walla, and Seattle, WA. From July 5-8,
2022, Ranking Member Bost traveled on an oversight visit to the
Richland, Washington VA community-based outpatient clinic, the
Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Medical Center in Walla Walla,
Washington, and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in
Seattle, Washington. Minority staff supported this trip. The
purpose of this visit was to observe the operational impact of
the Cerner electronic health record system (Richland and Walla
Walla) and preparations to implement the system (Seattle).
Iowa, Nebraska, and Ohio. From August 28-September 2, 2022,
Ranking Member Bost traveled on an oversight trip to VA
facilities in Davenport, IA; Iowa City, IA; Cedar Rapids, IA;
Omaha, NE; and Columbus, OH. During this trip, the Ranking
Member visited VA medical facilities and conducted listening
sessions to hear firsthand the experiences and concerns of
veterans and VA staff each of those three states. He also
visited the Rock Island Arsenal and University of Iowa's
Virtual Soldier Program in Iowa; homeless veteran housing
units, a veteran owned small business, an Army Partnership for
Youth Success (PaYS) site, and the Omaha National Cemetery in
Nebraska; and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in
Ohio.
Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Lebanon. From November 19-
28, 2022, Chairman Takano led a congressional delegation
(CODEL) on a trip to Rome, Italy; Nettuno, Italy; Amman,
Jordan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Baghdad, Iraq; Erbil, Iraq; and
Beruit, Lebanon. In addition to Chairman Takano, Representative
Colin Allred (TX-32), Representative Elissa Slotkin (MI-8), and
Katie Porter (CA-45) participated in the CODEL. Five majority
staff and two minority staff accompanied the delegation. The
purpose of the trip was to hold bilateral discussions with U.S.
and foreign government officials on matters critical to
national security, global cooperation and servicemember issues
within the jurisdiction of the committee. Stops explored the
oversight of cemeteries and memorials, delivery of health care
for military personnel and veterans, updates on implementation
of NDAA provisions that relate to military transitions, and
delivery of benefits related to overseas GI Bill usage.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND MEMORIAL
AFFAIRS
ELAINE G. LURIA, Virginia, Chair
TROY NEHLS, Texas, Ranking Member
ELISSA SLOTKIN, Michigan MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa
DAVID TRONE, Maryland JAKE ELLZEY, Texas
MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio CONNIE CONWAY, California
DR. RAUL RUIZ, California
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Gary Woodward, Majority Staff Director
Katherine Smith, Minority Staff Director
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative hearing on H.R. 2568;
H.R. 2724; H.R. 2800; H.R. 2827; H.R. 3402; H.R. 3793; H.R.
4191; H.R. 4601; H.R. 4633; H.R. 4772; a discussion draft, to
improve coordination between the Veterans Health Administration
and the Veterans Benefits Administration with respect to claims
for compensation arising from military sexual trauma, and for
other purposes; a discussion draft, the Restoring Benefits to
Defrauded Veterans Act; a discussion draft, the Justice for ALS
Veterans Act of 2021; and a discussion draft, to amend title
38, United States Code, to improve the manner in which the
Board of Veterans' Appeals conducts hearings regarding claims
involving military sexual trauma and to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to improve the language and practices of the
Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to such claims''
On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, the Subcommittee met in an
open session to conduct a legislative hearing to discuss the
above legislation. Many of the bills impact survivors benefits
and burial, while others cover VA life insurance benefits,
military sexual trauma claims processing and the fiduciary
program.
There were three witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Representative Elaine G. Luria
(Virginia), Representative Troy E. Nehls (Texas),
Representative Mike Levin (California), Representative Frank
Mrvan (Indiana), Representative Scott Perry (Pennsylvania),
Representative Gerald Connolly (Virginia), Representative Cheri
Bustos (Illinois), Representative Jahana Hayes (Connecticut),
Representative Antonio Delgado (New York), Representative
Elissa Slotkin (Michigan), Representative Michael Waltz
(Florida), Representative Chip Roy (Texas), and Representative
David J. Trone (Maryland).
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Dr.
Nilijah Carter, Executive Director, Pension and Fiduciary
Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Ms. Cheryl Rawls, Executive Director, Office
of Outreach, Transition, and Economic Development Service,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Dr. Marsden McGuire, Deputy Chief Consultant,
Mental Health Services, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the third panel: Mr.
Jeremy Villanueva, Assistant National Legislative Director,
Disabled American Veterans; Mr. Cory Titus, Deputy Director,
National Legislative Service, Military Officer Association of
America; Ms. BriGette McCoy, CEO and Founder, Women Veteran
Social Justice Network; and Mr. Derek Fronabarger, Government
Affairs Director, Wounded Warrior Project.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing: H.R. 1182;
H.R. 1183; H.R. 5916; H.R. 6131; H.R. 6064; H.R. 6165; a
discussion draft, to amend 38 USC Sec. 103(d) to add a new
paragraph that would allow surviving spouses who remarry after
10 consecutive years of receipt, or entitlement to, benefits
relating to Dependency Indemnity Compensation to retain 50
percent of the amount payable under such provision and those
who remarry after 20 years to retain the full amount; a
discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
update certain terminology related to marriage under the laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; a discussion
draft, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create
fact sheets, for veterans and for survivors of veterans, that
compare benefits and compensation, to such individuals under
laws administered by the Secretary, to monthly insurance
benefits under title II of the Social Security Act, and
supplemental security income under title XVI of the Social
Security Act; a discussion draft, the Modernizing Department of
Veterans Affairs Disability Benefit Questionnaires Act; a
discussion draft, the Department of Veterans Affairs Principles
of Benefits Automation Act; a discussion draft, the Expediting
Temporary Ratings for Veterans Act; and a discussion draft, to
amend title 38, United States Code, to improve outreach by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to dependents of deceased
veterans, and for other purposes''
On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, the Subcommittee met in an open
session to conduct a legislative hearing to discuss several
bills. Many of the bills impact survivors' benefits and
deported veterans while others increase accessibility,
automation, and financial information.
There were three witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Representative Mark Takano
(California), Representative Mike Bost (Illinois),
Representative Elaine G. Luria (Virginia), Representative Troy
E. Nehls (Texas), Representative Pete Aguilar (California),
Representative Matthew M. Rosendale (Montana), Representative
Joe Neguse (Colorado), Representative Marie Newman (Illinois),
and Representative Frank J. Mrvan (Indiana).
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Brianne Ogilvie, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Policy
and Oversight, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Ray Tellez, Executive
Director, Office of Business Integration, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the third panel: Mr.
Mario Marquez, Director of National Security, The American
Legion; Ms. Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director National Legislative
Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Ms. Candace Wheeler,
Director, Policy, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Oversight Hearing--``VA Compensation and Pension Exams During the
COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Forward''
On March 23, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session via
Zoom to conduct a fully virtual oversight hearing to examine
the work that lies ahead for the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) to take control of the compensation and pension (C&P) exam
inventory and bring the inventory down to pre-COVID-19 pandemic
levels. This included discussing the need for a detailed plan
from the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA) to show the
Committee its goals for reducing the C&P exam inventory, VBA's
plan to close out Government Accountability Office (GAO)
recommendations to provide better oversight of its C&P
contractor vendors, and a discussion about lessons learned and
how VA plans to address future spikes in C&P exam inventory.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. David McLenachen, Executive
Director, Medical Disability Examination Office, Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Mr. Toby Matthew, Chief Officer, Office of Disability and
Medical Health, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Brent Arronte, Deputy Assistant
Inspector General for Audits, Office of Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Elizabeth Curda,
Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, U.S.
Government Accountability Office.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Samantha Kubek, Coordinating Attorney, Veterans Initiative,
Legal Health Division, New York Legal Assistance Group; Mr.
Shane Liermann, Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans; and Mr. Ryan Gallucci, Director, National
Veterans Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Oversight Hearing--``VA Appeals Program: Examining the State of
Modernization Efforts''
On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open
session via Zoom to conduct a fully virtual oversight hearing
to examine the state of the appeals program at the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly the organizational
structure and performance of the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
The Subcommittee intended to examine three parts of the appeals
program:
1. Workload and Performance, which includes managing
the remaining legacy appeals inventory while ensuring
processing under the new appeals system under the
Appeals Modernization Act is timely and provides
quality decisions for veterans.
2. Human Capital, which includes maintaining a fully
trained workforce that is diverse and equipped to meet
the needs of veterans.
3. Technology, which includes investments in IT
systems to ensure proper tracking of workload and
delivery of services such as online submission of
appeals, hearing support, and access for
representatives.
The hearing meant to assess VA's progress in these three
areas and determine what additional support may be needed from
Congress to ensure successful resolution of the legacy appeals
inventory and maintenance of timely processing in the new
appeals system.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Ms. Cheryl Mason, Chairman, Board
of Veterans' Appeals, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr.
Ronald Burke, Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Oversight,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Mr. Brad Houston, Deputy Chief Information Officer,
Office of Information and Technology, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Elizabeth Curda, Director, Education,
Workforce, and Income Security, U.S. Government Accountability
Office. The following witnesses testified on the second panel:
Mr. Shane Liermann, Deputy National Legislative Director,
Disabled American Veterans; Ms. Gillian Slovick, 2nd Vice
President of AFGE Local 17, American Federation of Government
Employees; and Ms. Diane Boyd Ruber, Executive Director,
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates.
Joint Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Supporting Survivors: Assessing
VA's Military Sexual Trauma Programs''
On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the Subcommittees on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Health met in an
open session to conduct an oversight hearing to explore
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) policies related to the provision of
services, programs, and benefits for survivors of military
sexual trauma (MST) and the extent to which the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) ensures MST survivors are connected to
available services while filing a claim based on the impact of
their MST as well as examine concerns on training,
coordination, and processing of MST claims. This discussion was
an opportunity for the Department to update the Committee on
its progress toward addressing recommendations from the VA
Office of Inspector General (OIG), and to discuss any
challenges VA faces in this area.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Ms. Beth Murphy, Executive
Director of Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Cheryl
Rawls, Executive Director, Office of Outreach, Transition, and
Economic Development Service, Veterans Benefits Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Marsden McGuire,
Deputy Chief Consultant, Mental Health Services, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
the Honorable Michael J. Missal, Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Shane Liermann, Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans; Ms. Kristina Keenan, Associate Director,
National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
Tracy Farrell, Vice President of Connection and Wellness,
Wounded Warrior Project; and Ms. Katie Anita Purswell,
Director, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division, The
American Legion.
Oversight Hearing--``Honoring our Promise: Reviewing the Effectiveness
of Services for Survivors and Dependents''
On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, the Subcommittee met in an
open session to conduct an oversight hearing reviewing the
effectiveness of services for veterans' survivors and
dependents. The Subcommittee investigated ways to increase
outreach and education efforts, the quality of services
provided, and areas for improvement in the delivery of care and
benefits to this cohort. The hearing took an in depth look at
the experience of survivors and dependents, challenges to
unique populations such as caregivers and members of the
LGBTQIA+ population, COVID's continued impact on service
delivery, and discussed ways improve and increase collaboration
between administrations.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Ms. Cheryl Rawls, Executive
Director, Office of Outreach, Transition, and Economic
Development Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr. Nilijah Carter,
Executive Director, Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Kelly Hruska, Government Relations Director, National Military
Family Association; Mrs. Ashlynne Haycock-Lohmann, Deputy
Director, Policy, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; Mr.
Mark Belinsky, Director, Currently Serving/Retired Affairs,
Military Officers Association of America; and Ms. Pamela
Laurion, Member-at-Large, Gold Star Wives of America.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``At What Cost?--Ensuring Quality
Representation in the Veteran Benefit Claims Process''
On April 27, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a joint oversight hearing with the Oversight and
Investigations Subcommittee entitled, ``At What Cost--Ensuring
Quality Representation in the Veteran Benefit Claims Process.''
The hearing examined administration and oversight of the VA
Accreditation, Discipline, & Fees Program for agents,
attorneys, and Veterans Service Organization (VSO)
representatives who assist veterans in applying for VA
benefits; systems in place for receiving, investigating, and
adjudicating complaints about unaccredited claims
representatives; and efforts to make veterans more aware of the
resources that are available to help them navigate the VA
benefit claims process.
There were two witness panels: The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. Richard Hipolit, Deputy
General Counsel for Veterans Programs, Office of General
Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Christa
Shriber, Deputy Chief Counsel, Benefits Law Group, Office of
General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
following witness testified on the second panel: Mr. Ryan
Gallucci, Director, National Veterans Service, Veterans of
Foreign Wars; Mr. Marty Callaghan, Deputy Director of Benefits
& Claims Services, The American Legion; Ms. Diane Boyd Rauber,
Executive Director, National Organization of Veterans'
Advocates; Lieutenant Colonel William Taylor, U.S. Army (Ret.),
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Veterans Guardian VA
Claim Consulting, LLC; and Mr. Evan Seamone, Legal Manager/
General Counsel, Trajector, Inc.
SITE VISITS
Arlington National Cemetery, VA. On September 3, 2021,
majority and minority staff conducted a site visit to Arlington
National Cemetery. Staff met with ANC leadership and took a
tour of the facilities, including the Chaplains Memorial. The
visit followed discussions with VSOs about concerns regarding
changes to eligibility criteria as well as efforts from
advocates to allow recent names to be added to the Chaplains
Memorial. ANC leadership spoke at large about why they felt
these new restrictions kept ANC thriving and relevant and spoke
strongly against the option of a ``second Arlington.''
Baltimore, MD. On October 15, 2021, majority and minority
staff conducted a site visit to the Baltimore National Veterans
Cemetery and the Baltimore VA Regional Office. Staff met with
Mr. Elberto Scott, Management Analyst, Baltimore National
Cemetery, who discussed the history, workload, significance to
the community, satellite Cemeteries, and improvement projects.
Staff were then given a tour of the facilities including the
gravesite of Ms. Deloris Louise Ruddock, newly implemented
committal shelter, Section O (History), and Columbarium Wall/
Section Q (Cremated Interments). Following lunch, Staff toured
the RO facility and met with RO leadership and held virtual
sessions with non-supervisory RO claims processors, MST
coordinators, coaches, and the local union representative.
Winston-Salem, NC. On November 8-9, 2021, minority staff
conducted a site visit to the Winston-Salem Regional Benefits
Office. The purpose of this travel was to conduct oversight of
the Regional Office.
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. On March 15, 2022,
majority and minority HVAC, SVAC, & CRS staff conducted a sight
visit to Arlington National Cemetery. The purpose of the travel
was to visit the DoD-related components in the provision of
military honors for burials.
Quantico, VA. On May 5, 2022, minority staff conducted an
oversight visit to Marine Corps Base Quantico. The purpose of
this trip was to gain an understanding of the Wounded Warrior
Regiment. Additionally, minority staff conducted an oversight
visit of the Quantico National Cemetery to learn more about
utilization of burial benefits in the capital region.
Riverside National Cemetery, California. On August 18,
2022, majority staff visited Riverside National Cemetery in
Riverside, California. This visit was conducted to tour the
largest cemetery operated by VA for a broad overview of
cemetery operations, gain insight into expansion plans, learn
of cemetery needs, and view the many memorials that are hosted
at the facility. Further discussion was held with cemetery
staff about the relationship with the University of California-
Riverside, which had a contract with the NCA Veterans Legacy
Project between 2018 and 2020. A conversation was also held
regarding a Congressional inquiry forwarded to the Committee
about accessibility concerns relating to the immediate exterior
and the entrance of the cemetery.
Houston, TX. On September 19-20, 2022, minority staff
attended the VBA Senior leadership symposium in Houston, TX.
The purpose of this travel was to attend the conference with
VBA and RO leadership to learn more about the implementation of
the PACT Act.
Boise, ID. On October 26-28, minority staff conducted an
oversight visit to the Boise Regional Office and the Boise
VAMC. The purpose of this trip was to conduct oversight of the
Boise Regional Office and learn more about the progress of the
automation pilot.
Baltimore, MD. On Tuesday, December 13-14, 2022, minority
staff attended the VBA PACT Act Offsite in Baltimore, MD. The
purpose of this trip was to learn about the implementation of
the PACT Act and the training of claims processors.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
MIKE LEVIN, California, Chairman
BARRY MOORE, Alabama, Ranking Member
CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire TRACEY MANN, Kansas
SHEILA CHERFILUS McCORMICK, Florida NANCY MACE, South Carolina
DAVID TRONE, Maryland MADISON CAWTHORN, North Carolina
RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona
------
Justin Vogt, Majority Staff Director
Jon Clark, Minority Staff Director
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative hearing on H.R.
