Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
02/04/2008 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR11 | |
| SB231 | |
| SB233 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SJR 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 231 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 233 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 11-SUPPORTING U.S. VETERANS' HEALTH CARE
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SJR 11.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI presented an overview of SJR 11. He said
it's a critical resolution that urges the US Congress to insure
adequate funding for veterans' health care. Other states have
enacted a similar type of resolution. The US Department of
Veterans' Affairs provides a wide range of specialized medical
care to meet the unique needs of veterans including treatment
for spinal cord injuries, blindness, traumatic brain injury,
post traumatic stress disorder, amputation injuries, mental
health and substance abuse, and conditions requiring long-term
care. In addition, the department trains health care personnel,
conducts medical research, and serves as backup to the US
Department of Defense.
Unfortunately this agency has been consistently underfunded. The
US Government Accountability Office report in 2005 highlighted
the lack of resources and staffing available to the Veterans
Administration for processing an increasing backlog of veterans'
claims. Funding for the department lags behind both medical
inflation and the increased demand for services. For example,
the enrollment for veterans' health care increased 134 percent
between fiscal years 1996 and 2004, but funding only increased
34 percent during the same period when adjusted to 1996 dollars.
Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi, has
publicly stated that the Department of Veterans Affairs has been
struggling to provide health care to the rapidly rising number
of veterans who need it.
This resolution expresses the profound gratitude of the Alaska
State Legislature for the sacrifices made by veterans who suffer
from medical or mental problems resulting from injuries
sustained while serving in the United States Armed Forces. More
importantly it urges the United States Congress to ensure
adequate funding for veterans' health care.
1:36:06 PM
RIC DAVIDGE, President, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA),
Anchorage, AK, said he was accompanied in his testimony by a
panel from other veterans' organizations. This is the only bill
of all 307 veterans' bills currently before Congress that all 9
national organizations are behind. They have seen funding levels
for services to disabled veterans passed over for the last 20
years. The Veterans' Administration (VA) budget is currently
part of the Department of Defense (DOD) construction budget. In
a bill currently before the US House, HR 2514, the VA budget
would stand on its own. This bill would move veterans' health
care funding to a formula base that would be determined by how
many are enrolled in the VA for services and how many are
eligible. Any disabled veteran with a service-connected
disability is eligible and retired veterans have services as
well. One of the concerns expressed is that this would make
veterans health care another welfare program. This is the only
health care program in the US that is based on earned benefits,
service and sacrifice. The legislation has had two hearings in
the US House. Mr. Davidge said that VVA is in the forefront of
the effort to organize states to submit a resolution of support.
1:39:57 PM
MR. DAVIDGE said it wouldn't cost the state anything and that
the return on this investment is in the hundreds of millions of
dollars. Veterans generate over $1 billion annually in revenue
to the state of Alaska. This does not include active duty
military or contracting by the DOD. According to the 2000
census, there are 75,400 veterans in the state. The VVA thinks
the number is now about 80,000 veterans.
1:42:10 PM
SENATOR DYSON joined the meeting.
SENATOR THOMAS said he finds it very objectionable that the US
government is not meeting the needs of these troops. He asked if
veterans' insurance is considered primary.
MR. DAVIDGE said that veterans, per se, do not have veterans'
insurance. If they are retired, they have health care through a
third party carrier. Most veterans do not access health care
through the VA but through their own employer or they purchase
health care on their own. He said that although he himself is 50
percent disabled and eligible for services with the VA, he
doesn't use it because he can afford to buy his own insurance.
In Alaska, the VA serves less than 20 percent of veterans
although 40 percent are probably eligible. He said that old
veterans are sort of the forgotten population and that new
veterans are the focus. One of the areas that is underfunded is
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) programs, especially for
Vietnam veterans who had a very high incidence of PTSD because,
he thinks, communities did not welcome them when they returned.
1:46:25 PM
SENATOR THOMAS said he would appreciate more information about
this to share with his colleagues.
JOHN YOUMANS, Alaska Veterans Business Alliance, Anchorage, AK,
expressed support of SJR 11.
CHAIR DAVIS asked who the sponsor of the bill in Congress is.
MR. DAVIDGE said it is Congressman Hare. He said they have been
trying to get a senate companion bill. He said they are pleased
with the content of the bill, but there are some technical
amendments needed to ensure appropriate congressional oversight.
He said he would forward the new version when it is complete.
1:47:53 PM
WILLIAM GOSSWEILER, Vietnam Veterans of America, Anchorage, AK,
said he's supportive of this resolution and said it is one of
the strongest measures that his organization has been fighting
for. He said they are very passionate about protecting all
veterans, not just of his era, but the ones coming back from
Iraq as well.
MR. DAVIDGE listed the names of the veteran's organizations that
support the bill: the American Legion, American Veterans,
Blinded Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish
War Veterans of the US, Military Order of the Purple Heart,
Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well
as VVA.
CHAIR DAVIS said that the VA has a great medical network and
delivery system and suggested it would be wise to consider it
when putting together like systems for the state.
1:51:12 PM
JOHN NEWMAN, Regional Director, Pacific Northwest VVA, Seattle,
WA, said that every veteran contracts to serve just as the US
contracts to take care of their medical coverage. He also
pointed out that mental health care is still health care.
1:52:52 PM
DIANE SLATER, Vietnam-era Veteran, Juneau, AK, said she was
formerly with the Alaska and Washington National Guard and
strongly supports this bill.
SENATOR COWDERY said he supports the resolution.
CHAIR DAVIS said she would like to move SJR 11 out of committee
and asked for a motion.
1:54:24 PM
SENATOR DYSON moved SJR 11 from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no
objection, the motion carried.
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