NewsBytes June 11, 2021
In this issue:
HVAC Discusses VA FY 2022 Budget
Comprehensive Toxic Exposure Bill Introduced in House
SVAC Looks at VA Infrastructure
VA Acting Undersecretary for Health Resigns
HVAC Discusses VA FY 2022 Budget
The House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on the Biden Administration's proposed FY 2022 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Administration has requested a 10 percent increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The budget increase focuses on suicide prevention, eliminating veteran homelessness, implementation of the Mission Act (Caregiver program and community care) and the Deborah Sampson Act (women veterans). The proposed budget increases VA staff by 429 to process claims to decrease the disability claims backlog that has been exasperated by Agent Orange Bluewater claims and the expected increase in toxic exposure claims.
It was noted that VA community care visits have increased by 31 percent and had been as high as 39 percent in March. The newly appointed VA Secretary Dennis McDonough expressed concern that adding hypertension to Agent Orange presumptions would be costly and could overwhelm the disability claims system. The budget calls for additional resources for the veteran's crisis line and it was noted that VA was overdue in providing Congress with a report on the effectiveness of the crisis line. There was also a lengthy discussion on the importance of implementing the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
.jpg)
Comprehensive Toxic Exposure Bill Introduced in House
House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (CA) has introduced the "Honoring Our PACT Act". This legislation would allow for the first time all veterans who were at risk of toxic exposure, including 3.5 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, to obtain immediate and lifelong access to health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-one of the largest expansions of health care eligibility in the VA's history. The bill would provide presumptive care for numerous conditions for veterans sickened by exposure to burn pits and other toxins. It would also establish a new science-based and veteran-focused process for the establishment of new presumptive conditions and would provide benefits to thousands of toxic exposure veterans who have been long-ignored or forgotten, including Agent Orange veterans suffering from hypertension.
Our nation has a solemn duty to care for those suffering long-term, negative health effects from toxic exposures during their military service. The legislation addresses these issues and sets a path forward to ensure that we will never again leave our service members to fight these battles on their own.
The legislation is similar to the "Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops (COST) of War Act" introduced in the Senate. Members are strongly urged to go to the FRA Action Center to weigh in on this issue at: Action Center.
SVAC Looks at VA Infrastructure
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing to discuss challenges to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ability to maintain and build new infrastructure, steps to strengthen VA operations, and potential Congressional action to improve the agency's infrastructure. At the hearing, SVAC Chairman Jon Tester (Mt.) stressed that VA infrastructure improvements are a bi-partisan issue. The VA is the nation's largest healthcare system with more than 1700 healthcare facilities that average 60 years old. Witnesses included representatives from VA's Office of Asset Enterprise Management, Government Accountability Office, and Kaiser Permanente.
VA Acting Undersecretary for Health Resigns
Dr. Richard Stone (Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen.) announced he is stepping down as Under Secretary for Health for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The commission to select the next Under Secretary for Health (VHA) met a few months ago and he was recently informed that he will not be nominated for this position. He led the VHA for nearly three years, leading, as both Executive in Charge and Acting Under Secretary. Currently a practicing dermatologist, he has several awards and honors to his credit, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, and was a member of the Department of Defense Recovering Warrior Task Force from 2011 - 2015.
NewsBytes is FRA's weekly legislative update. If you received this through a forward and would like to subscribe, please e-mail us and include your name and contact information in the body of e-mail. If you are a member of FRA or LA FRA, please include your member number.
Follow FRA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FRAHQ); Follow FRA on Instagram (www.instagram.com/fra_hq) and "like" FRA on Facebook (use the shortcut of www.fra.org/fb)