147; H.R. 2195; a discussion draft, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to improve the accuracy of mortgage
underwriting for home loans guaranteed by the
Department of Veterans Affairs by ensuring that energy
costs are included in the underwriting process, and for
other purposes; a discussion draft, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a study on
the effect of financial and credit counseling for
homeless veterans and veterans experiencing housing
instability; a discussion draft, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a Native
VetSuccess on Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot
Program; a discussion draft, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to provide for extensions of time
limitations for use of entitlement under Department of
Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs by
reason of school closures due to emergency and other
situations, and for other purposes; a discussion draft,
to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make available to
veterans certain additional information about
postsecondary educational institutions, and for other
purposes; a discussion draft, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to provide or assist in providing an additional
vehicle adapted for operation by disabled individuals
to certain eligible persons, and for other purposes; a
discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide educational assistance under the Post-
9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department
of Veterans Affairs to students who are rounding out
during their final semester, term, or academic period,
and for other purposes; a discussion draft, the
Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act of 2021; a
discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for the disapproval by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs of courses of education offered by
public institutions of higher learning that do not
charge veterans the in-State tuition rate for purpose
of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
Program; a discussion draft, to increase the amount
authorized to be appropriated for the high technology
pilot program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; a
discussion draft, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to implement a modern information technology
service to process claims for educational assistance
under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United
States Code; a discussion draft, to direct the
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment
and Training to carry out a pilot program on short-term
fellowships programs for veterans; a discussion draft,
to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in
the Department of Veterans Economic Opportunity and
Transition Administration, and for other purposes; a
discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to eliminate the time period for eligibility
under Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.''
On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, via the Zoom meeting
platform, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a
legislative hearing on the above bills. There were three
witness panels. The following witnesses testified on the first
panel: Representative Ruben Gallego (Arizona), Representative
Tracey Mann (Kansas), Representative Mikie Sherrill (New
Jersey), Representative Nancy Mace (South Carolina),
Representative Madison Cawthorn (North Carolina),
Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-2), and
Representative Brad R. Wenstrup (Ohio).
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Kaitlynne Hetrick, Associate, Government Affairs, Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America; Mr. Justin Hauschild, Legal
Fellow, Student Veterans of America; Ms. Maureen Elias,
Associate Legislative Director of Government Relations,
Paralyzed Veterans of America; Ms. Ashlynne Haycock, Deputy
Director, Policy and Legislation, Tragedy Assistance Program
for Survivors; and Mr. Matthew Doyle, Deputy Director, National
Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The following witnesses testified on the third panel: Mr.
Mike Freuh, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Mr. James Ruhlman, Deputy Director for Program
Management, Education Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration; and Mr. Michael W. Fisher, MSW, Chief
Readjustment Counseling Officer, Readjustment Counseling
Service, 10RCS, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on a
discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
pay to certain veterans, who receive certain
educational assistance furnished by the Secretary, a
weekly stipend for child care services; H.R. 5025, to
amend title 38, United States Code, to increase and
extend the authorization of appropriations for homeless
veterans reintegration programs; a discussion draft, to
amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to establish
protections under that Act for a member of the Armed
Forces who leaves a course of education, paid for with
certain educational assistance, to perform certain
service; a discussion draft, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to report on the Warrior Training
Advancement Course of the Veterans Benefit
Administration; a discussion draft, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to extend eligibility for a certain
work-study allowance paid by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to certain individuals who pursue programs of
rehabilitation, education, or training on at least a
half-time basis; a discussion draft regarding homeless
grants; a discussion draft, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on grants
for care for elderly homeless veterans, and for other
purposes; a discussion draft, to extend the delimiting
period for certain individuals to use educational
assistance benefits administered by the Department of
Veterans Affairs; a discussion draft, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on substance use and alcohol use disorder
recovery for homeless veterans, and for other purposes;
a discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
provide technical assistance to recipients of grants
for supportive services for very low-income families in
permanent housing and comprehensive service programs,
and for other purposes; a discussion draft, to amend
title 38, United States Code, to adjust the rate of per
diem payments provided by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to grantees that provide services to homeless
veterans; a discussion draft, to direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on
the shallow subsidy program under the supportive
services for veteran families program, and for other
purposes; a discussion draft, to direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to
improve public transportation services for veterans; a
discussion draft, the Col. James Floyd Turner IV USMC
GI Bill Transfer Act of 2021; H.R. 4874, to amend title
38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to
the use of educational assistance provided by the
Department of Veterans Affairs for flight training
programs; a discussion draft, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain
contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11
Educational Assistance; a discussion draft, to amend
title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the use of
entitlement to educational assistance under the
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
Program for secondary school education; a discussion
draft, the Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act of 2021.''
On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, via the Zoom meeting
platform, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a
legislative hearing on the above bills. There were three
witness panels. The following witnesses testified for the first
panel: Representative Anthony Brown (Maryland), Representative
Joe Neguse (Colorado), Representative Marilyn Strickland
(Washington), Representative Nikema Williams (Georgia),
Representative Gus Bilirakis (Florida), and Representative
Madison Cawthorn (North Carolina).
The following witnesses testified for the second panel: Mr.
Ron Burke, Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Oversight,
Veteran Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Ms. Monica Diaz, Executive Director, Homeless
Programs Office, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified for the the third panel:
Mr. Anthony (Tony) Lewis, Associate National Legislative
Director; Disabled American Veterans; Ms. Kathryn Monet, Chief
Executive Officer, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans;
Ms. Lauren Augustine, Vice President of Government Affairs,
Student Veterans of America; Ms. Ashlynne Haycock, Deputy
Director, Policy and Legislation; Tragedy Assistance Program
For Survivors, Mr. David Proferes, Education and Credentialing
Policy Associate, The American Legion; and Mr. Lawrence Guzman
Romo, National Commander, American GI Forum.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on a discussion
draft, to amend title 38, United States Code, to permanently
authorize the use of certain funds to improve flexibility in
the provision of assistance to homeless veterans, and for other
purposes; a discussion draft, the Veteran Health Transition
Training Act; a discussion draft, to make permanent certain
educational assistance benefits under the laws administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the case of changes to
courses of education by reason of emergency situations, and for
other purposes; a discussion draft, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to ensure that a member of the Armed Forces,
granted a general discharge under honorable conditions on the
sole basis that such member failed to obey a lawful order to
receive a vaccine for COVID-19, is eligible for certain
educational assistance administered by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs; a discussion draft, to amend title 38, United
States Code, and the United States Housing Act of 1937, to make
certain improvements to the supported housing program for
veterans commonly known as ``HUD-VASH;'' a discussion draft,
the VA Home Loan Transparency and Consumer Protection Act of
2022; a discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States
Code, to expand the eligibility of veterans who may receive
self-employment assistance under the Veteran Readiness and
Employment program of the Department of Veterans Affairs; a
discussion draft, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to update the payment system of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to allow for electronic fund transfer of educational
assistance, administered by the Secretary, to a foreign
institution of higher education; a discussion draft, to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide for requirements
relating to the approval and disapproval of courses of
education for purposes of the educational assistance programs
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes;
a discussion draft, the Quality Education for Veterans Act of
2022; H.R. 6458; H.R. 6604.''
On March 16, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hybrid
legislative hearing on the above bills. There were two witness
panels. The following witnesses testified on the first panel:
Ms. Brianne Ogilvie, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for
Policy and Oversight, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Ricardo Da Silva, Program
Integration Officer, Education Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms.
Monica Diaz, Executive Director, Homeless Programs Office,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
David Case, Deputy Inspector General, Office of the Inspector
General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Steve Berg,
Vice President for Programs and Policy, National Alliance to
End Homelessness; Mr. Justin Hauschild, Policy Counsel, Student
Veterans of America; Mr. Shane Liermann, Deputy National
Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; and Mr.
Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Chief of Membership, Policy, and
Equity, National Community Reinvestment Coalition.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on H.R.
3950; H.R. 6124; a discussion draft, the Tiny Homes for
Homeless Veterans Act; a discussion draft, to amend
Title 38, United States Code, to establish in the
Department of Veterans Affairs an Office of Food
Insecurity, and for other purposes; a discussion draft,
to amend Title 38, United States Code, to extend
certain Department of Veterans Affairs programs for
homeless veterans; a discussion draft, to amend Title
38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for, and
extend authorization of, certain programs for homeless
veterans; a discussion draft, to amend Title 38, United
States Code, to extend authority for supportive
services for very low-income veteran families in
permanent housing; a discussion draft, to amend Title
38, United States Code, to extend Department of
Veterans Affairs assistance for individuals residing
temporarily in housing owned by a family member; a
discussion draft, the Emergency Relief for
Servicemembers Act; a discussion draft, the Building
Credit Access for Veterans Act of 2022; a discussion
draft, to expand and improve the Department of Veterans
Affairs COVID-19 veteran rapid retraining assistance
programs and high technology pilot programs, and for
other purposes; a discussion draft, the Empowering
Veterans Against Cyberthreats Act of 2022; H.R. 2650;
H.R. 4702; a discussion draft, the Improving the VA
Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022; a discussion draft, to
amend Title 38, United States Code, to provide for the
eligibility of educational assistance under the
Department of Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance Program of certain individuals who receive
sole survivorship discharges, and for other purposes; a
discussion draft, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with an
entity to carry out a pilot program under which such
entity shall connect homeless veterans to a network of
supportive services, and for other purposes; a
discussion draft, to amend Title 38, United States
Code, to provide for the approval of certain study-
abroad programs for purposes of the educational
assistance programs of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes''
On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 10:00 AM, the Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity held a hybrid legislative hearing on the
above bills. There were two witness panels. The following
witnesses testified on the first panel: Ms. Mary Glenn, Acting
Executive Director, Education Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Monica
Diaz, Executive Director, Homeless Programs, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr.
John E. Bell, III, Acting Executive Director, Loan Guaranty
Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Kaitlynne Hetrick, Government Affairs Associate, Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America; Mr. Josh Protas, Vice
President for Public Policy, MAZON; Ms. Jennifer Akin, Senior
Director of Policy and Social Impact Research, Blue Star
Families; Ms. Kathryn Monet, Chief Executive Officer, National
Coalition for Homeless Veterans; and Mr. Mark A. Jones, Vice
Chairman, Mortgage Bankers Association.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Military Transition During the COVID-
19 Pandemic''
On Wednesday May 12, 2021, via the Zoom meeting platform,
the Subcommittee held an oversight hearing to identify existing
and emerging issues servicemembers face during their transition
to civilian life that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19
pandemic.
There were two witness panels for this hearing. The
following witnesses testified on the first panel: Ms. Vivian
Richards, Program Manager, Minority Veterans of America; Dr. J,
Michael Haynie, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and
Innovations, Institute for Veteran and Military Families,
Syracuse University; Ms. Jennifer Dane, Executive Director,
Modern Military Association of America; Mr. Matt Stevens, Chief
Executive Officer; The Honor Foundation; Ms. Carolyn Lee,
Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute; and Patrick
Murray, Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
William Mansell, Director, Defense Support Services, U.S.
Department of Defense; Mr. James Rodriguez, Acting Assistant
Secretary, Veterans' Employment & Training Service, U.S.
Department of Labor; Ms. Cheryl Rawls, Executive Director for
Outreach, Transition and Economic Development Service (OTED),
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Dr. Lawrencia Pierce, Deputy Director, Outreach,
Transition and Economic Development Service (OTED), Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
and Mr. Joshua Lashbrook, Assistant Director of Operations
Support and Digital GI Bill Program Lead, Education Service,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department on Veterans
Affairs.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Veteran Employment Amid the COVID-19
Pandemic''
On Wednesday May 26, 2021, via the Zoom meeting platform,
the Subcommittee held an oversight hearing, which identified
the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic presented to the veteran
workforce and how Congress can respond.
There were two witness panels for this hearing. The
following witnesses testified on the first panel: Mr. Chris
Thorne, Co-Chair, Military Affairs Advisory Council, North San
Diego Business Chamber; Mr. Jeremy Villanueva, Assistant
National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Mr.
Thomas Winkel, Director, Arizona Coalition for Military
Families; and Mr. Eric Eversole, President, Hiring our Heroes,
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Ronald Burke, Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Oversight,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Ms. Cheryl Rawls, Executive Director, Outreach,
Transition and Economic Development Service (OTED), Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
and Ms. Charmain Bogue, Executive Director, Education Service,
Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Veteran Homelessness in the Wake of
COVID-19''
On June 16, 2021, via the Zoom meeting platform, the
Subcommittee held an oversight hearing, which reviewed the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on homeless veterans, along
with implementation of relief legislation for veterans passed
in the 116th and 117th Congresses.
There were two witness panels for this hearing. The
following witnesses testified on the first panel: Ms. Kathryn
Monet, Chief Executive Officer, National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans; Ms. Akilah Templeton, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Veterans Village of San Diego; and Ms. Lula Skowronek,
Director, Priority Veteran.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Dr.
Keith Harris, National Director of Clinical Operations,
Homeless Programs Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Mr. Anthony Love, Interim Executive Director, United States
Interagency Council on Homelessness; and Mr. Richard Cho,
Senior Advisor for Housing and Services, U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Isakson-Roe at Six Months: An Update
on Implementation of Education Improvements''
On July 20, 2021, the Subcommittee held a hybrid oversight
hearing, which reviewed updates from the Department regarding
the status of implementation of the education provisions signed
into law at the end of the 116th Congress, the Johnny Isakson
and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits
Improvement Act of 2020.
There was one witness panel for this hearing. The following
witness testified on this panel: Ms. Charmain Bogue, Executive
Director, Education Services, Veterans Benefits Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``A Whole of Government Approach in
Support of Servicewomen''
On October 26, 2021, the Subcommittee on conducted a hybrid
oversight hearing, which reviewed interagency coordination for
servicewomen, such as the current Transition Assistance Program
(TAP). During the hearing, the Committee also reviewed where
the system is failing to address the transition needs of
servicewomen and where it can enhance the collaboration of
benefits and programs to improve the transition to civilian
life.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. William Mansell, Director,
Defense Support Service Center, U.S. Department of Defense; Ms.
Margarita Devlin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Veterans
Employment and Training Services, U.S. Department of Labor; Ms.
Lourdes Tiglao, Director of Center for Women Veterans, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr. Lawrencia Pierce,
Deputy Director, Outreach, Transition, and Economic Development
(OTED), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: The
second panel consisted of Ms. Jodie M. Grenier, Chief Executive
Officer, Foundation for Women Warriors; Ms. Phyllis Abbott,
Founder and Executive Director, Lady Veterans Connect; Captain
Lory Manning, USN (Retired), Director of Government Relations,
Service Women's Action Network; and Ms. Ginger Miller,
President and CEO, Women Veterans Interactive.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Removing Barriers to Veteran Home
Ownership''
On December 8, 2021, the Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity conducted a hybrid oversight hearing, which
examined persistent and emerging issues veterans face when
utilizing the VA Home Loan Guaranty and areas of potential
improvement for the program.
There were two witness panels. The following witness
testified on the first panel: Mr. John Bell, Acting Executive
Director, Loan Guaranty Service, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Emily DeVito, Associate Director, National Legislative
Services, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Mr. Joseph C. Sharpe,
Director, National Employment and Education Division, The
American Legion; Ms. Leslie Rouda Smith, President, National
Association of Realtors; and Mr. Brock Cooper, General Counsel,
Veterans United.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Securing High-Demand Jobs for
Veterans''
On February 2, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hybrid
oversight hearing, which studied the outcomes of VET TEC and
VRRAP to date and explored the future of veteran education and
training programs for high-demand jobs.
There were two witness panels. The following witness
testified on the first panel: Mr. Ricardo Da Silva, Program
Integration Officer, Education Service, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Alicia Boddy, Chief Development and Operations Officer, Code
Platoon; Mr. Joseph Sharpe, Director of Veterans Education and
Employment, The American Legion; and Mr. Bill Blackstone,
Executive Vice President, Galvanize.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Review President Biden's Strategy to
Reduce Veteran Suicide by Addressing Economic Risk Factors''
On June 15, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hybrid oversight
hearing, which examined President Biden's national strategy
``Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide: Advancing a
Comprehensive, Cross-Sector, Evidence-Informed Approach'' and
included discussions related to how federal, public, and
private entities can collaborate to promote economic well-being
to reduce veteran suicide.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Susan L. Black, DSW, LCSW-C,
BCD, VBA National Suicide Prevention Officer, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr.
Matthew A. Miller, PhD, MPH, Executive Director, Suicide
Prevention and Acting Executive Director, PREVENTS, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Christopher Jones, PharmD,
DrPH, MPH, CAPT, US Public Health Service, Acting Director of
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention; Ms. Peggy Bailey, Senior
Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and Mr. James Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary,
Veterans Employment and Training Services, U.S. Department of
Labor.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Dr.
