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110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 110-57
======================================================================
AMENDING TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, TO IMPROVE COMPENSATION BENEFITS
FOR VETERANS IN CERTAIN CASES OF IMPAIRMENT OF VISION INVOLVING BOTH
EYES, TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF THE NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES FOR
INCOME VERIFICATION PURPOSES, TO EXTEND THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE FOR
QUALIFYING WORK STUDY ACTIVITIES, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PROVISION OF
BRONZE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE LETTER ``V'' FOR THE GRAVES OF ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUALS BURIED IN PRIVATE CEMETERIES IN LIEU OF GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED
HEADSTONES OR MARKERS
_______
March 20, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Filner, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 797]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred the
bill (H.R. 797) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve compensation benefits for veterans in certain cases of
impairment of vision involving both eyes, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon
with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. ENHANCED COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR VETERANS IN CERTAIN CASES
OF IMPAIRMENT OF VISION INVOLVING BOTH EYES.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Dr. James Allen
Veteran Vision Equity Act''.
(b) Enhanced Compensation.--Section 1160(a)(1) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``blindness'' both places it appears and
inserting ``impairment of vision''; and
(2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the
following: ``, where the impairment in each eye is to a visual
acuity of 20/200 or less or of a peripheral field of 20 degrees
or less''.
SEC. 2. USE OF NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES FOR INCOME VERIFICATION
PURPOSES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS BENEFITS.
(a) Use of Information in National Directory of New Hires.--Chapter
53 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 5320. Use of National Directory of New Hires for income
verification purposes
``(a) Information From National Directory of New Hires.--(1) The
Secretary shall furnish to the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
on a quarterly basis or at such intervals as may be determined by the
Secretary, information in the custody of the Secretary for comparison
with information in the National Directory of New Hires maintained by
the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 453 of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653), in order to obtain the
information in such directory with respect to individuals under the age
of 65 who are applicants for or recipients of benefits or services
specified in subsection (d).
``(2) The Secretary shall seek information pursuant to this
subsection only to the extent essential to determining eligibility for
benefits and services specified in subsection (d) and the amount of
benefits specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of that subsection for
individuals under the age of 65.
``(3)(A) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in cooperation
with the Secretary, shall compare information in the National Directory
of New Hires with information in the custody of the Secretary furnished
pursuant to paragraph (1), and disclose information in that Directory
to the Secretary, in accordance with this subsection, for the purposes
specified in this subsection.
``(B) The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make a
disclosure in accordance with subparagraph (A) only to the extent that
the Secretary determines that such disclosure does not interfere with
the effective operation of the program under part D of title IV of the
Social Security Act.
``(4) The Secretary may use information resulting from a data match
pursuant to this subsection only for the purpose of determining
eligibility for benefits and services specified in subsection (d) and
the amount of benefits specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of that
subsection.
``(5) The Secretary shall reimburse the Secretary of Health and Human
Services for the additional costs incurred by that Secretary in
furnishing information under this subsection. Such reimbursement shall
be at rates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines
to be reasonable (which rates shall include payment for the costs of
obtaining, verifying, maintaining, and comparing the information).
``(b) Notification to Beneficiaries.--The Secretary shall notify each
applicant for, or recipient of, a benefit or service specified in
subsection (d) that income information furnished by the applicant to
the Secretary may be compared with information obtained by the
Secretary from the Secretary of Health and Human Services under
subsection (a). The Secretary shall periodically transmit to recipients
of such benefits additional notifications of such matters.
``(c) Independent Verification Required.--The Secretary may not, by
reason of information obtained from the Secretary of Health and Human
Services under subsection (a) , terminate, deny, suspend, or reduce any
benefit or service described in subsection (d) until the Secretary
takes appropriate steps to verify independently information relating to
employment and employment income.
``(d) Covered Benefits and Services.--The benefits and services
specified in this subsection are the following:
``(1) Needs-based pension benefits provided under chapter 15
of this title or under any other law administered by the
Secretary.
``(2) Parents' dependency and indemnity compensation provided
under section 1315 of this title.
``(3) Health-care services furnished under subsections
(a)(2)(G), (a)(3), and (b) of section 1710 of this title.
``(4) Compensation paid under chapter 11 of this title at the
100 percent rate based solely on unemployability and without
regard to the fact that the disability or disabilities are not
rated as 100 percent disabling under the rating schedule.
