Hearing: Joint House and Senate Legislative Presentation of Disabled American Veterans & Multi VSOs: Military Officers Association of America, Blue Star Families, Vietnam Veterans of America, National Congress of American Indians, Service Women's Action Network, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., and Black Veterans Project

Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 (10:00 AM)

G50 DSOB
Washington, D.C.

Witnesses

Panel one

Coleman Nee
National Commander, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Statement [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF] Added 02/23/2026 at 03:18 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Barry Jesinoski
National Adjutant, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Bryan "Cody" VanBoxel
Executive Director, National Headquarters, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Jim Marszalek
Executive Director, Washington Headquarters, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Scott Hope
National Service Director, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Jon Retzer
National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

John Kleindienst
National Director of Voluntary Service, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Ron Minter
National Caregiver Support Program Director, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Melissa Pierce
Auxiliary National Commander, Disabled American Veterans

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Panel two

Brian T. Kelly
President and Chief Executive Officer, Military Officers Association of America

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Statement [PDF] Added 02/21/2026 at 11:34 AM
  • Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF] Added 02/21/2026 at 11:32 AM

Lindsay Knight
Chief Impact Officer, Blue Star Famlies

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Statement [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Tom Burke
National President, Vietnam Veterans of America

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Statement [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Larry Wright Jr,
Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Statement [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 07:05 PM
  • Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF] Added 02/21/2026 at 11:24 AM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 07:05 PM

Rita Graham
Policy Director, Service Women's Action Network

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Statement [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF] Added 02/23/2026 at 03:38 PM
  • Witness Biography [PDF] Added 02/23/2026 at 03:38 PM

Barbara Burt
Legislative Liaison Greater Boston Chapter and New England Region, National Board Member, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Statement [PDF] Added 02/21/2026 at 11:24 AM
  • Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Richard Brookshire
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Black Veterans Project

Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM
  • Witness Statement [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

Support Documents

  • Hearing Notice [PDF]
  • Statement for the Record: Gold Star Spouses of America, Inc. [PDF] Added 02/23/2026 at 03:18 PM
  • Statement for the Record: Military-Veterans Advocacy [PDF] Added 03/10/2026 at 09:12 AM
  • Statement for the Record: Berry Law [PDF] Added 03/10/2026 at 09:12 AM
  • Statement for the Record: Air Force Sergeant Association [PDF] Added 03/10/2026 at 09:12 AM
  • Statement for the Record: Military Order of the Purple Heart [PDF] Added 03/10/2026 at 09:12 AM
  • Ranking Member Blumenthal entered into the Record a Letter from SVAC to VA [PDF] Added 03/10/2026 at 10:57 AM
  • Ranking Member Blumenthal entered into the Record a Letter related to Opposition to Recent VA Interim Final Rule, Docket No. VA-2026-VBA-0067 [PDF] Added 03/10/2026 at 10:57 AM
  • Ranking Member Blumenthal entered into the Record a Letter signed by multiple Members of Congress to the VA [PDF] Added 03/10/2026 at 10:57 AM
  • Ranking Member Blumenthal entered into the Record an article titled "Veterans aren't campaign props - Congress must start acting like it" [PDF] Added 03/10/2026 at 10:57 AM

Hearing Record

  • Hearing: Witness List [PDF] Added 02/19/2026 at 01:33 PM

First Published: February 13, 2026 at 05:23 PM
Last Updated: March 10, 2026 at 10:57 AM


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