More "CYA" from Congress on VA scandal

The headline over on Politico reads "House creates VA conference committee" but we're laughing at this one. Why? Because it was the JOB OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO STAY ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS ALL THESE YEARS!

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs’ historic legacy is captured in the Committee’s hearing rooms in the Cannon House Office Building, Rooms 334 and 340. The Committee has been formerly known by many names including the Committee on Naval Affairs and the Committee on World War Veterans’ Affairs. After the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the Committee became formally known as the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Even though the Committee’s name has changed over the years, its mission has remained constant – to represent America’s veterans, their families, and survivors.

History and Jurisdiction
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives was authorized by enactment of Public Law 601, 79th Congress, which was entitled "Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946." Section 121(a) of this Act provides: "there shall be elected by the House at the commencement of each Congress the following standing committees": Nineteen Committees are listed and No. 18 quotes: "Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to consist of 27 Members." This Act has since been amended so that there are now 22 Standing Committees in the House of Representatives. The number of Members (Representatives) authorized to serve on each Committee has been changed from time to time. There are currently 29 members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is the authorizing Committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Committee recommends legislation expanding, curtailing, or fine-tuning existing laws relating to veterans' benefits. The Committee also has oversight responsibility, which means monitoring and evaluating the operations of the VA. If the Committee finds the that VA is not administering laws as Congress intended, then it is "corrected" through the hearing process and legislation. We are the voice of Congress for veterans in dealings with the VA.

Jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Clause 1 and clauses 2, 3, and 4 of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives establishes the jurisdiction and related functions for each standing committee. Precedent is also used to determine committee jurisdiction.

Clause 1 of Rule X states "all bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to subjects within the jurisdiction of any standing committee as listed in this clause shall (in accordance with and subject to clause 5) be referred to such committees, as follows":

(r) Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
(1) Veterans' measures generally.
(2) Cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in the United States or abroad, except cemeteries administered by the Secretary of the Interior.
(3) Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education of veterans.
(4) Life insurance issued by the Government on account of service in the Armed Forces.
(5) Pensions of all the wars of the United States, general and special.
(6) Readjustment of servicemembers to civil life.
(7) Servicemembers' civil relief.
(8) Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of veterans.

For more information, please consult the Committee's Rules of Procedure for the 111th Congress.

The Committee has oversight responsibility for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. On a regular basis, the Committee with subcommittees, convenes hearings which examine issues such as: VA compliance with statutory provisions; VA's effectiveness in providing timely benefits and quality heath care; Management practices and efficient expenditure of resources. The Committee's legislative responsibilities cover a wide range of veterans issues. However, veterans and other interested people may be surprised to learn that the Veterans' Affairs Committee does not have legislative jurisdiction over the following issues:

Tax status of veterans benefits and contributions to Veterans Service Organizations (Committee on Ways and Means);
Military retiree issues, including COLA’s and disability pay (Committee on Armed Services);
CHAMPUS and Tri-Care (Committee on Armed Services);
Survivor Benefit Program (Committee on Armed Services);
Veterans Preference in Federal civil service hiring practice (Committee on Government Reform and Oversight);
Congressional charters for veterans service organizations (Committee on Judiciary);
Immigration issues relating to veterans (Committee on Judiciary); and
Issues dealing with Prisoners of War (POWs) and service members missing in action (MIAs) (Committee on Armed Services)

House creates VA conference committee
Politico
By LAUREN FRENCH
6/18/14

House and Senate lawmakers moved closer on Wednesday to new reforms to help fix problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities.

The House approved legislation to convene a conference committee on the two VA-focused bills that would allow veterans to seek private care if they waited longer than a “standard” period of time for treatment. The bill would also give VA leadership the ability to fire department officials found to be involved with misconduct or who are under-performing.
read more here

So exactly how did they expect to get away with all that has happened all these years without fixing any of it?

They don't get to use the excuse they didn't know. It was their jobs to know. They don't get to use the excuse no one told them since veterans told them over and over again when they called their offices looking for justice from the guys they elected.

They say people at the VA need to be fired but never seem to mention the fact they were supposed to be on top of all of it!