``(e) Limitation With Respect to Individual Unemployability Cases.--
In the case of compensation described in subsection (d)(4), the
Secretary may independently verify or otherwise act upon wage or self-
employment information referred to in subsection (c) of this section
only if the Secretary finds that the amount and duration of the
earnings reported in that information clearly indicate that the
individual is not qualified for a rating of total disability.
``(f) Opportunity to Contest Findings.--The Secretary shall inform
the individual of the findings made by the Secretary on the basis of
verified information under subsection (c), and shall give the
individual an opportunity to contest such findings, in the same manner
as applies to other information and findings relating to eligibility
for the benefit or service involved.
``(g) Source of Funds for Administration of Section.--The Secretary
shall pay the expenses of carrying out this section from amounts
available to the Department for the payment of compensation and
pension.
``(h) Termination of Authority.--The authority of the Secretary to
obtain information from the Secretary of Health and Human Services
under subsection (a) expires on September 30, 2012.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``5320. Use of National Directory of New Hires for income verification
purposes.''.
(c) Effective Date.--Section 5320 of title 38, United States Code, as
added by subsection (a), shall take effect 270 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO
PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE TO
PERSONS PERFORMING QUALIFYING WORK-STUDY
ACTIVITIES.
Section 3485(a)(4) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``June 30, 2007'' each place it appears and inserting ``June
30, 2009''.
SEC. 4. PROVISION OF BRONZE REPRESENTATION OF THE LETTER ``V'' FOR
GRAVE OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL BURIED IN PRIVATE
CEMETERY IN LIEU OF GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED HEADSTONE
OR MARKER.
Section 2306(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) In lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker under this
subsection, the Secretary may furnish, if requested, a bronze
representation of the letter `V' to be attached to a headstone or
marker furnished at private expense. The Secretary shall make such
representation available in two sizes for such purpose.''.
Amend the title so as to read:
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
compensation benefits for veterans in certain cases of
impairment of vision involving both eyes, to provide for the
use of the National Directory of New Hires for income
verification purposes, to extend the authority of the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to provide an educational assistance
allowance for qualifying work study activities, and to
authorize the provision of bronze representations of the letter
``V'' for the graves of eligible individuals buried in private
cemeteries in lieu of Government-provided headstones or
markers.
Introduction
On February 5, 2007, the Honorable Tammy Baldwin introduced
H.R. 797, which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs. The Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
the Honorable Bob Filner, the Honorable Stephanie Herseth, the
Honorable Shelley Berkley, the Honorable Jeff Miller, the
Honorable John Hall and the Honorable John Boozman are original
co-sponsors of H.R. 797.
On March 13, 2007, the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs met in open session to consider
legislation pending before the Subcommittee. Among the measures
considered was H.R. 797. The Subcommittee subsequently
favorably recommended H.R. 797 to the full Committee on
Veterans' Affairs.
On March 15, 2007, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs met
and voted by voice to favorably report H.R. 797 with
amendments.
Summary
H.R. 797 would allow veterans who receive veterans
disability compensation for impairment of vision in one eye to
be eligible to receive additional disability compensation for
impairment of vision in the eye that is not service-connected,
where the impairment in each eye is to a visual acuity of 20/
200 or less or of a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less (the
definition of ``legal blindness'' adopted by all 50 states and
the Social Security Administration.)
H.R. 797 also would direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to match
and compare VA needs-based pension benefits data, parents'
dependency and indemnity compensation data, health-care
services data, and unemployability compensation data with the
National Directory of New Hires maintained by DHHS, for the
purpose of determining eligibility for such benefits and
services.
Finally, H.R. 797 would extend authorization of the
veterans work study program until 2009 and allows for a bronze
``V'' marker in lieu of a government provided head stone or
marker for burials in a private cemetery.
Background and Discussion
A. ENHANCED COMPENSATION FOR IMPAIRMENT OF VISION
This legislation is named after Dr. James Allen who is a
Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine. Dr. Allen worked at the Veterans Affairs
Hospital in Wisconsin for thirty-three years and treated
numerous eye patients, including blind veterans.
Current law provides that a veteran who is service-
connected for blindness in one eye could qualify for additional
disability compensation if he or she became blind in the
remaining eye for non service-connected reasons. However, the
applicable law, the Paired Organ Law of title 38 of the United
States Code enacted in 1962, does not define the term
``blindness'' nor is any provision made for impairment of
vision (in the non-service-connected eye) short of blindness.
