Bob Filner

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5630) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5630.

Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Arkansas, Representative John Boozman, for introducing this bill, which seeks to set minimum educational and training standards for certain employees of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This would, of course, help veterans while they set their employment goals. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5993, the Securing America's Veterans Insurance Needs and Goals, or SAVINGS, Act. This bill was sponsored by one of our esteemed colleagues, Representative Debbie Halvorson of Illinois, to ensure that beneficiaries of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, SGLI, receive financial counseling, greater disclosure information and other needed support concerning the proceeds of their SGLI life insurance benefits. Mrs. Halvorson acted very quickly in response to some of the publicity on this and to some of the pain felt by the survivors. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson).

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. By the way, I didn't see a copy of the agreement. What is the date of that agreement, Mr. Buyer? I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, how much time does each side have?

Mr. FILNER. The gentleman stands behind Mrs. Halvorson's bill, and we will not withdraw it.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I guess I thank the gentlelady. Within a day of the publicity that surrounded Prudential apparently not giving sufficient information, you had this bill. You moved very quickly and very decisively, and it is going to help all of the survivors and their families. Thank you so much for your quick action. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, we had a little lecture on the suspension calendar, which is supposed to be items of consensus. This item was discussed and voted on by our committee. If I recall, there was one ``no,'' the ranking member. There were no other ``no'' votes. The ranking member confuses his singular and personal opposition to the fact that, oh, I guess everybody disagrees with it. No, this came out of our committee with one ``no'' vote. So the gentleman just doesn't understand what consensus means. He thinks if he alone is against it-- as I recall, he was the only one in this whole body that voted against a truly interesting new way to approach financing, and that was advanced appropriations. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman gave us a lecture on suspension calendar and consensus. He was the only ``no'' vote. He was the only ``no'' vote when we had advance appropriations. Everybody else is wrong but the gentleman. This bill, as I said before, and as Mrs. Halvorson said very distinctly and very eloquently, is about disclosure, accountability, transparency. The survivors need to know what is going on. We will, as the gentleman requested, have and are pursuing the investigation. We are pursuing whether the so-called retained asset account is the legal structure that should happen. The VA is pursuing that. And we will get to that. But right now, right now, as men and women are dying in action, their survivors need to know what is going on. We can't wait for this process to go on and on and on and on, especially when they face a huge insurance company. The gentleman asked what organizations support us. The American Legion has a letter supporting us. I didn't hear any letter that the gentleman had. As Mrs. Halvorson read, the National Military Families Association supports this bill. And the Gold Star Wives of America, the preeminent group that works for the benefit of survivors of those who are killed in action, has sent us the following letter: ``In light of the recent news that insurance companies could potentially use group life insurance policies to profit from accounts it maintains for families of fallen soldiers, Gold Star Wives of America supports H.R. 5993. It would ensure that insurance companies authorized by VA to administer the SGLI accounts are fully open and honest about its practices for those policies on which so many servicemembers rely to ensure financial security for their families. ``The bill, the SAVINGS Act introduced by Representative Debbie Halvorson of Illinois, would mandate that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs require insurance companies that provide coverage through this program to offer financial counseling and improved disclosure of information to family members and survivors. ``It is critical that the options and information available for survivors offered under the SGLI program involve more disclosure and greater transparency. H.R. 5993 would do that by guaranteeing that survivors of our fallen heroes have access to oral and written financial counseling. These greater disclosure requirements and counseling would better help survivors to understand their options so that they make sound decisions during a stressful and sorrowful time. ``Gold Star Wives of America supports H.R. 5993 so that we can do everything in our power to protect the families and survivors of our fallen soldiers. Their loved ones have answered the call and their survivors deserve these protections.'' Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Bellevue, NE, September 26, 2010. Chairman Bob Filner, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. In light of recent news that insurance companies could potentially use group life insurance policies to profit from accounts it maintains for the families of fallen soldiers, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc supports H.R. 5993. H.R. 5993 would ensure that insurance companies authorized by VA to administer SGLI accounts are fully open and honest about its practices for these policies on which so many servicemembers rely to ensure financial security for their families. H.R. 5993, the Securing America's Veterans Insurance Needs and Goals (SAVINGS) Act of 2010, introduced by Representative Debbie Halvorson, would mandate that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs require insurance companies that provide coverage through the Sevicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program, to offer financial counseling and improved disclosure information to family members and survivors of fallen soldiers. It would also require an annual report to Congress by VA to ensure that insurance companies are being responsive to military families and survivors and that the Office of Survivors Assistance will be a greater resource in this effort. It is critical that the options and information available for survivors offered under the SGLI program involve more disclosure and greater transparency. H.R. 5993 would do that by guaranteeing that survivors of our fallen heroes have access to oral and written financial counseling. This greater disclosure requirements and counseling would better help survivors to understand their options so that they can make sound decisions during a stressful and sorrowful time. Gold Star Wives of America, Inc supports H.R. 5993 so that we can do everything in our power to protect the families and survivors of our fallen soldiers. Their loved ones have answered the call and their survivors deserve these protections. Respectfully, Martha M. Didamo, Board Chair, Mr. Speaker, in support of H.R. 5993, as amended, I am submitting letters of support from The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., and the National Military Family Association. The American Legion, Office of the National Commander, Washington, DC, September 27, 2010. Hon. Debbie Halvorson, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Halvorson: In light of recent news that insurance companies contracted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to administer the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program (SGLI) could potentially use group life insurance policies to obtain profits from the families of fallen soldiers, The American Legion supports proposed legislation which seeks to ensure that insurance companies are open and honest about the policies on which so many military families rely. The legislation you recently introduced, H.R. 5993, Securing America's Veterans Insurance Needs and Goals (SAVINGS) Act, would mandate the VA Secretary to require those insurance companies offering coverage through the SGLI program to provide the beneficiaries of fallen soldiers with financial counseling and disclosure information. In addition, this Act would obligate the VA to provide a report to Congress annually to ensure that those insurance companies are being responsive to military families. It is critical to insure complete transparency, full disclosure, and increased information be afforded to military families on insurance matters. This legislation would guarantee the families of our fallen heroes have access to oral and written financial counseling. This counseling would better help family members understand their options so that they can make sound fiscal decisions during a stressful and harrowing period. The American Legion supports H.R. 5993 as introduced so that we can protect the military families of our fallen soldiers. However, The American Legion has additional concerns not addressed in the original bill which are equally as important. This legislation does not address Retained Asset Accounts (RAA) for disbursement of benefits. This is a common practice used by many insurers for distribution of benefits. However, The American Legion is concerned this method of disbursement may be a violation of Title 38 USC Sec. 1970(d) which requires payments be in 36 monthly installments or one lump sum. The practice should be either stopped or the law needs to be changed. Of further concern to The American Legion is that this legislation does not address the practice of the insurance company executing the program making a profit on the account after the death of a service member and actually misrepresenting or over representing the ``interest bearing account,'' benefit of the program to a payee. It is standard policy of the insurance industry to reinvest the money not withdrawn by the payee and to collect interest on that money. The insurer then passes on to the payee a small amount of the interest. While legal and a common industry practice, it should be forbidden by law in the case of military members who have given their lives for the Nation. Precedence has been made in setting aside veterans and military in the case of health care insurance and other entitlements due to military service. The American Legion feels that ALL interest received on investments after servicemember's death should be passed on to the payees of the policy. Sincerely, Jimmie L. Foster, National Commander.L

