NEWS FROM…
CHAIRMAN BOB FILNER
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
http://veterans.house.gov
Schedule for Week of November 17, 2008
Tuesday, November 18 at 10:30 a.m. – 334 Cannon House Office Building
**Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Hearing
“VA Short and Long-Term Strategies for Implementing New G.I. Bill Requirements”
The hearing is one of an ongoing series of hearings from the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, where Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin is leading the Subcommittee’s oversight jurisdiction over a new veteran education program. The hearing will permit the Subcommittee to follow up on the previous hearings and allow representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs to present the on-going and evolving short and long-term strategies to implement the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. The Subcommittee seeks to work hand in hand with the VA to properly implement a workable solution that will be in the best interests of all service members who have earned these benefits.
At this hearing the VA will present its plan to update its internal Benefits Delivery Network by the August 1, 2009 deadline, the project timeline, regulations for the new education program, and plans for hiring new employees. The Subcommittee realizes the great value in having a streamlined, functional modern system that will manage, update and distribute benefits in a timely basis. The VA will also present a short overview of the long-term strategy which involves working with contractors to implement its original plan of upgrading its IT systems to a more modern rules-based system. A representative from Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Health Systems (SPAWAR) will be available to answer questions from the Subcommittee.
Witness List:
· Keith Wilson, Director, Office of Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by
o Stephen W. Warren, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Information and Technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
o Jan Frye, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acquisitions & Materiel Management
o Patrick K. Pearcy, VA Program Manager, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Health Systems CTO, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Wednesday, November 19 at 10 a.m. – 334 Cannon House Office Building
**House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Roundtable
Discussion on Issues Concerning Our Veterans
Participants will include representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans service organizations.
This is a public meeting.
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**Link to webcast available here: http://veterans.house.gov/
Keep updated on the committee schedule here: HVAC Website
Monday, November 17, 2008
NEWS FROM CHAIRMAN BOB FILNER