The VA, rather than follow the accepted definition of
blindness as visual acuity of 20/200 or less or a peripheral
view of 20 degrees or less, applies a much stricter standard of
5/200 (20/800) or less, which is the equivalent to having an
eye with light perception only. The 20/200 standard is applied
by the Social Security Administration, all 50 states and the
World Health Organization.
H.R. 797 would affect an estimated 5 percent of the 13,109
veterans who have service connected blindness or loss of vision
in one eye. As of April 2006, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
alone has treated approximately 140 Operation Enduring Freedom/
Operation Iraqi Freedom service members for visual injuries.
In 2002, Congress passed and the President signed P.L. 107-
330, which included a provision (Section 103) to correct a
similar deficiency in the Paired Organ law for hearing loss. In
2006, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a legislative
hearing and received favorable testimony on H.R. 2963, a bill
similar to H.R. 797. In the aforementioned hearing, the VA
supported H.R. 2963.
The issue of employability also enters into great concern
over the denial of claims for veterans who are legally blind.
Over the years, the ability of the disabled to enter the
workforce has decreased substantially. National surveys show
little evidence that substantial progress was made in
employment rates of the functionally disabled in the decade
following passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In
fact, several research articles and other sources indicate that
the trend has worsened. The following points, extracted from
federal government sources and university research relating to
the problems of America's disabled population, focus
specifically on the issue of employment.
The Census Bureau 2000 Survey found that only 60.1 percent
of disabled men with one disability between ages 21-64 were
employed. When reviewing the data on those with a severe
disability (defined as affecting daily functioning skills),
however, the rate of employment was only 32 percent.
The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) found
that the 30 percent of working age (18 to 64) adults with
disabilities in 1994 lived at or below the federal poverty
level.
The Census Bureau 2000 Survey found that 18.8 percent of
the disabled population ages 16-64 were at the poverty level
compared to 9.5 percent of the general population.
Thirteen percent of SSDI veterans age 65 and older with a
disability live at or below the poverty level.
Some 10.6 million persons, or 22 percent of the 48 million
Americans who will receive Social Security benefits this year,
depend on that one check for their entire monthly income, which
averages $909 per month. This means that the average yearly
income for SSDI beneficiaries is $11,460, well below the
government poverty level.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Annual
Federal Workforce Report 2004 found that the average General
Schedule grade level for people with disabilities was 8.4,
nearly two grades below the government-wide average of 9.9 for
permanent or temporary employees.
The Cornell University Disability Statistics Research
Center tracked U.S. civilian, non-institutionalized men and
women age 18-64. The Center estimated that those employed in
the workforce in 2004 was 19.3 percent compared to 24.5 percent
in 2000. In 1997 the rate was 25.5 percent, reflecting a clear
decrease in the workforce for those disabled.
The University of California analysis and research of The
Employment Experience of Persons with Limitations in Physical
Functioning, published in 1999, had several findings. Even
after adjusting for age and gender differences, persons
reporting functional limitations are less than half as likely
to be in the labor force as those with no functional
limitations, with adjusted labor force participation rates of
32.4 and 71.2 percent, respectively. Part-time employment is
also more common among persons with several functional
limitations. Among individuals with functional limitations who
have experienced a job loss, nearly three-quarters reported
that this loss created a major problem in their lives. Less
than half of those with no limitations reported that the loss
created a major problem.
Literature reviews on employment among persons with
disabilities reveal that the disabled have a lower
participation rate in the labor force. They also have higher
unemployment rates and higher rates of part-time employment
than do individuals without disabilities (Yelin, 1997;
Bennefield & McNeil, 1989). These findings are consistent
across numerous national surveys, including the Current
Population Survey (CPS), the Survey of Income and Program
Participation (SIPP), and the National Health Interview Survey
(NHIS) (Trupin & Armstrong, 1998; Trupin, Sebesta, Yelin, &
LaPlante, 1997). For purposes of the surveys, disabilities are
measured by work capacity, activity limitation, or functional
limitation (McNeil, 1993).
The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by
the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and reported
in a March 2003 article, revealed that working age individuals
with visual impairments had employment rates and mean household
incomes than those with non-visual impairments. The employment
rate of 54 percent among the severely visually impaired age 18-
54, reported in 1994-95, was also revealed in the article.