Laura Otis-Miles, Senior Vice President, Mental Health Systems/
Courage to Call; Mr. Nick Armstrong, Managing Director,
Research and Data, Syracuse University Institute for Military
and Veteran Families; Ms. Joy Ilem, National Legislative
Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms. Betsey Mercado, Co-
Founder & Executive Director, Objective Zero; Ms. Judy Clausen,
Deputy Chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee, National
Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium; and Ms. Emily DeVito,
Associate Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of
Foreign Wars.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Ending Veteran Hunger: Examining the
Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity''
On July 11, 2022, in Oceanside Room at the Veterans
Association of North County (VANC), 1617 Mission Avenue,
Oceanside CA 92058, the Subcommittee conducted a field hearing.
Access to nutritious, sustainable food resources has a major
impact on health, well-being, and quality of life. A recent
U.S. Department of Agriculture study found that from 2015 to
2019, 11.1% of working-age veterans lived in a food insecure
household and 5.3% lived in a household with very low food
security. While VA and USDA have made progress in identifying
veterans experiencing food insecurity and connecting them with
resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP), the COVID-19 pandemic added new layers of financial and
physical hardship to veteran families. This hearing examined
trends in the prevalence of veteran hunger and how government
agencies and non-profits adapted their service and resource
delivery amid the pandemic.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Christine Going, EdD, MPA,
RD, FACHE, National Food Security Program Coordinator
(Detailed), Nutrition & Food Services Program Office, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Daniel Santibanez, Chief,
Nutrition and Food Services, VA San Diego Healthcare System;
Mr. Matthew Rabbitt, Research Economist, Economic Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Mr. Rick Wanne,
Director of Self-Sufficiency Services, Health and Human
Services Agency, County of San Diego; and Mr. Wilfred Quintong,
Director of the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs, County
of San Diego.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Anahid Brakke, CEO & President, SD Hunger Coalition; Mr. Casey
Castillo, Interim CEO, Jacobs/Cushman San Diego Food Bank; Ms.
Karla Samayoa, Director of Safety Net Services, 211 San Diego;
and Mr. Anthony Stewart, CEO, US4Warriors.
Joint Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Modernizing Veteran Education
in the Shadow of COVID-19''
On July 20, 2022, Subcommittees on Economic Opportunity and
Technology Modernization conducted a joint hybrid oversight
hearing to request updates on how pieces of legislation such as
the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care
and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, the CARES Act, and the
American Rescue Plan Act have improved student veteran benefit
delivery through the Digital GI Bill and broader GI Bill
modernization efforts. This included the status of spending
plans for any remaining funds from the CARES Act and American
Rescue Plan Act, an update on the Digital GI Bill contract with
Accenture Federal Services, and additional measures the
Department is taking to streamline benefit delivery for
survivors and dependents under Chapter 35 benefits.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. Ronald S. Burke Jr. Deputy
Under Secretary, Office of Policy and Oversight, Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Mr. Ricardo Da Silva, Program Integration Officer, Education
Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Dan McCune, Executive Director, Software
Product Management, Office of Information Technology, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Rob Orifici, Benefits
and Memorial Services Portfolio Director, Office of Information
Technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Will Hubbard, Vice President for Veterans and Military Policy,
Veterans Education Success; Mr. Joseph Sharpe, Director of
Veterans Employment and Education, The American Legion; Ms.
Rosezza Miller, Senior Director of Financial Aid Advising,
Broward College; and Mr. Justin Monk, Director of Policy,
Student Veterans of America.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Ensuring a Successful Military to
Civilian Transition for Servicemembers in Southern Alabama''
On July 25, 2022, in the building 4 Multipurpose Room at
Enterprise State Community College, 600 Plaza Drive,
Enterprise, AL 36331, the Subcommittee conducted a field
hearing, which evaluated the challenges servicemembers face
when transitioning in the Southern Alabama region, and examined
how non-DOD organizations, including VSOs and local government,
in Southern Alabama help fill the gaps in resources not
provided in TAP for transitioning servicemembers.
There was one witness panel. The following witnesses
testified on this panel: Mr. Kerry Cornelius, Jobs for Veterans
State Grant (JVSG) Supervisor, Alabama Department of Labor; Ms.
Tammy Johnson, Legislative Chairman, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Alabama; and Mr. Tom Ferguson, Commander, Disabled American
Veterans, Chapter 9.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Veteran Readiness and Employment: Is
VA Succeeding?''
On September 19, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hybrid
oversight hearing which reviewed the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
This program is designed to provide veterans who have service-
connected or work-limiting disabilities with education, job
training, and the resources they need to live independently.
VR&E Counselors and Employment Coordinators support veterans
through comprehensive programming, including rehabilitation
planning, vocational assessment, and employment services. There
are five VR&E tracks a veteran may elect to participate in
based on their needs and goals: Reemployment; Rapid Access to
Employment; Self Employment; Employment Through Long-term
Services; and Independent Living Services.
However, staffing vacancies at VR&E offices such as
Integrated Disability Evaluation System and Veteran Success on
Campus sites impede veteran access to the program. This hearing
examined veteran satisfaction with VR&E, participation, and
success after graduating from the program, and recommendations
for how VA can improve in these areas. This hearing also
examined VA's missteps and challenges in efforts to implement a
digital case management system to better track participant
outcomes.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. Nick Pamperin, Executive
Director, Veteran Readiness and Employment, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr.
Matthew Manning, Supervisory Contract Specialist, Office of
Mission Support, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Julie Howell, Associate Legislative Director for Government
Relations, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Mr. Shane Liermann,
Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled American
Veterans; and Mr. Jeremy Villanueva, Government Affairs
Associate Director, Wounded Warrior Project.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Transitional Housing Reform:
Examining the Future of the VA Grant and Per Diem Program''
On December 6, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hybrid
oversight hearing, which reviewed the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program. This program
funds community organizations that provide transitional housing
and supportive services for veterans at risk of or experiencing
homelessness. The purpose of GPD is two-fold: to fund capital
grants to organizations to build or remodel housing facilities
and to reimburse providers for the daily cost of care for
veterans residing in transitional housing through per diem
payments. The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans
Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, removed
barriers to the use of capital grants for organizations seeking
to de-congregate their facilities to make them safer for
veterans during the public health emergency. Isakson-Roe also
temporarily authorized increases in the per diem rate to cover
the high cost of care associated with providing services in
transitional housing settings, a request from providers that
predated the pandemic. As the end of the public health
emergency looms, VA and providers are reporting continued high
costs, low censuses, and empty beds in GPD facilities, due in
part to veterans desiring individual, de-congregated units and
fewer rules and restrictions for their participation in housing
programs. This hearing examined the future of GPD beyond the
COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the program is meeting the needs of
veterans and their families on their journey to permanent
housing.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Ms. Monica Diaz, Executive
Director, Homeless Programs Office, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms.
Chelsea Watson, National Director, Grant and Per Diem Program,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Kathryn Monet, Chief Executive Officer, National Coalition for
Homeless Veterans; Mr. Steve Berg, Vice President for Programs
and Policy, National Alliance to End Homelessness; Ms.
Kaitlynne Yancy, Associate Director of Government Affairs, Iraq
and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Ms. Hanan Scrapper,
Regional Director, PATH San Diego, People Assisting the
Homeless (PATH); and Mr. Kenneth G. Hodder, National Commander,
the Salvation Army.
ROUNDTABLES
Subcommittee Roundtable--``Making Veteran Readiness and Employment
(VR&E) Work for More Veterans''
On March 17, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
hold a roundtable via Zoom. The roundtable examined
complications some veterans have found learning about VR&E ,
enrolling in the program, and communicating with their
counselors, among other issues. Presenting from the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Readiness and Employment
Program was Mr. Bruce Voigt, Acting Executive Director; Ms. Kim
Lloyd, Acting Deputy Director; Ms. Kristine Kuehnle, Acting
Assistant Director for Program/Policy; and Mr. Kevin Scott,
Assistant Director for Operations. In addition, in attendance
were Mr. Jeremy Villanueva, Assistant National Legislative
Director, Disabled American Veterans; Mr. Morgan Brown,
National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America;
Mr. Justin Hauschild, Legal Fellow, Student Veterans of
America; Ms. Tanya Ang, Vice President, Veterans Education
Success; Dr. Jan Del Signore, President, National Association
of Veterans' Program Administrators; and Mr. Derek Fronabarger,
Director of Government Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project.
Subcommittee Roundtable--``Making Every Day in Uniform Count: A
Discussion of Benefits Parity for Our Guard and Reservists''
On December 13, 2022, the Subcommittee conducted a public
roundtable in Cannon 121 and via the Zoom virtual meeting
platform. The roundtable served as an opportunity to receive
the concerns and comments of stakeholders regarding benefits
parity for Guard and Reservists. Participants included Mr. Matt
Schwartzman, Director, Legislation and Military Policy Reserve
Organization of America; Mr. Matthew Krenz, Executive Director,
Enlisted Associated of the National Guard of the United States;
Mr. Daniel Elkins, National Guard Green Beret, Special
Operations Association of America; Mr. Donald Franklin,
Legislative Director, The Veterans Education Project; Mr.
Justin Hauschild, Policy Counsel, Student Veterans of America;
Mr. John Kamin, Legislative Associate and Grassroots
Coordinator, The American Legion; Mr. Patrick Murray, Director
of National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
Danielle Martin, Former Nebraska National Guard; Ms. Priya
Ghosh Ahola, Deputy Legislative Director and General Counsel,
National Guard Association of the United States; Mr. Mike
Hadley, Director, National Guard Association of the United
States; Mr. Tom Porter, Executive Vice President, Government
Affairs, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Mr. Cory
Titus, Director of Veteran Benefits and Guard/Reserve Affairs,
Military Officers Association of America; Ms. Julie Howell,
Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America;
Mr. Will Hubbard, Vice President for Veterans and Military
Policy, Veterans Education Success; Ms. Tami Thacker (U.S. Navy
Veteran), Veteran Services Coordinator, University of
California, Riverside; Greg Sanchez (U.S. Navy Veteran),
Chancellor's Research Fellow, University of California,
Riverside; Ms. Angeliz Vargas Casillas, California Air National
Guard (Cyber Warfare Operator), University of California,
Riverside PhD Candidate (Mathematics); Mr. Brian Haynes, Vice
Chancellor of Student Affairs, University of California,
Riverside; Ms. Kathy Eiler, Director of Federal Relations,
University of California, Riverside; and Theo Lawson,
Legislative Director, Fleet Reserve Association.
SITE VISITS
Venice, Italy. On August 10, 2021, majority Subcommittee
staff, accompanied by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
staff and Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs majority and
minority staff, participated in a staff delegation site visit
to the U.S. Army Garrison-Italy in Vicenza, Italy. During the
site visit, Subcommittee staff participated in a mission brief
provided by the Army Garrison leadership, including Major
General Andrew M. Rohling, Commanding General, Southern
European Task Force--Africa, and Colonel Matthew Gomlak,
Garrison Commander. Following the briefing, staff observed a
Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classroom session and
toured the TAP facilities, meeting with instructors and program
fellows. Staff also received a TAP overview from the Garrison
Commander and Mr. Poulin, the Transition Service Manager, who
led the Garrison's TAP. During this presentation, staff queried
TAP instructors and program leads on how they measure core
goals of TAP, implement National Defense Authorization Act
mandates, and plans for modernizing and improving TAP
instruction and effectiveness. Later that day, staff
participated in a hosted lunch, which allowed for staff to meet
and discuss the TAP features, strengths, and opportunities for
improvement, among other topics, with soldiers from co-located
Army units.
On August 11, 2021, the staff delegation conducted a site
visit to Aviano Air Base in Aviano, Italy. Pursuing similar
information as the prior day's site visit, staff participated
in a mission brief that was led by Brigadier General Jason
Bailey, Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, and Colonel Vincent
O'Connor, 31st Fighter Wing Vice Commander. Staff conducted a
tour of the base TAP facilities, including dedicated classrooms
and offices in the Airman and Family Readiness Center,
interacted with airmen over lunch, and attended a TAP
demonstration. During the demonstration, staff were able to
hear from current servicemembers participating in TAP and
veterans who had recently completed the program. Staff were
able to facilitate a discussion with these servicemembers and
TAP instructors and program leads to identify, among other
things, strategies for improving TAP effectiveness, including
participation and completion rate, and tracking critical data
to measure program metrics.
Buffalo & Syracuse, NY. From November 9-11, 2021, majority
Subcommittee staff, participated in visits the Department of
Veterans' Affairs Buffalo Regional Office and Syracuse
University Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF).
For the visit to the VA Buffalo Regional Office, majority
and and minority staff spent the day with the Regional Office
Director, and RO office staff to discuss staffing, hiring,
training, COVID repurposing, the impact of COVID on the
facility, and internal employee/client surveys. In addition,
Subcommittee staff discussed Congressional established programs
such as VET TEC, Edith Nourse STEM scholarship, VRRAP, and the
status of funding of those programs and veteran participation.
Finally, Subcommittee staff discussed expiring provisions for
student veterans.
Following the visit in Buffalo, the majority staff visited
Syracuse University to tour and understand the innovative
services and research being delivered at Syracuse University
and more broadly in the community. Our team toured the National
Veterans Resource Center (NVRC), participate in Veterans' Day
programming, and meet with key stakeholders to gain an in-depth
understanding of how the innovations at Syracuse can be applied
to federal policymaking. The Committee staff then joined the
staff at the IVMF for Veterans' Day events consisting of
keynote remarks by the Chancelor of Syracuse, along with
student veterans at the University.
Joint Base Charleston, SC. From March 21-23, 2022, majority
and minority staff participated in a visit to Joint Base
Charleston to gather information on the transition process for
service members and learn about the difficulties for service
members and families transitioning out of the military from
overseas posts. Since the changes made in the FY2019 NDAA, DoD
has worked with each independent service branch to improve TAP
and meet the requirements set in statute. This trip provided
the Subcommittee staff the opportunity to review all service
branches transition programs at Joint Base Charleston.
Cleveland, OH. On May 5, 2022, majority and minority staff
visited with the Department of Veterans' Affairs Cleveland
Regional Office where the Committee staff met with RO
Leadership, local AFGE Union representatives, the Assistant
Director of Loan Administration along with supporting staff,
Veterans Readiness and Employment leadership and counselors,
concluding with a tour of the facility.
Los Angeles, CA. From August 15-18, 2022, majority and
minority staff, accompanied by members of the Oversight
Subcommittee, and majority and minority staff from the Senate
Veterans Affairs Committee participated in the following
visits: Department of Veterans Affairs West LA Campus,
homelessness providers in the Los Angeles community, and the
University of California Los Angeles. On this trip, staff
performed oversight on VA homeless programs in the Los Angeles
area, as well as GI Bill and other VA Educational Assistance
programs.
Muskogee, OK. From October 24-26, 2022, majority and
minority staff, accompanied by members of the Senate Veterans
Affairs Committee majority and minority staff participated in
an oversight visit to the Muskogee GI Bill processing and call
center. On this trip, staff performed oversight on Digital GI
Bill implementation and educations claim processing.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
JULIA BROWNLEY, California, Chairwoman
JACK BERGMAN, Michigan, Ranking Member
CONOR LAMB, Pennsylvania AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN, American
MIKE LEVIN, California Samoa
FRANK MRVAN, Indiana CHIP ROY, Texas
GREGORIO KILILI SABLAN, Northern MATT ROSENDALE, Montana
Mariana Islands MARIANNETTE MILLER MEEKS, Iowa
LAUREN UNDERWOOD, Illinois JAKE ELLZEY, Texas
COLIN ALLRED, Illinois
LOIS FRANKEL, Florida
------
Elizabeth Mackenzie, Majority Staff Director
Christine Hill, Minority Staff Director
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on H.R. 234;
H.R. 344; H.R. 958; H.R. 1448; H.R. 1510; a discussion draft,
the DOULA for VA Act; a discussion draft, the Sgt. Ketchum
Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021; a discussion draft,
to clarify the role of doctors of podiatric medicine in the
Department of Veterans Affairs; and H.R. 2093''
On April 15, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a legislative hearing on the above bills. There were
three witness panels. The following witnesses testified on the
first panel: Representative Mark Takano (California),
Representative Lauren Underwood (Illinois), Representative
Steve Stivers (Ohio), Representative Hakeem Jeffries (New
York), Representative Cynthia Axne (Iowa), and Representative
Brenda Lawrence (Michigan). The following witnesses testified
on the second panel: Mr. Marquis Barefield, Assistant National
Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Mr. Brian
Dempsey, Government Affairs Director, Wounded Warrior Project;
and Lindsay Church, Executive Director/Co-Founder, Minority
Veterans of America. The following witnesses testified on the
third panel: Dr. Clifford A. Smith, Director, Analytics,
Innovations, and Collaborations, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr.
Amanda Johnson, Director, Women's Reproductive Health, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 913;
H.R. 2587; H.R. 2775; H.R. 2797; H.R. 3027; H.R. 3452; H.R.
