House of Representatives Advances Veterans Legislation, Honors Fallen Heroes for Memorial Day

Washington, D.C. - House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve legislation to improve health care for veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“Memorial Day will take on a more profound and personal significance for many American families this year – those who are mourning the loss of one of their own and those who have loved ones far from home,” stated Chairman Filner. “As a way to honor these heroes, I ask that we recommit ourselves to caring for and serving our veterans. The bills that were passed by the House reinforce our commitment to ensure that the contributions of our brave veterans are never forgotten.”

H.R. 1017, as amended – Chiropractic Care to All Veterans Acts (Filner)

This bill will require the VA to expand veterans’ access to chiropractic care and services at their local VA facilities. This care is intended to help veterans get necessary treatments, especially those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and continue to report musculoskeletal ailments.

H.R. 5145 – Assuring Quality Care for Veterans Act (McNerney)

H.R. 5145 would increase the reimbursement for continuing professional education for all health care professionals employed by the VA.

H.R. 3885 – Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H. Brown)

This bill requires VA to conduct a 5-year pilot program for relieving veterans’ post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through training service dogs for veterans with disabilities. The program would be available in at least 3 and up to 5 VA Medical Centers for veterans who volunteer to participate in training and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or post-deployment mental health issues.

H.Con.Res. 278 – Salute for Sons and Daughters in Touch (Halvorson)

This resolution supports and salutes Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th Anniversary that is being held on Father's Day, 2010, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Sons and Daughters in Touch honor the service and sacrifice of those who died or remain missing as a result of the war in Southeast Asia and the families and children they left behind.

The bills will next be considered in the U.S. Senate.

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Congressman Filner calls on Congress to honor 2nd Ranger Infantry Company

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner recently co-sponsored H.Res.1211, a resolution honoring the service and sacrifice of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) of the United States Army- the first, last, and only all-African American Ranger Company.

“Congress should honor the service and sacrifice of the members and families of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company Airborne who fought for freedom abroad during a crucial turning point for American civil rights,” stated Filner.

On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981 which called for “equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origins.” However, desegregation was a slow, multi-year process, and it was those who served during the Korean War, such as the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company, who made it possible for our armed services to move towards true racial equality.

The 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) arrived at Taegu Air Force Base on December 30, 1950 where they saw their first combat action just 7 days later. In the following 8 months the members of the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company repeatedly demonstrated valor and endurance despite the brutal conditions of the Korean War, earning 9 Silver Hearts, 11 Bronze Stars, and 103 Purple Hearts before the members of the Company were gradually reassigned and integrated into the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th Ranger Companies.

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Congress, Vietnam Veterans Dissatisfied With VA’s Unreasonable Allocation of Service-Connected Benefits

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) conducted a hearing to examine the health effects that veterans sustained during the War in Vietnam as a result of being exposed to the toxic dioxin-based concoctions that we now generally refer to as Agent Orange and discuss related legislation. The Committee will also follow-up on the outstanding directive to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (NVVLS).

In 1984, Congress required the VA to conduct the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS), a landmark analysis on the prevalence of psychosocial and physical health problems among Vietnam veterans. In 2000, Congress mandated that the VA conduct a follow-up study, the NVVLS, to reassess the same cohort of veterans and better understand the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cardiovascular disease, general psychiatric syndromes, as well as their health care utilization patterns. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki decided to restart the NVVLS in September 2009, although it seems the project has stalled due to cost concerns and perceived difficulty of administration.

“It is time for VA to return to the forefront of research and public policy – which is why I asked Secretary Shinseki to restart the study,” said Chairman Filner. “In order to better understand the consequences of war, we must increase our knowledge of the Vietnam generation so we can improve care for every American veteran. Findings from the study will inform policy regarding health services, rehabilitation, and compensation – and there is just too much that we still don’t know. I do not understand this level of bureaucratic procrastination in response to collecting data that would inform health providers and lead to effective treatments for affected veterans.”

Some Vietnam veterans returned home only to experience serious illnesses as a result of their exposure to Agent Orange. Dissatisfied with VA’s regulatory interpretation of Congress’ several legislative efforts to provide these veterans with care and benefits for their disabilities, Congress enacted the Agent Orange Act in 1991, which established for the first time a presumption of service-connection for diseases associated with herbicide exposure. Currently there are 14 recognized presumptive service-connected conditions related to herbicide exposure, including the newly added B cell leukemias, Parkinson’s disease, and ischemic heart disease. VA published proposed regulations on these three new presumptions conditions on March 25, 2010.

The overwhelming majority of stakeholders, including DoD, Institute of Medicine, Congress, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, veteran service organizations, and many researchers, conclude that a veteran’s exposure to Agent Orange cannot be properly determined solely based on troop movement. However, currently in its regulations and internal procedural manuals, VA requires a “foot on land” occurrence in Vietnam in order to award service-connected disability compensation, which determines that certain veterans suffering from exposure to Agent Orange are not eligible for VA benefits and related health care. According to VA, this reversal had the effect of excluding more than 800,000 combat Vietnam veterans from presumptive service-connection. Affected veterans have been contesting this regulation since its inception as it represents an abrupt reversal of VA’s previous regulations wherein these veterans were eligible for compensation and also creates an artificial and unprecedented distinction between combat veterans.

Chairman Filner introduced the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 (H.R. 2254) to provide these veterans with benefits based on their exposure to Agent Orange regardless of arbitrary geographic line drawing that imposed by the VA. If enacted, this bill would clarify service in Vietnam to include those who served in the inland waterways, the waters offshore, air space above Vietnam, and on Johnston Island where disposal of Agent Orange occurred after the war. Under H.R. 2254, any veteran awarded the Vietnam Service Medal or the Vietnam Campaign Medal would be entitled to the benefit of Agent Orange presumptions just like other Vietnam era combat veterans. The bipartisan bill has 256 cosponsors.

Filner concluded: “I am convinced that Vietnam veterans are suffering and dying while VA dithers and vacillates. VA should be ashamed of its illogical ‘foot on land requirement’ regulation that unfairly keeps the Blue Water class of veterans from receiving the benefits and treatment that they have earned and deserve. I strongly urge VA to reverse this policy consistent with the Institute of Medicine’s 2008 Update recommendations. VA also should be ashamed of the fact that it has not begun, yet alone completed, the decade-long overdue NVVLS study. We need this information to take better care of these veterans and VA needs to do everything in its power to make sure that it finally gets done. These heroes served bravely and should not have to plead with their government to receive the care and benefits they were promised and that Congress mandated. Vietnam veterans are not looking for sympathy. They are looking for our grateful Nation to fulfill its promises.”

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Obama Signs Caregiver Bill
New law improves care for women veterans and provides unprecedented support for veteran caregivers

Washington, D.C. - House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement in response to President Obama signing S. 1963 into law:

“Today I join the many proud veterans and their families in celebrating the enactment of a new law to provide much needed support for the care network of America’s wounded warriors. Our Nation stands together to honor those who sacrifice by ensuring critical support as they recover from combat injuries. The new law creates an unprecedented support program for veteran caregivers that will provide training, financial assistance, and improved respite service. The new law also improves health care services for America’s women veterans, expands the mental health services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and expands supportive services for homeless veterans.

“President Obama promised a new direction for veterans – and once again lived up to that promise by signing a significant bill into law today. Congress will continue to ensure that the cost of war includes the cost of the warrior by listening to veterans and better understanding the concerns of their families, communities, and advocates. Only together as a Nation are we able to show veterans that we appreciate their courageous sacrifice.”

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Health Care Reform Will Not Jeopardize VA Health Care Services

Washington, D.C. - On Sunday, March 21, 2010, Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, affirmed that current health care reform legislation does not undermine or change the Department of Veterans Affairs mandate to provide comprehensive health care to veterans. He joined House Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO), House Ways & Means Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI), House Education and Labor Chairman George Mill (D-CA), and Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) to make clear that full health coverage from the VA is regarded as having met the individual responsibility requirements in the legislation to maintain quality health coverage. The Chairmen penned a letter to Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) ensuring their commitment to protect the quality health care systems for service members and veterans.

“I firmly believe all of our citizens should have access to health care,” said Filner. “I am proud that Congress has crafted a plan to bring stability and security to Americans who have insurance today, and affordable coverage to those who do not. This plan, however, will not jeopardize the current health care services and benefits provided by VA. We will keep our promise to our Nation’s heroes of the past, present, and future.”

Congress is taking action to reform the current health insurance plan. H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordability Act, and H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, provide all Americans the option of quality affordable healthcare. Among the many quality options individuals have, the bill recognizes the programs that provide health coverage to members of the military, veterans, and their families. The bills intend that all active duty personnel, veterans and their respective families that receive full health coverage from TRICARE and the VA are classified as having met the individual responsibility requirements under the bill to maintain quality health coverage.

“Now that the President and Congress have laid out a strong plan for reforming the current health insurance system, I would like to take the opportunity to remind America’s veterans that the plan will not affect the VA health care system,” said Filner. “I continue to work in concert with leaders in the House of Representatives to ensure that veterans receive the world-class health care services they have so bravely earned.”

Text of the letter follows:

March 21, 2010

Chairwoman Louise Slaughter
Committee on Rules
H-312 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515


Dear Chairwoman Slaughter,

The House Democratic leadership asked our committees to review HR 3590 and HR 4872 to assess the impact of the bills on the health care provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Our reviews of HR 3590 and HR 4872 lead us to believe that the intent of the bills was never to undermine or change the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs operation of their health care programs or interfere with the care that our service members receive under TRICARE. However, we commit to look into the issue further to ensure that no unintended consequences may arise and to take any legislative action that may be necessary.

HR 3590, as drafted, does not specifically mention that TRICARE coverage meets the individual responsibility requirement, but such coverage would satisfy the requirements of this bill. To affirm that this is the case, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed HR 4887, the TRICARE Affirmation Act, which provides assurances to the American people that care provided to those in the military and their families, as well as military retirees under age 65 and their families, would indeed meet the requirement for coverage.

The members of our nation’s military sacrifice much to defend us all. We commit to these dedicated service members and their families as well as our veterans that we will protect the quality healthcare they receive.

Sincerely,

BOB FILNER, Chairman, Committee on Veterans Affairs
IKE SKELTON, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services
GEORGE MILLER, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor
SANDER LEVIN, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means
HENRY WAXMAN, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce

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Committee Passes Innovative Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Homelessness for Veterans

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, March 10, 2010, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs led by Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), approved five bills that would improve benefits and services to veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).


H.R. 4810 - End Veteran Homeless Act of 2010 (Filner)

This bill increases funding to successful programs for homeless veterans, requires each VA medical center that provides supporting housing services to provide housing counselors, requires housing counselors to conduct landlord research, strengthens permanent housing programs, and pays special interest to the needs of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.

"Today, this Committee took decisive action to dramatically alter the outlook for veterans that are currently homeless," said Chairman Filner. "With remarkable leadership from current and former members of this Committee, we passed legislation to arm the VA with better tools to fight and end homelessness. It is unacceptable that even one of our veterans must sleep on the streets or in shelters after risking their lives on behalf of this country and I am proud this Committee continues to fight for each and every veteran."

This bill includes provisions from H.R. 2504 (Teague); H.R. 2559, as amended (Hare); H.R. 2735, as amended (Rodriguez); and H.R. 3906 (Teague).


H.R. 4592 - Energy Jobs for Veterans Act (Teague)

This bill increases job opportunities for veterans by reimbursing energy employers for the cost of providing on-the-job training for veterans in the energy sector. Specifically, the bill creates the pilot "Veterans Energy Related Employment Program" which would award competitive grants to three states that are able to serve a population of eligible veterans, boast a diverse energy industry, and have the ability to carry out such a training program.


H.R. 3976, as amended - The Veterans Employment and Home Preservation Act of 2010 (Perriello)

This bill will increase the number of small businesses that can participate in veteran employment training programs and extends expiring protections that safeguard veteran homeowners from foreclosure immediately following deployment.

The bill includes provisions from H.R. 4079 (Perriello).


H.R. 1879, as amended - National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2010 (Coffman)

This bill provides necessary reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty.


H.R. 4667 - Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010 (Perriello)

This bill increases 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. The bill would go into effect December 1, 2010.

The bills will next be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Committee Supports President’s Robust Budget for Veterans’ in 2011 – and 2012!!

Washington, D.C. - House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement upon submitting the Committee’s Views and Estimates letter to the House Budget Committee:

“Over the past four years, the outlook for veterans’ funding has changed dramatically. Understanding that the cost of war includes the cost of the warrior, Democrats in Congress delivered a 55% increase in veterans’ spending. The funding neglect of the past Administration is gone as new challenges to distribute resources efficiently emerge. Unwilling to accept late budgets, Congress passed an advance appropriations process so the Department of Veterans Affairs has access to stable funding to care for the ongoing medical needs of veterans.

“On February 1, 2010, President Obama submitted the second budget proposal of his Administration, which provides an 8.3% increase for veterans’ medical care. The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs supports the President’s historic budget request, recommends targeted additional investment, and commits to meet the needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ for the coming year. This budget is the first of its kind. It provides funding for the coming fiscal year and the following year, allowing VA to plan medical spending in advance and with assurance of funds. Instead of simply talking about sufficient, timely, and predictable funding for veterans, President Obama delivered and proposed a funding increase for VA medical care for 2012.

“America’s veterans deserve a 21st Century organization that serves their needs, just as they committed to serving the needs of this great Nation. I applaud President Obama for providing a budget proposal that focuses on the issues of homelessness prevention, delivering education benefits, expanding health care access to more veterans, and cleaning up the claims backlog. The House Committee fully supports the President’s $60.3 billion proposal and recommends additional investment in VA infrastructure, oversight, vocational rehabilitation, and research efforts. Americans demand this and our veterans deserve nothing less.”

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Hall Calls For VA and DoD to Better Track Promising Programs VA Fails to Monitor Timelines on Pre-Discharge Claims Processing

Washington, D.C. - On February 24, 2010, John Hall (D-NY), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, conducted a hearing to examine two pre-discharge initiatives, the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) and Quick Start Programs. Both programs were established by the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to streamline service members' transition from active duty to veterans' status.

The Benefits Delivery at Discharge and the Quick Start Programs allow any member of the Armed Forces who has seen active duty, including those in the National Guard or Reserves, to apply for VA disability benefits prior to leaving military service. The BDD program started as a pilot program in 1995 at three Army bases and three VA regional offices. In 1998, the program was fully launched and is now administered by VA in cooperation with DOD to serve thousands of service members stationed throughout the United States and overseas from nearly 150 military installations. Participation in the programs reduces the wait time for receipt of monthly benefits to veterans with service-connected disabilities by offering a single cooperative medical examination prior to leaving military service. This exam meets the requirement of a VA disability rating examination and a military separation examination.

Chairman Hall (D-NY) stated, "Through its disability compensation program, VA pays monthly benefits to veterans with service-connected disabilities. We know the process can be arduous and claims linger while veterans suffer. The BDD and Quick Start programs are mechanisms that if implemented effectively, can help significantly reduce the growing VA backlog of claims for separating or retiring service members. These pre-discharge programs offer a single medical evaluation, a shorter application form, and operate electronically. Without cooperation and better monitoring of these programs, however, we cannot measure the value they add and use the information to form best practices going forward with the claims backlog."

Daniel Bertoni of the Government Accountability Office testified that "although VA awards compensation more quickly under BDD than through its traditional disability claims process, there are gaps in program management, accountability, and access. For example, VA does not track time spent developing a BDD claim prior to the servicemember's discharge and therefore lacks information on how efficiently its personnel are developing BDD claims." In addition, the GAO report cited hindered attendance at Transition Assistance Program (TAP) military briefings that cover the benefits of BDD and the need for improvement in VA's monitoring of BDD operations.

Gerald Manar of Veterans of Foreign Wars shared a number of observations with the BDD program. He said, "VA reports it received 51,000 claims from the BDD and Quick Start claims programs in 2008, up from 47,000 the year before. Further, it reports that nearly 60 percent of those it briefed filed claims." He found the 60 percent figure significant, especially since most will receive compensation at some level. He also noted that VA is briefing about 85,000 service members when more than 100,000 personnel leave active duty and another 100,000 are released from the Reserves and National Guard.

Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Committee Bob Filner (D-CA) said, "The claims process for veterans with service-connected conditions is broken, although the BDD and Quick Start programs offer a glimmer of hope for a new way forward. These programs jumpstart the process to get needed and earned benefits to service members who are preparing to leave the military--and they work. We need to better monitor these programs so we can learn best practices and transfer them to the current backlog affecting veterans waiting for their benefits. Nearly 17 percent of all VA ratings contain errors, and those participating in the BDD are no exception. The quality of disability ratings continues to undermine the entire disability claims process for veterans."

