| 00:00:21 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
SHOULD BECOME DISABLED. FROM CAPITOL HILL THIS IS ABOUT AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. IF THANK U.S SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE...
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| 00:02:55 |
Michaud, Michael "Mike" - U.S. Representative, [D] Maine
WANT TO GIVE A QUICK OPENING STATEMENT? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE NATIONAL COMMANDER HERE THIS MORNING AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL...
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| 00:08:02 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE NATIONAL COMMANDER FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED....
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| 00:08:33 |
Lugar, Richard "Dick" G. - U.S. Senator, [R] Indiana
JAMES KOUTZ WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. YOU DON'T REMEMBER THIS THAT I MET YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1997 UP HERE IN WASHINGTON AND SO I HAVE GREAT...
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| 00:11:23 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
SERVICE TO THE 2.4 MILLION VETERANS THAT MAKE UP THE AMERICAN LEGION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MUCH MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAN LEGION'S IMPORTANT...
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| 00:11:48 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
TO DO SO. COMMANDER KOUTZ, YOU ARE NOW RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. I WANT TO THANK THE SENATOR FROM INDIANA, SENATOR LUGAR FOR...
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| 00:32:34 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
ON THAT. THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE...
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| 00:33:06 |
Begich, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Alaska
QUESTIONS MOMENTARILY, BUT SENATOR BEGICH FROM ALASKA HAS ARRIVED AND SINCE THE HOUSE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OUR OPENING STATEMENTS AND PRIOR...
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| 00:36:07 |
Boozman, John - U.S. Senator, [R] Arkansas
HUGE STEP FOR THE THOUSANDS OF VETERANS AND ALASKA SO PLEASE DELETE TO SPEAK TO YOU FOR SUPPORTING THAT AND TO THE VA FOR BEING INNOVATIVE IN THEIR...
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| 00:41:25 |
Q&A, -
MEN AND WOMEN SERVING OVERSEAS. AND SO
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| 00:41:28 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
AGAIN I THINK IN A FAVOR A BIPARTISAN WAY WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. AND SO, WE ARE GOING TO PRESS ON IN THAT...
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| 00:43:41 |
Boozman, John - U.S. Senator, [R] Arkansas
GOOD CRITICAL SKILLS AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS AND I CAN TEACH THEM HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE. BUT SEND ME SOMEONE THAT KNOWS HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE OUT CENT...
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| 00:46:06 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
CLAIMS HAD ADJUDICATED AT 100%. WELL, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD A HEARING JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHERE WE KIND OF TOOK A STATUS...
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| 00:46:48 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
THE CONGRESS DO LEGISLATIVELY IF YOU WILL. WE ALL TALK ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD, THAT IS YEARS AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO TRULY HAVE THAT...
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| 00:48:51 |
Gaytan, Peter - Executive Director
THAT YOUR SERVICE OFFICERS PUT TOGETHER OUR AD ADJUDICATED COMPLETE? THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY GET A RATING THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR, BUT THE PERCENTAGE...
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| 00:49:41 |
Jones, Verna - Director
WELL-TRAINED SERVICE OFFICERS TO DO THIS. YOU'RE SPECIFIC QUESTION ON THE NUMBER THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION AT ADJUDICATES FOR I WOULD
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| 00:49:48 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
LIKE TO DEFER TO THE DIRECTOR VERNA JONES IN THAT AREA. >> WE RECEIVED A REPORT FROM THE VA LAST WEEK AND I CAN TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS FOR LEGION...
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| 00:50:25 |
Michaud, Michael "Mike" - U.S. Representative, [D] Maine
HANDLE ON HOW MANY CLAIMS ARE BEING DONE BY THE VETERAN THEMSELVES OBVIOUSLY USING THE VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER THE ASSUMPTION FROM MY STANDPOINT IS...
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| 00:55:17 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
TO ADDRESS, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT IS ALREADY LAW. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT IS THE AMERICAN LEGION POSITION? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT OUR SOLDIERS THAT...
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| 00:55:41 |
Michaud, Michael "Mike" - U.S. Representative, [D] Maine
AMERICA? .. TO SIGN THAT LETTER TO THE ADMINISTRATION
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| 00:56:21 |
Begich, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Alaska
REQUIRING THEM TO COMPLY WITH THE INTENT OF THE LAW. IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE HAVE TO DO THAT. AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE SOME CHANGES IN THAT REGARD. THANK...
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| 00:57:24 |
Jones, Verna - Director
KEEP TRACK OF THE ACCEPTANCE RATE, AND WHAT I MEAN IS YOU SUBMIT THEM, HOW OFTEN DO THEY GOT TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY? WHAT IS THAT...
