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Testimony Summary

Before The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Regarding Pending Health Care Legisltion

May 21, 2008

Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Burr, other Distinguished Senators of this Committee, and guests. On behalf of VVA National President John Rowan and all of our officers and members, I thank you for the opportunity to share our views on pending health care legislation for our nation’s veterans and for your leadership in holding this hearing today.

My name is Tom Berger, Chair of the National PTSD & Substance Abuse Committee for Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). I am a Vietnam combat veteran, having served as a Fleet Marine Force Navy corpsman with the 3rd Marine Division, 1966 – 68, in I Corps, Vietnam.

S.2573, the “Veterans Mental Health Treatment First” Act

S.2273: The Enhanced Opportunities for Formerly Homeless Veterans Residing in Permanent Housing Act of 2007

S. 2377: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs' medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes.

S. 2383 - A bill to require a pilot program on the mobile provision of care and services for veterans in rural areas by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

S. 2639 – The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act

S. 2796 - Community-Based Organization Pilot Programs

S. 2797 -Construction Authorization

S. 2799 - Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2008

S. 2824 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the collective bargaining rights and procedures for review of adverse actions of certain employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

S. 2889 (Akaka, by request) Veterans Health Care Act of 2008, Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

S. 2899 - A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on suicides among veterans

S. 2921- Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008

S. 2926 - Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2008.

S. 2937 - A bill to provide permanent treatment authority for participants in Department of Defense chemical and biological testing conducted by Deseret Test Center and an expanded study of the health impact of Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense, and for other purposes.

S. 2963 - A bill to improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

S. 2969 Veterans’ Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2008

S.2984 – “Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008”

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