3674; H.R. 3693; H.R. 4233; a discussion draft, the VA
Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act, or VIPER Act; a
discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
clarify and improve the program of comprehensive assistance for
family caregivers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and
for other purposes; and a discussion draft, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to require an independent assessment of
health care delivery systems and management processes of the
Department of Veterans Affairs be conducted once every 10
years, and for other purposes''
On July 14, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a legislative hearing regarding the above bills. There
were three witness panels. The following witnesses testified on
the first panel: Representative Mark Takano (California),
Representative Chris Pappas (New Hampshire), Representative
Conor Lamb (Pennsylvania), Representative Jason Crow
(Colorado), Representative Lauren Underwood (Illinois), and
Representative Gregory F. Murphy (North Carolina).
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
David Perry, Chief Officer, Workforce Management and
Consulting, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Mike Fisher, MSW, Chief Officer,
Readjustment Counseling Service, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
following witnesses testified on the third panel: Mr. Marquis
Barefield, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans; Mr. Andy Blevins, Operations and Policy
Director, Minority Veterans of America; and Ms. Tammy Barlet,
Deputy Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of
Foreign Wars.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 2819;
H.R. 2916; H.R. 4575; H.R. 4794; H.R. 5029; H.R. 5073; H.R.
5317; a discussion draft, the Veterans Census-Enabled National
Treatment Equitable Resources Supplement (Vet CENTERS) for
Mental Health Act of 2021; a discussion draft, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza
vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes; a
discussion draft, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
expand eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and
nursing home care from the Department of Veterans Affairs to
include veterans of World War II; a discussion draft, the
Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse and Physician Assistant
Retention and Income Security Enhancement (VA Nurse and
Physician Assistant RAISE) Act; a discussion draft, the
Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act; a discussion draft,
the VITAL Assessment Act''
On October 13, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session
to conduct a legislative hearing regarding the above bills.
There were three witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Representative Mark Takano
(California), Representative Scott H. Peters (California),
Representative David Rouzer (North Carolina), Representative
Antonio Delgado (New York), Representative Jake Ellzey (Texas),
Representative Josh Harder (California), Representative Lauren
Underwood (Illinois), Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks
(Iowa), and Representative Mikie Sherrill (New Jersey).
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Dr.
David Carroll, Executive Director, Office of Mental Health &
Suicide Prevention, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Robert Sherrier, Executive
Director, National Teleradiology Program, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Karen
M. Ott, DNP, RN, Director for Policy, Legislation, and
Professional Standards Office of Nursing Services, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Mr. Michael Fisher, Chief Readjustment Counseling Officer,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the third panel: Mr.
Marquis Barefield, Assistant National Legislative Director,
Disabled American Veterans; Ms. Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director,
National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Dr.
Kaki York-Ward, President, Association of VA Psychologist
Leaders.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 4993;
H.R. 5738; H.R. 5754; H.R. 5819; H.R. 5941; H.R. 6647, to amend
title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements
relating to the eligibility of veterans to receive
reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished through the
Veterans Community Care program, and for other purposes; H.R.
6823; and a discussion draft, the Long-Term Care Veterans
Choice Act''
On March 16, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a legislative hearing regarding the above bills. There
were three witness panels. The following witnesses testified on
the first panel: Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers
(Washington), Representative Lisa McClain (Michigan),
Representative Tom O'Halleran (Arizona), Representative Clay
Higgins (Louisiana), and Representative Debbie Dingell
(Michigan). The following witnesses testified on the second
panel: Dr. Julianne Flynn, Acting Assistant Under Secretary for
Health for Community Care, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr. Scotte Hartronft,
Executive Director, Office of Geriatrics & Extended Care,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. The following witnesses testified on the third panel:
Mr. Anthony Lewis, Associate National Legislative Director,
Disabled American Veterans; Mr. Steve Schwab, Chief Executive
Officer, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation; and Mr. Roscoe Butler,
Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 291;
H.R. 345; H.R. 1216; H.R. 1957; H.R. 6273; and H.R. 7589''
On June 22, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a legislative hearing regarding the above bills. There
were three witness panels. The following witnesses testified on
the first panel: Representative Mark Takano (California) and
Representative Mike Bost (Illinois). The following witnesses
testified on the second panel: Dr. Matt Miller, Executive
Director for Suicide Prevention, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Amanda
Johnson, Director for Women's Reproductive Health, Office of
Women's Health, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Garth Miller, Executive Director
for Member Services, Health Eligibility Center, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The
following witnesses testified on the third panel: Ms. Joy Ilem,
National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms.
Julie Howell, Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed
Veterans of America; Ms. Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director,
National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Mx.
Lindsay Church, Executive Director, Minority Veterans of
America; and Ms. Barb Collura, President and CEO, RESOLVE: The
National Infertility Association.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Beyond Deborah Sampson: Improving
Healthcare for America's Women Veterans in the 117th Congress''
On March 18, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to examine the work that lies
ahead for VA, VSOs, and Congress to meet the needs of America's
women veterans: past, present, and future. These groups
discussed the need for legislation that did not become law in
the 116th Congress, such as legislation focused on reproductive
health and residential treatment programs. As women veterans
are more likely to be people of color or members of the LGBTQ
community than their male veteran counterparts, this hearing
also examined health equity and disparities within the women
veteran population.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Kameron Matthews, Assistant
Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr.
Patricia Hayes, Chief Officer for Women's Health Services,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Ms. Lelia Jackson, Senior Strategist, Assault and
Harassment Prevention Office, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The following witnesses
testified on the second panel: Ms. Ashleigh A. Byrnes, Deputy
National Communications Director, Disabled American Veterans;
Ms. Patricia Jackson-Kelley (Lt. Col., U.S. Army, Retired),
President, National Association of Black Military Women; Ms.
Jennifer Silva, Chief Program Officer, Wounded Warrior Project;
Lindsay Church, Executive Director, Minority Veterans of
America; and Ms. Stephanie Gattas, Chief Executive Officer, The
Pink Berets.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Aging in Place: Examining Veterans''
Access to Home and Community Based Services''
On July 27, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to examine the work that lies
ahead for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to meet the
needs of the largest cohort of veterans, those over the age of
65, and address their number one priority--the wish to age at
home. Since 2009, VHA has made incremental efforts to refocus
funds and resources into its Home and Community Based Services
(HCBS) to ensure veterans are empowered to delay, if not avoid,
entry into institutional care settings, by receiving
appropriate support safely at home. The Subcommittee evaluated
the status of VHA's efforts to rebalance resources from
institutional care to HCBS, what barriers to exist to expand
certain HBCS programs (such as the Veteran Directed Care
Program) to all VA Medical Centers, and what lessons from the
pandemic will need to be incorporated as VHA prepares to care
for a majority geriatric patient population.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Scotte Hartronft, Executive
Director, Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Dr. Catherine Kelso, Deputy Executive Director, Office of
Geriatrics and Extended Care, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The following witnesses
testified on the second panel: Ms. Rashi Romanoff, Vice
President for Program and Partnerships, Elizabeth Dole
Foundation; and Mr. Roscoe Butler, Associate Legislative
Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Lessons Learned? Building a Culture
of Patient Safety Within the Veterans Health Administration''
On October 27, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session
to conduct an oversight hearing to examine oversight and
accountability of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical
facilities. This hearing provided an opportunity to evaluate
the extent to which VHA and its Veterans Integrated Service
Networks (VISN) are ensuring their medical facilities maintain
a culture of patient safety. Specifically, the Subcommittee
examined whether VHA is closely monitoring the findings of VA
Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Government Accountability
Office, and other external reviewers; how VHA and its VISNs
oversee the field's response to findings from external reviews;
and whether VHA is tracking patterns of deficiencies and
looking for opportunities to apply lessons learned across all
VHA medical facilities.
There was one witness panel. The following witnesses
testified: Dr. Julie Kroviak, Deputy Assistant Inspector
General for Healthcare Inspections, Office of Inspector
General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Sharon Silas,
Director, Health Care Team, U.S. Government Accountability
Office; Ms. Renee Oshinski, Assistant Under Secretary for
Health for Operations, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Gerard Cox, Assistant Under
Secretary for Health for Quality and Patient Safety, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Dr. Teresa Boyd, Network Director, VA Northwest Health Network
(VISN 20), Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Joint Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Supporting Survivors: Assessing
VA's Military Sexual Trauma Programs''
On November 17, 2021, the Subcommittees on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Health met in an open
session to conduct an oversight hearing to explore Veterans
Health Administration (VHA) and Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) policies related to the provision of
services, programs, and benefits for survivors of military
sexual trauma (MST) and the extent to which the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) ensures MST survivors are connected to
available services while filing a claim based on the impact of
their MST as well as examine concerns on training,
coordination, and processing of MST claims. This discussion was
an opportunity for the Department to update the Committee on
its progress toward addressing recommendations from the VA
Office of Inspector General (OIG), and to discuss any
challenges VA faces in this area.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Ms. Beth Murphy, Executive
Director of Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Cheryl
Rawls, Executive Director, Office of Outreach, Transition, and
Economic Development Service, Veterans Benefits Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Marsden McGuire,
Deputy Chief Consultant, Mental Health Services, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
the Honorable Michael J. Missal, Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Shane Liermann, Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans; Ms. Kristina Keenan, Associate Director,
National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
Tracy Farrell, Vice President of Connection and Wellness,
Wounded Warrior Project; and Ms. Katie Anita Purswell,
Director, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division, The
American Legion.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Close to Home: Supporting Vet Centers
in Meeting the Needs of Veterans and Miliary Personnel''
On February 3, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open session
to conduct an oversight hearing to examine VA's Vet Centers,
formally known as a program of the Readjustment Counseling
Service (RCS). This hearing provided an opportunity to evaluate
Vet Centers' capacity, staffing, resources, training, delivery
of counseling services, and coordination with VA medical
centers and central office.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. Michael Fisher, Chief
Officer, Readjustment Counseling Service, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. David
Carroll, Executive Director, Office of Mental Health and
Suicide Prevention, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Alfred Ozanian, Deputy
Chief Officer, Readjustment Counseling Service, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms.
Gillian Hinton McDonald, Director, Ventura Vet Center, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr.
Julie Kroviak, Deputy Assistant Inspector General, Office of
Healthcare Inspections, Office of Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Sharon Silas, Director,
Health Care Team U.S. Government Accountability Office. The
following witnesses testified on the second panel: Dr. Thomas
Hall, Vietnam Veterans of America; Mr. Patrick Murray,
Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Ms. Rene
Campos, Senior Director, Government Relations for Veterans--
Wounded Warrior Care, Military Officers Association of America.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Innovative Care Delivery at VA:
Partnering to Improve Infrastructure and Operational
Efficiency''
On May 12, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to examine innovative approaches
to addressing physical infrastructure needs and clinical
workforce shortages at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs'
(VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Through existing
authorities, VA has been able to accept real property donations
like those facilitated by the Communities Helping Invest
through Property and Improvements Needed (CHIP-IN) for Veterans
program, through strategic partnerships like the Lovell Federal
Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, and through sharing
agreements with other federal providers. The Subcommittee
examined lessons learned from past projects and best practices
that VA can apply to future projects, given that many of the
Department's recommendations for the forthcoming Asset and
Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission highlighted VA's
interest in these and other types of partnerships. The hearing
provided an opportunity for VA to elaborate on its vision, and
for the Subcommittee to get a better understanding of the
potential risks and benefits of these partnerships.
There was one witness panel, and the following witnesses
testified: Dr. Michael D. Brennan, Executive Director, Office
of Construction and Facility Management, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Robert P. McDivitt, Director, Veterans
Integrated Service Network (VISN) 23, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Catina
Latham, Acting Director, Physical Infrastructure Team, U.S.
Government Accountability Office; and Mr. Patrick Murray,
Director, National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign
Wars.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Examining VA Community Care Access,
Utilization, and Expenditures''
On July 14, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to examine trends in the
Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) expenditures on community
care, veterans' access to community care, and veterans'
utilization of community care. This hearing also provided the
Subcommittee an opportunity to examine VA's progress in
carrying out an organizational realignment related to community
care--through the creation of the Veterans Health
Administration's (VHA) new Office of Integrated Veteran Care
and the transfer of community care revenue operations to VHA's
Office of Finance.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Miguel LaPuz, Acting Deputy
Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Laura Duke, Chief
Financial Officer, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Julianne Flynn, Acting
Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Community Care,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Dr. Lisa Arfons, Senior Medical Advisor, Office of
Integrated Veteran Care, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. The following witnesses
testified on the second panel: Mr. Eric Frieman, Co-Founder and
Chief Executive Officer, Forge Health; and Mr. Eric Golnick,
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Forge VFR.
SITE VISITS
Washington, D.C. On February 3, 2021, majority Committee
staff conducted a site visit at the Washington, D.C. Veterans
Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) to assess ongoing efforts to
address sexual harassment and assault on VA medical facility
campuses. While on site, majority Committee staff toured key
areas of the VAMC and discussed observations with VAMC
officials. In addition, majority Committee staff discussed with
Washington, D.C., VAMC officials their experiences thus far
with administering COVID-19 vaccines to enrolled veteran
patients and to employees of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
Loma Linda, California. On April 9, 2022, majority
Committee staff conducted a site visit at the VA Loma Linda
Healthcare System (VALLHCS) to observe a day-long job fair
where VA human resources specialists were on hand for immediate
hires, onboarding, interviews, and resume drop-offs. Majority
staff returned on April 11, 2022, to meet with Veterans
Integrated Service Network (VISN) 22 and VALLHCS leadership to
discuss how they are addressing recruitment and retention
challenges and the extent to which existing information
technology systems support effective documentation of
onboarding and other personnel actions. In addition, majority
staff toured the Loma Linda VA Medical Center, the Redlands
Ambulatory Care Center, and the Rancho Cucamonga CBOC, and met
with various clinical leaders to discuss delivery of care to
veterans within their catchment area.
Bluemont, Virginia. On April 19, 2022, minority staff
visited the Boulder Crest Retreat (BCR) in Virginia to evaluate
the effectiveness of their approach to treating PTSD, combat
stress, and opioid addiction. BCR is a wellness organization
that develops and promotes treatment based on ``post-traumatic
growth.'' According to BCR, they enabled participants to
significantly reduce or completely eliminate their use of
prescription medicines.'' BCR, located in Virginia and Arizona,
is open free-of-charge to combat veterans (defined as those who
deployed to a war zone) from any generation/conflict; active-
duty servicemembers; members of the National Guard and Reserve;
first responders; and, family members of any of the above.
Dallas, Texas. On May 11, 2022, majority Committee staff
were invited to participate in a daylong meeting convened by
the Bob Woodruff Foundation on the use of psychedelics in
treating veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and
treatment-resistant depression.
Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia. From May 31-
June 3, 2022, minority staff conducted a visit to the
Charleston VAMC, Savannah and North Charleston CBOCs, the
Savannah Vet Center, and local homeless providers. As one of
the lead sites for VHA's High Reliability Organization (HRO)
initiative, the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC was one of the first to
achieve HRO recognition. Staff met with leadership and staff to
learn more about how an HRO improves quality of care. The visit
also included review of caregiver, long term care, emergency,
and mental health programs. This Healthcare system includes 3
VA clinics and a homeless referral center within a 15-mile
radius which were also included. The facility also serves as
the parent VAMC serving a large rural catchment area and this
was an opportunity to evaluate community care at the Savannah
CBOC. The Savannah Vet Center was selected as a childcare pilot
site, so it provided a good opportunity for oversite of that
and vet center operations in an area where a high active duty,
guard and reserve population resides.
Miami, Florida. From May 31-June 2, 2022, Ranking Member
Bost and minority staff conducted oversight in the Miami
region. During this trip, the Ranking Member visited the Miami
VA Medical Center, the Miami Vet Center, and the Key Largo VA
Clinic. He also visited the Homestead Air Reserve base and
conducted two separate listening sessions with local veterans
to hear their experiences and concerns firsthand.
San Antonio, Texas. On June 1, 2022, majority Committee
staff were invited to speak at the annual conference of the
Association of VA Psychology Leaders about pending and recently
enacted legislation and congressional oversight related to VA
mental health and veteran suicide prevention.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Dallas, Texas; Temple, Texas;
Austin, Texas; and Houston, Texas. From August 8 through August
11, 2022, Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Julia Brownley and
majority Committee staff conducted site visits at VA medical
centers (VAMC) located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Dallas,
Texas; Temple, Texas; and Houston, Texas. These site visits
provided an opportunity for the Committee to gather information
about the provision of reproductive healthcare to women
veterans and VA employees in two states where access to
abortion has become extremely restricted under state law. At
each VAMC, Chairwoman Brownley and majority Committee staff met
with executive leadership, VA Police, Women Veterans Program
Managers, clinical directors of women's health, Maternity Care
Coordinators, community care staff responsible for coordinating
obstetric and gynecological care, pharmacy staff, and employee
union representatives. In addition, Chairwoman Brownley and
majority Committee staff held evening listening sessions with
veterans, healthcare providers, active duty servicemembers, and
veterans advocates in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Dallas, Texas;
Austin, Texas; and Houston, Texas. This trip helped inform the
committee's continued oversight and legislative efforts related
to veterans' reproductive healthcare.