A study by Hendricks, Schiro-Geist, and Broadbent (1997)
examined the link between disability and employment outcomes
for those who had the opportunity to pursue both a university
education and rehabilitation services at the University of
Illinois from 1948 to 1993. When regression analysis was
applied, the salary gap between disabled and non-disabled
workers with a college degree was 8.3 percent. While these and
other studies have found that the disabled in the workforce
with higher education and rehabilitation earn more than the
disabled without this level of education, the income levels and
earning capacity are still lower in all comparisons to the non-
disabled throughout the American working age population.
B. NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES FOR INCOME VERIFICATION
The Department of Veterans Affairs manages a range of
benefit programs that, among other things, compensate veterans
and their dependents. Some, but not all, benefit programs are
based on income or ability to work. For example, veterans (and
their dependents) with low incomes who are permanently and
totally disabled or are 65 and older may be eligible for
monetary support if they have 90 days or more of active
military service, at least one day of which was during a period
of war. In addition, low income veterans (and their dependents)
many be eligible for health care services and Parents'
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
Also, under VA's regulations governing Individual
Unemployability (IU), VA can grant total disability
compensation benefits at the 100-percent level to veterans of
any age whose service-connected disabilities are rated at 60
percent or higher and have caused them to be unemployable. VA
places an earnings limit on the continued receipt of IU
benefits.
VA has experienced a marked increase in IU beneficiaries
and expenditures. From September 1996 to September 2005, the
number of veterans receiving IU benefits has increased from
about 71,000 to about 220,000.
According to a May 2006 GAO study, the VA has an
inefficient and ineffective process to enforce earnings limit
for ongoing eligibility for IU benefits. Furthermore, the study
found that the VA's practices for its IU benefits lag behind
practices used by other disability programs. The study also
found that the VA lacks several features used by the private-
sector disability programs and the Social Security
Administration. One such feature is the National Directory of
New Hires (NDNH), which provides a national directory of
employment and unemployment insurance information to facilitate
employment and income verification. CBO has estimated that VA
will save millions of dollars by using the NDNH directory to
verify information from those applying to certain veterans
benefits programs.
The purpose of NDNH is to provide a national directory of
employment and unemployment insurance information that will
enable state Child Support Enforcement (IV-D) agencies to be
more effective in locating noncustodial parents, establishing
child support orders and enforcing child support orders.
However, many agencies, like Social Security, use NDNH to
confirm employment and income verification.
Section 2 of the bill allows the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to access information in the NDNH for the sole purpose
of performing income and employment verification to determine
eligibility for benefits administered by the VA.
C. BRONZE ``V'' FOR GRAVE STONE IN PRIVATE CEMETERY
The VA furnishes upon request, at no charge to the
applicant, a government head stone or marker for the grave of
any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world.
For all deaths occurring before September 11, 2001, the VA may
provide a head stone or marker only for graves that are not
marked with a private headstone.
No graphics (logos, symbols, etc.) are permitted on
Government-furnished head stones and markers other than the
approved emblems of belief, the Civil War Union Shield, the
Civil War Confederate Southern Cross of Honor, and the Medal of
Honor insignias.
Some veterans, due to the strong affinity they have for
their time in the military, wish to memorialize their service
on a grave stone or marker. More specifically, these veterans
have advocated placing a bronze ``V,'' which stands for
``veteran'' on their grave stone. This request has been
especially strong with veterans who have plots in private
cemeteries.
Section 4 of the bill would allow a veteran to receive a
bronze ``V'' in lieu of a government provided head stone or
marker in a private cemetery.
D. VA WORK STUDY ALLOWANCE
The VA work study allowance is available to veterans
training under many programs, such as the Montgomery G.I. Bill
(both Active Duty and Selected Reserve), as well as the program
for Vocational Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans with
Service Connected Disabilities, and several other programs.
To be eligible for the program, the veteran must be
training full-time or \3/4\ time in a college degree,
vocational, or professional program. The type of work available
includes:
VA paperwork at schools; outreach services under VA
supervision or supervision furnished by a State approving
agency employee; work at VA medical facilities or National
Cemetery System office; work at Department of Defense
facilities related to education benefits under the GI Bill
Selected Reserve; work assisting the care of veterans in a
State home receiving VA per diem assistance; work at VA medical
facilities; work assisting the administration of a National
Cemetery system or a State veterans' cemetery; or the VA's work
study program where veterans assist VA and other government
agencies.
