Paralyzed Veterans of America Testimony Calls for Funding to Fulfill VA's Fourth Mission

antiquity · 05-03-2002, 06:33 AM

Paralyzed Veterans of America Testimony Calls for Funding to Fulfill VA's Fourth Mission

WASHINGTON, May 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Testifying today before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, PVA expressed disappointment over the Administration's failure to request additional funding to meet the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) responsibilities as part of its fourth mission. The VA's four health-care missions are the provision of care to veterans; providing education and training for health-care personnel; conducting medical research; and serving as a backup to the Department of Defense health system in war or other emergencies and as a support to communities following domestic terrorist incidents and other major disasters.

The hearing addressed 27 bills covering a full range of veterans' benefits. Four measures dealt with the VA's fourth mission and were supported by PVA. David M. Tucker, senior associate legislative director and testifying on behalf of PVA, stated "these bills represent a serious initial response to adequately addressing the scope of the VA's fourth mission in this time of national emergency."

In addition to supporting fourth-mission-related legislation, PVA favored a measure that would extend the VA's authority to provide non-institutional extended care services to veterans as well as nursing home care for certain veterans for an additional five years. "PVA has always been a strong advocate for enhanced alternatives to institutionalization, as well as being a leader in fighting for the retention of the VA's unique long-term care capabilities," stated Tucker. "The VA's experience with long-term care is a real national asset, and it's an asset that we must not allow to be squandered."

The VA, in legislation enacted in 1999, was required to maintain its capacity to provide long-term care at 1998 levels. The VA has failed to meet this benchmark and seeks, in a legislative provision strongly opposed by PVA, to change the definition of what constitutes long-term care under the 1999 Act. "The fact is that the VA has done little to provide these required services, and now is searching for a way to circumvent the law and still claim that it is meeting capacity requirements."

PVA supported most of the measures, including a cost-of-living-adjustment increase for benefits, adjudication reform and the creation of a new Service Disabled Life Insurance program. To view PVA's full testimony, visit the PVA web site at www.pva.org.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a veterans service organization chartered by Congress, has for more than 55 years served the needs of its members, all of whom have catastrophic paralysis caused by spinal cord injury or disease.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Contact: David J. Uchic of Paralyzed Veterans of America, 202-416-7667
05/03 09:10

05-03-2002, 06:33 AM	#1
antiquity Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 14,540	Paralyzed Veterans of America Testimony Calls for Funding to Fulfill VA's Fourth Mission Paralyzed Veterans of America Testimony Calls for Funding to Fulfill VA's Fourth Mission WASHINGTON, May 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Testifying today before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, PVA expressed disappointment over the Administration's failure to request additional funding to meet the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) responsibilities as part of its fourth mission. The VA's four health-care missions are the provision of care to veterans; providing education and training for health-care personnel; conducting medical research; and serving as a backup to the Department of Defense health system in war or other emergencies and as a support to communities following domestic terrorist incidents and other major disasters. The hearing addressed 27 bills covering a full range of veterans' benefits. Four measures dealt with the VA's fourth mission and were supported by PVA. David M. Tucker, senior associate legislative director and testifying on behalf of PVA, stated "these bills represent a serious initial response to adequately addressing the scope of the VA's fourth mission in this time of national emergency." In addition to supporting fourth-mission-related legislation, PVA favored a measure that would extend the VA's authority to provide non-institutional extended care services to veterans as well as nursing home care for certain veterans for an additional five years. "PVA has always been a strong advocate for enhanced alternatives to institutionalization, as well as being a leader in fighting for the retention of the VA's unique long-term care capabilities," stated Tucker. "The VA's experience with long-term care is a real national asset, and it's an asset that we must not allow to be squandered." The VA, in legislation enacted in 1999, was required to maintain its capacity to provide long-term care at 1998 levels. The VA has failed to meet this benchmark and seeks, in a legislative provision strongly opposed by PVA, to change the definition of what constitutes long-term care under the 1999 Act. "The fact is that the VA has done little to provide these required services, and now is searching for a way to circumvent the law and still claim that it is meeting capacity requirements." PVA supported most of the measures, including a cost-of-living-adjustment increase for benefits, adjudication reform and the creation of a new Service Disabled Life Insurance program. To view PVA's full testimony, visit the PVA web site at www.pva.org. The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a veterans service organization chartered by Congress, has for more than 55 years served the needs of its members, all of whom have catastrophic paralysis caused by spinal cord injury or disease. http://www.usnewswire.com Contact: David J. Uchic of Paralyzed Veterans of America, 202-416-7667 05/03 09:10

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