Mr. FILNER. I thank the gentleman from Indiana. The ranking member and I have no disagreement that this law before us is not about substance. There is an investigation ongoing. Our committee is investigating. We will have hearings on this. But it's not politics over substance. It's accountability transparency over substance. And all of the leading organizations which have to deal with the beneficiaries, with the survivors of those killed in action support this bill. The National Military Family Association, the Gold Star Wives, amongst others. So this legislation is about transparency. It's about accountability. It's about disclosure. It's about people understanding the process. This bill doesn't condone anything. It just says that those grief- stricken survivors know what's happening to them under the procedure that we have. Whether it's a proper procedure, whether it's based on an illegal account is something that the courts are working out and we're investigating. Right now everybody just wants to know what is going on and to have the insurance company, Prudential, disclose everything in advance so a decision can be made by the grief-stricken survivors. That is all we are doing in this bill, and it is needed. It is, in fact, demanded by those who represent the survivors that we act quickly to give some measure of accountability and disclosure to those beneficiaries. We need this bill, and we need it now. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5993) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that beneficiaries of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance receive financial counseling and disclosure information regarding life insurance payments, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3787, as amended.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3787) to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today there are over a million men and women serving in our country in the National Guard and Reserves performing a wide variety of duties from combat operations around the world to responding to natural disasters at home. Members in the National Guard serve two commanders--the President, if called upon to join active duty components of the armed services, and the Governor of their State. Because of this, they were some of the first on the scene to bring calm following Hurricane Katrina. And during the recent British Petroleum oil spill in the gulf, over 1,600 members of National Guard units from four States were mobilized to protect our treasured coastline. At age 60, members of the Guard with 20 years of service qualify for benefits similar to military retirees but cannot be designated as veterans of the armed services. As such, these so-called gray-area retirees cannot call themselves veterans even for honorary purposes. As such, they are not saluted during veterans' tributes and don't enjoy other ceremonial veterans' honors. This bill would allow the members of the Reserve component the honor of calling themselves veterans. Specifically, this bill would establish members of the National Guard who are eligible for a non-regular retirement, but who were never called to active duty during their careers, to be called veterans for honorary purposes. The chief sponsor of this bill is Representative Walz from Minnesota. He served 24 years in the National Guard, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major; and in fact is the highest ranking enlisted man ever elected to this Congress. When he was called to active duty for the period required to earn him full veteran status, he realized that many of his brothers and sisters at arms were denied that honor. This legislation is supported by members of the Military Coalition and the National Military Veterans Alliance, which together represent several million active duty servicemembers, veterans, and their families. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3787. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5360) to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. FILNER. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5360.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H.R. 3685, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3685) to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Cliff Stearns of Florida for introducing this bill, which seeks to include an important link to the VetSuccess program on the home page of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Web site. Like the other two bills before us today, it helps those veterans seeking employment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6132) to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a transition program for new veterans, to improve the disability claim system, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. FILNER. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6132, as amended.