The veteran can earn the federal minimum wage or the state
minimum wage, whichever is greater. The total number of hours
cannot be more than 25 times the number of weeks in the
veterans' enrollment period.
The work study program is an increasingly popular benefit
with veterans. The VA work study allowance, which is set to
expire on June 30, 2007, was last reauthorized in the 109th
Congress.
Section 3 of the bill reauthorizes the VA work study
allowance until June 30, 2009.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1(a) of the bill would provide that this Act may be
cited as the ``Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act.''
Section 1(b)(1) of the bill would replace the word
``blindness'' both places it appears with ``impairment of
vision.''
Section 1(b)(2) of the bill would define the level of
``impairment of vision'' at each eye as a visual acuity of 20/
200 or of a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less.''
Section (a)(1) of 5320 of the bill requires the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to provide the Secretary of Health and
Human Services information in the custody of the VA for
comparison with the information in the National Directory of
New Hires to obtain information in such directory with respect
to individuals under the age of 65 who are applicants for or
recipients of benefits or services administered by the VA.
Section (a)(2) of 5320 of the bill requires the Secretary
of the Veterans Affairs to seek information from the National
Directory of New Hires to determine eligibility for benefits
administered by the VA.
Section (3)(A) of 5320 of the bill requires the Secretary
of Health and Human Services to compare the information
provided by the Secretary of the Veterans Affairs with
information found in the National Directory of New Hires. The
Secretary of Health and Human Services may also disclose the
information discovered to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Section (B) of 5320 of the bill would allow the Secretary
of Health and Human Services to make the disclosure to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs so long as such disclosure does
not interfere with effective operation of the program under
part D of title IV of the Social Security Act.
Section (4) of 5320 of the bill requires the Secretary of
the Veterans Affairs to use the information from the data match
only for purposes of determining eligibility for services or
benefits administered by the VA.
Section (5) of 5320 of the bill requires the Secretary of
the Veterans Affairs to reimburse the Secretary of Health and
Human Services for additional costs incurred for furnishing
information. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
determine reasonable rates.
Section (b) of 5320 of the bill would require the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to notify each applicant for, or recipient
of, a benefit specified in subsection (d) that income
information provided may be compared with information provided
by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Section (c) of 5320 of the bill would prevent the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs from using information obtained from the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to terminate, deny,
suspend, or reduce any benefit or service until the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs takes appropriate steps to verify
independently information relating to employment and employment
income.
Section (d) of 5320 of the bill lists the benefits and
subsections subject to the National Directory of New Hires
information.
Section (d)(1) of 5320 of the bill would apply the National
Directory New Hire check to Needs-based pension benefits
provided under chapter 15 of title 38 of the United States
Code.
Section (d)(2) of 5320 of the bill would apply the National
Directory New Hire check to the Parents' Dependency and
Indemnity Compensation provided under Section 1315 of title 38
of the United States Code.
Section (d)(3) of 5320 of the bill would apply the National
Directory New Hire check to Health Care services furnished
under subsections (a)(2)(G), (a)(3), and (b) of Section 1710 of
title 38 of the United States Code.
Section (d)(4) of 5320 of the bill would apply the National
Directory New Hire check to Compensation paid under Chapter 11
of Title 38 of the United States Code at the 100 percent rate
based solely on unemployability and without regard to the fact
that the disability or disabilities are not rated as 100
percent disabling under the rating schedule.
Section (e) of 5320 of the bill would allow the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, in case of compensation described in
subsection (d)(4), to independently verify or otherwise act
upon wage or self employment information referred to in
subsection (c) if the Secretary clearly finds that the
individual is not qualified for a rating of total disability.
Section (f) of 5320 of the bill would require the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to inform the individual of the findings
made by the Secretary and give the individual the opportunity
to contest such findings, in the same manner as applies to
other information and findings relating to eligibility for the
benefit or service involved.
Section (g) of 5320 of the bill would require the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to pay the expenses for carrying out this
section from amounts available to the VA for the payment of
compensation and pension.
Section (h) of 5320 of the bill would terminate the ability
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive information
from the Secretary of Health and Human Services on September
30, 2012.
Section 2(b) of the bill would amend the table of sections
at the beginning of such chapter by adding the following:
``5320. Use of National Directory of New Hires for income
verification purposes.''
Section 2(c) of the bill provides that this legislation
becomes effective 270 days after enactment of the Act.
Section 3 of the bill would extend until June 30, 2009 the
educational assistance allowance to individuals performing
qualifying work study activities under Section 3485(a)(4) of
title 38, United States Code.
