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National Capitol
Office
1722
Eye Street NW
Washington
DC 20421
(202)
530-9220 (202) 223-8818 FAX
Mailing
Address
PO Box 30324
Bethesda MD 20824-0324
Les
Jackson
Executive
Director, Washington Office
(202) 530-9220 (202) 223-8818 FAX
(301) 951-0048 home; e-mail: lesjax@cox.net
FEBRUARY 2007
Bob Filner named Chairman of House Veterans Affairs Committee
Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA) was appointed as the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs for the 110th Congress that convened Jan. 3rd. “I am both proud and humbled by the decision of my colleagues to appoint me as the next chairman of the Committee, and I very much appreciate their support,” said Filner. “I look forward to working with Republican and Democratic Members, the administration, and the veterans’ community to address the challenges facing our veterans and their families.”
Congressman Filner was elected to Congress in 1992 and has served on the House Veterans Affairs Committee since his arrival, including serving as the Acting-Ranking Democratic Member for much of 2006. “This Committee’s work is critically important to our service members, veterans and military families, and it is my goal to help make certain that Congress is responsive to their needs,” said Filner. “I want to develop a strong and bi-partisan working relationship with all of my colleagues on the Committee to carry out this important responsibility,” said Filner.
Filner has been a strong advocate for increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, including greater resources for mental health care and chronic diseases research. “Among the issues I want to address on the Committee in the 110th Congress are ensuring timely and adequate funding for the VA, effectively addressing the mental health and transition concerns of our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, improving Department of Defense and VA collaboration, and updating the Montgomery GI Bill,” said Filner.
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
335 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3527
Senator Akaka Appointed Chairman of Veterans Affairs Committee
Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) is chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs for the 110th Congress, which convened Jan. 3, 2007. He will also be a senior member on: Armed Services, Banking, Energy and Natural Resources, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Indian Affairs.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced the committee assignments on November 14, 2006. Senator Akaka said, “I am delighted to continue to work for the betterment of our nation’s veterans. We have serious challenges ahead of us, including how to ensure a seamless transition from military to civilian life. As Chair I will ensure our youngest generation of veterans gets the care and services they deserve. I have a special concern for those in the National Guard and Reserves who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.”
The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has jurisdiction over the $70.8 billion budget for veterans’ benefits and services, including a $30 billion health care budget. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has 157 hospitals, 869 ambulatory care and community-based outpatient clinics, 207 Vet Centers, and 134 nursing homes.
In Hawaii, VA has spent more than $311 million to serve more than 107,000 veterans who live in the state. Hawaii has eight state veterans’ cemeteries which have received federal funding, and is also home to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as Punchbowl. VA also operates the Pacific Islands Health Care System, which includes the Spark M. Matsunaga Ambulatory Care Center on the campus of the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, outpatient clinics on Maui, on Kauai, in Hilo, and in Kona, as well as satellite operations on Molokai.
US Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs
412 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2074
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