United States Senate Committee On Veterans' Affairs
Recent News About United States Senate Committee On Veterans' Affairs
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Senate Passes Bill to Name Kansas VA Clinic After Captain Elwin “Al” Shopteese
The U.S. Senate has passed a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Sen. Roger Marshall to name the VA outpatient clinic in Kansas City, Kansas, after Captain Elwin “Al” Shopteese. The legislation will designate the clinic as the “Captain Elwin Shopteese Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic” or the “Captain Elwin Shopteese VA Clinic.”Senator Moran expressed his satisfaction with the passage of the legislation, stating, “I am pleased the Senate passed this piece of legislation that honors a Kansas servicemember, who dedicated his life to his country and...
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Sen. Moran Provides Opening Remarks at Senate VA Committee on the FY25 Budget with Secretary McDonough
On May 1, 2024, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, delivered opening remarks during a committee hearing with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to review the President’s FY2025 Budget Request for the VA.Senator Moran highlighted the importance of bipartisan efforts in providing resources for the VA, stating, “This committee has worked to address major challenges veterans face, including streamlining access to disability compensation and providing health care for veterans exposed to toxic...
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Sens. Moran, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Improve Memorialization & Burial Benefits for Veterans
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Mazie Hirono have introduced the Honoring Veterans’ Legacies and Burial Benefits Enhancements Act, aiming to enhance memorialization and burial benefits for veterans and their families. Senator Moran emphasized the importance of honoring veterans, stating, “How we memorialize and honor our veterans, when they have passed, sends a message to their families, our servicemembers and the country that we value the sacrifice of our military men and women even as the years pass.” Senator Hirono echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to share the...
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Sens. Moran, Tester Introduce Legislation to Improve Treatment for Veterans with Spinal Cord Injuries
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester have introduced the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices (STAND) Act, aimed at improving treatment for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. The legislation requires the VA to offer annual preventative health evaluations to these veterans and increase assistive technologies to better serve their needs.Senator Moran emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “Spinal cord injuries can be devastating, but by providing veterans with the right tools and treatments, we can help them regain mobility and...
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Sens. Moran, King Introduce Legislation to Permanently Expand Access to Exams for Disability Claims
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Angus King have introduced legislation aimed at expanding veterans' access to exams necessary for the disability claims process. The bill seeks to make permanent a pilot program created in 2020 to expand license portability requirements for medical professionals conducting disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).Sen. Moran emphasized the importance of timely and quality care for veterans, stating, “Veterans deserve access to timely, high-quality care and a greater ability to choose when, where and how to use the...
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Sen. Moran Demands Comprehensive Plan to Address Severe Deficiencies in VA’s Employee Screening Processes
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has called on VA Secretary Denis McDonough to take action in response to serious deficiencies in the Department of Veterans Affairs' employee screening processes. Sen. Moran emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to ensure that VA's workforce is screened and held to the highest professional standards. He highlighted the risks posed by unvetted VA employees with prior criminal records, stating that such shortcomings have enabled individuals to stalk, sexually harass, and assault...
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Sens. Moran, Sinema Introduce Legislation to Support Veterans’ Family Caregivers
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Kyrsten Sinema have introduced the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act to provide support to former family caregivers of veterans as they transition back to work or into retirement. Sen. Moran emphasized the importance of supporting caregivers, stating, “This legislation answers a need I have heard about from veterans, caregivers and VA staff in Kansas and will make certain that support for former family caregivers does not abruptly end when the veteran the caregiver is caring for passes away, regains independence or...
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Sen. Jerry Moran's Amendment to Protect Veterans' Second Amendment Rights Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – authored a provision in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2024 to protect veterans from losing their Second Amendment right to purchase or own firearms when they receive help managing their VA benefits. This legislation was signed into law by the President.The legislation prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from transmitting personal information through the VA fiduciary program to FBI’s National Instant Criminal...
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Sens. Moran, Tester Introduce Legislation to Expand GI Bill Benefits for Guardsmen and Reservists
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester have introduced the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2024 to expand GI Bill benefits for National Guard and Reserve members who perform federal duty statuses. Senator Moran emphasized the importance of ensuring equal benefits for guardsmen and reservists, stating, “Every day in uniform is a day in service to this nation.” Senator Tester echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to provide educational benefits to those who serve their country, saying, “our bipartisan legislation will ensure Guard and Reserve members who serve...
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Ranking Member Moran Response to the State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – tonight released the following statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union address:In his response to President Biden's State of the Union address, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran highlighted the significance of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act in supporting veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service. Senator Moran expressed his appreciation for President...
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Sen. Moran Applauds National Archives & Records Administration for Clearing Backlog of Military Service Requests
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – today commended the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), housed within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), for successfully clearing a backlog of over 600,000 requests for military service records.“Pandemic-era restrictions created lingering effects that made it challenging for veterans in Kansas and across the country to receive their records, delaying access to the health care and benefits they deserve,” said Sen. Moran. The backlog at...
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Sens. Moran, Manchin Demand Answers Regarding VA’s Handling of Antisemitic Conduct by VA Employees
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Joe Manchin have demanded answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding its handling of an employee who allegedly broadcasted antisemitic material on social media. The senators, both members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, expressed their concerns about the disciplinary actions taken by the VA.According to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the employee's supervisor counseled them and they completed required harassment prevention and accountability training. However, Sens. Moran and Manchin believe that counseling is...