DAMA Bill Hearing
June 06, 2012
STATEMENT OF
RAYMOND C.
KELLEY, DIRECTOR
NATIONAL
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES
BEFORE THE
VETERANS’
AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE
ON DISABILITY
ASSISTANCE AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WITH RESPECT TO
H.R. 2355, H.R. 2996, H.R. 4299, H.R.
5735, H.R. 5880, H.R. 5881 and H.R. 2720
WASHINGTON,
D.C.
MR.
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE:
On behalf of the more
than 2 million men and women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States (VFW) and our Auxiliaries, I would like to thank you for the opportunity
to testify on today’s pending legislation.
H.R. 2355, Hallowed
Grounds Act:
In
1997, Congress recognized that veterans convicted of the most violent of crimes
should lose their right to interment in national cemeteries. The logic was capital
crime cases should trump veterans’ burial benefits that were granted to them
for their service to our nation. Burial in a national cemetery is a privilege -
a place where service and sacrifice can be honored by the American public on
scared ground. The most violent and reprehensible crimes break faith with
society and our service members and veterans who have been laid to rest in our national
cemeteries. That is why the VFW agrees with denying burial to veterans
convicted of capital crimes. It is also our belief that the most predatory and
violent sex offenses should be added to the list of crimes that preclude
veterans from interment. The VFW fully supports H.R. 2355, which will exclude
tier III sex offenders from burial in our veterans’ cemeteries.
H.R. 2996, Gulf
War Syndrome “Presumptive Illness” Extension Act of 2011:
Despite
decades of research into the causes of Gulf War Illness, we do not yet have
definitive answers on the cause or causes of these conditions. Though some encouraging research is showing
signs of hope, it is imperative that treatment for the men and women with
illnesses related to their Gulf War service continue without interruption. Even as we make investments in medical
research to improve our diagnoses and treatment options as we move forward, we
have to do all we can to care for these men and women using the best options
currently available.
This
legislation also provides presumption for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom,
Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn who may be struggling with
conditions that VA cannot diagnose – a provision that VFW strongly supports. Granting
presumption for undiagnosed illnesses is critically important to ensuring that
these veterans receive the care they have earned, while science catches up with
these illnesses. We hope the committee will pass this bill without delay.
H.R. 4299,Quality Housing for Veterans Act:
The
VFW supports the reauthorization of this critical benefit. Through VA’s
adaptive housing grant program, hundreds of our most severely injured veterans
have been given an opportunity to ease back into civilian life, while gaining
some sense of independence as they recuperate under the care of a family member
without making them choose between current and future needs. With the ongoing
war, it is important to continue providing a benefit that significantly
improves the lives of our severely injured veterans. By extending the grant program through
December 31, 2014, you will increase the flexibility of the benefit while
making a difference in the quality of life for many disabled veterans and their
families.
H.R. 5735, providing
for the establishment of a Tomb of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery:
The
VFW supports H.R. 5735, which would ensure fragmented remains of American
service members killed in Iraq, Afghanistan or any subsequent conflict will be
treated with the dignity and honor worthy of their sacrifices. The VFW was an
outspoken critic on the issue of improper remains disposal from Dover Air Base
last year, which is why we will work to ensure that our fallen heroes’ remains
are properly handled when either fragments cannot be identified through DNA
testing, when remains go unclaimed, or when grieving families request “No
Further Pursuit” after burying their loved ones. Never again should a family be
left to wonder whether their fallen hero’s remains ended up in a landfill. We
as a nation owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who lay down their
lives in defense of our nation, and we know this bill will set a new standard
for honoring the sacrifices of the fallen by memorializing these brave men and
women on the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
H.R. 5880,
Veterans Disability Examination Access Improvement Act:
In
2003, Congress gave VA the authority to contract with non-VA doctors to perform
disability examinations. The authority was extended again in 2009. This has
been a useful tool for VA to provide timely evaluation exams without taking VA
doctors away from direct patient care. In December of this year this authority
will expire. Allowing this provision to end would put added strain on VA’s
medical staff and reduce accessibility for our veterans. The VFW strongly
supports this legislation and asks for its quick passage.
H.R. 5881,
Access to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act:
The
VFW cautiously supports this legislative proposal, which would grant certain
congressional staff members and local governmental agency employees access to VA’s
case-tracking information. However, we have some concerns. There is no
provision that will ensure these employees are properly trained in privacy
issues, nor is there any oversight or reporting back to VA on who has access
and what prompted the employee to look into a particular case. This provision
will greatly improve the responsiveness to veterans’ requests and it should be
pursued, but assurances must be made to protect privacy and limit searches to
only those who make formal requests.
Also,
state and county service officers currently have access to case-tracking
information by virtue of a power of attorney (POA). The VFW believes it would
be wise to continue to limit these employees’ access to only veterans for whom
they hold a POA. Again, case-tracking information is private information and
every effort should be made to protect that privacy.
H.R. 2720, to clarify the role of the Department
of Veterans Affairs in providing a benefit or service related to the interment
or funeral of a veteran, and for other purposes:
The VFW supports the intent of H.R. 2720. It will provide
clarity for both National Cemetery Administration (NCA) staff, and families and
estates of deceased veterans on what is statutorily available and allowable at
NCA funerals, memorial services and ceremonies. This legislation will give
clear guidelines for VA employees to follow and provide peace-of-mind for
veterans’ families who are planning funeral arrangements.
The VFW agrees that every effort and preference should be made
to ensure VA cemetery directors are veterans, but requiring veteran status to
fill vacancies could keep VA from filling positions, which could have a greater
adverse effect on cemetery operations than hiring a non-veteran.
Mr.
Chairman, this concludes my testimony and I will be happy to answer any
question you, or the Committee may have.
Information
Required by Rule XI2(g)(4) of the House of Representatives
Pursuant
to Rule XI2(g)(4) of the House of Representatives, VFW has not received any
federal grants in Fiscal Year 2012, nor has it received any federal grants in
the two previous Fiscal Years.
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