Atlanta, Georgia. On August 24-26, 2022, minority staff
conducted an oversight visit of the Atlanta Healthcare Medical
system. The purpose was to meet with leadership and staff teams
to learn more about how the Medical Center and the VISN are
addressing recent IG findings and recommendations. The site
visit also included review of caregiver and long-term care
programs, emergency care, homeless, and mental health programs.
As this Healthcare system has had challenges in the past with
access and timely referrals to community care the visit
included discussions with the Office of Community Care and
review of CLC demolition. Visit included travel to a standalone
regional CLC and well as a visit to the Atlanta Vet Center.
Atlanta, Georgia. On October 4-6, 2022, minority staff in
an annual Warrior Community Integration Symposium. The purpose
of the symposium is to connect, educate, advocate, and
collaborate to empower veterans across and within their
communities. The three-day agenda included numerous sessions
focusing on veteran issues and solutions driven by potential
community partnerships with VA, non-profits, and other support
entities. Staff to engaged with groups on innovative ways to
empower veterans, proactively improve their wellbeing, and
prevent veteran suicide and participated on a Hill-focused
panel.
New Orleans, Louisiana. On October 18, 2022, majority and
minority staff conducted a one-day site visit at the VA
Southeast Louisiana Health Care System in New Orleans,
Louisiana. They visit focused on various aspects of clinical
operations, including women's health, inpatient care, emergency
care; staffing challenges faced by the facility; quality of
care and implementation of VHA's High Reliability Organization
initiative; and the role of the facility in 4th Mission
readiness. They also met with local union representatives.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire, Chairman
TRACEY MANN, Kansas, Ranking Member
CONOR LAMB, Pennsylvania AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN, American
ELAINE LURIA, Virginia Samoa
LAUREN UNDERWOOD, Illinois\2\ JACK BERGMAN, Michigan
------
Peter Tyler, Majority Staff Director
Jon Clark, Minority Staff Director
----------
\2\ On September 22, 2022, Representative Gregorio Sablan of the
Northern Mariana Islands resigned his position on the Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations and Representative Lauren Underwood of
Illinois joined the Subcommittee.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 711;
H.R. 1948; H.R. 2082; H.R. 2428; H.R. 2429; a discussion Draft,
the Strengthening VA Whistleblower Protection Act of 2021; a
discussion draft, the VA FOIA Reform Act of 2021; a discussion
draft, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make
certain information publicly available on one internet website
of the Department of Veterans Affairs; a discussion draft, the
Improving VA Accountability to Prevent Sexual Harassment and
Discrimination Act of 2021; a discussion draft, the VA
Beneficiary Debt Collection Improvement Act; a discussion
draft, VA Equal Employment Counseling Modernization Act; a
discussion draft, the Strengthening VA Background Checks Act; a
discussion draft, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to submit to Congress a plan for expending Coronavirus pandemic
funding made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and for other purposes; a discussion draft, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to make certain improvements to the Office
of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes''
On April 21, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a legislative hearing regarding the above bills. There
was one witness panel. The following witnesses testified: Mr.
Jeffrey R. Mayo, Acting Assistant Secretary, Human Resources
and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/
OSP), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Hansel Cordeiro,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Accountability and
Whistleblower Protection (OAWP), U.S. Department of Veterans;
Mr. Ed Murray, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy
Chief Financial Officer, Office of Management (OM), U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Jessica Bonjorni, Chief,
Human Capital Management (HCM), Veterans Health Administration
(VHA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Mr. Christopher
Wilber, Counsel to the Inspector General, Office of the
Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 1596;
H.R. 5170; H.R. 2806; H.R. 4845; H.R. 2385; H.R. 3930; a
discussion draft, the VA Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and
Access Data Improvement Act; a discussion draft, the Every
Veteran Counts Act''
On September 22, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session
to conduct a legislative hearing regarding the above bills.
There was one witness panel.
The following witnesses testified: Mr. Harvey Johnson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resolution Management,
Diversity, and Inclusion, Office of Resolution Management,
Diversity and Inclusion, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs;
Mr. Kshemendra Paul, Executive Director for Data Governance and
Analytics and Chief Data Officer, Office of Enterprise
Integration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Jennifer
Dane, Chief Executive officer and Executive Director, Modern
Military Association of America; Lindsay Church, Executive
Director and Co-founder, Minority Veterans of America; Mr.
Marquis Barefield, Assistant National Legislative Director,
Disabled American Veterans; and Mr. Peter Perkowski, Clinical
Instructor, Veterans Legal Clinic, WilmerHale Legal Service
Center of Harvard Law School.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 6052;
a discussion draft, the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors
Act; a discussion draft, the Improving Oversight of the
Veterans Community Care Providers Act; a discussion draft, the
VA Preventing Duplicate Payments Act; a discussion draft, the
Improving VA Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Act; a
discussion draft, the Improving VA Workforce Diversity Through
Minority-Serving Institutions Act; H.R. 5776; H.R. 6638; a
discussion draft, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out an information technology system to manage
supply chains for medical facilities of Department of Veterans
Affairs''
On March 30, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a legislative hearing regarding the above bills. There
were two witness panels. The following witnesses testified on
the first panel: Mr. Edward Murray, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Management & Deputy Chief Financial Officer,
Office of Management, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr.
Harvey Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resolution
Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Resolution
Management, Diversity and Inclusion, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Dan Keenaghan, Executive Director, VA
Insurance Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Jennifer Adams, Executive
Director, Network Management, Office of Community Care,
Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Ms. Maryanne Donaghy, Assistant Secretary for
Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, Office of
Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Christopher Wilber, Acting Assistant
Inspector General for Management and Administration, Office of
Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr.
Seto Bagdoyan, Director of Forensic Audits and Investigative
Service, U.S. Government Accountability Office.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Ms.
Tiffany Ellett, Health Policy Coordinator, The American Legion;
Mr. Patrick Murray, Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign
Wars; Ms. Jennifer Dane, Chief Executive Officer and Executive
Director, Modern Military Association of America; and Lindsay
Church, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Minority Veterans of
America.
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Ensuring Independence and Building
Trust: Considering Reforms to Whistleblower Protections at VA''
On June 16, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a legislative hearing regarding H.R. 8510, the
Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of
Veterans Affairs Act, related to the Subcommittee's oversight
of whistleblower protections and procedures at VA, especially
as performed by the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower
Protection (OAWP) and the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Ms. Maryanne T. Donaghy,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Accountability and Whistleblower
Protection, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Catherine
Mitrano, Principal Deputy General Counsel, Office of General
Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Elizabeth
McMurray, Chief of Retaliation and Disclosure Unit, Office of
Special Counsel. The following witnesses testified on the
second panel: Ms. Jacqueline Garrick, Founder, Whistleblowers
of America; Mr. Tom Devine, Legal Director, Government
Accountability Project; and Ms. Joanna Derman, Policy Counsel,
Project on Government Oversight.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``The Pandemic and VA's Medical Supply
Chain: Evaluating the Year-Long Response and Modernization''
On March 24, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing, which examined the VA supply
chain, how well it adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
planned improvements. There was one witness panel. The
following witnesses testified: Ms. Deborah Kramer, Acting
Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Support, Veterans
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr.
Andrew Centineo, Executive Director, Procurement and Logistics
Office, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Phillip Christy, Deputy Executive
Director for Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, Office
of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; The Honorable Michael Missal, Inspector
General, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Shelby Oakley, Director of
Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, U.S. Government
Accountability Office.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Transforming the VA Workforce:
Assessing Progress on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Initiatives''
On May 6, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing, which examined VA's workforce,
how the workforce has changed in recent years, and progress
regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. There
was one witness panel.
The following witnesses testified: Mr. Harvey Johnson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resolution Management, Diversity
and Inclusion, Office of Resolution Management, Diversity and
Inclusion, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Anne-Marie
Duncan, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resolution
Management, Office of Resolution Management, Diversity, and
Inclusion, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Ryan Pugh
Director of Workforce Analysis, Office of Resolution
Management, Diversity and Inclusion, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Dr. Sheila Elliott, President, Local 2328 at
the Department of Veterans Affairs, Hampton (Virginia) VA
Medical Center, American Federation of Government Employees;
Mr. Victor J. LaGroon, Director and Chairman, Black Veterans
Empowerment Council; and Mr. Rick C. Wade, Senior Vice
President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach, U.S. Chamber of
Commerce.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Protecting Whistleblowers and
Promoting Accountability: Is VA Making Progress?''
On May 19, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing, which examined whistleblower
protections and procedures at VA, with a focus on the
responsibilities and performance of the Office of
Accountability and Whistleblower Protection and the Office of
General Counsel.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. Hansel Cordeiro, Acting
Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower
Protection, Office of Accountability and Whistleblower
Protection, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr.
Christopher Wilber, Counsel to the Inspector General, Office of
Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms.
Elizabeth McMurray, Chief of Retaliation and Disclosure Unit,
Office of Special Counsel. The following witnesses testified on
the second panel: Ms. Melissa Wasser, Policy Counsel, Project
on Government Oversight; Mr. Tom Devine, Legal Director,
Government Accountability Project; and Ms. Jacqueline Garrick,
Founder, Whistleblowers of America.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Modernizing the VA Police Force:
Ensuring Accountability''
On July 13, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing, which examined the governance and
accountability of the police force at the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified: Mr. Lewis Ratchford,
Chief Security Officer, Human Resources and Administration/
Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. James Ward, Executive
Director of the Law Enforcement Training Center/Chief of
Police, Human Resources and Administration/Operations,
Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Ms. Tammy Czarnecki, Deputy Assistant Under
Secretary for Health for Operations, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Troy
Brown, Senior Security Officer, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Leigh Ann Searight,
Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations,
Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Ms. Catina B. Latham, PhD, Acting Director,
Physical Infrastructure Team, U.S. Government Accountability
Office.
Joint Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Modernizing VA's Medical Supply
Chain: Progress Made?''
On November 18, 2021, the Subcommittees on Oversight and
Investigations and Technology Modernization held a joint
oversight hearing, which examined long-standing supply chain
modernization and acquisition challenges facing VA. There was
one witness panel.
The following witnesses testified: Mr. Michael D. Parrish,
Principal Executive Director, Office of Acquisition, Logistics,
and Construction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Neil
Evans, Acting Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Ms. Deborah Kramer, Acting Assistant Under
Secretary for Health for Support, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Shelby
Oakley, Director of Contracting and National Security
Acquisitions, U.S. Government Accountability Office; and Ms.
Leigh Ann Searight, Deputy Assistant Inspector General, Office
of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Progress Made?--Ending Sexual
Harassment at the Department of Veterans Affairs''
On July 28, 2022, the Subcommittee, partnering with the
Women Veterans Task Force, conducted an oversight hearing to
examine VA's progress in addressing and preventing sexual
harassment.There was one witness panel. The following witnesses
testified: Mr. Harvey Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Perdita Johnson-
Abercrombie, Director of Operations (Eastern Region), Office of
Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. Thomas Costa, Director, Education,
Workforce, and Income Security, U.S. Government Accountability
Office.
Joint Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``VA Major Acquisition Failures:
In Search of Solutions''
On September 20, 2022, the Subcommittees on Oversight and
Investigations and Technology Modernization met in open session
to conduct a joint oversight hearing. The hearing examined VA's
management and oversight of several major acquisition programs,
the Department's efforts to address longstanding acquisition
management challenges, and implications for ongoing
modernization efforts. There was one witness panel.
The following witnesses testified: Mr. Michael Parrish,
Chief Acquisition Officer and Principal Executive Director,
Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Angela Billups, Executive
Director and Senior Procurement Executive, Office of
Acquisition and Logistics, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Ms. Michele Foster, Associate Executive Director, Technology
Acquisition Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Ms. Shelby Oakley, Director of Contracting and National
Security Acquisitions, U.S. Government Accountability Office.
SITE VISITS
Venice Italy. On August 10, 2021, majority Subcommittee
staff, accompanied by Economic Opportunity Subcommittee staff
and Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs majority and minority
staff, participated in a staff delegation site visit to the
U.S. Army Garrison-Italy in Vicenza, Italy. During the site
visit, staff participated in a mission brief provided by the
Army Garrison leadership, including Major General Andrew M.
Rohling, Commanding General, Southern European Task Force--
Africa, and Colonel Matthew Gomlak, Garrison Commander.
Following the briefing, staff observed a Transition Assistance
Program (TAP) classroom session and toured the TAP facilities,
meeting with instructors and program fellows. Staff also
received a TAP overview from the Garrison Commander and Mr.
Poulin, the Transition Service Manager, who led the Garrison's
TAP. During this presentation, staff queried TAP instructors
and program leads on how they measure the core goals of TAP,
implement National Defense Authorization Act mandates, and on
plans for modernizing and improving TAP instruction and
effectiveness. Later that day, staff participated in a hosted
lunch, which allowed for staff to meet and discuss the TAP
features, strengths, and opportunities for improvement, among
other topics, with soldiers from co-located Army units.
On August 11, 2021, the staff delegation conducted a site
visit to Aviano Air Base in Aviano, Italy. Pursuing similar
information as the prior day's site visit, staff participated
in a mission brief that was led by Brigadier General Jason
Bailey, Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, and Colonel Vincent
O'Connor, 31st Fighter Wing Vice Commander. Staff conducted a
tour of the base TAP facilities, including dedicated classrooms
and offices in the Airman and Family Readiness Center,
interacted with airmen over lunch, and attended a TAP
demonstration. During the demonstration, staff were able to
hear from current servicemembers participating in TAP and
veterans who had recently completed the program. Staff were
able to facilitate a discussion with these servicemembers, TAP
instructors, and program leads, to identify, among other
things, strategies for improving TAP effectiveness, and
participation, and completion rates, as well as tracking
critical data to measure program metrics.
Ballston, Virginia. On September 23, 2021, majority
Subcommittee staff, along with minority Subcommittee and
majority Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs staff, attended
a Financial Management Business Transformation (FMBT)
demonstration at CGI Federal's facility in Ballston, Virginia.
VA awarded a systems integration contract to CGI Federal to
support the FMBT program. The FMBT program seeks to modernize
VA's financial and acquisition management systems to enable VA
to become compliant with federal financials laws and
regulations. From FY 16 to FY21, VA obligated about $734
million for the FMBT program and the Life Cycle Cost Estimates
is nearly $3 billion. The first phase of this multi-year
implementation began at the National Cemetery Administration
and will continue at the other VA Administrations and staff
offices over the next seven years.
Baltimore, Maryland. On October 15, 2021, majority
Subcommittee staff, along with minority and majority staff on
the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs,
participated in a facility briefing and on-site tour of the
Baltimore National Cemetery and Baltimore Regional and National
Capital Region Benefits Office. At the benefits office, the
delegation also conducted multiple focus groups with VA's
public-facing employees, including claims processors and
Military Sexual Trauma coordinators.
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. On November 10, 2021, majority
Subcommittee staff, along with minority Subcommittee and
majority Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs staff,
participated in a site visit to a Defense Logistics Agency
(DLA) distribution center in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, which
VA utilizes as an interim ``Regional Readiness Center.'' VA
began its Regional Readiness Center initiative in the early
months of the COVID-19 pandemic to aid in the management and
resupply of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the VA
enterprise. Staff had an opportunity to tour the 863,000-
square-foot Chambersburg facility, which, at the time, held
roughly 25,000 pallets of blood tubes, rapid COVID-19 tests,
gowns, gloves, masks, and other PPE, and engaged in a question-
and-answer session with representatives from the Veterans
Health Administration, DLA, and the contractor operating the
facility.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION
FRANK MRVAN, Indiana, Chair
MATT ROSENDALE, Montana, Ranking Member
MARK TAKANO, California JIM BANKS, Indiana
SHEILA CHERFILUS McCORMICK, Florida
------
Timothy Brennan, Majority Staff Director
William Mallison, Minority Staff Director
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Legislative Hearing--``Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4591; a
discussion draft, the Department of Veterans Affairs
Demographic Data Collection Improvement Act of 2021; H.R. 2250;
and H.R. 2326''
On Thursday, October 7, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open
session to conduct a legislative hearing regarding the above
bills. There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Mr. Paul Brubaker, Acting
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Information
Technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Kshemendra
Paul, Executive Director/Chief Data Officer, Office of Data
Governance and Analysis, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Patrick Murray, Director, National Legislative Service,
Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Jennifer Dane, Executive
Director, Modern Military Association of America; Lindsay
Church, Co-Founder/Executive Director, Minority Veterans of
America.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Strategic Review: Evaluating Concerns
About the Ongoing Implementation of the Electronic Health
Record Modernization Program''
On April 14, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to perform a strategic review. On
March 17, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
informed Congress that it was conducting a ``strategic review
of the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program.''