Witness List

Panel 1

• Daniel Bertoni, Director, Education Workforce,
  and Income Security Issues, U.S. Government Accountability Office

• Thomas Tarantino, Director of Government Affairs,
  Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
• Gerald T. Mana, Deputy Director of National Veterans Service,
  Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
• Raymond C. Kelley, National Legislative Director AMVETS
• John L. Wilson, Assistant National Legislative Director Disabled American Veterans

• The Honorable Noel Koch, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense,
  Office of Wounded Warrior, Care and Transition Policy, U.S. Department of Defense
• Diana Rubens, Associate Deputy Undersecretary for Field Operations,
  Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Bradley G. Mayes, Director, Compensation and Pension Service,
  Veterans Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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Obama Budget 2011: Investing in America’s Veterans

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, February 4, 2010, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner conducted a hearing to address the Obama Administration’s budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Under a new law, the Administration is able to request two budgets for the VA: one to provide fiscal 2011 total funding and another to provide fiscal 2012 funding for certain VA medical accounts.

For fiscal year 2011, the Administration has proposed a VA budget of $125 billion, an $11 billion increase from the 2010 enacted budget. The Administration is requesting $51.5 billion in resources for VA medical care, an increase of $4.1 billion over fiscal year 2010 levels. For fiscal year 2012, the Administration has requested a 5 percent increase in funding above the amounts requested for fiscal year 2011.

"After years of working to provide adequate VA budgets, I am pleased that the recommendations of the Independent Budget have been addressed," said Chairman Filner. "I am impressed by this robust budget request and its emphasis on funding many of the priorities of this Committee, including addressing the plague of homelessness, rural health care access, and the mental health care needs of our veterans. This budget addresses the problems faced by our newer veterans while not forgetting the sacrifices and service of veterans from previous conflicts. I am very pleased with the direction taken by President Obama and VA Secretary Shinseki."

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki presented an overview of the 2011 budget for VA and provided detail on key investments in "high priority performance goals," which include reducing the claims backlog, eliminating veteran homelessness, automating the G.I. Bill benefits system, establishing a virtual lifetime electronic record, improving mental health care, and deploying a Veterans Relationship Management System. Secretary Shinseki highlighted specific budget proposals necessary to transform VA into a 21st century organization and provided updates on current projects, including the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and re-engineering the Veterans Benefits Administration into a paperless system.

"Rest assured that this Committee will be working closely with our counterparts in Congress and with the Administration as the process moves forward to ensure that veterans have the medical care resources they need," said Chairman Filner. "Under the Secretary Shinseki’s leadership, we are able to build on the historic past increases in funding and better meet the needs of America’s veterans."

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President Signs Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act

Washington, D.C. - House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) praised President Barack Obama’s signing of H.R. 1377, the Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009. The new law expands veteran eligibility to require the VA to pay for emergency treatment for a non-service connected condition if a third-party is not responsible for paying for the full cost of care. The bill clarifies that the VA only pay the difference between the amounts paid by the third-party and the VA allowable amount, and is not responsible for copayments the veteran owes to the third party.

"Under current law, veterans are not reimbursed for medical costs when they receive emergency care from non-VA medical facilities if they have insurance that pays either full or a portion of the emergency care. This creates an inequity that penalizes veterans with third-party insurance and burdens veterans with paying the remaining amount not covered by insurance. I am pleased that President Obama signed this common sense bill into law in order to clarify the reimbursement responsibilities of the VA, so veterans can focus on their recovery, instead of being overburdened with financial concerns."

In addition to reimbursing veterans for emergency care in the future, the bill allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide retroactive reimbursements for care received prior to the passage of this bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this legislation will cover approximately 700 future claims per year and as many as 2,000 veterans retroactively.

Chairman Filner introduced H.R. 1377 on March 6, 2009, which became Public Law 111-137 on February 1, 2010.

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Congressman Filner Co-Authors SPACE-A Travel Act!

Congressman Bob Filner recently co-authored H.R. 4403, the Securing Patriots Access to Convenient and Economic Air Travel Act (SPACE-A Travel Act).

Currently, military retirees and their dependents can travel on military space available (space-A) flights. However, once the military retiree dies, the surviving spouse and dependents lose access to ride on space-A flights. Additionally, surviving spouses of those service members who are not military retirees, but have died due to a service connected injury or illness, have no access to military space-A flights.

The SPACE-A Travel Act would extend access to space-A travel on military aircraft to un-remarried surviving spouses of retired members of the armed forces and surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected injury or illness. The bill would also extend the benefit to the dependents of these surviving spouses.

"Military families make enormous sacrifices every day to support our troops," said Congressman Filner. "When a veteran passes away, his or her family should not lose the space-A travel benefit that they have earned."

Congressman Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, introduced the SPACE-A Travel Act along with Congressman Tim Walz, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, and Congressman Steve Buyer, Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. The legislation is currently under consideration in the House Armed Services Committee.

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Landmark Legislative Victory for Veterans!
President Signs Bill to Authorize ‘Advance Appropriations’ Process for Veterans Health Care Funding

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, October 22, 2009, President Obama signed H.R. 1016 into law. The bill secures timely funding for veterans’ health care delivered through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced the bill on February 12, 2009 in order to provide Congress greater ability to craft appropriation bills that provide sufficient funding to meet the best estimate of anticipated demand for VA health care services by allowing funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical accounts one year in advance.

Congressman Filner offered the following statement: "Under this new law, Congress will write and approve two budgets for the VA this year: one to provide fiscal 2010 total funding and another to provide fiscal 2011 funding for certain VA medical accounts. Now, veterans’ health care can be funded one year in advance of the regular appropriations process and will not be subject to political or legislative delays. This needed reform of the budget and appropriations process will allow the Department of Veterans Affairs a more effective way to provide the highest quality care earned by men and women who have served in defense of our nation."

H.R. 1016 authorizes Congress to approve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. An advance appropriation provides VA with up to one year in which to plan how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions. Additionally, VA will be required to detail estimates in the budget documents it submits annually to Congress. Each July, the VA will be required to report to Congress if it has the resources it needs for the upcoming fiscal year in order for Congress to address any funding imbalances. This will help to safeguard against the VA facing budget shortfalls such as it faced just a few years ago.

Filner provided the following comment after the signing ceremony: "What a great day for America’s veterans! President Obama signed a law that will secure timely and predictable funding for the veterans health care system. I would like to thank the dedicated veterans advocates for their leadership on this issue. Together, we have worked to craft landmark legislation that will guarantee that our veterans have access to comprehensive, quality health care. Their advocacy efforts were heard by the New Democratic leadership in Congress and supported by the President. I am proud to witness this legislative victory – a historic day where we can stand together united behind a solution to fix VA health care funding once and for all."

President Barack Obama signs the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Oct. 22, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Roundtable on Veterans’ Treatment Courts
Discussion Focuses on Successful Courts Aiming to Leave No Veteran Behind

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, September 16, 2009, Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) led a roundtable discussion on judicial courts that only hear cases involving veterans and provide judges greater latitude in sentencing for non-violent crimes. Modeled after drug and mental health treatment courts, judges are able to order counseling, substance abuse treatment, mentoring, job training, housing assistance, and job placement services as alternatives to incarceration. With both Democratic and Republican Members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee in attendance, participants discussed their efforts to help veterans avoid jail by connecting them to necessary treatment and support.

"Today’s roundtable is intended to open up the broader thought process of how to help veterans fully integrate into society after service in the military," said Chairman Filner. "I believe that we have a social responsibility to help those who have served our nation. We failed our veterans after their service in Vietnam and we cannot fail again. Veterans’ treatment courts provide an opportunity for a more humane response to those that bring the war home with them. We sent these kids to war – and war has affected their mental and psychological condition. Providing support for returning veterans is an obligation we owe to those who have sacrificed so much for our country."

Currently, Veterans’ Treatment Courts operate in New York, Alaska, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, with other states working to establish similar programs. Highlights of the different courts include partnering veterans with mentors who are veterans, appointing public defenders who encourage active veteran participation in the court room, ensuring that veterans get the appointments they need for VA services, and addressing underlying problems like substance use, unemployment and homelessness. Judges relayed that their goal is to run a demanding program that requires personal responsibility and renewed discipline. Defendants are veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, Desert Storm, Vietnam, and even the Korean War. Participants noted that the costs of veterans’ courts are significantly lower than the costs of incarceration.

"These courts save money, but more importantly, they save lives," said Chairman Filner. "Nearly two million veterans have returned from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Often, veterans struggle to adjust to the sudden loss of military camaraderie. Some return with anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or other psychological wounds of war and may self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Others return with physical injuries that require prescription drugs that can lead to addiction. When veterans suffer from substance dependency disease, jobs are lost, marriages tested, and families suffer. Understandably, illegal actions can result in less than honorable discharges from the military – but then these veterans are prevented from accessing the VA services they so obviously need. I applaud the hard work and healing spirit of the experts here today. As veterans graduate from these programs, our grateful nation stands behind them and celebrates their bravery once again."

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House Passes Advance Appropriations for Veterans Health Care in Veterans Funding Bill
Enactment of veterans’ funding bill will amount to a 58% increase in the past 2.5 years under Democratic leadership

Washington, D.C. - House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement upon House passage of H.R. 3082, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill:

"Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3028, a bill to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Year 2010. The bill provides $108.9 billion, the same as the President’s request and $14.5 billion above 2009, for veterans medical care, claims processors, and facility improvements. This is the third budget in a row that exceeds the request of the Independent Budget, which is formulated by a coalition of veterans’ organizations!"

"Unlike any veterans funding bill before it, this legislation provides funding for medical-related accounts for the next fiscal year one year in advance. Responding to 19 late budgets over the course of the last 22 years, this bill delivers adequate and timely funding for veterans’ health care and offers a historic new approach to caring for our veterans."

"To be sure, great strides have been made to increase VA health care funding under the leadership of the New Democratic Congress - $17.7 billion provided over the last two years. Regardless of efforts to provide sufficient resources, veterans’ funding continues to get caught up in the political wrangling of the federal budget process. H.R. 3028 provides $48.2 billion in advance appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 for three medical accounts: medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities. This is an eight percent increase over Fiscal Year 2010 and will allow VA officials to plan spending levels for the coming year, meet the continuing wave of new patients, and maintain operations at VA facilities."

"As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I am committed to assisting the VA in its goal of becoming a model 21st Century organization. I want to thank Chairman Edwards for crafting bipartisan legislation and Chairman Obey for his leadership, as well as their Republican counterparts. The House of Representatives joins the Obama Administration’s commitment to improving health care for all veterans, increasing access to mental health services, addressing and preventing homelessness among veterans, and honoring the veterans of previous generations. President Obama has proven that veterans are a top priority by requesting a record veterans’ budget, and the New Direction Congress has answered."

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House Votes to Strengthen Work Study Program for Returning Veterans

Washington, D.C. - On July 13, 2009, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that the House of Representatives voted to approve two measures concerning veterans.

1) H.R. 1037 – Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 (Herseth Sandlin)

H.R. 1037 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of qualifying veterans' work-study activities and authorizes student veterans to participate in work-study positions in academic departments.

Chairman Filner provided the following statement in support of H.R. 1037: "As a former university professor, I understand the financial hurdles of paying for a college education and strongly support all methods to make education more affordable for our veterans. This legislation provides an additional avenue for a student veteran to help pay for college and places them on par with other students in the same financial situation. Furthermore, these new work-study positions would provide student veterans with much needed job skills they can use in their professional career."

2) H.R. 402 – To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the "William C. Tallent Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic". (Duncan)

H.R. 402 honors William C. Tallent, a veteran who served his country as an infantryman with the 28th Infantry Division in World War II. In December 1944, he was captured and became a prisoner of war after being wounded and missing in action. After four months of captivity, he was successful in escaping enemy hands. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his bravery and service to our country. The bill would designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the "William C. Tallent Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic."

Chairman Filner said, "Naming a VA facility after William C. Tallent is a proper honor for an honorable soldier. While the story of his service in World War II reads like a Hollywood script, his life-long devotion to fellow veterans, humble demeanor, and career as a public servant make him the perfect candidate for the naming of the Veterans Outpatient Clinic in Knoxville."

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Filner Announces Federal, State, Local Partnership Addressing Chronic Homelessness Among Veterans

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, was joined today by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and State Assembly Member Mary Salas, Chair of the California Assembly Veterans Committee, at Operation Stand Down to announce a federal, state, and local partnership to aggressively address chronic homelessness among our veteran population. Operation Stand Down is hosted annually by the Veterans Village of San Diego to provide homeless veterans with food, shelter, and legal and medical services.

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Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Bill to Provide Training and Support for Veteran Caregivers

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, July 15, 2009, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs led by Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), approved four bills that would improve benefits and services to veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

"Today, this Committee passed a slate of bills that will have a significant impact on the lives of veterans when they become law," said Chairman Filner. "I would specifically like to thank the freshman Members of this Committee for their ability to get right to work and address the needs of our Nation’s veterans."

The Committee approved a comprehensive bill to expand necessary life insurance options for veterans and their families, as well as improve medical services at VA hospitals and clinics around the country. Also passed were bills to streamline the process for nonprofit research and education corporations to participate in VA research endeavors, increase the amount available to disabled veterans for structural improvements for their homes, and provide essential support and training to those caring for this Nation’s wounded veterans.

H.R. 3219 – To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to insurance and health care. (Filner)

This comprehensive bill would expand options for veterans and service members to obtain life insurance policies that better fit their needs, and the needs of their families. The bill also improves health services for veterans by increasing participation of physician assistants at the Veterans Health Administration, prohibiting the collection of copayments for certain veterans who are catastrophically disabled, establishing a ‘Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury’, expanding nursing home care for certain veterans, and allowing Medal of Honor recipients to receive a priority status for medical services.

H.R. 3219 includes provisions from eight bills previously approved by Subcommittees of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The bills are H.R. 2774 (Halvorson), H.R. 2379 (Buyer), H.R. 2968, as amended (Kirkpatrick), H.R. 1197 (Mitchell), H.R. 1302 (Hare), H.R. 1335, as amended (Halvorson), H.R. 1546 (McNerney), and H.R. 2926, as amended (Nye).

H.R. 2770, as amended – Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009 (Filner)

This bill would modify and update provisions of law relating to nonprofit research and education corporations so they can better support VA research. Specifically, this bill expands the general authorities on establishing nonprofit research corporations by authorizing the creation of multi-medical center research corporations where two or more VA medical centers share one corporation and improves accountability of the corporations by detailing the audit requirements.

H.R. 1293 – Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 (Buyer)

This bill provides an increase in the amount available to disabled veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services.

H.R. 3155, as amended – Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act (Michaud)

This bill would provide support services to family and non-family caregivers of veterans, including educational sessions on how to be a better caregiver; one-stop access to support services via a dedicated caregiver support Internet website; and information and outreach. The bill would also make counseling and mental health services available to family and non-family caregivers of veterans.

Chairman Filner offered the following support for H.R. 3155: "Today, the Committee passed a vital bill that will provide immediate support for our wounded warriors – by providing support to their caregivers. VA often relies on caregivers to deliver essential health care services and there is no question that they should be appropriately trained and supported. These caregivers provide necessary physical and emotional support to injured and sick veterans as they work towards recovery. I thank Mr. Michaud for his hard work to address the needs of the caregivers who sacrifice so much to attend to the needs of our veterans as they heal from the wounds of war."

The bills will next be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.

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House Approves Filner Amendment to Support Paralympic Program for Injured Vets

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the House of Representatives approved a critical funding increase for a paralympic program for veterans and members of the Armed Services. Hundreds of injured veterans now actively participate in paralympic sports and training programs that enhance their rehabilitation and promote healing from the wounds of war.

Last year, Congress authorized $10 million to fund the Office of National Veterans’ Sports Programs and Special Events to oversee rehabilitative adaptive sports programs for severely injured service members and veterans. The severely injured service members and veterans tend to be traumatic brain injury veterans, amputees, paraplegic, and quadriplegic veterans. Today, the House voted to approve Chairman Filner’s amendment to provide full funding for the program in H.R. 3028, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2010.

"When severely injured military began returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States Olympic Committee began offering Paralympic Military Sports Camps at its training facilities, including the USOC training facility in my district in Chula Vista, California," said Filner. "I strongly believe that providing this dynamic program the needed funding to assist our injured service members and veterans will enrich the quality of life of our severely-injured service members and veterans as they explore new limits."

