Discussing issues important to Alaska veterans such as eliminating the claims backlog and improving facilities and programs for women, U.S. Senator Mark Begich yesterday chaired a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) field hearing in Anchorage.
Speakers included Undersecretary of Health for the Department of Veterans Affairs Dr. Robert Petzl.
“Our veterans deserve our respect and appreciation as well as the benefits and services promised to them. Yesterday’s field hearing was a productive discussion about improving VA facilities and programs for our women veterans. Women vets are the fastest growing segment of the veteran population and, as a member of Veterans Affairs Committee, I repeatedly emphasize to my colleagues the importance of meeting all of our veterans’ needs.”
“I will continue to use my position on the committee to find the most effective ways to deliver health care to our veterans – whether it’s in-house or through cooperative agreements with Alaska Native health organizations – and to make sure we keep making progress in reducing the claims backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs. That’s why it was important to hold this hearing in Alaska and have these decision makers hear firsthand about Alaska veterans unique needs, where veteran programs here are excelling, and where changes need to be made.”
The witness list for yesterday’s hearing included:
- Vanessa Meade,Veteran
- Brandon McGuire, Veteran, Local 367, Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Katherine Gottlieb, MBA, DPS, President/CEO, Southcentral Foundation
- Robert Petzel, MD, Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs
- Lawrence Carroll, Director of the Northwest Network Veterans Integrated Service Network 20
- Susan Yaeger, Director, Alaska VA Health Care System, Veterans Health Administration
- Jon Skelly, Director, Anchorage Regional Office, Veterans Benefits Administration
- Thomas Hall, State Director, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, Department of Labor
- Calvin W. Goings, Regional Administrator, Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, and WA), Small Business Administration
