VETERANS: Chairman Murray Confronts VA Secretary on Rules that Deny Benefits to those who are Caring for Injured Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Chairman Patty Murray, pointedly questioned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Secretary Eric Shinseki over the VA’s decision to limit a benefit for the
caregivers of severely injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.  The VA’s
decision, which cuts back stipends for those who have left careers behind to
care for their injured loved ones, ignores the will of Congress in passing the caregivers
law last year.

“I have already discussed the caregivers issue with you,
with Jack Lew, with senior staff at the White House, and I have spoken directly
with the President,” Senator Murray said at today’s hearing. “VA’s
plan was overdue and once submitted it hardly resembled the bill that
unanimously cleared this Congress.

“Rather than following the law, the Administration set
forth some overly stringent rules  — bureaucratic hurdles that would deny
help to caregivers.  We are hearing from veterans and caregivers from all
across the country who fall outside of this new line in the sand that the VA
has drawn or who have been left in limbo – and now don’t know if the benefit
they have been advocating for will support them.”

After questioning Shinseki about why the VA is not complying
with the law, Murray also pointed out that the VA has only set aside a fraction
of the funding authorized for the caregiver program. Secretary Shinseki
acknowledged that all of the funding is not being used because of the narrowing
eligibility requirements. Secretary Shinseki also acknowledged that the benefit
has taken too long to implement.

TO WATCH SENATOR MURRAY QUESTION SECRETARY SHINSEKI
VISIT: http://veterans.senate.gov/hearings.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=5ee43015-815c-4f30-a682-7fa0115ebb63

The caregivers question appears at the 77 minute
mark.