Defense And Veterans

Member of:

Army Caucus

Congressional Joint Strike Fighter Caucus

USO Caucus

Veterans Job Caucus

Provide for the common defense

Our founders understood a strong national defense was one of the most fundamental roles of Congress as mandated by Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States. It is important for the United States to maintain a robust military that has the capacity and tools necessary to keep our nation secure from hostile nation states, terrorists, and rogue nations.

Our armed forces continue to be deeply engaged in a number of ongoing military operations around the world and I am committed to providing the necessary funding required to restore the readiness of our military, enhance the quality of life of military service members and their families, sustain and improve the armed forces, and properly safeguard the national security of the United States.

Additionally, I believe we should be very cautious about cutting the budget of our Armed Forces. Eliminating waste and fraud should be an ongoing effort, but I am not in favor of reducing America’s ability to defend ourselves or our allies.

May we never lose sight of their needs in the field and at home

America’s military veterans deserve to receive the benefits they were promised and I am working to reform our current system to offer veterans more choices and greater independence.

I served in the United States Army, Judge Advocate General Corps, from 1983 to 1987. And my daughter was in the Navy and is a veteran of Desert Storm. It is important we fulfill our commitments to our service men and women and their families, all of whom sacrifice dearly on our behalf. As we come to terms with the reality of the fiscal crisis, may we never lose sight of their needs, both in the field and at home. America’s military veterans deserve to receive the benefits they were promised, and I will continue to fight to reform our current system to offer veterans more choices and greater independence.

My staff and I are working to address the disability benefits claims backlog and have met with several senior level officials in the Department of Veterans affairs to find solutions:

• Met multiple times with Secretary Shinseki of Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Met with Under Secretary for Benefits Allison Hickey.
• Met with Under Secretary for Field Operations Diana Rubens and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Ranking Member Rep. Dina Titus.
• Met with Veterans Benefit Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Western Area Director Willie Clark.
• Regularly meet with Reno VA Regional Office Director Edward Russell. Ed Russell attended all of our veterans town halls to date.

Actions taken to assist Northern Nevada’s military and veterans:

• Sent Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel letter requesting a delay in the elimination of some TRICARE Prime Service Areas.
• Successfully introduced H.AMDT.82 to H.R. 2216, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2014, an amendment to require that $44 million be designated to increase staff at the Veterans Affairs regional offices. http://www.amodei.house.gov/news-releases/amodei-offers-successful-amendment-to-shift-funds-to-va-regional-offices-with-largest-backlogs/
• Veterans Town Hall Carson City – April 29, 2013
• HVAC Roundtable with Chairman Miller, 30 VSOs, Whip Kevin McCarthy, and Budget Chairman Paul Ryan – April 16, 2013
• Sent HVAC letter to DoD Secretary to improve disability benefits claims processing for service members and veterans – April 12, 2013
• Introduced “Naval Air Station Fallon Housing and Safety Development Act” to provide land for base housing – March 14, 2013
• Sent HVAC letter to Budget Chairman Ryan to Request Estimates for 2014 Funding – March 1, 2013
• Veterans Town Hall Fallon – January 11, 2013
• Introduced “The TRICARE Protection Act” with Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) to protect Nevada’s military retirees – December 5, 2012
• Sent letter to Assistant Secretary of Defense, Dr. Jonathan Woodson, to express concerns with TRICARE change – October 23, 2012
• Tour of Reno VA facility with Senator Heller and VARO Director Ed Russell – August 22, 2012
• Veterans Town Hall Reno – June 19, 2012
• Veterans Town Hall Elko – March 19, 2012
• Veterans Town Hall Winnemucca – January 6, 2012

Military/Veterans legislation I’ve cosponsored:

• H.R. 32, Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act
• H.R. 55, SHIELD Act of 2013
• H.R. 164, To Permit Disabled Veterans to Travel on Military Aircrafts on a Space-Available Basis
• H.R. 258, Stolen Valor Act of 2013
• H.R. 303, Retired Pay Restoration Act
• H.R. 324, To grant the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior service during World War II.
• H.R. 333, Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act
• H.R. 357, GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2013
• H.R. 481, To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to accept certain documents as proof of service in determining the eligibility of an individual to receive amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.
• H.R. 543, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013
• H.R. 569, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013
• H.R. 570, American Heroes COLA Act
• H.R. 685 American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act
• H.R. 588 Vietnam Veterans Donor Acknowledgment Act of 2013
• H.R. 755, To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol.
• H.R. 813, Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013
• H.R. 1864, To amend title 10, United States Code, to require an Inspector General investigation of allegations of retaliatory personnel actions taken in response to making protected communications regarding sexual assault
• H. R. 1971, To direct the Secretary of Defense to provide certain TRICARE beneficiaries with the opportunity to retain access to TRICARE Prime
• H,R, 2016, Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013
• H.R. 3576, Safeguarding Elections for our Nation’s Troops through Reforms and Improvements Act
• H.R. 4031, Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014
• H.R. 4370, Veterans Information Security Improvement Act
• H.R. 3930, National Commission on the Structure of the Army Act of 2014
• H.R. 4253, Bureau of Land Management Withdrawn Military Lands Efficiency and Savings Act
• H.Res. 293, Expressing Support for designation of August 2013 as “Blue Star Mothers of America Month”.

Military/Veterans legislationlistion I’ve sponsored:

• H.R. 1169, Naval Air Station Fallon Housing and Safety Development Act
• H.AMDT.82 to H.R.2216, Amendment provides that the $44 million in funding within the General Operating Expenses account of the Veterans Benefits Administration should be used for increased staffing in certain regional Veterans Affairs offices which passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 248-172.
   

Useful links:

113th Congress HVAC Markups:

http://veterans.house.gov/legislation?type=markup

Upcoming HVAC Committee Schedule:

http://veterans.house.gov/legislation/schedule

DAMA Subcommittee:

http://veterans.house.gov/Subcommittee%20on%20Disability%20Assistance%20and%20Memorial%20Affairs

Additional Resources:

http://veterans.house.gov/additional-resources

Veterans Service Organizations:

http://veterans.house.gov/citizens/resources

Report Waste, Fraud or Abuse:

http://veterans.house.gov/subcommittees/report-waste-fraud-and-abuse

Additional information:

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

Assistance For Veterans