News From the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs News:

• Press Release published on: February 12, 2009LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO SECURE TIMELY FUNDING FOR VETERANS’ HEALTH CARE
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, was joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in reintroducing legislation today to secure timely funding for veterans’ health care through the advance appropriations process. Chairman Akaka joined House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA), other members of Congress, leaders from military and veteran organizations, and a former VA executive in calling for prompt consideration of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009.
• Press Release published on: February 11, 2009 AKAKA INTRODUCES VETERANS’ EMERGENCY CARE FAIRNESS BILL
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced the Veterans’ Emergency Fairness Act of 2009. This bill would enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse veterans enrolled with VA for the remaining costs of emergency treatment received outside of VA’s health care system if the veteran has outside insurance that only covers part of the cost.
• Press Release published on: February 11, 2009AKAKA & BURR CALL FOR PROMPT TOP LEVEL DOD/VA MEETING ON SOLDIER SUICIDES
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, and Senator Richard M. Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called on the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the current acting Co-Chairmen of the DoD/VA Senior Oversight Committee (SOC), to convene a meeting to address the alarming rise in soldier suicides.
• Press Release published on: February 11, 2009AKAKA CHAIRS HEARING ON IMPROVING THE APPEALS PROCESS FOR VETERANS’ DISABILITY CLAIMS
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, held a hearing today on improving the appeals process of the veterans’ disability compensation system.
• Press Release published on: February 11, 2009AKAKA INTRODUCES COST-OF-LIVING-INCREASE FOR DISABLED VETERANS WITH UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE SUPPORT
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced legislation yesterday to increase veterans’ compensation through a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).