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Congressman Bob Filner Receives NAACP Military Award

Congressman Bob Filner recently was awarded the Jesse Brown Distinguished Leadership Award at the NAACP Annual Conference and 35th Annual NAACP Armed Services and Veterans Award Ceremony on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 in New York City. The Jesse Brown Distinguished Leadership Award is presented to an American who works diligently to ensure that all veterans are provided the benefits and services they have earned through honorable service to our country.

"I am very pleased to receive the Jesse Brown Distinguished Leadership Award," said Congressman Filner. "I worked with him when he was Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and I was a new Member of the House of Representatives and of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

"He travelled to my Congressional district to meet with veterans, community leaders, and students," Filner continued. "I recall vividly his warmth and caring nature, and the rapport he had with the students and veterans he talked with. I am truly honored to be recognized by the award which bears his name!"

Other awards being presented include the Roy Wilkins Award and the Julius E. Williams Award. The event also honors the United States Marine Corps and the Men and Women of the Department of Defense. 400 conference participants, community leaders, military, and Department of Defense civilians will be attending.

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VA Set for Start of Post-9/11 GI Bill on August 1

Herseth Sandlin Commends VA’s Progress with Setting and Meeting Key Milestones Necessary for Administering New Educational Benefit

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, June 25th, 2009, Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) held the second Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing of the 111th Congress on the long term and short term implementation strategies employed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) for the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill). The hearing provided the VA an opportunity to update the Subcommittee on the development of the information technology (IT) components for the success of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and the progress that has been made towards its implementation.

Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin provided the following statement: "While there was tremendous Congressional support for the passage of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, Congress has an ongoing responsibility to ensure timely and effective implementation. However, since the passage of the bill, concerns have been raised about this very complicated program. I am committed to working with the Administration to ensure that our veterans receive their education benefit in a manner befitting their sacrifice."

There are three phases the VA Office of Information and Technology is using to successfully implement the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Phase 1 was completed on March 9, 2009. It included improving the capability to accept applications for educational benefits and manually store eligibility and entitlement information. Phase 2 will add specific data elements for processing claims and providing tuition payment calculations to veterans. This phase is scheduled to be completed on July 7, 2009. Lastly, Phase 3 will enhance the VA’s capability to determine entitlement amounts and benefit levels for veterans based on years of military service.

Since May 1, 2009, VA has received more than 75,000 applications from veterans for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill education benefit. According to Keith Wilson, the Director of VA’s Office of Education Service, approximately 35,000 of those claims have already been processed by regional processing offices (RPO) located throughout the country. On July 6, 2009, the VA will begin accepting enrollment certifications from school officials and will begin processing claims for payment. The VA has hired and trained approximately 530 temporary claims examiners to help process the large amounts of claims received. In addition, the VA has authorized all RPOs to hire 230 additional claims examiners.

Several outreach methods have been employed to raise awareness about the educational benefits that are available through the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill among the veteran community. The VA mailed approximately 2 million letters to veterans and has also been working with the Department of Defense (DOD) to inform all service members. The most valuable outreach resource is the VA G.I. Bill website, which is currently being redesigned to improve its functionality, navigation, and content delivery. VA also created a G.I. Bill Facebook page and there are plans to conduct a national marketing campaign.

The Yellow Ribbon G.I. Bill Education Enhancement Program assists eligible veterans in covering tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. As a part of the program, schools agree to cover up to 50 percent of the tuition that the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill does not cover. As of June 15, 2009, the VA has approved approximately 2,229 Yellow Ribbon Program agreements. Tuition and fee rates have been posted on the VA G.I. Bill website by August 1, 2009.

Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs commented, "The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill will help make our veterans part of the economic recovery, much like the veterans of World War II. Now, in 2009, this country has come together to fully invest in the future of our heroes and support those who have borne the heaviest burdens of war. Returning veterans have shown their commitment to our country by their service and our grateful nation is set to provide to our most dedicated citizens an opportunity to receive the education and training they missed while serving in the military."

Witness List

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Congressman Filner Urges Commemorative Stamp Creation to Honor Nisei Veterans

Congressman Bob Filner joined his colleagues in urging the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee of the United States Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp honoring Japanese American (Nisei) World War II Veterans.

"Japanese Americans served with distinction and honor in the face of racial discrimination back home," said Filner. "We should commemorate their exceptional contributions to our country."

The proposal before the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee seeks to honor the more than 20,000 Nisei soldiers who enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and collectively earned 21 Medals of Honor, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, 559 Silver Stars, 4,000 bronze stars, nine Presidential Unit Citations, and 9,486 Purple Hearts.

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House Affirms Commitment to Nation’s Veterans, Men and Women in Uniform

Washington, D.C. - On June 8, 2009, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced that H.R. 466 passed the House of Representatives.

H.R. 466 – The Wounded Veteran Job Security Act (Doggett)

H.R. 466 seeks to expand the protections of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to include veterans with service-connected disabilities who seek an excused leave of absence from work to obtain medical attention.

Chairman Filner provided the following statement in support of H.R. 466: "Recognizing the special needs of injured veterans and openness to work with these men and women is a crucial step that allows our veterans the ability to heal and remain gainfully employed. Today we have thousands of business owners who have taken the initiative of providing our injured men and women with workforce protections of seniority, status, retention, and pay as well as other rights and benefits determined by employment. Unfortunately, there is still room for improvement and this bill seeks to bridge that gap. I thank my House colleagues for reaffirming our nation’s commitment to care for our service members, veterans and their dependents by supporting H.R. 466."

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Veterans’ Affairs Committee Passes Historic Bill to Secure Timely Funding for Veterans’ Health Care

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs led by Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced the passage of H.R. 1016, landmark legislation to secure timely funding for veterans’ health care through the ‘advance appropriations’ process.

H.R. 1016 would authorize Congress to approve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. An advance appropriation would provide VA with up to one year in which to plan how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions. Unlike proposals to convert VA health care to a mandatory funding program, an advance appropriation does not create PAYGO concerns since VA health care funding would remain discretionary. Congress employs a PAYGO rule which demands that new proposals must either be budget neutral or offset with savings derived from existing funds.

Reform of the method in which the VA health care system is funded continues to be a top legislative priority for many veteran service organizations. In a letter sent by eleven veteran service organizations, a vote for H.R. 1016 "will be among the most important for veterans and their families that the Committee will take this year." Representatives of these groups offered testimony in support of advance appropriations at a recent Committee hearing which focused on funding the VA of the future. (Testimony available here: HVAC Hearing Information)

H.R. 1016 was amended before the Committee voted to approve the measure. Key changes include requiring the President to submit a request for VA medical care accounts for the "fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted," as part of the annual budget submission. Additionally, VA will be required to detail estimates in the budget documents it submits annually to Congress. Each July, the VA will be required to report to Congress if it has the resources it needs for the upcoming fiscal year in order for Congress to address any funding imbalances. This will help to safeguard against the VA facing budget shortfalls such as it faced just a few years ago.

Chairman Filner offered the following statement: "Today, this Committee approved a historic new approach to providing adequate and timely funding for veterans’ health care. For too many years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has had to make do with insufficient budgets resulting in restricted access for many veterans. Members of the Committee have worked closely with veteran service organizations to respond to years of chronic underfunding and tardy appropriations with this landmark bill to guarantee that our veterans have access to comprehensive, quality health care."

H.R. 1016, as amended – Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 (Filner)
H.R. 1016 would authorize Congress to approve VA medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. The bill provides Congress greater ability and incentive to develop appropriation bills that provide sufficient funding to meet the best estimate of anticipated demand for VA health care services in future years.

The bill will next be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Ending Veterans' Homelessness: House Veterans' Affairs Committee Holds Hearing

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner conducted a hearing to address America’s commitment to end veterans’ homelessness. The hearing focused on four specific programs operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Grant and Per Diem, outreach to veterans, Special Needs Grants, and prevention efforts.

According to recent VA reports, approximately one-third of the adult homeless population served in the Armed Services. Population estimates also suggest that about 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Male and female veterans continue to be over-represented in the general homeless population. Specifically, male veterans were 1.4 times as likely to be homeless as male nonveterans while female veterans were between two and four times as likely to be homeless as their nonveteran female counterparts. Studies have shown an indirect connection between combat exposure and homelessness.

"Most of the VA’s existing programs are targeted to veterans who are currently homeless, by providing employment opportunities and housing assistance to help prevent repeat episodes of homelessness," said Chairman Filner. "There is an urgent and immediate need to address homeless prevention, target high risk veterans with early intervention programs, and provide on-going evaluation and support. We need to strengthen our efforts nationally to prevent our heroes from becoming homeless in the first place."

VA’s largest program involving local communities is the Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program. GPD was authorized in 1992 to provide grants and per diem payments to help public and nonprofit organizations establish and operate supportive transitional housing and service centers. Eligible grantees are those who operate programs with supportive housing (up to 24 months) or service centers which offer such services as case management, education, crisis intervention, counseling, and services targeted towards specialized populations including homeless women veterans. Today, VA partners with more than 500 community organizations and has authorized 15,000 beds through the GPD program.

Witnesses discussed the need to increase the annual authorization for the GPD program in order to increase the number of beds available for veterans as well as to enhance the supportive services offered. Service providers also reported that the current mechanism used to determine the per diem amount is outdated and inequitable. The current per diem rate is $34.40 per veteran per day. This number is significantly insufficient and does not take into account regional cost issues. Also, per diem payments are made months after the services are provided, which creates a financial strain for the non-profit and community organizations providing services.

In the area of prevention, VA works with other Federal agencies to prevent repeat episodes of homelessness. For example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides Section 8 vouchers for homeless veterans with severe psychiatric or substance abuse disorders to rent apartments in the private rental market while the VA medical centers provide case management and clinical services. Since 1992, the HUD VA Supported Housing (HUD VASH) program has received funding for about 1,753 Section 8 vouchers. The Department of Labor also operates the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) to help veterans gain meaningful employment and to help develop a service delivery system to address the problems facing homeless veterans. In 2006, HVRP grantees served a total of 13,346 homeless veterans, of whom 8,713, or 65%, were placed in employment. Finally, the 2009 Appropriations Act provided $10 million for HUD to conduct a demonstration program on preventing homelessness in coordination with the VA and DOL. The demonstration project will provide housing and services to prevent homelessness or reduce the length of time veterans are homeless. Up to three of the pilot sites will have a high number of service members separating from military service and up to four of the sites will be located in rural areas with veterans who served in the National Guard.

Director of the VA Homeless Veterans Program, John Dougherty, offered the following testimony at the hearing regarding efforts to improve the effectiveness of VA’s commitment to end homelessness among America’s veterans: "Last month Secretary Shinseki announced VA will partner with the University of Pennsylvania and the University of South Florida to create the first Center that will give our Department the research capacity to improve our programs and become more effective in the future. The National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans’ primary goal is to develop, promote, and enhance policy, clinical care research, and education to improve homeless services so Veterans may live as independently and self-sufficiently as possible in a community of their choosing… The new Center will allow us to use much of the data systems within VA and across the country to improve VA and community service providers’ effectiveness in reaching out, treating and improving long term discharge outcomes of the Veterans we serve."

Filner concluded: "There remains an unknown number of veterans who are considered near homeless or at risk for homelessness because of poverty and lack of support from family and friends. An increasing number of veterans of Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are falling into this category and we must be vigilant in providing support to this population. I am heartened by President Obama’s zero tolerance policy for homelessness among veterans. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude – and it will take a bold national commitment to make sure that the words ‘homeless’ and ‘veterans’ never appear in the same sentence again."

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At Last! San Diego County Veterans’ Cemetery to Open by Late 2010!

San Diego, CA – Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs has chosen a San Diego firm, Van Dyke Landscape Associates, to design the Miramar Satellite Cemetery. The Cemetery contract for $961,004 includes 11,700 conventional burial sites, 4,900 in-ground sites for cremated remains, and 10,300 niches for cremated remains in a columbarium wall, plus a public assembly area, administrative and maintenance buildings, roads, signs, and landscaping.

"Progress at last!" said Congressman Filner. "We need to move this along as quickly as possible. Veterans’ families should not be required to travel to the Riverside National Cemetery to pay respect to their loved ones."

Congressman Filner was instrumental in bringing about the development of the cemetery annex by working with the other members of the San Diego Congressional Delegation, the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs. A Construction Award is tentatively planned for April 2010 and is expected to take two years with the possibility of an early burial section to open by late 2010.

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Memorial Day: Putting Our Troops and Veterans First

By Congressman Bob Filner

Each year on Memorial Day, Americans come together to remember those who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of our country in the name of freedom and democracy around the world. The debt owed to them is immeasurable. Their sacrifices and those of their military families are freedom’s foundation. Indeed, without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly and live so freely.

On this Memorial Day, we continue to be engaged in hostilities, and young men and women may pay the ultimate price while wearing the uniform of the nation. Let us support and pay tribute to our courageous troops currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe, who are the veterans of tomorrow.

All Americans honor the memory of the more than 4,000 Americans who have died in Iraq and more than 600 who have died in Afghanistan. We will also honor the wounded: more than 31,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and nearly 3,000 in Afghanistan.

As we honor the fallen, we must take this opportunity to renew our efforts to keep our promises to the troops of today and the 24 million American veterans of today and tomorrow.

To honor our troops and veterans during this economic crisis, Congress has enacted and implemented critical measures to expand economic opportunity and relief. Many of our troops have served multiple tours of duty, with great strain on their families and often at a cost to their financial futures. We are now implementing a new Post 9-11 GI Bill to restore a full, four-year college education, to allow up to 2 million warriors of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to be part of a new American economic recovery, just like after World War II. The original GI Bill launched millions of families on a course of prosperity and toward achieving the American Dream and we can do that again with this New GI bill that takes effect in August. Troops and veterans can begin to sign up now. Veterans coming home facing double-digit unemployment, so this Congress has worked for job creation for veterans with incentives for businesses to hire unemployed veterans, while providing nearly 2 million disabled veterans a $250 payment to help make ends meet, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Also, with the strong support of the veterans’ organizations, this Congress has made an unprecedented commitment to veterans’ health care. This year’s veterans’ budget, hailed as a "cause for celebration," provides veterans’ health care and other services the largest funding increase ever requested by a President – even more than veterans’ organizations requested. Not only will this expand mental health screening and treatment, vital to the many veterans suffering from PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, it will end the Bush Administration ban on enrolling modest-income veterans for VA health care and pave the way for sufficient, timely and predictable funding. This year’s veterans’ budget builds on the 40 percent increase for VA since January 2007 – including the largest single increase in the 78-year history of the VA – which has strengthened quality health care for more than 5 million veterans – adding more than 8,000 new doctors and nurses – and has been critical to meeting the needs of the 363,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in need of care over the last two years.

Returning troops need better care to successfully rebuild their lives here at home. In 2007, Congress enacted the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act to address the problems and gaps in care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military health care facilities. This measure is being carried out with the recently announced implementation of electronic health records to give service members a single, accurate, paperless health records to smooth the transition from the Armed Forces to the VA system.

The New Direction Congress is also strengthening our military and addressing the worst military readiness crisis since the Vietnam War. Last year’s bipartisan defense authorization boosted our force strength and bolstered our readiness so we can defend our national interests anywhere around the globe – and we can provide the best training and equipment for the men and women serving in our Armed Forces. Congress is working on a supplemental war funding bill that provides our troops in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan with everything they need, including much needed Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to protect our troops.

Under Democratic leadership, Congress is also keeping our promises to our troops and their families. Last year, we increased military pay by 3.9 percent – more than President Bush’s request; kept health care cost down for military retirees and their families by preventing TRICARE fee increases; and made progress in reducing the backlog and waits for veterans to access earned benefits. This year, we are providing payments for more than 170,000 service members and veterans forced to serve under stop-loss orders since 2001, while investing in building new transition centers for wounded warriors returning from combat, more military child care centers, and better barracks and military family housing. And for the survivors of those who have served our country, we are taking steps to end the Military Families Tax, which reduces survivor benefits for 55,000, mostly widows of those who died from service-connected injuries.

Politics and partisanship should never be a factor in our support for American veterans or troops. On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.

Let us honor their service with actions that fulfill our commitment to our troops, their families, and our veterans – and that are worthy of our grateful nation. We must celebrate, honor, and remember these courageous and faithful men and women by restoring the promise of the GI Bill, strengthening our military, keeping our promises to our troops and families, and improving veterans’ health care. That is our moral obligation as we honor those who have fallen on this Memorial Day.

