Meantime . That is the problem that continues to plague our community. When you have Financial Stress emotional stress, where do you go for help in the meantime while v. A. Sorts this out . They come to us. We are overwhelmed with demand and other nonprofits feel the same way. I encourage you to think creatively to provide support, especially financial and emotional, to those folks stuck waiting sometimes years. Mr. Blumenthal i have one more thanks to mr. Blumenthal i have one more thanks to mr. Kovach and others on the issue of expanding access to choice to make veterans eligible when a local v. A. Facility cannot provide the service that is needed. When we measure service, it ought to be for the medical care that the veteran needs not simply whether there is a facility there to provide it. Im assuming that other members of this panel are in agreement as well with that view. Thank you. Mr. Roe i recognize dr. Abraham for five minutes. Mr. Abraham i too have a foster opportunity with
Specializing in beachfront property. I could do that. I was a young person and had more savings. What do you all in vision and being able to broaden opportunities envision in being able to broaden opportunities . Would anyone like to comment . I might take a shot. The g. I. Bill is an Education Program this time. You need to go back to what your colleagues did in 1944. The g. I. Bill accomplished a whole series of things, not the least of which is getting people to start a business. You couldnt have the business if it didnt say veteran something, often funded by Small Business loans going through the g. I. Bill. Those need to be resurrected. They need to look at some of the other aspects as well. Ask a couple things. There is a proposal that would require people to go through the g. I. Acquisition track. We think it is important they have the education and training opportunities. Another aspect is dod is gradually moving forward with getting licensing in fields they are getting that is
Time. Placing an employee on openended paid vacation as reward for bad behavior instead of removing them. Next, hr 571, the Veterans Affairs retaliation prevention act would improve the process for whistleblowers within the department to report waste fraud, and abuse, to correct problems at the lowest level in the agency possible. Perhaps more portly it would expand accountability of supervisors who would seek to retaliate against employees who report wrongdoing. Also, require the v. A. To undertake more training procedures to ensure employees are well aware of their rights and methods to report wrongdoing, and supervisors know there are serious consequences. It is a massive substantial support focus on whistleblower protection. I introduced hr 94. It would give the secretary the ability to remove any employee in a similar process that found that was found in a choice act signed into law last summer. Also our protections to ensure this process is not apply to whistleblowers, an extensi
The other thing was that they took all of their resources and put them into initial claims. And i focused on the decision review officer as a key point, person on these Regional Offices. Theyve taken them out of their regular job to the detriment of the appeals process because now theyre not doing the certifications that are necessary to take a veterans appeal from the Regional Office to the board of veterans appeals and there in limbo oftentimes for many years now which is shortcircuiting whole situation. More importantly whats concerning to me at least talking to our service reps in the field is its like the va is considering as the enemy. Many Regional Offices are people are not allowed to talk to anybody. You have an to anybody. Youre issuing acclaimed its comeback, you can talk to anybody. You just have to take it deal with it, today. I retired in 2002 until i got this job in 2005. I worked three years as a service rep in manhattan and the Regional Office. If i had an issue on a c
Constructing and make sure we learn from the bad mistakes made in aurora. Colonel norton, i want to talk about alexis for a second. Served in the coast guard, correct . Injured in 1999 is that correct . Thats correct, senator. She was injured before 9 11 2001, there are no care benefits given to her . Correct. If she was injured after 9 11 2001, what would her care of benefits be . She and her husband would be eligible for the special benefits and services in support, that includes training, respite care champ va a whole range of benefits that are eligible, available only to the post 9 11 era severely disabled veterans and full time care givers. Mr. Kovach you represent the paralyzed veterans, correct . That is correct. And i think paralysis was probably the signature injury of the vietnam conflict, is that not correct . That is true. That is true. All of which took place before 9 11, 2001 . But the affliction is every bit as bad as anybody injuryed in 9 11 . My wife speaks three langz