Michael H. Michaud, Chairman, Subcommittee on Health

I would like to thank everyone for coming today.

Today’s legislative hearing is an opportunity for Members of Congress, veterans, the VA and other interested parties to provide their views on and discuss recently-introduced legislation within the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction in a clear and orderly process.  

I do not necessarily agree or disagree with the bills before us today, but I believe that this is an important part of the legislative process that will encourage frank discussions and new ideas.

We have eleven bills before us today.  Each of the bills address important issues affecting our veterans and their families.  These bills address a wide range of issues including help for family caregivers of wounded veterans; improving the nonprofit research and education corporations; establishing a position of Director of Physician Assistant; and creating a Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.  We will also consider important bills to enhance health care and other benefits to veterans.  This includes updating the benefit amount for the Home Improvement and Structural Alteration grant; eliminating the copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled; extending health care benefits to Vietnam era herbicide exposed veterans and Gulf-War era veterans; and assigning Medal of Honor recipients to the Priority Group 3 category. 

I look forward to hearing the views of our witnesses on these bills before us.