Congressman Bob Filner
Representative for California’s 51st Congressional District
Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

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House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Holds Roundtable to Address Issues Confronting Women Veterans

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, May 20, 2009, Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, held a roundtable to address and assess the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide the right services to the country’s 1.8 million women veterans. The roundtable format allows participants from veteran service organizations, representatives of the VA, and interested stakeholders to come together to indentify the specific issues facing women veterans.

"Today we are on the forefront of embracing the needs of all veterans – not just the men," said Chairman Filner as he opened the roundtable for discussion. "We know that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have seen the unprecedented call up of the National Guard and Reserve components. Today, women serve in the Guard and Reserve at a rate of over 17 percent which is 3 percent higher than that of the active duty military. We also know that women are serving in combat conditions right alongside their male counterparts, which raises a whole new set of issues for these veterans."

Participants discussed a number of issues that solely affect women or impact female veterans differently than male veterans. Broadly, the need was raised for a coordinated and national effort to provide programs and services for women throughout the VA. Although new services are being developed and implemented, the need is immediate for newly returning female veterans.

Secondly, there was a call for increased training for administrative and medical VA personnel. According to Anuradha K. Bhagwati, Executive Director of Service Women’s Action Network, "Many women veterans receive inferior treatment at hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Attending a VA medical appointment as a women veteran can be a traumatic experience. VA employees sometimes fail to acknowledge the prevalence of servicewomen throughout the armed forces, forcing women to ‘prove’ their veteran status."

Further, Grace After Fire Boardmember Kayla Williams described the misconception that women do not participate in combat, and therefore, are not eligible for service-connected benefits. Ms. Williams said, "Being in combat is linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but since women are supposedly barred from combat, they may face challenges proving that their PTSD is service-connected. One of my closest friends was told by a VA doctor that she could not possibly have PTSD for just this reason: he did not believe that she as a woman could have been in combat. It is vital that all VA employees, particularly health care providers, fully understand that women do see combat in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom so that they can better serve women veterans."

Participants also discussed the prevalence of military sexual trauma and the difficulty women continue to face as they transition from military to civilian life. Women detailed a perceived threat to a successful military career if they report military sexual trauma. They also shared the emotional and bureaucratic difficultly of receiving service-connection for mental health care as a result of the trauma they endured. A 2008 VA study reported that 15% of women in Iraq and Afghanistan experience sexual assault of harassment, which presents not only a retention issue, but clearly undermines the readiness of troops in the field and poses a threat to national security.

Also noted was the need to increasingly represent women in VA research, the reality that many female veterans have families and small children, the fact that many women veterans are married to men in the military, and the difficulty to rely on peer support because there are fewer women that have served in combat than men.

The Chairman referred to H.R. 1211, a bill introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin that would direct the VA to study barriers encountered by women veterans, assess all health care services and programs provided by the VA for women veterans, and provide graduate education, training and certification for mental health professionals who provide counseling, care and services to women veterans suffering from sexual trauma and PTSD, among other things.

"Today’s roundtable brought together experts with a range of different experiences to identify the specific issues facing women veterans," said Chairman Filner. "Now, with this better understanding, it is our job to work to provide better treatment and more accessible services. My hope is that these discussions will lead to bold and bi-partisan legislation that will effectively tackle the needs of our brave and honored women veterans."

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VA Unresponsive to Questions, Needs of Gulf War Veterans

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, the House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, led by Chairman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), conducted the first of a series of hearings on Gulf War Illness research. The hearing provided a review of the history of the research that has been conducted on Gulf War Illness, examined the methodology used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to determine possible exposure to toxins and pesticides, and focused on the ongoing challenges veterans face as a result of their service in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

"It has been almost 19 years since the United States deployed some 700,000 service members to the Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm," said Chairman Mitchell. "When these troops returned home, some reported symptoms that were believed to be related to their service. Still today, these same veterans are looking for answers about proper medical treatment and the benefits that they bravely earned. While we hear about numerous studies and millions of dollars spent on Gulf War Illness research, many questions remain unanswered. Today, we will attempt to establish an understanding of the research that has been conducted – and the actions that have been taken – in relation to Gulf War Illness."

According to Congressional testimony, VA had concerns that returning veterans might have certain unique health problems including respiratory effects from exposure to the intense oil fire smoke even before the 1991 Gulf War cease-fire. During the summer of 1993, U.S. troops’ exposure to chemical warfare (CW) agents first became an issue. The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) concluded that no troops had been exposed for two reasons: there were no forward-deployed CW agent munitions, and plumes of CW agents released from the bombing that destroyed the chemical facilities could not have reached the troops. This conclusion was maintained until June 1996, when DoD publicly acknowledged that U.S. troops had destroyed stockpiles of chemical munitions at Khamisiyah after the war. In 1998, Congress passed legislation, the Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998 and the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, which directed the VA Secretary to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to review and evaluate the available scientific evidence regarding associations between illnesses and exposure to toxic agents, environmental or wartime hazards, or preventive medicines or vaccines to which service members may have been exposed during service in the Persian Gulf during the Persian Gulf War. Congress directed the NAS to identify agents, hazards, medicines, and vaccines to which service members may have been exposed during the Persian Gulf War.

Between January 1, 2000 and September 12, 2006, NAS issued four reports on health effects of various toxins, chemical warfare agents, and insecticides. Each report concluded that the available evidence did not warrant a presumption of service connection for any disease discussed in the report. The fifth report, released October 16, 2006, reviewed published, peer-reviewed scientific and medical literature on long-term health effects from infectious diseases associated with Southwest Asia. VA is currently drafting a proposed rule to establish presumptive service connection for nine infectious diseases discussed in the report and providing guidance regarding long-term health effects associated with those diseases. It was determined, however, that the scientific evidence in the report does not warrant a presumption of service connection for any illnesses caused by these diseases or agents.

Veterans raised a number of concerns at the hearing, mostly based on lack of information, outreach, and resources available from the VA. Veterans reported frustration that there is no formal Gulf War I Registry, no service-connected benefits for maladies, inadequate research to determine the cause of illness, no formal recognition by the VA of Gulf War Illness, and a lack of epidemiological tools in use to further track effects of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.

Recommendations from witnesses included increasing the VA research budget, formal recognition by DoD and VA of Gulf War Illness, access to disability benefits, and an end to the perceived secrecy that surrounds research findings, treatments, and new information. Also discussed was the immediate need to implement an electronic medical health record that fully incorporates the veteran’s military record.

Rick Weidman of Vietnam Veterans of America testified, "VA needs to move quickly to modify the Computerized Patient Records System (CPRS) or VISTA, to incorporate a military history that will include branch of service, periods of service, places assigned and when, military occupational specialties, and notes on what happened to the individual that may be of note. This also needs to be searchable on a nationwide basis, so that if an individual has an unusual medical condition, then the physician can search and find out if others who served in their unit at the same time have the same or similar conditions. This would be an invaluable epidemiologic tool that could/would point VA in the direction of where there needs to be research that is directed where there are obviously problems. You may ask why they never did this before? Well, we have come to the inescapable conclusion that they never did it because they did not want the information. As the cost to make this change to the CPRS is really minimal, we can come up with no other explanation that makes any sense whatsoever."

"If Gulf War veterans have been harmed by their service to their country, we must ensure they are taken care of through presumptive service connection for that illness," said Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. "I support President Obama’s call to develop joint electronic medical records that contain military records. Not only is this information sharing between the DoD and VA imperative to more accurately treat maladies and service connected injuries, it will allow the VA to refocus its efforts and direct care to its wounded warriors. It is time for the VA to compassionately and immediately serve its clients."

Subsequent hearings on this issue will take a multi-level view of the methodology and conclusions of Gulf War Illness research, how the review of information was compiled, and why certain methods were employed.

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House Votes to Thank WWII Service of Merchant Mariners

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, May 12, 2009, Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the United States House of Representatives approved H.R. 23, the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009. The bill would establish a Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund and allow qualifying Merchant Mariners to receive monthly payments of $1,000 out of that fund.

Chairman Filner stated, "I have been fighting for more than a decade to provide Merchant Mariners of WWII the thanks they deserve for their forgotten service – not just in words, but in deeds. This Congress is once again on the precipice of correcting a grave injustice heaped upon the gallant men of the Merchant Marine of World War II. These heroes were not granted veteran status until 40 years after the War. We are here today to rectify the improper denial of G.I. Bill benefits and to find a way to compensate them, more than 60 years later, for their heroic deeds."

H.R. 23, as amended – The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 (Filner)

This bill establishes in the Treasury the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund for payments by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a monthly benefit of $1,000 to each individual who, between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, was a documented member of the U.S. merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service).

The bills will next be considered by the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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Congress Must Act to Restore Earned Benefits to All Vietnam Veterans – Including "Blue Water" Vets!

Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced the introduction of H.R. 2254, a bill to restore equity to all Vietnam veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange.

"We owe it to our veterans to fulfill the promises made to them as a result of their service," said Chairman Filner (D-CA). "If, as a result of service, a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange and it has resulted in failing health, this country has a moral obligation to care for each veteran the way we promised we would. And as a country at war, we must prove that we will be there for all of our veterans, no matter when they serve. The courts have turned their backs on our veterans, but I believe this Congress will not allow our veterans to be cheated of their earned benefits."

H.R. 2254 would clarify the laws related to VA benefits provided to Vietnam War veterans suffering from the ravages of Agent Orange exposure. In order to try to gain a better military vantage point, Agent Orange, which we now know is a highly toxic cocktail of herbicide agents, was widely sprayed for defoliation and crop destruction purposes all over the Vietnam War Battlefield, as well as on borders and other areas of neighboring nations. It was also stored on U.S. vessels and used for vegetation clearing purposes around U.S. bases, landing zones and lines of communication.

Currently, VA requires Vietnam veterans to prove a "foot on land" occurrence in order to qualify for the presumptions of service-connection for herbicide-exposure related illnesses afforded under current law. This issue has been the subject of much litigation and on May 8, 2008, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upheld VA’s overly narrow interpretation and the Supreme Court later denied certiorari essentially affirming this ruling. However, Congress clearly did not intend to exclude these veterans from compensation based on arbitrary geographic line drawing by VA.

H.R. 2254 is intended to clarify the law so that Blue Water veterans and every service member awarded the Vietnam Service medal, or who otherwise deployed to land, sea or air, in the Republic of Vietnam is fully covered by the comprehensive Agent Orange laws Congress passed in 1991. If enacted, this bill will make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War veterans’ claims for service-connected conditions that are linked to toxic exposures during the Vietnam War and that are identified in current law.

Chairman John Hall leads the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over these issues. He stated, "With this legislation, Congress will leave no doubt that the ‘Blue Water Navy’ and all combat veterans of Vietnam are intended to be covered and compensated; thus ensuring that these veterans will receive the disability benefits they earned and deserve for exposure to Agent Orange. This is the cost of war. We asked these brave men and women to fight for us and serve their country, and it is a grave injustice that they have had to wait this long for treatment. We must place care of our soldiers among our top priorities. This applies for all past, present, and future conflicts."

"Time is running out for these veterans," concluded Chairman Filner. "Many are dying from their Agent Orange related diseases, uncompensated for their sacrifice. There is still a chance for America to meet its obligations to these noble veterans. I will work with my Congressional colleagues to provide the earned disability benefits and health care to the thousands of Navy blue water veterans and survivors that earned this care in battle."

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Filner Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bob Filner called on all Americans to join in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which began on May 1.

"This month is a special opportunity to pay tribute to the contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and to address the challenges facing the community," said Congressman Bob Filner.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month falls in May because of key anniversaries in the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that occur in May, including: the arrival in the U.S. of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (May 10, 1869).

"As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this year, and as a historian and the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I call on all Americans to join me in remembering and honoring the Filipino World War II veterans who fought for our freedom, including thousands of fallen heroes who are no longer alive, who were deeply wronged by the United States government," said Congressman Filner.

"Sixty-three years ago, President Truman signed the Rescission Acts which denied the Filipino veterans equal status as American veterans, stripping them of equal recognition, compensation, and benefits," said Filner. "Twelve years ago, I joined Filipino veterans in protest in front of the White House and demanded equitable treatment. Finally, in February 2009, Congress acknowledged Filipino veterans for their steadfast contributions to the successful outcome of World War II and approved compensation to provide the dignity and honor they earned as heroic veterans of the United States."

The 111th Congress has been working to meet the needs of all veterans and our servicemen and women. The budget just adopted provides a much-needed 11.7% increase for veterans’ health care and other services and is designed to ensure that our troops receive the equipment, training, and body armor they need.

"I am honored to salute the more than 53,500 brave AAPI men and women who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 and the 300,000 AAPI veterans who have courageously served our country," Rep. Filner stated. "It is in their name that I will continue to work to ensure that this Congress honors our commitment to our troops and our veterans."

"The AAPI community is one of the fastest growing populations," Filner pointed out. "An estimated 16.2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, representing a diverse community of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, now make their homes in the United States making valuable contributions to every aspect of American life – from business to education to the arts to the military. Their unique contributions enhance the moral fabric and character of our great country."

"Economically, culturally, and politically, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are a vital part of our nation," added Rep. Filner.

Rep. Filner also noted that the 111th Congress is taking key steps to meet the vital concerns of AAPI families across the country.

In this deep recession, a great number of AAPI families, like other American families, are struggling to make ends meet. In February, working with President Obama, the 111th Congress enacted a sweeping, historic Recovery Act to jumpstart the economy. This historic plan creates or saves 3.5 million jobs, makes key investments in health care, energy, and education in order to transform our economy for the 21st century, and begins to rebuild America’s roads, bridges, and waterways. It also cuts the taxes of 95 percent of America’s working families – including millions of AAPI families.

In addition, the Recovery Act has key provisions to help the nation’s small businesses – providing $21 billion in new lending and investment for small businesses and providing $15 billion in tax relief to small businesses. This will aid the 1.1 million AAPI-owned small businesses.

Congress is also working to extend health insurance coverage to more children – recently enacting an historic piece of legislation providing coverage for 11 million children. This bill has particular importance to the AAPI community because 12 percent of AAPI children currently have no health care coverage, compared to 7 percent of white children.

"As we celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the nation, Congress will continue to work with President Obama to revitalize our economy, reform our financial system, change the way we do business in Washington, and restore accountability," concluded Filner. "Together, we must continue to work to make the American dream a reality for all Americans."

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Billing Our Heroes: It’s DOA!

Washington, D.C. – Statement of Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs:

"The Obama Administration’s proposal to charge ‘third-party’ insurance companies for service-connected medical treatment will not be taken up by the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Our budget cannot be balanced on the backs (or legs, or kidneys, or hearts) of our nation’s combat-wounded heroes. We believe we can achieve the Administration’s budget request (the first in history to actually exceed the recommendation of the veterans’ Independent Budget) in other ways."

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Obama Budget 2010: Responding to the Needs of Our Veterans

Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) provided the following statement on President Obama’s Budget Outline for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Year 2010:

"I applaud President Obama’s budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs. After sixteen years on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am very encouraged that this outline is consistent with recommendations made by the veterans’ groups who co-author the Independent Budget. This has never happened in the IB’s 23-year history!"

"This budget request will increase funding for VA by 15% this year and by $25 billion over the next five years, including a proposed $4.9 billion increase for Fiscal Year 2010. After years of funding neglect and budget shortfalls, I commend President Obama on this honest assessment of the funding needs of the VA."

"This budget outline provides a path to restoring and revitalizing the services provided to veterans. For homeless veterans, it means improved support services to combat this national disgrace. For rural veterans, it means increased services and enhanced outreach for mental health care and traumatic brain injuries. For returning veterans, it means timely implementation of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to expand educational entitlements."

"At long last, Congress has received a budget request that will help expand health care to more than 500,000 veterans. We face the very real prospect of more and more of our veterans facing economic hardships and losing access to medical care, but this is a critical investment in meeting their needs. There are too many uninsured veterans who need medical care and cannot afford it and I am extremely pleased that President Obama is committed to restoring health care eligibility for our veterans."

"The service and sacrifice of our veterans is real, and the budget for the VA not only provides realistic funding levels to meet these needs, it also reinforces the sacred trust our nation has with its veterans."

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Finally, Equity for Filipino WWII Veterans!

Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement on the Filipino Veterans provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress and sent to President Obama:

"Sixty-three years ago, President Truman signed the Rescission Acts which denied the Filipino veterans of World War II equal status as American veterans, stripping them of equal recognition, compensation, and benefits. These Filipino soldiers, who swore an oath of allegiance to the United States, fought side-by-side with American soldiers under the American flag. Despite the gallant efforts of the Filipino soldiers during the war, Congress still passed the Rescission Acts, which denied these veterans their rightfully earned respect, benefits, and honor."

"Twelve years ago, I joined Filipino veterans in protest in front of the White House and demanded equitable treatment. Together, we pleaded with America’s leaders to acknowledge the contributions of these veterans, recognize the injustice visited upon them, and act to correct this injustice. Unfortunately, the historical record remained blotted and Filipino veterans were not granted the rights they had earned and deserve."

"Today, I am thrilled that the 111th Congress has resolutely acted to acknowledge the Filipino veterans for their steadfast contributions to the successful outcome of World War II. H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, corrects this long-standing inequity, recognizes their noble service, and provides a one-time payment of $15,000 to Filipino veterans who are American citizens and $9,000 to veterans who are Philippine citizens. This compensation is intended to assist them in their later years and provide the dignity and honor that they earned as heroic veterans of the United States."

"This victory, however, comes with a note of sadness. While approximately 300,000 Filipinos fought under the American flag during World War II, less than 18,000 are alive today to celebrate this vindication. Just two months ago, the Filipino veteran community lost one of their most tireless advocates, Joaquin Tejada. I know that his dedication to this cause was vital and I am certain that his smile continues to shine brightly. I salute these fallen heroes."

"As we celebrate this momentous occasion, I call on all Americans to join me in remembering and honoring the Filipino veterans who fought for our freedom."

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Filner Reintroduces Bill to Honor Our Fallen Heroes from Vietnam!

Congressman Bob Filner has reintroduced legislation to honor the service and sacrifice of many members of the United States Armed Forces who fought in Vietnam, the "In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act" (H.R. 671).

Those so recognized are veterans who died as a result of their service in the Vietnam War but who do not meet the criteria for inclusion on The Wall of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund "In Memory" program raised money to place a plaque near The Wall. The plaque honors "those who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service." No names are on the plaque, but all names are recorded in the "In Memory Book" at a kiosk near The Wall. Families can order a copy of the book.

"Through introduction of this legislation, I hope to further honor our fallen heroes by presenting their families with the "Jesus (Chuchi) Salgado Medal" issued by the Secretary of Defense," said Congressman Filner. "Chuchi Salgado was an outstanding individual who lived in my Congressional district and died after the war as a result of exposure to Agent Orange while serving his country in Vietnam. His family still resides in my community."

"Because of the eligibility restrictions governing which veterans’ names may be placed on The Wall, Chuchi and many, many other Vietnam veterans are not honored in this manner. While we are working on improving care for our newest veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, we must also continue to do right by veterans of Vietnam, along with those of other past wars and conflicts. It is critical that we remember those who fought courageously and sacrificed their lives for our freedom!"

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Filner Pleased with Obama Pick of General Shinseki to Run Troubled VA

House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released this statement following today’s announcement of General Eric Shinseki as nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

"I applaud the nomination of General Shinseki as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. His past leadership as Chief of Staff in the Army coupled with his brave service as a four-star general will bring a new energy to the Department and bring hope to our veterans.

"The stakes are high at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Our veterans need to know that their service to our country is respected and honored. A new basis of stable funding must be developed. The claims backlog must be attacked in a new and dynamic way. And the mental health of our veterans – from every conflict and each generation – must remain a high priority.

"I look forward to working with General Shinseki and the Obama Administration to restore the sacred trust with our nation's veterans and provide the care and benefits our veterans deserve."

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Filner Re-elected Chair of House Vets Committee

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Democratic Caucus voted to re-elect Congressman Bob Filner as Chair of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Filner will serve his second term as Chairman in the upcoming 111th Congress, which begins on January 6, 2009.

Filner commented: "I am grateful to my Democratic colleagues for supporting me as Chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve our nation’s veterans and I appreciate the support of the Caucus."

"We made significant progress in caring for our veterans over the past two years, but much remains to be done. A new basis of stable funding must be developed. The claims backlog must be attacked in a new way. And the mental health of our veterans – both old and new – must remain a high priority."

"I am looking forward to working with a dynamic new Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Obama Administration to achieve these aims."

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Veterans Day: Putting Our Troops & Veterans First

Update By Congressman Bob Filner

Each November, Americans come together to remember our veterans who have served the nation, often at great risk, and those who we have lost for the cause of our freedom. The debt owed to 24 million American veterans is immeasurable. Their sacrifices, and those of our military families, are freedom’s foundation. Indeed, without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and their families, our country would not stand so strong, shine so brightly, and live so freely.

On this Veterans Day, we are a nation waging war on two fronts. Let us support and pay tribute to our courageous troops currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe, who are the veterans of tomorrow. We honor the more than 4,000 Americans who have died in Iraq, as well as the 600 who have died in Afghanistan. We also honor the wounded: more than 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 2,500 in Afghanistan.

To honor our troops and veterans, Congress has enacted a new GI Bill for a full, four-year education, to make the warriors of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan part of a new American economic recovery, just like after World War II. To compete in a global economy and prepare our service members for future success, this action is long past due. Current benefits pay only about 60 percent of a public college education. Many of our troops have served multiple tours of duty, with great strain on their families and often at a cost to their financial futures. The original GI Bill launched millions of families on a course of prosperity – toward achieving the American Dream! – and set the American economy on the right path after a draining war.

With the support of all of the major veterans organizations, the New Direction Congress has made an unprecedented commitment to veterans health care. Last year, we enacted the largest increase in veterans’ health care in our nation’s history, strengthening health care for more than 5 million veterans and adding over $16 billion for veterans’ health care and services over two years. Under Democratic leadership, Congress did more to increase veterans’ funding in the last two years than it did in the last 12 years under Republican leadership. This investment is critical to meeting the needs of the 333,275 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan this year alone and to the estimated 300,000 troops who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from mental health problems and Traumatic Brain Injury. Returning veterans will need better care to successfully rebuild their lives here at home. We also enacted the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act to address the revelations of problems and gaps in care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military health care facilities.

The New Direction Congress is also strengthening our military and addressing the worst U.S. military readiness crisis since the Vietnam War. The bipartisan defense authorization bill will boost our current force strength, greatly improve our military readiness and help ensure that we provide the best training, equipment, and deployment conditions for the men and women serving in our Armed Forces. The bill provides $8.6 billion to address the Army’s equipment reset requirements in FY 2009, $1.8 billion to address the equipment reset needs of the Marine Corps, and $800 million beyond the President’s request for the procurement of critical, high-priority equipment for the National Guard and Reserve, to deal with equipment shortages for active duty troops and the National Guard and Reserve.

Under Democratic leadership, Congress is also keeping our promises to our troops and their families. We increased military pay by 3.9 percent – more than the President’s request; preserved and strengthened health benefits for service members and retirees by preventing TRICARE health care fee increases on our troops; and created new preventative health care initiatives for military families.

In the next Congress, we will redouble our efforts to strengthen our military, support our troops and their families, and provide services to our veterans worthy of their sacrifices and valor. On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. Let it be our pledge as a nation that, when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.

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House Passes Comprehensive Legislative Package to Improve Veterans Care

Written by Imperial Valley News

Washington, DC - On Thursday, Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the House of Representatives approved seven bills that would improve health care delivery and augment services for veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Chairman Filner offered the following statement: "Today, we have considered several comprehensive and bi-partisan bills that go a long way to address the health care needs of our veterans and provide for their necessary and earned benefits. I believe that the tireless work of the members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has provided this Congress with strong legislation which will help to improve the lives of our Nation’s veterans. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate so that we can further increase access and improve health care treatment for our veterans."

The following bills were considered and approved by the House of Representatives:

H.R. 6445, as amended - The Veterans Health Care Policy Enhancement Act of 2008 (Introduced by Representative Cazayoux)
Provisions of this bill include:

• Prohibiting the collection of copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled (Category Group 4) for hospital or nursing home care,
• Removing the requirement for written informed consent for HIV testing among veterans thereby reducing existing barriers to the early diagnosis of HIV infection and would require VA to follow the same standard of HIV care that is recommended to non-VA patients,
• Directing VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain experienced by veterans enrolled for health care services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs,
• Mandating the VA to centralize third party billing functions at consolidated centers, instead of individual VA Medical Centers, and
• Repealing the specification that in order for family members of non-service connected veterans to be eligible for counseling services, the counseling must be essential to permit the discharge of the veteran from the hospital.

• Ensuring that equitable relief is available to all Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) victims when appropriate,
• Protecting the student service member by capping interest at six percent during deployments, require institutes of higher learning to refund tuition and fees for unearned credit, and in addition, guarantee our service members a place when they return to school,
• Providing a service member 13 months to begin paying their student loans after an activation should they decide not to return to school immediately,
• Amending the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to cover service contracts to allow our men and women in uniform with deployment orders to more easily terminate or suspend their service contracts without fee or penalty, and
• Amending the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow a military spouse to claim the same state as the service member in regards to state and property taxes, and voter registration.

• Requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in each contract the Secretary enters for the acquisition of goods and services a provision that requires the contractee to comply with the contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned or controlled by veterans,
• Conducting a five-year pilot project to expand on existing work-study activities for veterans and allow those veterans the option of working in academic departments and student services, and
• Assisting veterans in obtaining meaningful employment after their military service by reimbursing employers to offset their cost of training recently separated service members that could lead to permanent employment.

• Directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits claims processing system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors; and,
• Establishing an Office of Survivors Assistance within the Department.

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Filner Supports Base Construction Funds

Today, Congressman Bob Filner announced that the Fiscal Year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act includes $8,900,000 for construction of a Combined Childcare and Youth Center at the El Centro Naval Base.

The funding will go towards improvements to the existing child care center. According to the Department of Defense, about half of all military families have one or more child below school age, and in many of these families, both parents work.

"When military personnel know their children are getting quality child care, they're more apt to perform better on the job, which augments mission readiness," Filner stated. "We must ensure the needs of military families, including for child care, are given top priority."

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Robert Brady, Bob Filner Condemn VA Limitations on Voter Registration

Written by Imperial Valley News

Washington, DC - On Wednesday, Committee on House Administration Chairman Robert A. Brady and House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake strongly criticizing a Department of Veterans Affairs directive that prohibits voter registration activities at VA facilities. Directive 2008-025 restricts voter registration activities by outside organizations and individuals based upon claims that these activities disrupt normal facility operations.

"It is inconceivable that the Department of Veterans Affairs would restrict non-partisan, non-profit organizations from providing resources and information to assist veterans in registering to vote," said Brady. "The fact that this affects wounded veterans, many of whom risk life and limb defending the freedoms that we all enjoy, is most troubling," he added.

"The right to vote is the foundation for our democracy and this right has been courageously protected by our veterans," said Chairman Filner. "A recent bureaucratic ruling by the VA will not only prohibit voter registration drives on the grounds of VA facilities, but may hinder injured and aging veterans from receiving voter registration services altogether."

The letter calls for the Department of Veterans Affairs to "recognize that promoting civic engagement should not be viewed as a ‘disruption in their operations’ but rather an instrumental component of providing medical and social support services to our veterans."

"By prohibiting non-partisan voter registration drives, the Department is overlooking one of the most effective tools in promoting veterans’ right to vote," the letter states. "Across the country, millions of voters who historically have not participated in elections have been energized to participate this year by new and innovative registration programs, many of which are conducted by non-partisan organizations. Veterans deserve the same registration opportunities as Americans who are not under the care of the Department of Veterans Affairs."

Brady and Filner join a host of other organizations and officials who have criticized the VA’s directive. Most recently, a bi-partisan group of Secretaries of State from more than 20 states issued a letter calling for the VA to reconsider the directive. Under the provisions of the directive, duly elected Secretaries of State and election officials have been curtailed from distributing voter registration materials and instructing veterans on the use of newly-implemented voting machines.

Brady and Filner have encouraged the VA to reexamine its reasoning for prohibiting non-partisan organizations to conduct voter registration drives and to engage in active outreach to state and local election officials. They plan to introduce legislation that requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit States to designate facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs as voter registration agencies under Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act. The proposed legislation also requires designated VA facilities to provide voting information, assist veterans in registering as well as voting and work with election officials to ensure proper delivery of voting materials. Finally, the legislation requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit nonpartisan organizations as well as state election officials to provide voting assistance at VA facilities.

"Our Nation’s veterans have fought to ensure that all Americans have the right to vote and we should be making it easier - not harder - for them to exercise their right to vote," said Chairman Filner.

"By limiting access to voter registration resources and opportunities, the VA is, in effect, disenfranchising wounded veterans who may have no additional recourse," said Brady. "Not only is that a grave disservice to our veterans, but if every reasonable effort is not made to ensure the participation of qualified voters, it diminishes our system as a whole."

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Filner Acts to Restore Earned Benefits to All Vietnam Veterans – Including "Blue Water" Vets!

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, July 23, 2008, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) held a press conference to announce the introduction of H.R. 6562, the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008. The bill restores equity to all Vietnam veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange.

"We owe it to our veterans to fulfill the promises made to them as a result of their service," said Congressman Filner. "If, as a result of service, a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange and that exposure has resulted in failing health, our nation has a moral obligation to care for each veteran the way we promised we would. And as a country at war, we must prove that we will be there for all of our veterans, no matter when they serve. The courts have turned their backs on our veterans, but I believe this Congress will restore their hard earned benefits."

Ron Abrams, Executive Director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, spoke at the press conference and shared the history of disability benefits for blue water veterans. He said, "From 1991 to 2002, the VA granted hundreds, if not thousands of disability claims filed by Navy blue water veterans suffering from one of the many diseases that VA recognizes as related to Agent Orange exposure. These benefits were awarded based on VA rules providing that service in the waters offshore Vietnam qualified the veteran for the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange. In February 2002, VA did an about face and required veterans to have ‘actually served on land within the Republic of Vietnam to qualify for the presumption of exposure to’ Agent Orange. As a result, all pending and new disability claims filed by Navy blue water veterans for an Agent Orange-related disease were denied unless there was proof that that the veteran actually set foot on Vietnamese soil. In addition, the VA began to sever benefits that had been granted to Navy blue water veterans prior to the 2002 change in VA rules."

Rick Weidman serves as the executive director for policy and government affairs of Vietnam Veterans of America. He spoke of the need for proper government funding for research on this issue. "The current administration is not funding any research on the consequence of Agent Orange exposure – not at the VA, not at the Department of Defense, not at the National Institutes of Health, nor at the Environmental Protection Agency. The only unforgivable sin is willful ignorance which results in indifference to suffering. What is happening now is in fact willful ignorance."

The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008 would clarify the laws related to VA benefits provided to Vietnam War veterans suffering from the ravages of Agent Orange exposure. In order to try to gain a better military vantage point, Agent Orange, which we now know is a highly toxic cocktail of herbicide agents, was widely sprayed for defoliation and crop destruction purposes all over the Vietnam War Battlefield, as well as nearby nations. It was also stored on U.S. vessels and used for vegetation clearing purposes around U.S. bases, landing zones and lines of communication.

Currently, VA requires Vietnam veterans to prove "foot on land" in order to qualify for the presumptions of service-connection for herbicide-exposure related illnesses afforded under current law. This issue has been the subject of much litigation and on May 8, 2008, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upheld VA’s overly narrow interpretation. Congress clearly did not intend to exclude these veterans from compensation based on arbitrary geographic line drawing by the VA.

The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008 would ensure that every service member awarded the Vietnam Service medal, or who otherwise deployed to land, sea or air, in the Republic of Vietnam is fully covered by the comprehensive Agent Orange laws Congress passed in 1991. If enacted, this bill will make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War veterans’ claims for service-connected conditions that scientists have conclusively linked to toxic exposures during the Vietnam War and that are identified in current law.

"Time is running out for these veterans," concluded Congressman Filner. "Many are dying from their Agent Orange related diseases, uncompensated for their sacrifice. There is still a chance for America to meet its obligations to these noble veterans. I will work with my Congressional colleagues to provide proper disability benefits and health care to the thousands of Navy blue water veterans and survivors that earned this care in battle."

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Filner Recognizes Contributions of Latino Americans Serving in the Armed Forces

Congressman Bob Filner recently announced his co-sponsorship of H.Con.Res. 253, recognizing the service, courage and patriotism of Americans of Hispanic descent who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces.