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| 00:58:55 |
Begich, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Alaska
ALSO THE VETERANS ARE RECEIVING THE BENEFIT SO MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE MEASURE THE SUCCESS RATE. SPENT ABSOLUTELY. AS A MATTER-OF-FACT...
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| 01:00:22 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
PASSED EARLIER I HAD AN AMENDMENT WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL, WHICH ENSURED THAT TO USE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH TELEMEDICINE WHICH IS PROVING TO...
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| 01:02:12 |
Boozman, John - U.S. Senator, [R] Arkansas
THE AMERICAN LEGION IS CONCERNED THAT IF WE NEED TO KEEP WATCHING AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING WITH THE G.I. BILL IN CASE WE NEED TO IMPROVE IT. THERE'S...
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| 01:03:02 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
SPECIFIC STRATEGIC PLAN HOW TO DO THAT. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THE ACTIVE IN THAT REGARD. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON SQUISHY FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO A BETTER...
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| 01:05:46 |
Jones, Verna - Director
MENTIONED WHAT'S ON ALL OF OUR MINDS, YOU KNOW, THAT BACKLOG AND THE STUFF, HOW CAN WE BE HELPFUL. CAN YOU DESCRIBE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL THE...
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| 01:06:24 |
Boozman, John - U.S. Senator, [R] Arkansas
DOCUMENT AND WHAT DOCUMENTS THEY NEED TO BRING THEM. AND IT WILL EVEN HELP THEM PUTTING THEIR ZIP CODE AND DETERMINE WHICH VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE IS...
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| 01:07:12 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
MEN, MUST ADAPT TO MEET THESE UNIQUE NEEDS OF TODAY'S VETERANS POPULATION, YOU KNOW, WITH US HAVING SO MANY MORE FEMALES IN THE MILITARY. AND I GUESS,...
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| 01:08:27 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
GET A WOMAN VETERANS COORDINATOR IN EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE AMERICAN LEGION, ONCE WITH IT ALL THAT COMMITTEE TOGETHER THAT OF HOPING THAT THE AMERICAN...
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| 01:11:52 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
OF. WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE IT QUICKLY TO THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE. AND SOME OF THEM ARE IN RURAL AREAS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND IT'S...
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| 01:12:36 |
Gaytan, Peter - Executive Director
THESE MENTAL HEALTH. A LOT OF THESE MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T EVEN WANT TO COME. THEY WANT TO STAY IN THEM, THE BACK. BUT I THINK WITH YOUR...
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| 01:15:17 |
Michaud, Michael "Mike" - U.S. Representative, [D] Maine
AMERICAN LEGION IS TALKING TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THOSE OPTION BUT I THINK YOU AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO REALIZE HOW MUCH THAT...
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| 01:18:37 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
TO GET THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES? AND ONCE AGAIN I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT THE VA SINCE EVERYTHING UP BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD. BUT I DO THINK...
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| 01:19:33 |
Begich, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Alaska
NEARLY STOPPED. THERE'S WAY TOO MUCH SUICIDE GOING ON, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS. THERE ARE STILL VIETNAM VETERANS THAT...
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| 01:24:38 |
Gaytan, Peter - Executive Director
YEARS AGO AND THERE WERE ONLY 160 SLIDE INTO POWERPOINT AND I SAID ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I WOULDN'T EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO THAT. WE READ A LOT OF MATERIAL...
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| 01:26:33 |
Begich, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Alaska
THOSE TRANCES THINK VETERANS. WITH IT PROGRAM IT'S A GREAT APPROACH. WE ARE PART OF IMPROVING IT AND IN FACT I'M GOING TO BE GOING TO NORA VOLKOW ON...
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| 01:27:40 |
Jones, Verna - Director
QUESTION AND I WILL CEASE AT THAT POINT. I KNOW WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WOMEN'S VETERANS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING. YOU KNOW I KNOW IT'S A CRITICAL...
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| 01:30:35 |
Boozman, John - U.S. Senator, [R] Arkansas
WOMEN LARGELY IMPART WOMEN, PROVIDING THE BURDEN OF PROOF FOR WOMEN GROUPING CLAIMS FOR THE MILITARY. WE WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT FOR PTSD. SO WHAT...
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| 01:31:18 |
Koutz, James E. - National Commander
AND ESPECIALLY COMING FROM SOMEBODY THAT CAN RELAY THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES VERY IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR PARTICULAR ORDEAL AND...
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| 01:31:55 |
Miller, Jeff - U.S. Representative, [R] Florida
ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS. WE THANK YOU AND JUST LET ME SAY THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION IS ALWAYS HERE. WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR THE...
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NOTE: The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.