HJR 10-VETERANS' HEALTH CARE 3:08:02 PM CO-CHAIR HERRON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10, Urging the United States Congress to improve health care for veterans. [Before the committee was CSHJR 10(MLV).] 3:09:43 PM HOWARD COLBERT, Commander, Local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Post Chapter 4, observed that HJR 10 addressed rural and native areas, and he offered his belief that this was discriminatory against all veterans. He emphasized that the DAV did not "discriminate against color, religion, creed, anything...we are all brothers." He explained that the logistics in Alaska were a "nightmare." He reported that there was not a [Veterans Administration (VA)] hospital, only a clinic in Alaska. He affirmed that he had worked for several years with Representative Kerttula regarding care for veterans in SE Alaska, though he mentioned that progress had been very slow. 3:12:57 PM MIKE WALSH, Adjutant, Local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Post Chapter 4, declared support for the recommendation that the United States Congress provide adequate funds for the veterans' needs. He noted the increase of injuries to military personnel in Iraq, and he affirmed support for increased funding for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and mental health centers. 3:16:42 PM MR. COLBERT offered his belief that there were not any psychiatrists or analysts to help veterans in Juneau that "know what they are doing," as they do not have any combat experience. He called attention to the lack of housing for veterans when they arrive from out of town for any medical service. He reported that 540,000 medals had been awarded since the beginning of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that for each of these medals "there's a consequence, there's a part of a man's life that has totally changed." He pointed out that veterans had made the sacrifice, and that they deserved the benefits. 3:18:17 PM MR. WALSH affirmed his support for federal and state funding to ensure that veterans had access to quality health care at community health centers. He explained the DAV outreach program in Southeast Alaska. He offered support of local care for veterans in the small communities. 3:19:56 PM MR. COLBERT noted that a new facility for women veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) had opened in Menlo Park, California, yet there was not any facility for women combat veterans in Alaska. He asked if any of the $22 million VA allocation for rural health care would be apportioned to Alaska. 3:21:33 PM MR. WALSH expressed support for electronic claims if adequate privacy was maintained. 3:22:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG, Alaska State Legislature, noted that Senator Lisa Murkowski had suggested for Alaskans to remind the U.S. Congress about Alaskan issues. He reported that veterans in Alaska were not getting the necessary health care. He cited inadequate facilities, inadequate delivery systems, and distance as problems. He expressed his desire to ensure that the VA had state wide service in all the communities. He recognized that travel was a hardship. He acknowledged that a new generation of veterans endured new challenges. He emphasized that veterans had earned the right for health care benefits without undue hardships, and he urged the U.S. Congress to "do a better job than they have been doing right now." 3:24:51 PM CO-CHAIR HERRON asked for Representative Guttenberg to comment on the not yet offered amendment to CSHJR 10 (MLV). [Included in the members' packets. Text provided below.] 3:25:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG agreed that the amendment was succinct, and he offered his support for the not yet offered amendment. 3:25:33 PM Co-Chair Herron opened public testimony. 3:25:55 PM SHELLY HUGHES, Government Affairs Director, Alaska Primary Care Association (APCA), noted that she was the wife and the mother of veterans. She testified that this was an important resolution as there had not been very much response from the Veterans Administration (VA). She expressed concern for rural veterans without access to VA health care facilities. She explained that required care was only received if the medical condition was military service related and met certain criteria. She reported that veterans either did not receive the needed care or they went to the Community Health Centers (CHC) or the tribal health clinics, neither of which received reimbursement from the VA. She offered support for a partnership between the VA and the Department of Health and Human Services to streamline the process. She directed attention to the increasing health needs of aging veterans and returning veterans. She pointed out that CHCs were in the local communities, so that family members were available for support. 3:28:55 PM EVANGELYN DOTOMAIN, President & CEO, Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB), said that ANHB supported HJR 10. She stressed that the services and funding should "follow the veteran." She explained that tribal health provided health service to veterans, but did not receive any reimbursement from the VA. 3:30:12 PM MCHUGH PIERRE, Director of Communications; Legislative Liaison, Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), stated that DMVA had concerns for the sharing of federal funding with Alaskan agencies. 3:31:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG reiterated that the veterans deserved the benefits, and he noted that other states also had this same problem. 3:32:24 PM [Co-Chair Herron closed public testimony.] 3:32:33 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 26- LS0313\S.1, Bailey, 3/10/09, which read: Page 4, following line 10: Insert new material to read: "FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States Congress to ensure that health care services follow veterans to where they live and work so that veterans are not obligated to search for the veterans' services to which they are entitled; and be it" There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 3:33:11 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER moved to report CSHJR 10 (MLV), as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHJR 10 (HSS) was reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.