"Latino-Americans have stepped up to serve our nation in record numbers, and unfortunately, their contributions have been largely unrecognized in American history," said Congressman Bob Filner. "I am pleased to join other Congressional members in supporting the service of Latinos and recognizing their immense dedication and heroism."

Men and women of Hispanic descent have served in every major military conflict in the history of the United States, and they have been awarded 42 Congressional Medals of Honor for distinguished service, receiving more of these awards than any other ethnic group. There are approximately 1,300,000 living Hispanic veterans in the US, and there are over 210,000 servicemembers of Hispanic descent serving in the United States military (as of August 2006). More than 400 Hispanics have died in Afghanistan and Iraq as of June 2007.

During World War II, Latinos faced segregation in many public institutions, but they continued to serve their country loyally and then returned from the battlefield to dismantle the racial barriers of their time. Over 400,000 Hispanic servicemembers served in the Armed Forces during World War II.

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New G.I. Bill for Nation’s Veterans Becomes Law

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, provided the following statement:

"Today, our country has answered the call of moral obligation and enacted a new law expanding the G.I. Bill to restore education benefits for veterans to World War II levels. This new G.I. Bill will provide the full cost of tuition at four-year colleges to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and also recognizes the sacrifice of our 1.8 million Reserve and National Guard troops by better aligning their educational benefits with their length of service.

"This needed change will help make our veterans part of the economic recovery, much like the veterans of World War II.

"Sixty four years have passed since the enactment of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the landmark legislation commonly known as the G.I. Bill of Rights. Last Congress marked the 20^th anniversary of the Montgomery G.I. Bill, an equally important measure that updated the original G.I. Bill. Now, in 2008, this country has come together to fully invest in the future of our heroes and support those who have borne the heaviest burdens of war.

"My greatest concern is that this benefit does not include a vital part of the original G.I. Bill, the home loan guarantee program. I will continue to work to address the housing concerns that affect the veterans of this great nation.

"I thank my Senate colleagues, particularly Senator Webb and Chairman Akaka, for their good work on this legislation. I thank Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer for their leadership and steadfast support of our nation’s veterans.

"I am committed to working with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to implement this new law and fully restore G.I. Bill education benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans."

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GI Bill for the 21st Century by Congressman Bob Filner

Washington, DC - As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, I am charged with ensuring that our veterans receive the very best care, honor and respect that a grateful Nation can bestow. I am pleased that Congress made good on one of our promises to veterans when we recently passed a GI Bill for the 21st Century. The bill updates veterans’ education benefits to meet current demands. Congress will soon be sending the GI Bill to the White House and President Bush has promised to sign the bill.

The GI Bill for the 21st Century will cover the costs of a four-year college education for the brave men and women returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - on a par with the educational benefits available after World War II. This bill will give our returning troops the tools to succeed after military service, strengthen our economy in the face of increasing global competition, and make military service more attractive as we work to rebuild our military. We owe our veterans a future that is equal to the first-class service that they have given to our country.

The original GI bill sparked economic growth and expansion for a whole generation of Americans. It made a free college education available to more than 15 million war veterans after World War II. The original GI bill paid the full cost of tuition at any public or private college or university. By 1956, about 8 million World War II veterans had taken advantage of the GI bill education and training benefit, including some of our nation’s greatest leaders. According to a congressional study, the original GI bill returned $7 to the economy for every $1 spent.

The GI Bill for the 21st Century will make America’s veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan part of a new American economic recovery. In order to compete in the global market, we must continue to support investments in higher education and job training, and this bill does just that. Educated veterans have higher income levels, which increase our national prosperity.

In recent decades, educational benefits for veterans have not been as expansive as the original GI bill - and no longer fully cover the costs of a four-year college education.

Currently, veterans’ educational benefits are administered under the Montgomery GI Bill - a program designed primarily for peacetime, not wartime, service. Indeed, current educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill pay only about 60 percent of a public college education and 30 percent of a private college education. Furthermore, Reservists and National Guardsmen, who have made an unprecedented commitment with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, get only a fraction of that.

The GI Bill for the 21st Century increases education benefits for all those who have served at least three months on active duty since 9/11. Under the bill, those who have served for three years or more would qualify for the full educational benefit - i.e., the costs of a four-year education up to the level of the most expensive in-state public college. Those who have served between three months and three years of active duty would qualify for a proportion of that full benefit.

Also, for those service members with six years of service, coupled with an additional service agreement of at least four years, the New GI Bill allows them to transfer unused educational benefits to their wives and children. This plan also recognizes the sacrifice of our 1.8 million Reserve and National Guard troops by better aligning their educational benefits with their length of service.

My greatest concern is that this bill does not include a vital part of the original GI bill, the home loan guarantee program. I will continue to work to address the housing concerns that are not addressed in this legislation, and I hope that my colleagues will join me in fulfilling this pledge.

Last year, Congress made the largest increase in veterans’ health care funding in American history, when we increased VA funding by 30 percent, successfully adding $12 billion more than the President’s request and $39 billion more over five years. The new GI Bill is an even larger fiscal commitment to our nation’s veterans - providing a quality educational benefit for those to whom we owe so much.

While we have made much progress, new challenges continue to mount. Tens of thousands of service members are being discharged from the military without adequate diagnosis or treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury. Refusing to face this challenge, leaders at the VA have attempted to manipulate suicide data to portray a lesser problem. In addition, the claims backlog for VA benefits now totals well over 600,000. The VA also failed to protect our veterans when they became more involved with research than providing treatment - When Chantix, an anti-smoking drug, was linked to suicidal thoughts and aggressive and erratic behavior, the VA failed to immediately eliminate their testing of veterans, placing them under increased risk.

It is obvious that our work has just begun, and I will continue to fight to hold the VA accountable for their actions and provide the very best care to our nation’s veterans. I will work to transition the VA from Veterans Adversary to Veterans Advocate!

Congressman Bob Filner
Representative for California’s 51st Congressional District

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Filner Celebrates Grand Opening of New Veterans Clinic

Congressman Bob Filner recently joined Valley Veterans in celebrating the Grand Opening of the new Veterans Clinic in El Centro. Filner has worked tirelessly alongside many veterans’ advocates to create the Valley Clinic, which will significantly improve the medical services available to the County’s veterans. After the Clinic is open, Congressman Filner will continue to monitor the care provided to ensure that the needs of veterans are being met effectively.

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Tax Relief for Military Families - Signed by President Bush

Written by Imperial Valley News

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner today announced that President Bush has signed comprehensive legislation to provide tax relief to military families. The bipartisan Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act (HEART Act) will make permanent essential tax relief for our military families, including tax relief under the Earned Income Tax Credit. The bill also ensures military families receive their recovery rebate checks.

"Our troops are risking their lives thousands of miles from home and many of their families are struggling through tough economic times," said Congressman Filner. "This legislation will help ensure that our troops and their families get a portion of the tax relief they need and deserve, including over one million military families here in California."

The legislation requires that combat pay be treated as earned income for purposes of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). At the end of the year, many soldiers’ families working to enter the middle class will be denied needed tax relief if combat pay is not counted for purposes of receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit. The legislation also ensures military families receive recovery rebate checks that were approved by Congress as part of the bipartisan economic stimulus package. The bill clarifies that a military service member on active duty who files a joint return is eligible for a recovery rebate, even if their spouse does not have a Social Security number.

The HEART Act also helps ensure reservists who are called up for active duty do not suffer a pay cut. A recent Department of Defense survey found that 55 percent of married Guard members and reservists suffer a loss of income when being called to active duty. The HEART Act provides a tax credit of up to $4,000 for small businesses who continue to pay their National Guard and Reserve employees when they are called to active duty.

The HEART Act does not add to the deficit. The legislation closes an egregious tax loophole that allows government contractors, who receive millions or billions in taxpayers’ dollars, to set up sham companies in foreign jurisdictions to avoid paying Social Security and Medicare taxes. The bills also strengthens current law to ensure that high net-worth taxpayers cannot renounce their U.S. citizenship or terminate their U.S. residence in order to avoid U.S. taxes.

"Big corporations should not be able to cheat the tax code while hardworking families play by the rules," said Filner. "Our bill shuts down these unjustifiable loopholes and makes tax relief for our troops a priority."

This new law builds on the progress the New Direction Congress has made on behalf of our troops and veterans. The Democratic-led Congress has enacted the largest increase in funding for veterans’ health care in the VA’s 77-year history – to strengthen care for the 5.7 million patients – including more than 293,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Over Republican objections, the Congress is also fighting to create a new GI Bill to restore full, four-year college education to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, to make them part of the American economic recovery, just as they were after World War II. Last year, we provided a larger military pay increase for our troops, despite Bush Administration opposition.

Approved by a bipartisan majority in the House and Senate, the HEART Act is supported by the American Legion, National Military Family Association, National Association of State Departments of Veterans Affairs, and the Blinded Veterans Association.

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Filner Supports Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Toxins

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, recently announced his co-sponsorship of H.R. 5954, which would provide benefits for veterans with diseases associated with service in the Armed Forces and exposure to biological, chemical, or other toxic agents as part of Project 112 and Project SHAD, an acronym for Shipboard Hazard and Defense.

Project 112 was a comprehensive program initiated in 1962, by the Department of Defense to conduct tests about potential chemical and biological warfare threats to land-based forces. Project SHAD was a similar effort to determine the vulnerability of U.S. warships to attacks with chemical and biological warfare agents.

"Many of the service members who were involved in Project 112 and Project SHAD were unknowingly exposed to serious biological and chemical toxins," stated Congressman Filner. "We must ensure that these individuals receive all the health care and benefits that they deserve."

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VA forms panels to address suicides

By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer Army Times

The Veterans Affairs Department has announced two new panels designed to address the number of suicide attempts among patients under VA care, which is running around 1,000 a month.

House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Bob Filner, D-Calif., immediately criticized VA’s plans, saying panels and studies "are not action."

"We know what needs to be done," Filner said in a statement. "Each and every service member, reservist and Guardsman must be given a thorough and mandatory medical evaluation by competent medical personnel when they separate from military service for PTSD and [traumatic brain injury]. The VA was asked to do this weeks ago."

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Filner Discusses Veterans Legislation with National Leaders

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, recently joined Congressional Leaders to discuss the Congress’ accomplishments on behalf of veterans. Pictured here with Chairman Filner are: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Chairman Chet Edwards, House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee; and many leaders from Veterans Service Organizations.

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Merchant Mariner veterans deserve compensation

By Bruce Coulter/Staff Writer Winchester Star

Winchester, MA - It appears the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is betting many Merchant Marine veterans will not learn of a program that could provide these much forgotten veterans of World War II with a monthly stipend. That’s hardly the way to thank these veterans for their service some 60 years later. In fact, Congress should order the VA to make mariners aware of the benefit.

It’s been more than a year since Rep. Robert Filner, D-Calif., filed H.R. 23, "The Belated Thank You to Merchant Mariners Act of 2007." A companion bill, S. 961, was introduced in the Senate last year by Sen. Benjamin Nelson, D-Neb.

According to the Senate Committee’s Web site, Filner, who chairs the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, testified at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs on May 7, telling committee members that Merchant Mariners who served during WWII suffered the highest casualty rate of any branch of service while delivering troops, tanks, food, fuel and much-needed supplies to every theater of the war.

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Rewarding real heroes

By Kevin Uhrich, Pasadena Weekly

It seems incredible that more than 60 years after World War II there are people still fighting, only now over formal recognition of their efforts in helping defeat Imperial Japanese forces in the Pacific.

But it’s true, and they were some of the world’s toughest and most resourceful warriors — Philippine "irregulars," men and women who bravely served in armed militias and unarmed scout programs alongside American military personnel during those hellish years of occupation.

Today, more than six decades later, there aren’t many of these valiant veterans left — an estimated 12,000 reside in the Philippines and only 6,000 live in this country. And today many of those who are still alive are in their 80s and 90s.

Yet, due to policies shaped by the attitudes of another time, none of these folks have been eligible for basic benefits afforded to all other veterans. And that’s just wrong.

In the US Senate, Hawaii’s Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye, himself a wounded and decorated World War II veteran, introduced the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, which was integrated into Senate Bill 1315 and is now called the Veteran’s Benefits Enhancement Act. The bill passed the full Senate last month.

In the House, San Diego Democratic Congressman Bob Filner, chair of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, has written corresponding legislation that has found its only opposition from Republicans.

"Sixty years of injustice burns in the hearts of these veterans," Filner stated during a hearing in February. "Now in their 80s and 90s, their last wish is the restoration of the honor and dignity due them."

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Congressman Filner Accuses VA of Covering up Veterans' Suicide

San Diego Democrat Bob Filner says the Veterans Administration is criminally negligent in not responding to the high number of veterans killing themselves. Jodi Breisler reports from Capitol Hill.

As Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Filner pressured VA leaders at a contentious Capitol Hill hearing. Statistics show that 18 veterans commit suicide each day. Filner says the VA is not facing up to those numbers.

Filner: People are dying from the non-treatment of the psychological wounds of war. And that's what our VA is supposed to do. If they don't admit the severity of the problem, they're not going to have the resources in place to do the job. I think that's negligence. I think it's criminal negligence.

Filner says mentally ill soldiers are also violent toward others- not just themselves. That could be stopped with better treatment and awareness by the Veterans' agency.

From Capitol News Connection in Washington, I'm Jodi Breisler FOR KPBS News.

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Congressman Filner Awarded the Congressional Medal of Achievement from the Philippines

Congressman Bob Filner recently received the Congressional Medal of Achievement from Antonio Diaz, Chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, House of Representatives of the Philippines.

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Congressman Filner Meets with Veterans Leader, Jim Eblen

Congressman Bob Filner recently met in his Washington, D.C. office with Jim Eblen, National Parliamentarian of San Diego Branch 9, Fleet Reserve Association, to discuss veterans’ issues.

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House Passes Filner Resolution Honoring National Aviation Maintenance Technicians

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed by voice vote Congressman Bob Filner’s resolution, H.Res. 444, supporting the goals and ideals of National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, honoring the invaluable contributions of Charles Edward Taylor, regarded as the father of aviation maintenance, and recognizing the essential role of aviation maintenance technicians in ensuring the safety and security of civil and military aircraft.

"The humble beginnings of the aviation maintenance profession, belies the fact that all of us in the Congress, and our constituents, rely on the work that aviation maintenance technicians do every day. They play an invaluable role not only in ensuring the safety of commercial aircraft, but also in ensuring that our men and women in uniform have safe, reliable planes and helicopters while in combat and training," stated Filner. "Thanks to these dedicated, well-trained professionals, the United States has by-far the safest air transportation system in the world. We owe aircraft mechanics a debt of gratitude for their service to the flying public."

Charles Edward Taylor, who built and maintained the engine that was used to power the Wright brothers’ first controlled aircraft, the "Flyer", was born on May 24, 1868. He is widely regarded as the father of aviation maintenance and was a vital contributor of mechanical skills in the building and maintaining of early Wright brothers engines and airplanes. Taylor also built the wind tunnel used by the Wrights to test models of their designs.

Taylor also became a leading mechanic in the Wright aircraft company after it was formed in 1909. In fact, when Calbraith Perry Rodgers made his famous cross-country trip in a Wright brother’s aircraft, he paid Charles Edward Taylor $70 a week—a large sum at the time—to be his mechanic. Taylor followed the flight by train, making required repairs and preparing the aircraft for the next day's flight throughout the cross-country trip from Long Island to California.

Although Taylor was largely ignored by history, it is important to note that the Wright brothers were very close friends with Taylor, and remained in close contact with him throughout their lives.

Charles Edward Taylor saved enough money from his adventures to buy several hundred acres of farmland near the Salton Sea, located in Filner’s Congressional District. However, the economic climate of the time eventually brought him to poverty; and he died penniless in 1956 at the age of 87. Charles Edward Taylor was buried at the Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation in Burbank, California.

Forty-five U.S. states have already declared May 24th to be Aviation Maintenance Technician Day within their jurisdictions. Filner’s resolution is intended to support these efforts and honor aviation maintenance technicians, including Charles Edward Taylor.

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Filner Backs GI Bill for the 21st Century

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today announced his co-sponsorship of H.R. 5740, bipartisan legislation which would offer the 1.7 million brave men and women who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan educational benefits, on par with those provided to veterans of the World War II era. The legislation will give our returning troops the tools to succeed after military service, make military service more attractive as we work to rebuild our military, and strengthen our sagging economy.

"This new GI Bill for the 21st century is a key step in honoring the service and sacrifice of our troops and restoring the promise of the GI Bill to pay for a full four-year college education," declared Congressman Filner. "Not only will this strengthen our military, it will also make the heroes of Iraq and Afghanistan part of a new American economic recovery—just like after World War II."

