The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to ensuring that America’s veterans receive the care and services they need and deserve. More is being learned every day about the needs of our veterans, and as Ranking Member, Senator Burr will continue to push for the highest quality of care that can be provided.

Provide assistance to caregivers of seriously injured veterans

 Family caregivers play an important and unique role in helping to meet wounded veterans' personal care needs, both physically and emotionally.   Family members who serve as primary caregivers often face significant challenges in caring for their loved ones, which is why Senators Burr and Akaka introduced the Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009.   The bill, which was signed into law in May 2010, establishes new assistance for caregivers who meet certain requirements.  It also includes training and certification required to meet the veteran’s needs, as well as access to ongoing support services through direct technical support, counseling and mental health services, respite care, medical care, and a monthly personal caregiver allowance.  

Unfortunately, VA has failed to meet the deadline mandated by Congress to have this program in place. Additionally, the specific guidelines that they’ve suggested for the actual implementation of this law need revising. Senator Burr and his colleagues have repeatedly urged Gen. Eric Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to ensure that this bill works for veterans. Senator Burr addressed Gen. Shinseki about this issue at a recent hearing, which you can watch here.  Additionally, Senator Burr and other members of leadership on the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs penned a letter to President Obama, asking him to work with VA to make sure this legislation works for the veterans and caregivers. You can read that letter here.  Click here to see a letter that Senator Burr sent along with 17 other Senators addressing the VA’s extended delays in this area.

You can read more about this law HERE.

Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune

An estimated 750,000 people may have been exposed to probable and known human carcinogens in the water supply while stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, between the 1950s and 1980s. In February, 2011, Senator Burr introduced a bill, the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act, that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care to veterans and their families exposed to the contaminants while in the service of our country. Senator Burr also introduced this legislation in the 111th Congress.

This bill would take necessary steps to provide for those who are suffering from what amounts to the largest recorded environmental incident on a domestic Department of Defense installation.

More, better health services for veterans

As the Ranking Member, Senator Burr helped craft the omnibus veterans’ health care bill (Public Law 111-163), which included as many as 50 new provisions designed to help veterans facing a myriad of issues.  In addition to enacting the Caregiver program, this bill also included provisions to help improve access to care for veterans residing in rural areas, augment health care services for women veterans, improve mental health services for veterans, enhance the authorities available to VA for the recruitment and retention of health care professionals, and authorize major construction projects across the nation.

Facilitate reimbursement for veterans receiving non-VA emergency care treatment

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can now pay the difference between the total cost of an emergency care visit to a non-VA emergency room and the portion of that total cost covered by a veteran’s insurance. 

Make dental insurance plans available to certain veterans, dependents and survivors

VA now has a pilot program that provides a dental insurance option for certain veterans and survivors enrolled in VA’s health care system.  This program was modeled after the successful dental insurance program available to military retirees and family members under the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program.