In the notification VA indicated, due to the review, it would
delay the next scheduled EHRM go-live scheduled for April 2021
at the Wylie P. Chalmers VA Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus,
Ohio.
The hearing examined VA's ongoing efforts to deploy its $16
billion EHRM program with specific emphasis on the issues and
challenges identified at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
in Spokane, Washington. Topics included: VA's plans for the
strategic review, the revised deployment schedule; ongoing
concerns with productivity loss and staff morale; clinical
workflows; and data syndication.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Acting Deputy
Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Kameron L.
Matthews, Assistant Undersecretary for Health for Clinical
Services, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. John Windom, Executive Director, Office
of Electronic Health Record Modernization, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Dr. Laura Kroupa, Chief Medical Officer,
Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. John Short, Chief
Technology and Integration Officer, Office of Electronic Health
Record Modernization, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Dr. Robert Fischer, Director, Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical
Center, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. The following witnesses testified on the
second panel: Mr. Brian Sandager, General Manager, Cerner
Government Services; Mr. Avi Vaswani, Vice President, Cerner
Government Services; and Ms. Melissa Solito, Vice President and
Chief Nursing Officer, Cerner Government Services.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Cybersecurity and Risk Management at
the VA: Addressing Ongoing Challenges and Moving Forward''
On May 20, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct a hearing to review the annual Federal Information
Security Modernization Act (FISMA) audit. In this hearing, the
Subcommittee assessed how VA manages its cybersecurity program,
including supply chain management and controlling access to
confidential data; and evaluated the safeguarding of
information technology assets. The hearing also examined
ongoing challenges in cybersecurity and VA's response to those
challenges. There was one witness panel.
The following witnesses testified: Mr. Paul Cunningham,
Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Information Security
Officer (CISO), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Gary
Stevens, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, Executive
Director for Information Security Policy and Strategy, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Martha Orr, Deputy Chief
Information Officer, Quality Performance and Risk, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Luwanda Jones, Deputy Chief
Information Officer, Strategic Sourcing, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Michael Bowman, Director of IT and
Security Audits Division, Office of Audits and Evaluations,
Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Mr. Chris Jaikaran, Analyst in Cybersecurity
Policy, Congressional Research Service.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Review of the FY22 Veterans Affairs
Information Technology Budget''
On July 1, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to review VA's proposed technology
modernization and technology sustainment funding for FY22. The
hearing covered funding for Electronic Health Record
Modernization as well as funding for Information Technology
across the department. The hearing addressed VA's funding
requests to ensure the timely delivery of IT systems that meet
the needs of veterans across the country. There was one witness
panel.
The following witnesses testified: Mr. Jon Rychalski,
Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer
(CFO), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Dominic
Cussatt, Acting Assistant Secretary of Information Technology
and Acting Chief Information Officer (CIO), U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Mr. Michael D. Parrish, Executive Director
for Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction, and Chief
Acquisition Officer (CAO), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
Mr. Larry Davis, Executive Director for IT Budget and Finance,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Carol C. Harris,
Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity, U.S.
Government Accountability Office.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Moving Forward: Evaluating Next Steps
for the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record
Modernization Program''
On July 21, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to review the next steps of the
EHRM program and VA's strategic review. On March 17, 2021, the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) informed Congress that it
was conducting a ``strategic review of the Electronic Health
Record Modernization program.'' In the notification VA
indicated it would delay the next scheduled EHRM go-live
scheduled for April 2021 at the Wylie P. Chalmers VA Ambulatory
Care Center in Columbus, Ohio. This strategic review was
expected to be complete by June 30, 2021 and has now been
delayed.
The hearing examined VA's ongoing efforts to deploy its $16
billion EHRM program with specific emphasis on the issues and
challenges identified at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
in Spokane, Washington. Topics included: findings from VA's
strategic review; how the review will impact the deployment
schedule; how changes to the program will impact program costs;
and funding sources for infrastructure costs associated with
upgrades necessitated by EHRM.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Assistant
Under Secretary for Health for Discovery, Education and
Affiliate Networks, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr.
Kameron L. Matthews, Assistant Undersecretary for Health for
Clinical Services, Veterans Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Mr. David Case, Deputy
Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. The following witnesses
testified on the second panel: Mr. Brian Sandager, General
Manager, Cerner Government Services; and Mr. Avi Vaswani, Vice
President, Cerner Government Services.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Modernizing and Securing VA's IT
Infrastructure''
On September 30, 2021, the Subcommittee conducted an
oversight hearing, which reviewed the progress of VA's
modernization programs as well as their progress with securing
IT infrastructure. The hearing covered the Infrastructure
Readiness Plan (IRP), progress with current modernization
programs such as FMBT and DMLLS/LogiCole, and VA's Digital
Transformation Strategy. The hearing also addressed overall IT
infrastructure and cybersecurity efforts that are intrinsic to
all of VA's modernization efforts. There was one witness panel.
The following witnesses testified: Dr. Neil Evans, Acting
Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief
Information Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr.
Todd Simpson, Deputy Assistant Secretary DevSecOps, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Charles Worthington, Chief
Technology Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Mr. Paul Cunningham, Deputy Chief Information Officer and Chief
Information Security Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Next Steps: Examining Plans for the
Continuation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic
Health Record Modernization Program''
On November 2, 2021, the Subcommittee met in open session
to conduct an oversight hearing to review next steps of the the
Department of Veterans Affairs' Electronic Health Record
Modernization Program. On September 20, 2021, the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) informed Congress that it was prepared to
move forward with EHRM deployments in VISNs 10 and 20 in early
2022. There are many outstanding questions about how VA intends
to accomplish this. This hearing examined VA's ongoing efforts
to deploy its $16 billion EHRM program with specific emphasis
on the issues and challenges identified during the strategic
review of the program. Topics included: how VA intends to
integrate findings from its strategic review; how changes will
impact the deployment schedule and program costs; and how VA
means to properly account for infrastructure costs associated
with upgrades necessitated by EHRM.
There was one witness panel. The following witness
testified: The Honorable Donald M. Remy, Deputy Secretary, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Joint Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``IT Infrastructure
Modernization: Addressing Ongoing Challenges and the Path
Forward.''
On Wednesday, February 9, 2022, the Subcommittees on
Technology Modernization and Oversight & Investigations met in
open session to conduct an oversight hearing. The hearing
reviewed the coordination and management of VA's IT
modernization programs as well as the new Chief Information
Officer's vision and plans for this year. The hearing covered
the coordination and top-level management of the current major
IT modernization programs such as FMBT, Supply Chain
Modernization, and HR Modernization. The hearing also addressed
VA's plans for scheduling and integration of the major efforts
to ensure interoperability and improved services to VA staff
and veterans, including standardization of demographic data
across VA and its IT platforms.
There was one witness panel. The following witness
testified: Mr. Kurt DelBene, Assistant Secretary for
Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Next Steps: Examining Plans for the
Continuation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic
Health Record Modernization Program''
On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the Subcommittee met in open
session to conduct an oversight hearing to review next steps of
the EHRM program after the VA Office of the Inspector General
released three oversight reports highlighting ongoing concerns
with the deployment of Cerner Millennium at Mann-Grandstaff VA
Medical Center in Spokane, Washington in March 2022. These
reports identify that, almost a year and a half after the go-
live, many issues with medication management, referral
management, and VA's issue resolution process remain
unaddressed.
On April 5, 2022, members of the Subcommittee on Technology
Modernization heard from leadership at Mann-Grandstaff and the
Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Medical Center in Walla Walla,
Washington about the impacts of these issues on front-line
staff. Members also heard from leadership at the Chalmers P.
Wylie Veterans Outpatient Clinic in Columbus, OH, about
preparations for its planned April 30, 2022, go-live. The
hearing afforded an opportunity to hear from VA and Cerner
leadership about plans to address the unresolved issues,
ameliorate staff frustration, and improve training and change
management efforts for future deployment of the Cerner
Millennium system at additional VA facilities.
There were two witness panels. The following witness
testified on the first panel: Dr. Terry Adirim, Program
Executive Director, EHRM Integration Office (EHRM IO), U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Donald Pirraglia, Former
Acting VHA Functional Champion, EHRM IO, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Ms. Laura Prietula, Acting Deputy Chief
Information Officer, EHRM IO, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Mr. David Case, Deputy Inspector General, VA
Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. The following witnesses testified on the second panel:
Mr. Patrick Sargent, Senior Vice President and General Manager,
Cerner Government Services; Mr. Avi Vaswani, Vice President,
Cerner Government Services; Ms. Melissa Solito, Vice President
and Chief Nursing Officer, Cerner Government Services.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing--``Cyber- and Information Security at
VA: Continuing Challenges''
On June 7, 2022, the Subcommittee n met in open session to
conduct an oversight hearing to review the annual Federal
Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) audit, assess
how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) manages its
cybersecurity program, and to evaluate the safeguarding of
information technology assets. Ongoing cybersecurity
challenges, especially those brought about by geopolitical
events, and VA's response to those challenges were also
discussed. The hearing also provided an opportunity for VA to
discuss pending cybersecurity bills--including the SVAC Act (HR
7299, S3863).
There was one witness panel. The following witnesses
testified: Mr. Kurt Delbene, Assistant Secretary for
Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO),
Office of Information and Technology, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Ms. Lynette Sherrill, Acting Chief
Information Security Officer (CISO), Office of Information and
Technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Michael
Bowman, Director of IT and Security Audits Division, Office of
Audits and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing, ``Protecting Our Veterans: Patient
Safety and the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program''
On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, the Subcommittee held an
oversight hearing to review patient safety concerns with the
EHRM program. On June 19, 2022, the Spokesman Review published
an article citing an unpublished Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report related to a
previously undisclosed function of the Cerner Millennium
electronic health record (EHR). The article alleged that the
OIG identified multiple cases of patient harm caused by this
function, labeled the ``unknown queue''. This revelation, in
addition to the Subcommittee's ongoing concerns about patient
safety related to the program, necessitated a conversation
about patient safety as it relates to the system. This hearing
was an opportunity to hear from VA and Oracle/Cerner leadership
about plans to ensure that patient safety remains the number
one priority in the deployment of EHRM program and how they
intend to rectify these issues before any more veterans are
harmed.
There were two witness panels. The following witnesses
testified on the first panel: Dr. Terry Adirim, Program
Executive Director, Electronic Health Record Modernization
Integration Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr.
Edward Yackel, Executive Director, National Center for Patient
Safety, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Dr. Robert Fischer, Medical Center Director,
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Scott
Kelter, Medical Center Director, Jonathan M. Wainwright VA
Medical Center, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Lynelle Johnson, Acting Chief Medical
Officer, Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration
Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. David Case,
Deputy Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Julie Kroviak, Principal
Deputy Assistant Inspector General, Office of Healthcare
Inspections, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs.
The following witnesses testified on the second panel: Mr.
Mike Sicilia, Executive Vice President, Industries, Oracle; Mr.
Patrick Sargent, Senior Vice President and General Manager;
Oracle Cerner Government Services; Mr. David Case, Deputy
Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Julie Kroviak, Principal
Deputy Assistant Inspector General, Office of Healthcare
Inspections, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs.
SITE VISITS
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, Spokane, WA. On October
14, 2021, Chairman Frank Mrvan held a virtual site visit with
the leadership and staff at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
in Spokane, Washington. The visit was originally intended to be
in person but was converted to virtual due to concerns over
rising COVID-19 infection rates in the region. On October 24,
2020, VA deployed its new Cerner electronic health record at
Mann-Grandstaff and its associated clinics. The committee has
heard repeatedly from leadership and staff about their concerns
with the system, to include degraded performance, frequent
downtimes, loss of productivity, and other technical and
programmatic issues. r Mrvan heard first-hand from the
leadership and staff who have been struggling under the weight
of being first in the monumental change initiative.
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, Spokane and Jonathan M.
Wainwright VA Medical Center, Walla Walla, WA. On February 22-
26, 2022, minority staff conducted an oversight visit to the
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington and
the Jonathan M. Wainwright Medical Center in Walla Walla,
Washington to observe the facilities' readiness for the
upcoming go-live of the Cerner electronic health record. During
the visit, minority staff met with each facility's leadership
teams, their electronic health record implementation teams,
each clinical department, and their facilities and information
technology staff to discuss their preparations and readiness.
Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Clinic, Columbus, OH. On
March 23-25, 2022, minority staff conducted an oversight visit
to the Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Clinic in Columbus,
Ohio to observe the facility's readiness for the upcoming go-
live of the Cerner electronic health record. During the visit,
minority staff met with the facility's leadership team, the
electronic health record implementation team, each clinical
department, and the facilities and information technology staff
to discuss their preparations and readiness.
Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Medical Center, Walla Walla, WA.
On March 28, 2022, Majority staff conducted an oversight visit
to the Walla Walla, Washington, VA Medical Center to observe
the post-go-live activities following the facilities go-live of
the new Cerner Electronic Health Record (EHR). This was only
the second time that VA had deployed the system in eighteen
months. The visit was an opportunity to observe staff
engagement and morale, and to discuss issues with the system.
VA Boise Healthcare System, Boise, ID. On July 9, 2022,
minority staff conducted an oversight visit to the VA Boise
Healthcare System in Boise, Idaho, to observe the facility's
readiness for the upcoming go-live of the Cerner electronic
health record. During the visit, Minority staff met with the
facility's leadership team, the electronic health record
implementation team, each clinical department, and the
facilities and information technology staff to discuss their
preparations and readiness. Boise's go-live was later delayed.
VA Financial Services Center, Austin, TX. On August 24,
2022, minority staff conducted an oversight visit to the VA's
Financial Services Center in Austin, Texas. minority staff met
with each division within the organization to understand their
functions and discussed key issues including financial fraud
controls, the Financial Management Business Transformation
program, and management of the Financial Services Center'
information technology staff.
VA's Austin Information Technology Center (AITC), Austin,
TX. On August 25, 2022, Majority staff traveled to VA's Austin
Information Technology Center (AITC) to meet with VA staff and
gather first-hand testimonial evidence and perspectives on
activities of VA. The AITC supports over 100 customer
applications that provide mission-critical data for financial
management, payroll, human resources, logistics, medical
records, eligibility benefits and supply functions for VA
customers. Committee staff evaluated the effectiveness of the
facility and the activities undertaken there. Staff also
discussed specific additional resources needed to maximize its
effectiveness and reviewed challenges faced by VA leadership
and staff.
Oregon and Washington VA Medical Centers. On October 18-22,
2022, Majority and Minority staff conducted oversight visits to
the White City VA Medical Center, White City, OR; Roseburg VA
Medical Center, Roseburg, OR; Portland VA Medical Center,
Portland, OR; and the Vancouver VA Medical Center, Vancouver,
WA. The purpose of the trip was to meet with staff and
leadership at the White City and Roseburg facilities to
evaluate the post-go-live state of the EHRM program and to meet
with the staff and leadership at the Portland and Vancouver
facilities to evaluate the state of preparations for go-live of
the system. The visits were an opportunity to evaluate staff
engagement and morale, as well as to hear first-hand from staff
about the concerns with the Cerner Millennium product and the
deployment program.
ACTIVITIES OF THE WOMEN VETERANS TASK FORCE
JULIA BROWNLEY, California, Chairwoman
AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN, (American Samoa), Co-Chairwoman
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ON THE TASK FORCE
MARK TAKANO, California MIKE BOST, Illinois
COLIN Z. ALLRED, Texas JACK BERGMAN, Michigan
CONOR LAMB, Pennsylvania NANCY MACE, South Carolina
MIKE LEVIN, California DR. MARIANETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa
CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire CONNIE CONWAY, California
ELAINE G. LURIA, Virginia
FRANK MRVAN, Indiana
LOIS FRANKEL, Florida
MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio
ELISSA SLOTKIN, Michigan
RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona
GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN,
(Northern Mariana Islands)
LAUREN UNDERWOOD, Illinois
SHEILA CHERFILUS-McCORMICK, Florida
DR. RAUL RUIZ, California
DAVID TRONE, Maryland
------
Esti Lamonaca, Senior Policy Advisor
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
The Women Veterans Task Force coordinated all legislative
activities through the subcommittees of the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
Task Force Roundtable--``Veteran Service Organizations & Leaders of the
Women Veterans Task Force''
On August 25, 2022, the Task Force held an open, virtual,
roundtable with Chairwoman Brownley and Co-Chair Radewagen to
introduce and hear from 24 key Veteran Service Organization
representatives, 4 subject matter experts, and 3 researchers to
consider and resolve women veteran challenges.
