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In addition, please read the following exerpt from Congressman Hall's recent "Update from Congress" send to volunteers and supporters. This level of transparency and access to information is rarely afforded constituents, and provides accountability on the Congressman's actions and decisions. This letter appeared on Congressman Hall's campaign website, http://www.johnhallforcongress.com
Update from Congress - March 18, 2007
This past week was filled with important committee meetings and hearings, all taking place against the backdrop of continuing news from Iraq and elsewhere. Here are some highlights:
1) On Monday, March 12, we held a press conference in the Orange County Legislative Chambers in Goshen to discuss the backlog of veterans' benefits. The dramatic difficulties encountered by our veterans was described by a Vietnam veteran who had tried for five years to secure disability payments and health care expenses related to a 2002 diagnosis of prostate cancer. Exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, which is now considered a presumptive cause of prostate cancer, he was still kept waiting while dealing with a progressive, fatal disease.:
My staff was able to get his problem resolved in a few weeks, and he received retroactive payment from the Veterans Administration of substantial monies owed and his monthly disability payment was increased fivefold. But the main concern the veteran expressed is for the young men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan today who may also become victims of the backlog of 635,000 pending claims.:
2) Also on Monday, General Peter Pace made his now infamous remarks opposing any lifting of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," policy, which prevents openly gay or lesbian citizens from serving in the Armed Services. Pace pronounced homosexuality "immoral," a statement he modified later by saying he was only giving his personal opinion.:
It is wholly inappropriate for a General in the U. S. Army to give his opinion on the morality of sexual orientation. Let me restate my opposition to the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It is a cruel irony that General Pace is happy to work with coalition forces from countries that don't discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, but he supports such discrimination against Americans.
3) On March 13, I chaired my first hearing of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Benefits and Memorial Affairs. The focus of the hearing was the impact of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan on the current backlog of disability claims. We had several witnesses testify, including representatives of Veterans' Service Organizations, academics who have studied the problems facing the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and the Deputy Administrator of the VA.
Some of the most striking testimony was given by Professor Linda Bilmes of the John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics at Harvard. To handle the backlog of cases, Professor Bilmes suggested we do what the IRS does: take people at their word, give them immediate treatment and/or payment and audit a select number of cases later to determine the accuracy of the claims. Apparently 88% of all claims are now approved even after a waiting period of 6 months to a year, so it may actually be more economical to accept all claims right away. Meanwhile, our returning soldiers would get immediate care and disability assistance and the backlog of earlier claims would get attention sooner. Her suggestion is to do this on a trial basis for two years.:
4) On March 14, the story broke about Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's firing of eight U. S. Attorneys for political reasons. As the week wore on, Gonzales eventually admitted that "mistakes were made." He then fired his Deputy Attorney General, but refused to resign himself. Meanwhile, news reports continue to link the firings with the president's top political advisor, Karl Rove. Hearings on this unfortunate affair are likely in the House, as well continuing hearings on the White House leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.
(5) On a happier note, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee completed work on the Water Resources Development Act Authorization (WRDA), which last passed in the year 2000. Each subsequent Congress has tried to pass a WRDA bill, but failed to reach agreement with the Senate in conference. As a result, there are a great number of projects long overdue for funding. My staff and I worked very hard to make sure that all the requests put in by my predecessor, Congresswoman Kelly, are included in this bill. In fact, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the committee agreed that in the interest of speed no new projects were to be allowed in this bill. I had to comply with our new ethics rules and certify for each project that I will not profit financially by it in any way, and I believe we successfully located and included all the previously requested projects. Next week the full House will take up this bill.
6) We finished the week by passing the Accountability in Contracting Act, a measure sorely needed after the no-bid contracts that have characterized the Iraq and Katrina reconstruction debacles.
7) Finally, behind the scenes, constant conversation and committee action were occurring regarding the Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which includes a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq, and many other major initiatives including agricultural disaster aid and assistance for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We should see the full language next week, and a vote is expected by Friday. I'll let you know what I think of the final wording, and how I decide to vote.