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Iwo Jima.
Normandy.
The Chosin
Resevoir.
Baghdad.
Khe Sanh.
These hallowed
battlegrounds
are where
American
soldiers fought
with honor and
distinction on
behalf of
freedom and
equality.
These military
heroes fought
the enemy on
foreign shores,
oftentimes
laying down
their lives in
the cause of
justice.
America’s
national
security is
preserved when
we have men and
women willing to
pay the price,
bear the burden,
and meet the
demand of
keeping our
country safe and
secure. We
all owe a great
debt to those
who have worn
the uniform in
defense of
America.
Congress must
guarantee that
the needs of
these brave
heroes are met
when they finish
their duty and
are welcomed
back into our
local
communities.
With the
thousands of new
veterans
returning from
Iraq and
Afghanistan,
there is an
urgent need to
provide proper
and timely care
to our returning
servicemen and
women, as well
as continue the
outstanding care
provided to
older veterans.
When these
veterans return
from the
battlefield, it
is our
collective duty
to ensure that
they are
provided the
care and support
they so richly
deserve.
As any veteran
knows, the U.S.
Department of
Veterans Affairs
(VA) is the
federal agency
that provides
medical care and
benefits for our
veterans.
They have an
awesome
responsibility
to provide the
best services to
the men and
women who
sacrificed for
our nation in
times of
conflict.
The good news is
that in just the
past six years,
funding for the
VA has nearly
doubled, and now
approaches $90
billion
annually.
These funds go
toward increased
mental health
care,
construction of
VA hospitals and
Community Based
Outpatient
Clinics, greater
disability
benefits, and
top-notch health
care.
Congress has
clearly met the
immediate needs
of our nation’s
veterans.
While these
record budget
increases for
veterans are
welcome,
Congress must
also continue to
provide strong
oversight of the
VA. One of
the most
problematic
areas of the VA
has been the
lack of adequate
controls over
information
technology (IT)
security at VA
hospitals and
clinics.
In the past
several years
the VA has lost
the personal
data of millions
of veterans and
their family
members, health
care providers,
independent
contractors.
This is
unacceptable
behavior.
As the Ranking
Member of the
House Veterans
Affairs’
Subcommittee on
Oversight and
Investigations,
the Subcommittee
recently held a
hearing to
address the loss
of more than 1.8
million
electronic
records at the
Birmingham VA
facility.
These records
included both
patient and
provider
information and
might have
opened up
doctors to
possible
Medicare and
Medicaid fraud
in the future.
It was clear to
me from this
hearing that
there is a
culture at the
VA that says,
‘do as you wish,
not as the
regulations
say.’ For
far too long
there have been
serious IT
breaches, with
significant
losses of
personal data,
and little
change in the
culture or
administration.
I can tell you
that the House
Veterans’
Affairs
Committee is fed
up with the foot
dragging and
will be taking
further action
to make positive
changes within
the VA.
Another issue
that is vitally
important to
American
veterans is
finding quality
employment after
leaving military
service.
For far too
long, many
employers have
overlooked one
of the most
skilled segments
of the workforce
– our nation’s
veterans.
Veterans often
face serious
difficulties
transitioning
expertise gained
during their
service into
private sector
skill sets.
At the end of
last year, I
successfully
passed
legislation that
helps veterans
transfer skills
learned in the
military into
the private
sector.
My legislation
requires the
Secretary of the
Department of
Labor to select
at least 10
military
occupational
specialties that
have skill sets
similar to
civilian
occupations in
areas of high
worker demand or
industry growth.
The Secretary
will work with
each state to
identify local
requirements for
obtaining
certifications,
credentials, or
licenses in
areas relevant
to these
occupations.
Finally, the
project will
devise
strategies to
help military
personnel
overcome any
obstacles or
burdens created
by these
requirements.
My legislation
will help
transition
veterans into
high-paying and
quality
employment
positions.
Since I joined
the U.S. House
of
Representatives
four years ago,
I have used my
seat on the
Veterans’
Affairs
Committee to
fight for
veterans in my
district and
throughout the
nation.
Our nation made
a solemn promise
to these men and
women when they
signed up to
defend America
that they would
be cared for
when their
service was
complete.
I will do
everything in my
power to ensure
that promise is
kept and our
veterans’ needs
are met.
--###--
Ginny
Brown-Waite
represents the 5th
District of
Florida in the
U.S. House of
Representatives.
She is the
Ranking
Republican on
the House
Veterans
Affairs’
Subcommittee on
Oversight and
Investigations.
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