House VA Oversight Hearing
 

House VA Oversight Hearing
VFW weekly report 5-5-17
RE: https://www.vfw.org/actioncorpsweekly

House VA Oversight Hearing:

On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies held a hearing to review VA’s budget recommendations and other oversight matters. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin informed the subcommittee of the progress VA is making to improve the VA Caregiver Program, expand access to urgent mental health care for veterans with other-than-honorable discharges, and redesign the Choice Program. Members of the subcommittee discussed interoperability between VA and DOD electronic health care records, expansion of disability compensation benefits to Blue Water Navy veterans, and asked Secretary Shulkin to elaborate on his proposal to stop supporting more than 1,000 unused or underutilized buildings which cost VA $25 million a year. The VFW has asked VA for the list of buildings it is looking to have taken off the books and will make certain that facilities which provide veterans’ health care and benefits are not shut down without acceptable replacements or alternatives. Watch the video or read the testimony.