The following witnesses attended: Ms. Naomi Mathis,
Associate Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms.
Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director of the National Legislative
Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Rene Campos, Executive
Director, Military Officers Association of America; Ms. Janessa
Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice Foundation; Ms. Phyllis Wilson,
President, Women in Military Service for America; Lindsay
Church, Executive Director, Minority Veterans of America; Ms.
Julie Howell, Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed
Veterans of America; Ms. Lorry Fenner, Director of Government
Operations, Service Women's Action Network; Ms. BriGette McCoy,
Founder, Women Veteran Social Justice Network; Ms. Lindsay
Knapp, Executive Director, Combat Sexual Assault; Ms. Kaitlynne
Yancy, Associate Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America; Professor Deborah Harmon-Pugh, National Chair, Women
Veterans Rock; Ms. Stephanie Gattas, Founder, The Pink Berets;
Ms. Jennifer Dane, CEO, Modern Military Association of America;
Ms. Lauren Augustine, Vice President, Student Veterans of
America; Ms. Kristina Keenan, Assistant Director, Veterans of
Foreign Wars; Ms. MaCherie Dunbar, Associate Director, Veterans
of Foreign Wars; Ms. Jen Burch, Government Affairs Specialist,
Wounded Warrior Project; Ms. Katie Purswell, Director for VBA,
VHA, and Memorial Affairs, The American Legion; Ms. Cassandra
Williamson, Board Member, Transgender American Veterans
Association; Ms. Yomika Alexander, Black Women Veterans
Council; Dr. Tiffany Lange, Psychologist, former VA staff; Ms.
Octavia Harris, former VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans
member; Ms. Jodie Grenier, Founder, Foundation for Women
Warriors; Ms. Kayla Williams, Senior Policy Researcher, RAND
Corporation; Ms. Lucy Del Gaudio, Women Veteran Researcher; Ms.
Janet Thompson, Subject Matter Expert; and Ms. Mary Kaszynski,
Subject Matter Expert.
Task Force Roundtable--``Women Wounded Warriors''
On September 13, 2022, the Task Force, led by acting Task
Force Chairman Mark Takano and acting Co-Chair Nancy Mace,
participated in a roundtable with over 30 women veterans from
across the nation of all ages, backgrounds, and service eras
during Wounded Warrior Project annual conference in D.C.
The event was led by Ms. Jen Burch and Ms. Lindsey
Stanford, Government Affairs Specialists from Wounded Warrior
Project, additional witness names were not collected.
Task Force Roundtable--``Military to Civilian Transition: Military
Sexual Trauma Survivors''
On September 20, 2022, Chairwoman Brownley and Co-Chair
Radewagen held a roundtable to gain insight on the challenges
MST Survivors encounter during transition and find legislative
solutions for what support and services are missing throughout
transitioning. Over the years, Department of Defense (DoD) and
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have implemented joint
initiatives focused on providing a seamless transition for MST
Survivors. However, for many veterans with MST, especially
women veterans, support when transitioning is insufficient or
nonexistent.
The following witnesses attended: Ms. Naomi Mathis,
Associate Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms.
Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director of the National Legislative
Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Rene Campos, Executive
Director, Military Officers Association of America; Ms. Jen
Goodale, Director of Government Relations, Military Officers
Association of America; Ms. Janessa Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice
Foundation; Ms. Phyllis Wilson, President, Women in Military
Service for America; Lindsay Church, Executive Director,
Minority Veterans of America; Ms. Julie Howell, Associate
Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Ms. Lorry
Fenner, Director of Government Operations, Service Women's
Action Network; Ms. Kaitlynne Yancy, Associate Director, Iraq
and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Ms. Stephanie Gattas,
Founder, The Pink Berets; Ms. Jennifer Dane, CEO, Modern
Military Association of America; Ms. Lauren Augustine, Vice
President, Student Veterans of America; Ms. Kristina Keenan,
Assistant Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. MaCherie
Dunbar, Associate Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Jen
Burch and Ms. Lindsey Stanford, Government Affairs Specialists,
Wounded Warrior Project; Ms. Tiffany Ellett, Director, The
American Legion; Dr. Tiffany Lange, Psychologist, former VA
staff; Ms. Octavia Harris, former VA Advisory Committee on
Women Veterans member; Ms. Jodie Grenier, Founder, Foundation
for Women Warriors; Ms. Lucy Del Gaudio, Women Veteran
Researcher.
Task Force Roundtable--``Oversight and Legislative Priorities''
On October 6, 2022, bipartisan staff from the Women
Veterans Task Force held a roundtable to receive input from 24
VSO's regarding the Task Force's oversight and legislative
agenda.
The following witnesses attended: Ms. Naomi Mathis,
Associate Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms.
Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director of the National Legislative
Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Rene Campos, Executive
Director, and Ms. Jen Goodale from Military Officers
Association of America; Ms. Janessa Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice
Foundation; Ms. Phyllis Wilson, President, Women in Military
Service for America; Lindsay Church, Executive Director,
Minority Veterans of America; Ms. Julie Howell, Associate
Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Ms. Lorry
Fenner, Director of Government Operations, Service Women's
Action Network; Ms. BriGette McCoy, Founder, Women Veteran
Social Justice Network; Ms. Lindsay Knapp, Executive Director,
Combat Sexual Assault; Ms. Kaitlynne Yancy, Associate Director,
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Professor Deborah
Harmon-Pugh, National Chair, Women Veterans Rock; Ms. Stephanie
Gattas, Founder, The Pink Berets; Ms. Jennifer Dane, CEO,
Modern Military Association of America; Ms. Lauren Augustine,
Vice President, Student Veterans of America; Ms. Kristina
Keenan, Assistant Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
MaCherie Dunbar, Associate Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars;
Ms. Jen Burch, Government Affairs Specialist, Wounded Warrior
Project; Ms. Katie Purswell and Ms. Tiffany Ellet, Director for
VBA, VHA, and Memorial Affairs, The American Legion; Ms.
Cassandra Williamson, Board Member, Transgender American
Veterans Association; Ms. Yomika Alexander, Black Women
Veterans Council; Ms. Jodie Grenier, Founder, Foundation for
Women Warriors; and Ms. Lucy Del Gaudio, Women Veteran
Researcher.
Task Force Roundtable--``LGBTQ+ Veterans, their Families, and their
Survivors: Accessing VA''
On October 25, 2022, Chairwoman Brownley and Co-Chair
Radewagen held a virtual roundtable on LGBTQ+ veterans to
identify ongoing barriers and gaps in policy that VA must
address to truly provide all veterans, their families, and
survivors access to VA benefits and services.
The following witnesses attended: Mr. Evan R. Seamone,
General counsel and Legal Manager, Trajector; Mr. Keith
Streicher, Black LGBTQ+ Veterans Council; Dr. Tiffany Lange,
Psychologist, former VA staff; Ms. Naomi Mathis, Associate
Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms. Tammy
Barlet, Deputy Director of the National Legislative Service,
Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Rene Campos, Executive Director,
Military Officers Association of America; Lindsay Church,
Executive Director, Minority Veterans of America; Ms. Julie
Howell, Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of
America; Ms. Lorry Fenner, Director of Government Operations,
Service Women's Action Network; Ms. Lindsay Knapp, Executive
Director, Combat Sexual Assault; Ms. Kaitlynne Yancy, Associate
Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Professor
Deborah Harmon-Pugh, National Chair, Women Veterans Rock; Ms.
Stephanie Merlo, Staff, The Pink Berets; Ms. Jennifer Dane,
CEO, Modern Military Association of America; Ms. Kristina
Keenan, Assistant Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
MaCherie Dunbar, Associate Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars;
Ms. Jen Burch, Government Affairs Specialist, Wounded Warrior
Project; Ms. Katie Purswell, Director for VBA, VHA, and
Memorial Affairs, The American Legion; Ms. Cassandra
Williamson, Board Member, Transgender American Veterans
Association; Ms. Jodie Grenier, Founder, Foundation for Women
Warriors; Ms. Kayla Williams, Senior Policy Researcher, RAND
Corporation; and Ms. Lucy Del Gaudio, Women Veteran Researcher.
Task Force Roundtable--``Outreach, Advocacy, and Support''
On November 4, 2022, bipartisan staff from the Women
Veterans Task Force held an in-person roundtable to learn how
VSOs are meeting or unable to meet the needs to veterans in
communities across the nation and how Congress or VA can
potentially assist.
The following witnesses attended: Ms. Naomi Mathis,
Associate Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms.
Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director of the National Legislative
Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Rene Campos, Executive
Director, and Ms. Jen Goodale from Military Officers
Association of America; Ms. Janessa Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice
Foundation; Ms. Phyllis Wilson, President, Women in Military
Service for America; Lindsay Church, Executive Director,
Minority Veterans of America; Ms. Julie Howell, Associate
Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Ms. Lorry
Fenner, Director of Government Operations, Service Women's
Action Network; Ms. BriGette McCoy, Founder, Women Veteran
Social Justice Network; Ms. Lindsay Knapp, Executive Director,
Combat Sexual Assault; Ms. Kaitlynne Yancy, Associate Director,
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Professor Deborah
Harmon-Pugh, National Chair, Women Veterans Rock; Ms. Stephanie
Gattas, Founder, The Pink Berets; Ms. Jennifer Dane, CEO,
Modern Military Association of America; Ms. Lauren Augustine,
Vice President, Student Veterans of America; Ms. Kristina
Keenan, Assistant Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
MaCherie Dunbar, Associate Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars;
Ms. Jen Burch, Government Affairs Specialist, Wounded Warrior
Project; Ms. Katie Purswell and Ms. Tiffany Ellet, Director for
VBA, VHA, and Memorial Affairs, The American Legion; Ms.
Cassandra Williamson, Board Member, Transgender American
Veterans Association; Ms. Yomika Alexander, Black Women
Veterans Council; Ms. Jodie Grenier, Founder, Foundation for
Women Warriors; and Ms. Lucy Del Gaudio, Women Veteran
Researcher.
Task Force Roundtable--``Implementation of the Deborah Sampson Act''
On November 17, 2022, Chairwoman Julia Brownley, acting Co-
Chair Nancy Mace, and Representative Lois Frankel, held an in-
person roundtable on the implementation of three key areas and
their provisions to include childcare, sexual harassment and
assault, and intimate partner violence. the Deborah Sampson
Act.
The following VA witnesses attended: Ms. Lordes Tiglao,
Director, Center for Women Veterans; Michael Fisher, Chief
Readjustment Counseling Officer, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Leila
Jackson, Director, VHA Assault and Harassment Prevention
Program, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Perdita
Johnson-Abercrombie, Regional Director, Office of Resolution
Management Diversity & Inclusion, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs; Dr. Anne-Marie Duncan, Associate Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Office of Resolution Management, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Dr. LeAnn Bruce, National Program Manager,
Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program, U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Jennifer Knetig, National Program
Manager, Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Megabus
Pilot, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ms. Jennifer A.
Koget, National Director Social Work, Fisher House and Family
Hospitality, and Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Programs
Care Management and Social Work Services, Veterans Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Additional witnesses include: Ms. Miriam Pierson, Yale Law
School, Veterans Legal Clinic; Ms. Cindy Barnes, Director, U.S.
Government Accountability Office, Ms. Naomi Mathis, Associate
Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms. Tammy
Barlet, Deputy Director of the National Legislative Service,
Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Rene Campos, Executive Director,
Military Officers Association of America; Lindsay Church,
Executive Director, Minority Veterans of America; Ms. Julie
Howell, Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of
America; Ms. Lorry Fenner, Director of Government Operations,
Service Women's Action Network; Ms. Kaitlynne Yancy, Associate
Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Professor
Deborah Harmon-Pugh, National Chair, Women Veterans Rock; Ms.
Stephanie Gattas, Founder, The Pink Berets; Ms. Jennifer Dane,
CEO, Modern Military Association of America; Ms. Lauren
Augustine, Vice President, Student Veterans of America; Ms.
Kristina Keenan, Assistant Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars;
Ms. MaCherie Dunbar, Associate Director, Veterans of Foreign
Wars; Ms. Jen Burch, Government Affairs Specialist, Wounded
Warrior Project; Ms. Katie Purswell and Ms. Tiffany Ellet,
Director for VBA, VHA, and Memorial Affairs, The American
Legion; Ms. Cassandra Williamson, Board Member, Transgender
American Veterans Association; Ms. Yomika Alexander, Black
Women Veterans Council; Ms. Jodie Grenier, Founder, Foundation
for Women Warriors; and Ms. Lucy Del Gaudio, Women Veteran
Researcher.
Task Force Roundtable--``Road Ahead: Women and LGBTQ+ Veterans''
On December 15, 2022, bipartisan Task Force staff held a
virtual roundtable to discuss the future of the Women Veterans
Task Force and the 118th Congress House Committee on Veterans'
Affairs.
The following witnesses attended: Ms. Naomi Mathis,
Associate Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Ms.
Tammy Barlet, Deputy Director of the National Legislative
Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Rene Campos, Executive
Director, and Ms. Jen Goodale from Military Officers
Association of America; Ms. Janessa Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice
Foundation; Ms. Phyllis Wilson, President, Women in Military
Service for America; Lindsay Church, Executive Director,
Minority Veterans of America; Ms. Julie Howell, Associate
Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Ms. Lorry
Fenner, Director of Government Operations, Service Women's
Action Network; Ms. BriGette McCoy, Founder, Women Veteran
Social Justice Network; Ms. Lindsay Knapp, Executive Director,
Combat Sexual Assault; Ms. Kaitlynne Yancy, Associate Director,
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Professor Deborah
Harmon-Pugh, National Chair, Women Veterans Rock; Ms. Stephanie
Gattas, Founder, The Pink Berets; Ms. Jennifer Dane, CEO,
Modern Military Association of America; Ms. Lauren Augustine,
Vice President, Student Veterans of America; Ms. Kristina
Keenan, Assistant Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms.
MaCherie Dunbar, Associate Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars;
Ms. Jen Burch and Ms. Lindsey Stanford, Government Affairs
Specialists, Wounded Warrior Project; Ms. Katie Purswell and
Ms. Tiffany Ellet, Director for VBA, VHA, and Memorial Affairs,
The American Legion; Ms. Cassandra Williamson, Board Member,
Transgender American Veterans Association; Ms. Yomika
Alexander, Black Women Veterans Council; Ms. Jodie Grenier,
Founder, Foundation for Women Warriors; and Ms. Lucy Del
Gaudio, Women Veteran Researcher.
SITE VISITS
Washington, D.C. On October 11, 2022, bipartisan staff from
the Women Veterans Task Force visited the Washington, D.C. VA
Medical Center, to conduct oversight on the implementation of
the Deborah Sampson Act, which included a thorough tour of the
entire facility and private meetings with Womens Medical Health
Director, Womens Health Program Manager, Womens Health Primary
Care Provider, a Patient Advocate, LGBTQ+ Care Coordinator, MST
Coordinator, and Community Care staff.
Baltimore, Maryland. On November 18, 2022, bipartisan staff
from the Women Veterans Task Force and majority Health
Subcommittee Staff traveled to Baltimore's Regional Benefit
Office Bipartisan staff also visited the Baltimore VA Medical
Center to conduct oversight on the implementation of the
Deborah Sampson Act, which included a thorough tour of the
entire facility and private meetings with Womens Medical Health
Director, Womens Health Program Manager, Womens Health Primary
Care Provider, a Patient Advocate, LGBTQ+ Care Coordinator, MST
Coordinator, and Community Care staff.
Richmond, Virginia. On December 9, 2022, bipartisan staff
from the Women Veterans Task Force traveled to Hunter Holmes
McGuire VA Medical Center to conduct oversight on the
implementation of the Deborah Sampson Act, which included a
thorough tour of the entire facility and private meetings with
Womens Medical Health Director, Womens Health Program Manager,
Womens Health Primary Care Provider, a Patient Advocate, LGBTQ+
Care Coordinator, MST Coordinator, and Community Care staff.
APPENDIX I: LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE THAT PASSED THE HOUSE
01/16/2021: H.R. 147--BRAVE Act, To amend title 10, United
States Code, to make certain improvements to services and
benefits for veterans and separating members of the Armed
Forces with respect to apprenticeship programs, and for other
purposes.
03/09/2021: H.R. 1276--Strengthening and Amplifying
Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every
Spouse Act, To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
furnish COVID-19 vaccines to certain individuals, and for other
purposes. (Public law 117-4).
03/17/2021: H.R. 1620--Violence Against Women Act
Reauthorization Act of 2021, To reauthorize the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994, and for other purposes.
04/20/2021: H.R. 2523--THRIVE Act, To amend the American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to improve the COVID 19 Veteran Rapid
Retraining Assistance program, to make certain technical
corrections to the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D.
Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, and
for other purposes. (Public law 117-16).