Filner added, "My greatest concern is that this bill does not include a vital part of the original bill, the home loan guarantee program. I will continue to work to address the housing concerns that are not addressed in Senator Webb’s bill. In the meantime, I will collaborate with Senator Webb and my colleagues in Congress to move this legislation forward as quickly as possible."

Under the new GI Bill, servicemembers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, who have served 3 years on active duty, would receive benefits to cover the costs of a four-year education up to the level of the most expensive in-state public school, along with a stipend for housing, books and other expenses. Education benefits would be available to troops who have served at least 3 months of active duty service since September 11, 2001, including members of the National Guard and Reserve. Right now, veterans’ education benefits cover only about 60 percent of the cost of a public-school education.

The original GI Bill launched millions of families on a course of prosperity and toward achieving the American Dream—and set the American economy on the right course after a draining war. It made a free college education available to more than 15 million war veterans after World War II. By 1956, about 8 million World War II veterans took advantage the GI Bill education and job training. Every dollar spent on the original GI Bill created a seven-fold return for the economy.

The new GI Bill is broadly supported by all major veterans’ organizations, including the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. The bill has 249 cosponsors in the House (including 71 Republicans) and 58 sponsors in the Senate (including 11 Republicans).

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Filner Moves One Step Closer to Equity for Filipino Veterans

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs recently provided the following statement regarding the U.S. Senate passage of S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007:

"I commend the Senate action to pass S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007. I am grateful to Senator Akaka for his leadership in recognizing Filipino veterans for their contributions to the successful outcome of World War II.

"For more than sixty years, a wrong has existed that must be righted. The Rescission Acts of 1946 took away rightfully earned benefits and the honor and respect due these veterans who served our country.

"It is now up to the House of Representatives to do our part to pass legislation and send to the President for his signature.

"I am hopeful that the 110th Congress will finally correct the grievous injustice inflicted on Filipino veterans."

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House lawmaker favors Senate GI Bill proposal

By Rick Maze - Staff writer NavyTimes.com

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman has taken the unusual position of favoring a Senate bill that would improve GI Bill education benefits over a bill prepared by members of his own committee.

On Thursday, one day after the committee’s economic opportunity panel approved a bipartisan GI Bill improvement package, HR 5684, Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., chairman of the full committee, issued a statement praising the Senate GI Bill plan as "the best blueprint for a new system."

The House bill would increase GI Bill payments to cover the average cost of attending a four-year public college; create a monthly stipend of up to $500; and expand eligibility and the period of time veterans have to use their benefits.

The subcommittee approved HR 5684 by voice vote, with no controversy. Its chief sponsors are Reps. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., chairwoman of the subcommittee, and John Boozman, R-Ark., the ranking minority party member.

As chairman, Filner has the power to decide when and if measures come to a vote before his full committee. It plans to pass several veterans’ benefits bills next week, but HR 5684 is not among them, according to committee aides.

Herseth Sandlin said Wednesday that she had hoped for quick passage of the bill and was working with Boozman on a second measure that would improve reserve education benefits not covered by HR 5684.

Filner said in an interview that he is not trying to undermine his own committee members, but liked the other bill more because it calls for bigger increases and appears to have a better chance of becoming law.

"I think it is the vehicle that has the best opportunity to go the right way," he said.

He also faulted HR 5684 for omitting increases in reserve education benefits that are part of the Senate bill. Reserve programs were left out because the Armed Services Committee, not the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has jurisdiction over the reserve benefits plan.

Herseth Sandlin was not immediately available for additional comment.

The Senate bill backed by Filner is S 22, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. It would offer more generous benefits than the House bill, but has drawn strong opposition from the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Webb’s bill promises to pay full tuition plus a larger stipend that would vary by state.

There are other differences, too. HR 5684 would allow GI Bill benefits to be used to pay off existing student loans, a provision missing from S 22.

However, HR 5684 retains the $1,200 fee to enroll in the GI Bill; S 22 would eliminate that fee.

S 22 has been tied up in the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee since January 2007, when it was first introduced. Webb has collected 57 co-sponsors in hopes of getting the bill passed by the Senate as an attachment to some other legislation, such as the wartime supplemental funding bill that the Senate is expected to consider in May.

A House version of S 22, HR 5740, was referred to Filner’s committee but was set aside in favor of the bipartisan bill that the subcommittee approved Wednesday.

Filner’s statement recognizes the many GI Bill proposals in play, but indicates his preference for S 22, while still holding out hope of improving veterans’ home loan programs as part of the measure.

While Filner’s support of S 22 undercuts the compromise bill passed by his committee’s economic opportunity panel, Filner’s support for S 22 puts him in league with Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman who recently signed on as a co-sponsor of Webb’s bill.

Filner said he would work with Webb and Akaka to get the bill passed.

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House panel votes to expand VA home loans

By Rick Maze - Staff writer NavyTimes.com

A House subcommittee voted April 23 to update the veterans home loan program to expand availability of government-backed mortgages to service members, cut loan fees and stall foreclosure on mortgages for troops returning from deployment.

The House Veterans’ Affairs economic opportunity panel passed two bills — one that would provide increased foreclosure protection, mostly for National Guard and reserve members who have been mobilized, and another that would expand the loan program by:

• Increasing the maximum loan available to $625,500, a 50 percent increase from the current limit of $417,000.
• Setting a flat 1 percent fee for all loans.
• Expanding opportunities to refinance existing loans with Veterans Affairs Department-backed loans.

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Congressman Bob Filner recently recognized the Fund for Veterans’ Education

Congressman Bob Filner recently recognized the Fund for Veterans’ Education (FVE) for their dedication to educational opportunities for veterans. Founded in 2007, FVE will provide need-based scholarships for undergraduate veteran-students from all fifty states, during the 2008 and 2009 academic years. Pictured here with the Congressman are (from left): Evan Aanerud, FVE Scholarship Recipient; Jerome Kohlberg, FVE Founder and Chairman; and Joseph Nannery, FVE Scholarship Recipient.

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Congressman Bob Filner Makes Sense of Valley Veterans Clinic

El Centro, California - Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a contract to Sterling Medical to develop a VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) for veterans in the Imperial Valley.

The new clinic will be located at 1600 South Imperial Drive, El Centro, California 92243, near the El Centro Regional Medical Center. The facility is a currently existing building that will be customized to meet the needs of the new veterans’ clinic. Construction is scheduled to start soon, and the clinic is expected to open this summer!

This move is the culmination of an effort, spearheaded by Congressman Filner, to establish a veterans’ clinic in the Valley. The goal is to significantly improve the medical services available to the County’s veterans. As the planning moves forward, Filner will continue to meet with veterans to assure that their ideas and suggestions are incorporated into the process, so that their healthcare needs will be met when the clinic opens.

Congressman Filner said, "I am extremely pleased to announce that the contract has been signed and the Valley veterans’ clinic will soon be a reality. For too long, veterans, many of whom were wounded and have already sacrificed so much for our Nation, have been forced to travel four hours roundtrip for routine medical care—this is unacceptable! We will open the doors to the clinic in a few months and begin living up to our promises. I will monitor the treatment provided at the clinic to ensure that Valley veterans receive the care that they deserve."

The 2,663 square foot clinic will have two examination rooms, a teleconference room for remote mental health counseling, and a reception and waiting room area. The clinic will offer enhanced services including computer access in the waiting room to My HealtheVet, a computer access website for veterans to search for medical information and refill prescriptions. The clinic will accommodate a full-time physician, registered nurse/care coordinator, licensed vocational nurse, administrative staff support and a part time phlebotomist. Routine lab services will also be available.

Congressman Filner proudly represents over 150,000 constituents in all of the Imperial County. As well as fighting for veterans, he continues to fight to protect the environment, improve education and healthcare for all, and create a vibrant local economy for Imperial Valley residents.

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Valley Veterans Clinic – Coming Soon to a City Near You!

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a contract to Sterling Medical to develop a VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) for veterans in the Imperial Valley.

The new clinic will be located at 1600 South Imperial Drive, El Centro, California 92243, near the El Centro Regional Medical Center. The facility is a currently existing building that will be customized to meet the needs of the new veterans’ clinic. Construction is scheduled to start soon, and the clinic is expected to open this summer!

This move is the culmination of an effort, spearheaded by Congressman Filner, to establish a veterans’ clinic in the Valley. The goal is to significantly improve the medical services available to the County’s veterans. As the planning moves forward, Filner will continue to meet with veterans to assure that their ideas and suggestions are incorporated into the process, so that their healthcare needs will be met when the clinic opens.

Congressman Filner said, "I am extremely pleased to announce that the contract has been signed and the Valley veterans’ clinic will soon be a reality. For too long, veterans, many of whom were wounded and have already sacrificed so much for our Nation, have been forced to travel four hours roundtrip for routine medical care—this is unacceptable! We will open the doors to the clinic in a few months and begin living up to our promises. I will monitor the treatment provided at the clinic to ensure that Valley veterans receive the care that they deserve."

The 2,663 square foot clinic will have two examination rooms, a teleconference room for remote mental health counseling, and a reception and waiting room area. The clinic will offer enhanced services including computer access in the waiting room to My HealtheVet, a computer access website for veterans to search for medical information and refill prescriptions. The clinic will accommodate a full-time physician, registered nurse/care coordinator, licensed vocational nurse, administrative staff support and a part time phlebotomist. Routine lab services will also be available.

Congressman Filner proudly represents over 150,000 constituents in all of the Imperial County. As well as fighting for veterans, he continues to fight to protect the environment, improve education and healthcare for all, and create a vibrant local economy for Imperial Valley residents.

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Filner Recognizes Integration of Armed Forces

On February 14, 2008, Congressman Bob Filner joined 25 of his House colleagues as an original cosponsor of H.Con.Res. 297, legislation recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the integration of the United States Armed Forces.

On July 26, 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which established the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, effectively ordering the integration of the Armed Services.

"The last all-black unit was not eliminated until 1954 and it was not until 1963 that the Defense Department took an active role in elimination of off-base discrimination," stated Congressman Filner. "However, President Truman’s 1948 decision to end segregation in the Armed Forces was a major step forward towards the integration of our society."

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Veterans Group Recognizes Filner as "Legislator of the Year"

Congressman Bob Filner will be formally recognized as the 2007 "Legislator of the Year" by the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO).

Dr. Tom Splitgerber, President of CACVSO, said, "Normally CACVSO honors a California state legislator, but we felt that honoring Congressman Filner was very important because of the work he does on the national level for veterans. In his position as Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he has been influential in supporting troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the general veteran population. We know that advocating for the benefits and healthcare needs of veterans can be a difficult, but Congressman Filner’s support has been unwavering!"

CACVSO is dedicated to ensuring that all veterans "receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled by law and moral obligation." The County Veterans Service Officer is often the first point of contact for veterans and their families seeking benefits, and they provide essential advice and guidance, as they navigate the Department of Veterans’ Affairs claims process. CACVSO also identifies and promotes state and federal policy supportive of veterans’ rights and issues.

Congressman Filner said, "I am extremely honored to receive this award. Advocating for veterans is the most rewarding job that I can think of, as I know that every veteran fought and sacrificed to protect our nation. I will continue to fight to serve the needs of our Nations veterans, and to ensure that they receive the respect, honor and care that they deserve!"

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Largest Increase in Veterans’ Health Care in History Becomes A Reality

Congressional Funding Fulfilling Promises to American Veterans Approved by President

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, hailed the President’s release today of the $3.7 billion in additional veterans funding provided by Congress – to provide the largest single funding increase in the 77-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"With this historic veterans funding, the new Congress has begun to fulfill our promises to honor American veterans with both our words and our deeds," said Congressman Filner. "After years of neglect in Washington during a time of war, the 110th Congress will ensure that our veterans have the resources and benefits they have earned and that VA Clinics and Hospitals perform to the highest standards."

"Americans were shocked to learn one year ago of a crisis in care for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan," said Filner. "America can do better, and this historic funding increase, paired with our Wounded Warriors Act reforms, puts us on the right track for America’s veterans. We are glad that the Bush Administration finally agreed to the critical need for the funding, after dismissing the $3.7 billion that the Democratic-led Congress added to the President’s request for 2008."

With the release of today’s funds, the 110^th Congress has provided an extra $6.7 billion over last year for the largest single funding increase in the 77-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs:

• Strengthening quality health care for 5.8 million patients, including about 263,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, in the 5^th year of the war in Iraq;
• Investing in much-needed maintenance for VA health care facilities and treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury for returning veterans;
• Reducing the backlog of veterans (400,000 claims) waiting for their earned benefits by adding 1,800 claims processors.
• Building on the first steps by this Congress at the beginning of 2007 - increasing veterans’ health care and benefits by $5.2 billion for improved care and shorter waiting lines for veterans waiting 177 days to receive their earned benefits.

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Congressman Bob Filner recently presented Vietnam Veteran, Anthony LaFalce, his Purple Heart Medal

Congressman Bob Filner recently presented Vietnam Veteran, Anthony LaFalce, his Purple Heart Medal. Anthony was previously awarded the Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal in recognition of his honorable service in the United States Army. He had never received his Purple Heart, awarded for combat injuries.

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Filner Introduces Legislative Package to Help Veterans Survive the Subprime Mortgage Crisis

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, recently introduced a pair of bills to address the needs of veterans during the ongoing subprime mortgage market crisis.

"I am very pleased to offer these important pieces of legislation," said Congressman Filner. "The current VA home loan program is irrelevant because fees for the loans are too high and equity requirements are overly restrictive. As a result, veterans are forced to turn to the commercial mortgage market, which is risky and volatile. Loan products in this market offer non-traditional features that have recently led to the rise in delinquency and foreclosures in the subprime market among the veteran population."

H.R. 4884, The Veteran Home Loan Guaranty Improvement Act of 2008, will make home loans more accessible to veterans by easing restrictions on the home loan guaranty programs administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). The bill eliminates the equity requirements for refinancing in response to declining home values which prohibit many veterans from qualifying for the benefit. The bill also reduces the VA guaranteed home loan funding fees to one percent and eliminates the funding fees for veterans seeking to refinance a home loan, among other things.

H.R. 4883 will prohibit foreclosure of property owned by a servicemember for one year following a period of military service.

"For many of our returning servicemembers and veterans, the stress of what they have gone through in war is still prevalent when they return home," continued Congressman Filner. "Unfortunately, for many of these heroes, subprime loans are the only option when they do not have the best credit score, and more often than not, their low credit score is a direct result of their service to our country. These bills protect veterans from predatory lending, increase opportunities for homeownership and provide protection from foreclosure for a whole year after military service. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the new year to address the negative impact the recent subprime foreclosures have had on our veterans and servicemembers."

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More Action Urged on Veteran Suicides

Washington, D.C. – The parents of an Iraq war veteran who committed suicide and members of Congress on Wednesday questioned why there was not a comprehensive tracking system of suicide among veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Mike Bowman of Forreston, Ill., said his son, Spc. Timothy Bowman, 23, was a member of the "unknown fallen" not counted in statistics. His son, a member of the Illinois National Guard, took his own life in 2005 eight months after returning from the war. Bowman said he considered his son a "KBA" -- killed because of action.

"If the veteran suicide rate is not classified as an epidemic that needs immediate and drastic attention, then the American fighting soldier needs someone in Washington who thinks it is," Bowman said.

Bowman was one of several witnesses who testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee on the issue.

Rep. Bob Filner (D-Chula Vista), the committee chairman, questioned why the comprehensive tracking wasn't already being done.

"They don't want to know this, it looks to me," Filner said. "This could be tracked."

Dr. Ira Katz, the deputy chief patient care service officer for mental health at the Department of Veterans Affairs, defended the work being done by his agency to tackle the issue, including a suicide prevention hotline.

"We have a major suicide prevention program, the most comprehensive in the nation," Katz said. He questioned why Filner was focusing on the number of suicides instead of looking at treatment programs started to help prevent suicide.

Awareness of suicide among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans was heightened this year when the Army said its suicide rate in 2006 rose to 17.3 per 100,000 troops -- the highest level in 26 years of record-keeping.

The Department of Veterans Affairs tracks the number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who commit suicide, but only if they had been discharged from the military.

The Pentagon tracks the number of suicides in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Pentagon spokeswoman earlier told the Associated Press that the military did not keep track of whether active-duty troops who took their own lives served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

In an e-mail Wednesday, the same spokeswoman, Cynthia Smith, said, "We track all suicides; I just don't have combat service information readily available."

