Eliminating joint hearings is an insult to Veterans

[kpete]

11/10/2005 11:09:00 AM

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A proposal to end the long-standing practice of veterans groups addressing a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees is an insult to all who have fought, sacrificed and died to defend the Constitution, according to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). And in a strongly worded letter to House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), the DAV has urged him to continue the joint hearings as an invaluable tool in formulating public policy toward America's veterans.

Chairman Buyer recently announced that veterans service organizations will no longer have the opportunity to present testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees.

"The tradition of legislative presentations by veterans service organizations dates back to at least the 1950s. And the timing of this announcement -- just before Veterans Day -- could not have been worse," said DAV National Commander Paul W. Jackson.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=56522

[afdip]

1. sadly, veterans who are repukes will find some way

to blame this on the media and bill clinton. to paraphrase the old joke, the veterans love the fucking government and the government loves fucking the veterans. thank you sir, may i have another.

[nickyt]

2. Wait, I just found this on the Vet.erans' Affairs website:

Chairman Buyer holds Veterans Summit
announcing new hearing schedule

Hearing reform gives veterans’ groups a greater voice

Washington, DC – House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), announced that he will hold full committee hearings starting in February during which veterans’ groups can present their priorities and offer guidance earlier in the budget process. Calling on veterans’ groups to play a more influential role in developing the annual Department of Veterans Affairs budget, Buyer presented his plan to engage them early in the annual budget process.

Chairman Buyer discussed veterans issues with leaders of national veterans’ service organizations and military associations at the Army War College, located at the Carlisle Barracks, Pa. Participants also included Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Henry Brown (R-S.C.).

“Moving these hearings forward will bring more accountability to the budget process and ensure that veterans have greater input in the process,” Buyer said.

After a discussion of the 2006 schedule, Chairman Buyer recommended moving the testimony earlier in the legislative process. The recommendation was received favorably by those in attendance. As a result, he has made the decision to move the veterans and military organizations testimony early in February.

“Now, veterans organizations are more relevant and material to the budget fight,” he told those in attendance.

In past years, VSOs have come to Capitol Hill to offer their views in joint hearings of both the House and Senate Veterans Committees. The impact of these hearings has been limited because they have occurred weeks after Congress developed its “views and estimates” response to the President’s budget request, which it does by March each year.

Under the new schedule, the VSOs will be asked to present their views on the budget and their legislative priorities in early February at the same time the President sends his budget to Capitol Hill. In addition, the VSOs will also be asked to testify in February at a series of full committee and subcommittee hearings on a variety of legislative proposals directly affecting veterans.

http://veterans.house.gov/news/109/11-8-05.html


This is from Nov. 8.
I am very confused...