Homelessness

Homeless veterans are persons who have served in the armed forces who are homeless or living without access to secure and appropriate accommodation.

  • In the ‘About’ section of this post is an overview of the issues or challenges, potential solutions, and web links. Other sections have information on relevant legislation, committees, agencies, programs in addition to information on the judiciary, nonpartisan & partisan organizations, and a wikipedia entry.
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The Homeless veterans category has related posts on government agencies and departments and  committees and their Chairs.

OnAir Post: Homelessness

Veterans Affairs Department

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.

Non-healthcare benefits include disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, and life insurance. The VA also provides burial and memorial benefits to eligible veterans and family members at 135 national cemeteries.

OnAir Post: Veterans Affairs Department

Veterans’ Affairs Committee (Senate)

Mission:  
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs deals with oversight of United States veterans problems and issues.

House counterpart: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

Democratic Members (Minority):
Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut – Ranking Membe
Patty Murray, Washington
Bernie Sanders, Vermont
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire
Angus King, Maine
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
Ruben Gallego, Arizona
Elissa Slotkin, Michigan

Republican Members (Majority):
Jerry Moran, Kansas, Chair
John Boozman, Arkansas
Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Thom Tillis, North Carolina
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Jim Banks, Indiana
Tim Sheehy, Montana

Featured Video: 
Jon Tester addresses the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

OnAir Post: Veterans’ Affairs Committee (Senate)

Jerry Moran – KS

Current Position: US Senator since 2011
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: State Delegate from 1997 – 2011; State Senator from 1989 – 1997
Other Positions:  
Ranking Member – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Related Agencies

Moran worked as a banker before receiving his Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1982. He practiced law at Stinson, Mag & Fizzell in Kansas City, and later joined Jeter & Larson Law Firm in Hays, where he practiced for 15 years. In addition to his law practice, he served as the state special assistant attorney general (1982–1985) and deputy county attorney of Rooks County (1987–1995).

Featured Quote: 
Our farmers and ranchers should not be forced to shoulder the Democrats’ trillion dollar spending spree to expand social programs. I spoke on the Senate floor regarding a potential tax provision in the Democrats’ tax-and-spend spree that would harm multi-generational farms.

Sen. Moran Speaks in Opposition to H.R. 1 on the Senate Floor

OnAir Post: Jerry Moran – KS

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House)

The Committee has jurisdiction over veterans’ measures generally, including veterans’ hospitals, medical care, treatment compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education, as well as over pensions of all the wars of the United States (general and special), the readjustment of servicemembers to civil life, and servicemembers’ civil relief. To ensure veterans receive these crucial services and benefits,

Senate Counterpart: Committee on Veteran Affairs’

Subcommittees:

  • Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
  • Economic Opportunity
  • Health
  • Oversight and Investigations
  • Technology Modernization

Chair: Mike Bost, Illinois (R)
Ranking Member: Mark Takano, California (D)

Majority Staff Director: Jon Clark
Minority Staff Director: Matt Reel
Meeting Location: 364 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20003
Office:(202) 225-3527

Featured Video: Aging in Place: Examining Veterans’ Access to Home and Community Based Services – July 27, 2021
Web Links

OnAir Post: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House)

Mike Bost IL-12

Current Position: US Representative of IL District 12 since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: State Delegate from 1995 – 2015
District: the entirety of Southern Illinois, spanning the Illinois-Missouri-Kentucky-Indiana border.  
Upcoming Election:

Before holding elected office, he was a firefighter. Bost ran his family’s trucking business for ten years. Since 1989, he and his wife Tracy have owned and operated White House Salon in Murphysboro.

Featured Quote: 
“I am a true believer that local control is better. I believe that our school boards should be able to make decisions on their own. I am not a big government person, and the only concern I have is that the fact is, the governor is taking a very strong step for local control,” Bost said.

 
Bost Speaks Against H.R. 1 mar. 6, 2021

OnAir Post: Mike Bost IL-12

Mark Takano CA-39

Current Position: US Representative of CA District 39 since 2013 (formerly 41st)
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: English Teacher from 1990 – 2013
Other positions: House Veterans Affairs Committee
District:    parts of Riverside County, including Jurupa Valley, Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris.
Upcoming Election:

Quotes: 
In 2012, I became the first openly gay person of color elected to Congress. Today I’m serving as Speaker Pro Tem as the House prepares to vote on the #EqualityAct. I’m thinking of those who marched and built a movement to protect the lives of LGBTQ+ people and expand our rights.

Rep. Mark Takano of California speaks at the Democratic National Convention

OnAir Post: Mark Takano CA-39

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