Hearing: Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 1083, Caring for Survivors Act of 2023; H.R. 2911, Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2023; H.R. 3651, Love Lives On Act of 2023; H.R. 7100, Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act; H.R. 7150, Survivor Benefits Delivery Improvement Act of 2024; H.R. 7777, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2024; H.R. 7793, Veterans Appeals Options Expansion Act of 2024; H.R. 7816, Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act; H.R. XXXX, To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the duty of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a veteran with a medical examination in connection with certain claims for disability compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes; H.R. XXXX, To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve matters relating to medical examinations for veterans disability compensation, and for other purposes; H.R. XXXX, To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of adjudications and appeals of claims for benefits under laws administered by Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; H.R. XXXX, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain revisions to the manual of the Veterans Benefits Administration and to improve the quality of the adjudication of claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (Committee on Veterans' Affairs)

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 (1:30 PM)

360 CHOB
Washington, D.C.

Witnesses

Panel one

The Honorable Keith Self
Member of Congress, Washington D.C.

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM

The Honorable John S. Duarte
Member of Congress, Washington D.C.

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM

The Honorable Jahana Hayes
Member of Congress, Washington D.C.

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM

Panel two

Colonel Tiffany M. Wagner
Clerk of the Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Testimony - Col. Wagner [PDF] Added 04/09/2024 at 09:54 AM
  • Truth in Testimony Disclosure Form - Col. Wagner [PDF] Added 04/09/2024 at 09:54 AM
  • Witness Biography - Col. Wagner [PDF] Added 04/09/2024 at 09:54 AM

Mr. Daniel T. Shedd
Legislative Attorney, Congressional Research Service, on behalf of American Law Division

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Testimony - Mr. Shedd [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Truth in Testimony Disclosure Form - Mr. Shedd [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Witness Biography - Mr. Shedd [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM

The Honorable Jaime Areizaga-Soto
Chairman, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Testimony - Hon. Areizaga-Soto [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 04:34 PM
  • Witness Biography - Hon. Areizaga-Soto [PDF] Added 04/09/2024 at 09:56 AM

Ms. Brianne Ogilvie
Assistant Deputy Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of Office of Policy and Oversight, Veterans Benefits Administration

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Biography - Ms. Ogilvie [PDF] Added 04/09/2024 at 09:56 AM

Ms. Jessica Pierce
Assistant Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of Compensation Service Policy Staff

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Biography - Ms. Pierce [PDF] Added 04/09/2024 at 09:56 AM

Panel three

Ms. Candace Wheeler
Director, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), on behalf of Government and Legislative Affairs

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Testimony - Ms. Wheeler [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Truth in Testimony Disclosure Form - Ms. Wheeler [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Witness Biography - Ms. Wheeler [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM

Mr. Christopher Macinkowicz
Deputy Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), on behalf of National Veterans Service

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Testimony - Mr. Macinkowicz [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Truth in Testimony Disclosure Form -Mr. Macinkowicz [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Witness Biography - Mr. Macinkowicz [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM

Mr. Andrew Tangen
First Vice President, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO)

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Testimony - Mr. Tangen [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Truth in Testimony Disclosure Form - Mr. Tangen [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Witness Biography - Mr. Tangen [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM

Ms. Renee Burbank
Director of Litigation, National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP)

Added 04/08/2024 at 01:43 PM
  • Witness Testimony - Ms. Burbank [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Truth in Testimony Disclosure Form - Ms. Burbank [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM
  • Witness Biography - Ms. Burbank [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:49 PM

Text of Legislation

  • H.R. 7917, To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of adjudications and appeals of claims for benefits under laws administered by Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. (Chairman Bost) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 1083, Caring for Survivors Act of 2023 (Rep. Hayes) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 2911, Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2023 (Rep. Strickland) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 3651, Love Lies Act of 2023 (Rep. Phillips) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 7150, Survivor Benefits Delivery Improvement Act of 2024 (Rep. Takano) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 7793, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide an individual with a claim for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with more options to appeal a decision of the Secretary with respect to such claim to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and for other purposes. (Chairman Bost) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. XXXX, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain revisions to the manual of the Veterans Benefits Administration and to improve the quality of the adjudication of claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 7883, To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the duty of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a veteran with a medical examination in connection with certain claims for disability compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes. (Rep. Self) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 7816, To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center for an assessment of notice letters that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes. (Rep. Duarte) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 7100, Prioritizing Veterans' Survivors Act (Rep. Ciscomani) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. XXXX, To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve matters relating to medical examinations for veterans disability compensation, and for other purposes (Rep. Takano) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM
  • H.R. 7777, To increase, effective as of December 1, 2024, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. (Rep. Luttrell) [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 02:00 PM

Support Documents

  • Hearing Notice [PDF]
  • Statement for the Record - Paralyzed Veterans of America [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:51 PM
  • Statement for the Record - Disabled American Veterans [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:51 PM
  • Statement for the Record - National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, Inc. [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 03:51 PM
  • Statement for the Record - Administrative Conference of the United States [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 04:34 PM
  • Statement for the Record - The American Legion [PDF] Added 04/10/2024 at 05:15 PM
  • Statement for the Record - Mr. Wishnie [PDF] Added 04/15/2024 at 02:57 PM

Member Statements

  • Statement for the Record - Rep. Strickland [PDF] Added 04/09/2024 at 03:04 PM
  • Statement for the Record - Rep. Phillips [PDF] Added 04/10/2024 at 09:33 AM

Hearing Record

  • Witness List [PDF] Added 04/08/2024 at 01:35 PM

First Published: April 1, 2024 at 01:06 PM
Last Updated: April 16, 2024 at 11:15 AM