At least 152 troops have committed suicide in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center, which tracks casualties for the Pentagon.

On Oct. 31, the Associated Press reported that preliminary research from the Department of Veterans Affairs had found that from the start of the war in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001, and the end of 2005, 283 troops who served in the wars who had been discharged from the military had committed suicide.

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Congressman Filner Introduces Bill to Provide Paralympics Programs to Disabled Veterans

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today announced that he has introduced H.R. 4255, the "United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Paralympic Program Act of 2007." This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide grants to the USOC to plan and implement a Paralympic Program for veterans and members of the Armed Services.

"Paralympics, sports for the physically disabled, has origins in World War II when the paralympic movement offered sports as rehabilitation for injured veterans," said Chairman Filner. "The purpose of the program in my bill is to enhance the rehabilitation and quality of life of current severely-injured service members and veterans and to reduce the chance of secondary medical conditions."

The United States Olympic Committee is well-suited to plan and institute a Paralympic Program for our military and veterans. In 1998, Congress passed the "Olympic and Amateur Sports Act Amendments," which charged the USOC with the responsibility of assisting amateur athletic programs and competitions for athletes with disabilities. Since that time, USOC has led resurgence in paralympic sports.

"When severely injured military began returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the USOC began offering Paralympic Military Sports Camps at its training facilities, including at the USOC training facility in my district in Chula Vista, California," said Filner. "To date, more than 1,200 injured veterans have been introduced to paralympic sports as a result of these training programs. But with so many injured, much more needs to be done."

This legislation also requires the VA Secretary to conduct an outreach program to inform all disabled veterans about the existence of the Paralympic Program and to encourage their participation.

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Congressman Bob Filner recently met in his Washington, D.C. office with the new AMVETS National Commander, John P. "JP" Brown

Congressman Bob Filner recently met in his Washington, D.C. office with the new AMVETS National Commander, John P. "JP" Brown, to discuss veterans’ issues pending in Congress.

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Congressman Filner Urges VA to Accept Priority 8 Veterans

Congressman Bob Filner recently co-signed a letter with Congressmen Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and Steve Israel (D-NY) urging President Bush and Secretary Mansfield, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), to lift the freeze on enrolling Priority Group 8 veterans.

Priority Group 8 consists of veterans who are not service-connected for any disability and whose income exceeds the income threshold for VA care (about $27,790 per year for veterans without any dependents). View the income thresholds for VA Healthcare at: VA Income Threshold. On January 17, 2003, the VA suspended new enrollment for veterans assigned to Priority Group 8. Veterans who enrolled in Priority Group 8 before January 17, 2003, remain enrolled and are eligible for the full-range of VA health care benefits.

"This arbitrary policy discriminates against veterans who enrolled with the VA after 2003. They served our Nation honorably and were promised certain benefits, and we must live up to those promises. General George Washington said, and I could not agree more, ‘The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.’ As Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I have dedicated myself to fighting for the justice, honor, and care that our veterans deserve," said Congressman Bob Filner.

A recent study found that the number of uninsured veterans jumped 235,000 between 2000 and 2004, reaching a total of 1.8 million. Because of the freeze on Priority Group 8 enrollment, many veterans are uninsured.

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Congressman Bob Filner Recently Honored the Enduring Service and Dedication of Every Veteran at the LGBT Veterans Banquet

Congressman Bob Filner recently honored the enduring service and dedication of every veteran at the LGBT Veterans Banquet. Pictured here with the Congressman are (from left): Ben Gomez, President of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), San Diego; Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53); Ben Dillingham III, recognized as the 2007 "LGBT Veteran of the Year;" and Bob Lehman, Service-members Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and AVER.

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Congressman Bob Filner Recently Presented the Family of Deceased Vietnam Veteran, Sergeant Rodolfo Rodriguez, With His 16 Military Awards

Congressman Bob Filner recently presented the family of deceased Vietnam Veteran, Sergeant Rodolfo Rodriguez, with his 16 military awards, including a Bronze Star. Pictured here with the Congressman are (from left): Rosie Rodriguez (daughter in law of Sgt. Rodriguez), Maria Rodriguez (wife), and Cesar Rodriguez (son).

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Faster OK Sought for Agent Orange Claims

The chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has a radical idea to cut the huge and seemingly intractable backlog of veterans’ benefits claims.
Read more

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Veterans Recognize Filner as Legislator of the Year for 2007

Congressman Bob Filner was recently recognized as Legislator of the Year for 2007 by the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO).

Dr. Tom Splitgerber, President of CACVSO, said, "Normally CACVSO honors a California state legislator, but we felt that honoring Congressman Filner was very important because of the work he does on the national level for veterans. In his position as Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he has been influential in supporting troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the general veteran population. We know that advocating for the benefits and healthcare needs of veterans can be a difficult, but Congressman Filner’s support has been unwavering!"

CACVSO is dedicated to ensuring that all veterans "receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled by law and moral obligation." The County Veterans Service Officer is often the first point of contact for veterans and their families seeking benefits, and they provide essential advice and guidance, as they navigate the Department of Veterans’ Affairs claims process. CACVSO also identifies and promotes state and federal policy supportive of veterans’ rights and issues.

Congressman Filner said, "I am extremely honored to receive this award. Advocating for veterans is the most rewarding job that I can think of, as I know that every veteran fought and sacrificed to protect our nation. I will continue to fight to serve the needs of our Nations veterans, and to ensure that they receive the respect, honor and care that they deserve!"

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Congressman Filner Introduces Legislation to Increase Military Honors for Veterans’ Funerals

Congressman Bob Filner recently introduced H.R. 3954, "Providing Military Honors For Our Nation’s Heroes Act," a bill that will reimburse expenses for volunteers who provide military funeral honors at veterans’ funerals.

"Thousands of World War II and Korean War veterans die each day, and because so many of our service members are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are simply not enough military honor guards to provide a proper 7 person detail for these funerals. Some families of veterans have had to ‘make do’ with a CD playing taps," said Congressman Filner. "I am saddened by this outrageous situation and determined to provide proper military funeral honors for all families who request them."

The bill will allow reimbursement to volunteers from members of Veterans’ Service Organizations (VSOs) and other organizations approved by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to perform funeral honors. Transportation costs and other expenses, such as cleaning uniforms, incurred in providing funeral honors will be reimbursed. A second change will allow reimbursement to details that are requested by funeral homes and the VA, as well as by the Department of Defense.

"Currently, members of VSOs and other volunteers can assist the military by providing a color guard, pallbearers, a bugler or firing party, but the law does not address ceremonies in which VSOs render honors without military representation. My bill will allow volunteers to be reimbursed even when no active-duty military person is a part of the honor guard," Filner said. "This change will make funeral honors accessible to more service members and their families, and it will help us recognize all service members for their sacrifices and honorable service to our Nation."

In his role as Chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Filner will be working to pass this bill as quickly as possible.

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Congressman Filner Says VA to Select a Veterans’ Healthcare Provider for Imperial Valley

Congressman Bob Filner today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has posted the Request For Proposals For a Site (RFP) for the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Imperial Valley. The clinic will provide healthcare for Valley veterans.

"I promised the veterans of Imperial County that I would find better healthcare for them, and I am pleased to announce that my promise is being fulfilled! The Department of Veterans Affairs has just posted the RFP on the website for the Imperial Valley CBOC," said Congressman Filner. "All interested parties should submit their proposal immediately."

The selection of the site is a two-step process. First, proposed sites are evaluated to determine the ones that are suitable. For example, sites that are too small or too far from mass transportation will be eliminated. The second step involves determining which of the actual proposals by the accepted sites would be the best provider of veterans’ healthcare.

"Right now, veterans living in Imperial Valley are asked to travel to San Diego for healthcare. I look forward to the day in the not-too-distant future when Valley veterans are served in the Valley!" concluded Filner.

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Congressman Filner Meets with Philippine Leadership

Congressman Bob Filner recently met with (from left) Mayor General Delfin Lorenzana (Ret.), Head of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the Philippine Embassy; Dr. Alberto Romulo, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs; and Willy Gaa, Philippine Ambassador to the United States to discuss the progress of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.

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Congressman Filner Accepts Congratulatory Letter from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Congressman Bob Filner (San Diego, CA) receives a congratulatory letter from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Alberto Romulo, for his work on the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.

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Congressman Filner Named ‘Legislator of the Year’ by California Department of the American Legion

Congressman Bob Filner was recently named "Legislator of the Year" by the California Department of the American Legion. Pictured with Congressman Filner (from left) are Harry Johnson of Borrego Springs; Leo Burke, Chairman of the Governor's Commission on Veterans Home; Floyd Martin, Amador County Veterans Service Officer; and Alan Lennox, President of American Legion Ambulance.

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Congressman Filner Announces Victory for Deceased POWs

Congressman Bob Filner’s bill, Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War, to present a posthumous Purple Heart to the families of POWs who had previously been overlooked, has been approved for implementation by the United States Department of Defense (DoD).

Currently, only POWs who die during their imprisonment, of wounds inflicted by an instrument of war, are eligible for posthumous Purple Heart recognition. Those who die of starvation, disease, abuse or other causes while imprisoned are not eligible. Congressman Filner’s bill corrects this injustice. "This distinction is arbitrary, and it does not make any sense. Every soldier who dies while imprisoned by an enemy of war should be recognized and honored!" said Congressman Filner.

His bill was included as a section in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2007, which passed in October of 2006 and directed the President and the DoD to review the criteria used to determine eligibility for the award of the Purple Heart for POWs. The review has been completed, and the report has been released to Chairman Ike Skelton of the House Armed Services Committee and to Chairman Carl Levin of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"The report says that changing the eligibility criteria for the Purple Heart has merit for POWs who die while in captivity and who are eligible for the Prisoner-of-War Medal, which includes virtually all POWs," said Congressman Filner.

Senator Barbara Boxer introduced the companion bill in the Senate. The inspiration for the bill came from Wilbert "Shorty" Estabrook of Selma, Texas, who was imprisoned during the Korean War for over three years, and Rick and Brenda Tavares of Campo, California. Brenda’s uncle, Corporal Melvin Morgan, died of starvation and beatings in 1950 at the age of 20 in Korea.

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Filner Co-sponsors Legislation Honoring Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Borinqueneers

Today, Congressman Bob Filner announced his co-sponsoring of H.Res. 443, recognizing the service of the 65th Infantry Borinqueneers during the Korean War, honoring the people of Puerto Rico who continue to serve and volunteer for service in the Armed Forces and make sacrifices for our country, and commending all efforts to promote and preserve the history of the 65th Infantry Borinqueneers.

"As Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I believe we have an obligation to support and honor all the men and women who serve in our armed forces," stated Filner. "As citizens of the United States, Puerto Ricans have participated in every major U.S. military conflict, since World War I, and they should be recognized accordingly."

Over 1,200 Puerto Ricans have died while serving the United States. Their names are inscribed on "El Monumento de la Recordacion" (Monument of Remembrance) in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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Chairman Filner Fights for Funding For Veterans' Health Care

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans' Affairs Committee, has become an original co-sponsor of the "Assured Funding for Veterans' Health Care Act" (H.R. 2314), legislation that was recently introduced by Congressman Phil Hare.

This bill will assure that there is enough funding for the nation's veterans who receive their health care at the hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other medical facilities of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). Funding will be based on the number of veterans to be served and on inflation, not on an arbitrary amount that is set by Congress each year.

"This landmark legislation will avoid budget shortfalls and will provide real resources to meet real needs," said Congressman Filner. "As unbelievable as it seems, the VA ran out of health care money for the past two years and had to request emergency funds from Congress to cover a $2 billion 2006 shortfall and a $1 billion 2005 shortfall, just to keep the doors open!"

AMVETS, the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, four of the largest veterans' service organizations in the nation, have made assured funding their top legislative priority and endorse this bill.

"Assured funding is the way that VA compensation is funded. It is past time for us to be able to say to our veterans, 'you have earned health care by your service to our nation, and when you need health care, it will be there for you!'" concluded Filner.

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Congressman Filner Requests Congressional Hearing On Dismissals Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy

Congressman Bob Filner today announced his outrage over the recent dismissals of three more Arab linguist service-members, two Navy and one Army, under the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, bringing the total of these dismissals to 58.

"Arab linguists are crucial to our efforts in the Middle East, in Iraq, and around the world," said Congressman Filner. "The dismissal of 58 linguists is a serious national security threat. I am requesting that the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee hold a Congressional hearing on the continuing dismissals under the so-called 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy."

A letter, signed by 43 Congressional Representatives, addressed to the Chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee requesting a hearing, states: "A number of government reports have documented our dire need for Arabic language expertise. It is widely known that cables sat un-translated on September 10, 2001, in part because of the shortage of Arabic language experts in the government...We are deeply concerned that the continued firing of capable, highly skilled Arabic linguists is compromising our national security during time of war."

"I believe it is essential that Congress review this application of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, to determine if it is serving the nation well. I will push for a Congressional hearing to be held as soon as possible," said Filner.

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Awards for Veteran-Friendly Employers By Congressman Bob Filner

Congratulations to the City of Calexico and the El Centro Regional Medical Center for their recognition as "Employers of the Year," an award given by the Veterans Employment Committee of Imperial Valley and the State Employment Development Department (EDD) during Veteran Appreciation Month.

The City of Calexico and the El Centro Regional Medical Center have been honored for their policies that promote the hiring of veterans. Because some veterans have difficulty in securing employment, EDD and the IV Veterans Employment Committee promote awareness and interest in hiring veterans by annually selecting outstanding employers out of a number nominated for this honor. EDD works to ensure that veterans receive the benefits they are entitled to and locates jobs for both men and women veterans through outreach to organized labor, veterans' organizations, community partners, government leaders, and local employers. Norma Kaster Jauregui, manager of the El Centro EDD office, has been quoted as believing that "no matter what the job, there are veterans who can do it, and EDD can help employers find them." She urges local veterans and local employers "to stop by the EDD office or use the Internet to learn more about these services and programs." The address is www.edd.ca.gov.

As the Chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am proud of the City of Calexico and the El Centro Regional Medical Center. What more important work is there than assisting our nation's veterans, men and women who have volunteered to serve our country?

On the national level, I am urging the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to improve coordination and to provide what we call a "seamless transition" from military to civilian life. In addition, a Department of Labor program, the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), helps service members during their transition to civilian life by offering job search assistance and explanations of their rights and benefits.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA) can provide peace of mind for service members regarding their return to their jobs. If service members leave their civilian jobs for active duty, the jobs in virtually all public and private employers must be waiting for them when they return, with no demotions or firings. Also, the GI Bill of Rights, a program established after World War II, provides educational benefits for veterans in the form of a monthly check that can be used for tuition, books, fees and living expenses while earning a college or graduate degree or attending a trade school.

Yes, many people and programs are working at the local, state and national levels to ensure that our veterans receive the employment opportunities they deserve. As our troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan, it is imperative that we do all we can to help them transition to civilian life! Again, I express my thanks and appreciation to the honorees, the City of Calexico and the El Centro Regional Medical Center, and to EDD and the IV Veterans' Employment Committee, for their outstanding efforts on behalf of the veterans living and working in the Congressional District I serve.

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Congressman Bob Filner Announces Passage of the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act Ensuring Troops Experience the Seamless Transition They Deserve

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, announced the House passed H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act of 2007. This legislation is a cooperative effort between the House Armed Services Committee and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee to address the problems facing wounded service members and to improve their transition from the military to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Our test as a Congress and as a nation is how we are going to respond to the problems we have learned about in military and veterans' health care," said Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Bob Filner (D-CA). "The Wounded Warriors Assistance Act is a great first step towards providing a 'seamless transition' between active duty and veterans' status: one physical evaluation for both exit (from active duty) and entrance (to VA system) and one system for electronic health care records."

The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act provides the people, training, and oversight mechanisms needed to ensure that our wounded warriors feel secure that they will always receive committed quality care and that the system will not fail them. The legislation also sets the stage for much needed reform of administrative processes that will restore member confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the disability evaluation system and begin the process of achieving a truly seamless transition of service members to the Department of Veterans Affairs programs.

"The House Armed Services Committee has worked closely with the House Veterans' Affairs Committee to develop this legislation, and I am grateful that this cooperation allowed us to bring this bill before the House so quickly," said Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Ike Skelton (D-MO). "House approval of the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act is an important first step, but more work will need to be done. In the days ahead, both of our committees will have the opportunity to take a more comprehensive look at the challenges service members and their families face during recovery."

The text of the legislation can be found here.

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