05/12/2021: H.R. 958--Protecting Moms Who Served Act, To
codify maternity care coordination programs at the Department
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
05/12/2021: H.R. 1448--PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, To
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on dog training therapy, and to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses who do
not have mobility impairments. (Public law 117-37).
05/17/2021: H.R. 2911--VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021,
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to
Congress a plan for obligating and expending Coronavirus
pandemic funding made available to the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. (Public law 117-63).
05/18/2021: H.R. 240--Homeless Veterans with Children
Reintegration Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to
direct the Secretary of Labor to prioritize the provision of
services to homeless veterans with dependents in carrying out
homeless veterans reintegration programs, and for other
purposes.
05/18/2021: H.R. 711--West Los Angeles VA Campus
Improvement Act of 2021, To amend the West Los Angeles Leasing
Act of 2016 to authorize the use of certain funds received
pursuant to leases entered into under such Act, and for other
purposes. (Public law 117-18).
05/18/2021: H.R. 1510--To direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the use of cameras in
medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(Public law 117-64).
05/18/2021: H.R. 2167--GI Bill National Emergency Extended
Deadline Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for extensions of the time limitations for use of entitlement
under Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance
programs by reason of school closures due to emergency and
other situations, and for other purposes.
05/18/2021: H.R. 2441--Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental
Health Act of 2021, To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to expand the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement
Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to direct
the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study
to assess certain mental health care resources of the
Department of Veterans Affairs available to veterans who live
in rural areas. (Public law 117-21).
05/18/2021: H.R. 2494--To amend title 38, United States
Code, to establish in the Department the Veterans Economic
Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other
purposes.
05/18/2021: H.R. 2704--Improving VA Accountability To
Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021, To
amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the equal
employment opportunity functions of Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
05/18/2021: H.R. 2788--VA Equal Employment Opportunity
Counselor Modernization Act, To amend title 38, United States
Code, to eliminate the cap on full-time employees of the
Department of Veterans Affairs who provide equal employment
opportunity counseling.
05/18/2021: H.R. 2878--Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges
and Universities Pilot Program Act, To direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to carry out a Native VetSuccess at Tribal
Colleges and Universities Pilot Program, and for other
purposes.
06/15/2021: H.R. 290--To amend title 38, United States
Code, to render an individual, who transfers certain
educational assistance, to which the individual is entitled
because of an agreement by such individual to serve in the
Armed Forces, to a dependent of that individual, and who fails
to complete such agreement, solely liable for the overpayment
of such educational assistance.
06/15/2021: H.R. 293--VA Hospitals Establishing Leadership
Performance Act, To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
establish qualifications for the human resources positions
within the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
06/15/2021: H.R. 1257--Homeless Veterans CREDIT Act, To
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on
the effect of financial and credit counseling for homeless
veteran and veterans experiencing housing instability, and for
other purposes. Passed House by voice vote.
06/15/2021: H.R. 2093--Veterans and Family Information Act,
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make all fact
sheets of the Department of Veterans Affairs available in
English, Spanish, and Tagalog, and other commonly spoken
languages, and for other purposes. (Public law 117-62).
06/15/2021: H.R. 2429--VA Police Improvement and
Accountability Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the staffing, transparency, and accountability of the
law enforcement operations of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
06/15/2021: H.R. 2545--To amend title 38, United States
Code, to clarify the role of doctors of podiatric medicine in
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Passed House under suspension. (Public law 117-96).
06/24/2021: H.R. 239--Equal Access to Contraception for
Veterans Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for limitations on copayments for contraception furnished by
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
09/20/2021: H.R. 1281--To name the Department of Veterans
Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Gaylord, Michigan,
as the Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews Department of Veterans
Affairs Health Care Clinic. (Public law 117-89).
09/20/2021: H.R. 3475--To name the Department of Veterans
Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia,
as the Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic. (Public law 117-56).
09/20/2021: H.R. 4172--To name the Department of Veterans
Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Aurora, Colorado,
as the Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley VA Clinic. (Public law
117-57).
09/20/2021: H.R. 5293--Department of Veterans Affairs
Expiring Authorities Act of 2021, To amend title 38, United
States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and
requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and for other purposes. (Public law 117-42).
11/15/2021: H.R. 3665--To designate the medical center of
the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Diego, California, as
the Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, and to support the designation of a component of such
medical center in honor of Kathleen Bruyere. (Public law 117-
98).
11/15/2021: H.R. 5671--To authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to
certain individuals, and for other purposes.
11/16/2021: H.R. 2433--Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act,
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take actions
necessary to ensure that certain individuals may update the
burn pit registry with a registered individual's cause of
death, and for other purposes.
11/16/2021: H.R. 4233--Student Veterans Counseling Centers
Eligibility Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to
furnish Vet Center readjustment counseling and related mental
health services to veterans and members of the Armed Forces
using certain educational assistance benefits.
11/16/2021: H.R. 4591--VA Electronic Health Record
Transparency Act of 2021, To direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to submit to Congress periodic reports on the costs,
performance metrics, and outcomes of the Department of Veterans
Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization program. (Public
law 117 154).
11/16/2021: H.R. 4626--VA AIM Act, To amend title 38,
United States Code, to require an independent assessment of
health care delivery systems and management processes of the
Department of Veterans Affairs be conducted once every 10
years, and for other purposes.
11/16/2021: H.R. 5516--VITAL Assessment Act, To direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on
the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
11/16/2021: H.R. 5603--Protections for Student Veterans
Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish
protections for a member of the Armed Forces who leaves a
course of education, paid for with certain educational
assistance, to perform certain service.
11/18/2021: H.R. 3730--To amend title 38, United States
Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an
Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely
Associated States, and for other purposes.
12/08/2021: H.R. 5545--REMOTE Act, To extend certain
expiring provisions of law relating to benefits provided under
Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs
during COVID-19 pandemic. (Public law 117-76).
01/12/2022: H.R. 1836--Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act
of 2021, To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that
the time during which members of the Armed Forces serve on
active duty for training qualifies for educational assistance
under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
01/20/2022: H.R. 4673--Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition
Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the
automatic enrollment of eligible veterans in patient enrollment
system of Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
05/17/2022: H.R. 5754--Patient Advocate Tracker Act, To
amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of
veterans to electronically submit complaints about the delivery
of health care services by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(Public law 117-175).
05/17/2022: H.R. 6376--Student Veteran Work Study
Modernization Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to
extend eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who
pursue programs of rehabilitation, education, or training on at
least a half-time basis, and for other purposes.
05/17/2022: H.R. 6604--Veterans Eligible to Transfer School
(VETS) Credit Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the method by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines the effects of a closure or disapproval of an
educational institution on individuals who do not transfer
credits from such institution.
05/17/2022: H.R. 7153--Department of Veterans Affairs
Principles of Benefits Automation Act, To direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a plan to modernize
the information technology systems of the Veterans Benefits
Administration, and for other purposes.
05/17/2022: H.R. 7375--To direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to update the payment system of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to allow for electronic fund transfer of
educational assistance, administered by the Secretary, to a
foreign institution of higher education.
05/17/2022: H.R. 7500--Fiscal Year 2022 Veterans Affairs
Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, To authorize major
medical facility projects for the Department of Veterans
Affairs for fiscal year 2022, and for other purposes. (Public
law 117-190).
05/18/2022: H.R. 2724--VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST
Survivors Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support
specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual
trauma, and for other purposes.
05/18/2022: H.R. 5738--Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms
Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to require a
lactation space in each medical center of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
05/18/2022: H.R. 6052--Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2021, To require
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require the employees of
the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive training
developed by the Inspector General of the Department on
reporting wrongdoing to, responding to requests from, and
cooperating with the Office of Inspector General, and for other
purposes.
05/18/2022: H.R. 6064--To direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a review
of examinations, furnished by the Secretary, to individuals who
submit claims to the Secretary for compensation under chapter
11 of title 38, United States Code, for mental and physical
conditions linked to military sexual trauma.
05/18/2022: H.R. 6961--Dignity for MST Survivors Act, To
amend title 38, United States Code, to improve hearings before
the Board of Veterans' Appeals regarding claims involving
military sexual trauma.
05/18/2022: H.R. 7335--MST Claims Coordination Act, To
improve coordination between the Veterans Health Administration
and the Veterans Benefits Administration with respect to claims
for compensation arising from military sexual trauma, and for
other purposes.
06/15/2022: H.R. 2726--VA FOIA Reform Act of 2021, To
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a plan to
reduce the backlog of requests for information made to the
Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 552 of title
5, United States Code, and for other purposes.
06/23/2022: H.R. 6411--STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, To
amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements in the mental health care provided by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
07/13/2022: S. 3373--Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, To
improve health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic
substances, and for other purposes. (Public law 117-168).
*Originated in House as H.R. 3967.
08/12/2022: H.R. 8656--To designate the clinic of the
Department of Veterans Affairs in Mishawaka, Indiana, as the
``Jackie Walorski VA Clinic''. Passed House without objection.
(Public law 117-179).
09/14/2022: H.R. 5916--Wounded Warrior Access Act, To amend
title 38, United States Code, to allow for the electronic
request of certain records, and for other purposes. Passed
House under suspension.
09/14/2022: H.R. 7735--Improving Access to the VA Home Loan
Benefit Act of 2022, To direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to update the appraisal requirements for certain loans
guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
09/14/2022: H.R. 7846--Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
Living Adjustment Act of 2022, To increase, effective as of
December 1, 2022, the rates of compensation for veterans with
service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and
indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled
veterans, and for other purposes. (Public law 117-191).
09/14/2022: H.R. 7939--Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act
of 2022, To make permanent certain educational assistance
benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs in the case of changes to courses of education
by reason of emergency situations, and for other purposes.
09/14/2022: H.R. 8260--Faster Payments to Veterans'
Survivors Act of 2022, To amend title 38, United States Code,
to shorten the timeframe for designation of benefits under
Department of Veterans Affairs life insurance programs, to
improve the treatment of undisbursed life insurance benefits by
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
09/19/2022: H.R. 7698--To designate the outpatient clinic
of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ventura, California,
as the ``Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Outpatient Clinic''.
(Public law 117-199).
09/28/2022: H.R. 5918--To amend title 38, United States
Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays
members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by
such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, and for
other purposes.
09/28/2022: H.R. 7589--REMOVE Copays Act, To amend title
38, United States Code, to prohibit the imposition or
collection of copayments for certain mental health outpatient
care visits of veterans, and for other purposes.
09/29/2022: H.R. 3304--CARS for Vets Act, To amend title
38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to provide or assist in providing an additional vehicle
adapted for operation by disabled individuals to certain
eligible persons, and for other purposes.
09/29/2022: H.R. 8510--Strengthening Whistleblower
Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, To amend
title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to
the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
09/29/2022: H.R. 8875--Expanding Home Loans for Guard and
Reservists Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to
expand eligibility of members of the National Guard for housing
loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
09/29/2022: H.R. 8888--Food Security for All Veterans Act,
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the
Department of Veterans Affairs an Office of Food Security, and
for other purposes.
11/14/2022: H.R. 5481--To name the Department of Veterans
Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Forest City, North
Carolina, as the ``Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic''.
11/14/2022: H.R. 6722--To designate the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French
Camp, California, as the ``Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic''.
11/14/2022: H.R. 6863--To designate the medical center of
the Department of Veterans Affairs in Memphis, Tennessee, as
the ``Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center''.
11/14/2022: H.R. 7903--To designate the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic located in
Canton, Michigan, as the ``Major General Oliver W. Dillard VA
Clinic''.
11/14/2022: H.R. 7925--To designate the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic located in
Palm Desert, California, as the ``Sy Kaplan VA Clinic''.
11/17/2022: H.R. 2250--Department of Veterans Affairs
Information Technology Reform Act of 2021, To amend title 38,
United States Code, to improve the management of information
technology projects and investments of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
11/17/2022: H.R. 5721--VIPER Act of 2021, To amend title
38, United States Code, to improve research conducted within
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
11/17/2022: H.R. 7277--Improving Oversight of the Veterans
Community Care Providers Act of 2022, To improve the methods by
which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs identifies health care
providers that are not eligible to participate in the Veterans
Community Care Program.
11/17/2022: H.R. 7299--SVAC Act of 2022, To require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to obtain an independent
cybersecurity assessment of information systems of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
12/01/2022: H.R. 2521--To require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability
of furnishing doula services to certain veterans, and for other
purposes.
12/01/2022: H.R. 4601--Commitment to Veteran Support and
Outreach Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to
States to improve outreach to veterans, and for other purposes.
12/01/2022: H.R. 4772--Mark O'Brien VA Clothing Allowance
Improvement Act, To amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the application and review process of the Department of
Veterans Affairs for clothing allowance claims submitted by
veterans, and for other purposes.
12/01/2022: H.R. 5943--To designate the outpatient clinic
of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South
Carolina, as the ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell VA
Clinic''.
12/01/2022: H.R. 7158--Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act,
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts and
agreements for the payment of care in non-Department of
Veterans Affairs medical foster homes for certain veterans who
are unable to live independently, and for other purposes.
12/15/2022: H.R. 1948--VA Employee Fairness Act of 2021. To
amend title 38, United States Code, to modify authorities
relating to the collective bargaining of employees in the
Veterans Health Administration.
APPENDIX II: PUBLIC LAWS ENACTED
Public Law 117-4: H.R. 1276--Strengthening and Amplifying
Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every
Spouse Act
Public Law 117-16: H.R. 2523--THRIVE Act
Public Law 117-18: H.R. 711--West Los Angeles VA Campus
Improvement Act of 2021
Public Law 117-21: H.R. 2441--Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans
Mental Health Act of 2021
Public Law 117-37: H.R. 1448--PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
Public Law 117-42: H.R. 5293--Department of Veterans
Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2021
Public Law 117-56: H.R. 3475--To name the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Columbus,
Georgia, as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic''
Public Law 117-57: H.R. 4172--To name the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Aurora,
Colorado, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley VA
Clinic''
Public Law 117-62: H.R. 2093--Veterans and Family
Information Act
Public Law 117-63: H.R. 2911--VA Transparency & Trust Act
of 2021
Public Law 117-64: H.R. 1510--To direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the use of
cameras in medical facilities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs
Public Law 117-76: H.R. 5545--REMOTE Act
Public Law 117-89: H.R. 1281--To name the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Gaylord,
Michigan, as the ``Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews Department of
Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic''
Public Law 117-96: H.R. 2545--To amend title 38, United
States Code, to clarify the role of doctors of podiatric
medicine in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes
Public Law 117-98: H.R. 3665--To designate the medical
center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Diego,
California, as the ``Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center'', and to support the designation of a
component of such medical center in honor of Kathleen Bruyere
Public Law 117-154: H.R. 4591--VA Electronic Health Record
Transparency Act of 2021
Public Law 117-168: S. 3373 (Originally H.R. 3967):
Honoring our PACT Act of 2022
Public Law 117-175: H.R. 5754--Patient Advocate Tracker Act
Public Law 117-179: H.R. 8656--To designate the clinic of
the Department of Veterans Affairs in Mishawaka, Indiana, as
the ``Jackie Walorski VA Clinic''
Public Law 117-190: H.R. 7500--Fiscal Year 2022 Veterans
Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act
Public Law 117-191: H.R. 7846--Veterans' Compensation Cost-
of-Living Adjustment Act of 2022
Public Law 117-199: H.R. 7698--To designate the outpatient
clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ventura,
California, as the ``Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner Outpatient
Clinic''.
Public Law 117-233: H.R. 5481--To name the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Forest
City, North Carolina, as the ``Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump
VA Clinic''
Public Law 117-235: H.R. 6722--To designate the Department
of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French
Camp, California, as the ``Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic''
Public Law 117-236: H.R. 6863--To designate the medical
center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Memphis,
Tennessee, as the ``Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical
Center''
Public Law 117-237: H.R. 7903--To designate the Department
of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic located
in Canton, Michigan, as the ``Major General Oliver W. Dillard
VA Clinic''
Public Law 117-238: H.R. 7925--To designate the Department
of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic located
in Palm Desert, California, as the ``Sy Kaplan VA Clinic''
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 8260--Faster Payments to Veterans'
Survivors Act of 2022
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 7735--Improving Access to the VA
Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 7335--MST Claims Coordination Act
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 7299--SVAC Act of 2022
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 6961--Dignity for MST Survivors
Act
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 6604--Veterans Eligible to
Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 6064--To direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with the
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a
review of examinations, furnished by the Secretary, to
individuals who submit claims to the Secretary for compensation
under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for mental
and physical conditions linked to military sexual trauma
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 5943--To designate the outpatient
clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Greenville,
South Carolina, as the ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell VA
Clinic''
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 2724--VA Peer Support Enhancement
for MST Survivors Act
Public Law 117-XXX: H.R. 7939--Veterans Auto and Education
Improvement Act of 2022