Lawmakers conflicted on VA claims fixes

If there is any conflict it is because there are people who stood in the way of the VA being fixed all these years but are now complaining, pretending they suddenly care.

We've read all the reports about how the VA got this bad over the last eight years but now people like Burr want to act like they care? Enough is enough. I said a long time ago I don't play games when it comes to the truth and I won't play them now. The VA has serious problems that will only get worse if these games are allowed to control the debate instead of the facts.

My attitude is, if they do not support the veterans or support the men and women in the military with what they need to heal, then they don't deserve our support either. This has cost me dearly but when I think about what it has cost them, there is no contest.

If Senator Burr now wants the VA fixed, the question is, what changed his mind? This is not a game. This is life and death for our troops who end up wounded and for our veterans. Yet this is Burr's voting record.

Veterans Issues
Date
Bill Title
Vote
Outcome
09/27/2008
Continuing AppropriationsHR 2638
PN
Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate(78 - 12)
05/22/2008
GI Bill and Other Domestic ProvisionsS Amdt 4803
N
Amendment Adopted - Senate(75 - 22)
01/22/2008
Defense Authorizations BillHR 4986
Y
Bill Passed - Senate(91 - 3)
10/01/2007
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008HR 1585
Y
Bill Passed - Senate(92 - 3)
05/11/2006
Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005HR 4297
Y
Conference Report Adopted - Senate(54 - 44)
05/04/2006
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006HR 4939
N
Bill Passed - Senate(77 - 21)
02/02/2006
Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005HR 4297
N
Bill Passed - Senate(66 - 31)
02/02/2006
Tax Rate Extension AmendmentS AMDT 2735
N
Motion Rejected - Senate(44 - 53)
11/17/2005
Additional Funding For Veterans AmendmentS AMDT 2634
N
Motion Rejected - Senate(43 - 55)
10/05/2005
Health Care for Veterans AmendmentS AMDT 1937
N
Motion Rejected - Senate(48 - 51)
11/21/2003
Department of Veterans Affairs Improvement Act of 2003S 1156
Y
Bill Passed - House(423 - 2)
05/10/2002
National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003HR 4546
Y
Bill Passed - House(359 - 58)
11/08/2001
Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002HR 2620
Y
Conference Report Adopted - House(401 - 18)
10/14/1999
Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000HR 2684
Y
Conference Report Adopted - House(406 - 18)
09/21/1999
Veterans' Millennium Health Care ActHR 2116
Y
Bill Passed - House(369 - 46)
09/09/1999
Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000HR 2684
Y
Bill Passed - House(235 - 187)
09/24/1996
Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations billHR 3666
Y
Conference Report Adopted - House(388 - 25)
06/26/1996
Veterans Affairs, HUD FY97 Appropriations billHR 3666
Y
Bill Passed - House(269 - 147)

Veterans Issues

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2007-2008 In 2007-2008 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Burr a grade of C.

2006 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 60 percent in 2006.

2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Burr a grade of F.

2006 Senator Burr sponsored or co-sponsored 18 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.

2005 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 33 percent in 2005.

2004 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator Burr supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 17 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 38 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Senator Burr supported the interests of the American Veterans 50 percent in 2003.

2003 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2003.

2003 Senator Burr supported the interests of the The American Legion 60 percent in 2003.

2001 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 100 percent in 2001.

2001 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 77 percent in 2001.

1999 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 1999.

1997-1998 Senator Burr supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 50 percent in 1997-1998.
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=21787&type=category&category=66&go.x=16&go.y=8

Lawmakers conflicted on VA claims fixes

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 17, 2009 14:28:55 EDT

One reason that efforts to overhaul the veterans disability compensation system are taking so long could be conflicting pressures being applied by Congress.

On Thursday, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman said he wants to make sure changes are done right.

“We need to be deliberate as we work to develop solutions that will result in appropriate reform,” said Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

Noting that studies funded by the Veterans Affairs Department have shown that some veterans are underpaid and some are overpaid, Akaka said calculating the appropriate level of compensation for disabled veterans is “a complex matter.”

But while Akaka was talking about being “deliberate,” the committee’s ranking Republican was pushing VA to act now.

Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina said all he sees from VA are studies about reforming benefits that end up leading to more studies, while the window of opportunity for change rapidly closes.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/military_VA_disabilityclaims_091709w/