Senate VA leaders lay out goals, hopes to Legion

The goals of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs’ leadership were made clear to Legion family members Feb. 24 during the Washington Conference. Sen. Johnny Isakson, chairman of the committee, and Ranking Member Sen. Richard Blumenthal both spoke during the Commander’s Call.

Isakson said he had five goals for the 114th Congress: ensure the Veterans Choice Act works – “not to diminish the VA, but to enhance the VA” – ensure a seamless transition from Department of Defense to VA health care, address military sexual trauma for U.S. servicemembers, improve mental health services for veterans, and eradicate veterans homelessness.

“We’ve got to see to it that we have access to housing … so that no single veteran goes to bed at night (in the United States) on a slab next to a bench or on steps off a building, but instead, they have warmth, they have food and they have support,” Isakson said. “I’m going to see to it that I do everything I can to address … homelessness.

“And we’re going to see to it that no veteran who has the stigma and pain and hurt of mental health illnesses from (traumatic brain injury) and (post-traumatic stress disorder) goes un-served or underserved. That is the goal of this committee and something I’m going to work on.”

Blumenthal said the Legion’s presence in the nation’s capital “reminds us of the importance of what we do here for our veterans. This effort should continue to be bipartisan.”

Blumenthal said of proof of successful bipartisanship came during passage of the Clay Hunt Act. “I co-sponsored (the bill) with John McCain,” he said. “He and I worked together as a team (with others). This cause brings us together as Americans. I’m hoping that the Clay Hunt bill will be a template, a direction, an example for this Congress of how we can work together.”

But Blumenthal said the Clay Hunt Act – and VA reform legislation that was passed – are both “only a down payment. It’s only a first step. The measures that are being made right now by (VA Secretary) Bob McDonald are very welcome … are only the beginning. And I hope they will be followed by other steps, even more significant steps, so that the VA regains trust and credibility. It’s lost a lot.”

Blumenthal said VA regaining trust is critical “because the challenges are going to be greater than ever before. Tens of thousands of men and women will be separating from the military over the next two to four years. They deserve job training, employment opportunities and health care.”