Bernie Sanders

Thank you for your continued leadership on veteran's issues and for convening this hearing today.

I believe that S. 852 will give us the opportunity to pilot these methods responsibly within the VA.

BVA requests support for these bills which will ensure that VHA can improve care and access for disabled veterans.

The VA tends to be ahead of the curve in the use of these compared to a civilian population

On behalf of the 2,100 community- and faith-based organizations NCHV represents, we thank you for your steadfast commitment to serving our Nation's most vulnerable heroes.

I know it is easy to beat up on the VA but the VA has made some significant improvements under General Shinseki and taken important steps in dealing with what I consider a national embarrassment, and that is homelessness among veterans.

Sometimes this Committee has had a problem with getting reports in a timely manner.

All of us are wrestling the epidemic of PTSD.

My impression is that people are gravitating more to these type of procedures.

Introduced by Chairman Bernie Sanders and Ranking Member Richard Burr, S. 825 would--among many important provisions--reauthorize competitive grant programs for community- and faith-based veteran service providers.

Senator Burr and I have introduced legislation to make common sense improvements to some of VA's programs for homeless veterans, including making transitional housing programs more accessible to the growing population of homeless women…

I have introduced legislation to expand VA's caregiver program to veterans of all eras.

I look forward to working with you to make sure that we pass that important piece of legislation.

I think people are aware of the fact that veterans throughout this country are addressing many serious issues.

I applaud the intention and design of this bill and commend you for taking the initiative in this vital area.

This is important legislation with real promise to address the physical, mental and spiritual injuries incurred in war.

I want to see every veteran in this country who is entitled to benefits to get them or at least know about them.

I am honored to appear before this Committee as the policy director of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

We greatly appreciate your continued efforts to support and improve veterans' health care.

We welcome the focus on health-promotion in S. 852, and believe VA health care facilities can be important settings to advance the goal of wellness.

BVA strongly supports this bill as it would expand eligibility for comprehensive benefits and services to family caregivers of all veterans.

Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Bernie Sanders introduced S. 851, the Caregivers Expansion and Improvement Act of 2013.

The breadth of this bill is a testament to this Committee's leadership in the effort to prevent and end veteran homelessness.

I would like to thank Ranking Member Burr for his ongoing efforts to support our Camp Lejeune veterans.

I was pleased to support the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010.