FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2010
Contact Kristal DeKleer at (202) 225-9756
http://veterans.house.gov

House Veterans' Affairs Committee Meets with VSO Leaders

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, with both Democratic and Republican Members of the
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in attendance, Chairman Bob Filner held a meeting with 40 veterans service organizations to discuss priorities for the second session of the 111th Congress.

"Today's roundtable marks the second time during the 111th Congress that this Committee has met with veterans' advocates to discuss the important issues facing our Nation's veterans and plan how best to solve these problems," said Chairman Filner.

"The purpose of today's meeting is to build upon the successes of the first session and collaborate on how we can
better serve our veterans and wounded warriors going forward."

Chairman Filner detailed the priorities of the Committee which include ensuring adequate VA budgets for the
next two years.

Following the passage of advance funding legislation, Congress will approve a budget for Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012.

Filner also discussed the need to reconcile health care and benefits legislation with the Senate.

The House passed legislation to provide support for veteran caregivers, improve access and care options for female veterans, prevent veteran homelessness, provide better insurance options, increase disabled veteran housing grants,
and strengthen reintegration programs for returning veterans.

Chairman Filner reminded veterans of the Committee's commitment to fix the claims processing system, restructure the VA for the 21st Century, conduct oversight of VA spending, and monitor the progress of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

Participants discussed the priorities of each of the 40 different veteran advocacy organizations.

Many discussed how the disability claims backlog impacts veterans while they are most vulnerable.

The lengthy wait for some veterans' disability claims has contributed to financial problems and a domino effect
that can result in economic turmoil from which some veterans never recover.

Additional issues addressed included caregiver needs, the importance of strong reintegration programs, and the immediate need for greater VA outreach to alert veterans of available benefits and programs.

Chairman Filner concluded:
"Thank you for coming to express the needs of veterans to this Committee.
I truly believe that because of your help and support and our ability to work together as partners,
the VA is in a better position to serve veterans.
Members of this Committee not only take seriously these recommendations from veterans,
but we commit to you that we will take action as well."

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Complete List of Participants
1. Mike Dunn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Force Association
2. John R. "Doc" McCauslin, Chief Executive Officer, Air Force Sergeants Association
3. Les Jackson, Executive Director, American Ex-Prisoners of War
4. Steve Robertson, Director, National Legislative Commission, The American Legion
5. Ray Kelley, National Legislative Director, AMVETS
6. Ike Puzon, Director of Legislation, Association of the U.S. Navy
7. John Lopez, Chairman, Association for Service Disabled Veterans
8. Tom Zampieri, Director of Government Relations, Blinded Veterans Association
9. Ray Williams, National Service Officer, Catholic War Veterans
10. Joe Violante, National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans
11. Daryl Corley, President - DC Chapter, Elite Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Network
12. Thomas Banzul, General Counsel, Empowering Veterans
13. Michael P. Cline, Executive Director, Enlisted Association of the National Guard
14. Joseph L. Barnes, National Executive Director, Fleet Reserve Association
15. Vivianne C. Wersel, Au.D., Government Relations Committee, Gold Star Wives of America
16. Thomas Tarantino, Legislative Associate, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
17. Robert Nakamoto, President, Japanese American Veterans Association
18. Herb Rosenbleeth, National Executive Director, Jewish War Veterans
19. Bob Norton, Deputy Director Government Relations, Military Officers Association of America
20. Jim Richards, Assistant Service Director, Military Order of the Purple Heart
21. Don Loudner, National Commander, National American Indian Veterans, Inc.
22. Joe Wynn, Legislative Liaison, National Association for Black Veterans
23. Rick Jones, Legislative Director/PAC, National Association for Uniformed Services
24. John Driscoll, President and Chief Executive Officer, Natl. Coalition for Homeless Veterans
25. Pete Duffy, Deputy Director of Legislation, National Guard Association
26. Barbara Cohoon, Deputy Director of Government Relations, National Military Family Association
27. Ronald B. Abrams, Joint Executive Director, National Veterans Legal Services Program
28. Richard Schneider, Exec. Dir. for Government Affairs, Non Commissioned Officers Association
29. Carl Blake, National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America
30. Marshall Hanson, Legislative and Naval Services Director, Reserve Officers Association
31. Brian Hawthorne, Legislative Director, Student Veterans of America
32. Amy Fairweather, Policy Director, Swords to Plowshares
33. Deirdre Parke Holleman, Executive Director, The Retired Enlisted Association
34. Matt Cary, Executive Director/Past President, Veterans and Military Families for Progress
35. Paul Sullivan, Executive Director, Veterans for Common Sense
36. Eric A. Hilleman, National Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars
37. Donald D. Overton, Jr., Executive Director, Veterans of Modern Warfare
38. Leonard J. Selfon, J.D., CAE, Senior Vice-President, VetsFirst
39. John Rowan, National President, Vietnam Veterans of America
40. Ralph Ibson, Senior Fellow for Health Policy, Wounded Warrior Project