Section 4 of the bill would allow the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs under Section 2306(d) of title 38, United States Code
to furnish a bronze `V' to be attached to a headstone or marker
in lieu of a government provided grave stone or marker for
burials in private cemeteries. The Secretary shall make
available two sizes of bronze V's for such purpose.
Application of Law and to the Legislative Branch
Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a
description of the application of this bill to the legislative
branch where the bill relates to the terms and conditions of
employment or access to public services and accommodations.
This bill provides for enhanced compensation for veterans in
certain instances of impairment of vision involving both eyes.
The bill also reauthorizes a VA work study program and allows
for a bronze ``V'' on specific grave stones or markers. As
such, this bill does not relate to employment or access to
public services and accommodations.
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
Statements of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals and objectives are reflected in the descriptive portions
of this report.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Under clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee must include a statement
citing the specific powers granted to Congress to enact the law
proposed by H.R. 797. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution
of the United States grants the Congress the power to enact
this law.
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish
or authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within
the definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b).
Unfunded Mandate Statement
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded
Mandate Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement whether
the provisions of the reported bill include unfunded mandates.
In compliance with this requirement the Committee has received
a letter from the Congressional Budget Office that is included
herein.
Earmark Identification
H.R. 797 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI.
Committee Estimate
Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the
Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out
H.R. 797. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides that
this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included
in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
under Section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act.
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and Section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives and Section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received
the following cost estimate for H.R. 797 from the Director of
Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, March 20, 2007.
Hon. Bob Filner,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 797, a bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to improve compensation
benefits for veterans in certain cases of impairment of vision
involving both eyes, to provide for the use of National
Directory of New Hires for income verification purposes, to
extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
provide educational assistance allowance for qualifying work-
study activities, and to authorize the provision of bronze
representations of the letter `V' for the graves of eligible
individuals buried in private cemeteries in lieu of Government-
provided headstones or markers.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Dwayne M.
Wright.
Sincerely,
Peter R. Orszag,
Director.
Enclosure.
H.R.797--A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
compensation benefits for veterans in certain cases of
impairment of vision involving both eyes, to provide for the
use of the National Directory of New Hires for income
verification purposes, to extend the authority of the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to provide an educational assistance
allowance for qualifying work-study activities, and to
authorize the provision of bronze representations of the letter
`V' for the graves of eligible individuals buried in private
cemeteries in lieu of Government-provided headstones or markers
Summary: H.R. 797 would allow veterans to become eligible
for additional benefits if the veteran has a qualifying
impairment of vision. It also would allow the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) to access the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) National Directory of New Hires (NDNH)
database for income verification purposes, extend the authority
for certain qualifying work-study activities, and allow VA to
provide an additional option in the type of marker available to
honor the graves of individuals buried in private cemeteries.
CBO estimates that enacting this legislation would decrease net
direct spending for veterans' benefits by less than $500,000 in
2008, by $13 million over the 2008-2012 period, and by a net
amount of $15 million over the 2008-2017 period.
H.R. 797 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 797 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 700
(veterans benefits and services).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outlays in millions of dollars, by fiscal year--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN DIRECT SPENDING
Use of National Directory of New Hires for -1 -2 -4 -6 -7 -5 -4 -3 -2 -2
Income Verification Purposes.............
Additional Eligibility for Impairment of * 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
Vision Involving Both Eyes...............
Extension of Authority for Work-Study 1 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Activities...............................
Total Changes......................... * -1 -3 -4 -5 -2 -1 * * 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: Components may not sum to totals because of rounding. * = between -$500,000 and $500,000.
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes the bill
will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2008.
Use of National Directory of New Hires for income verification
Section 2 would temporarily authorize VA to use the
Department of Health and Human Services' NDNH database to
verify veterans' income levels and thus their eligibility for
certain veterans' benefits such as disability pensions and
disability compensation for veterans whose disability rating is
based on a finding of individual unemployability. That
authority would expire on September 30, 2012. Currently, VA
employs an income verification match with the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) for that same purpose, but that authority expires
on September 30, 2008. In addition, VA has recently re-
instituted an annual certification form that requires all
individuals to certify their employment and income with VA.
According to VA, the current IRS income verification match
yields, on average, about $5 million in new savings per year.
CBO assumes the savings for each individual continues until
that individual's death. Thus, if an income matching program
yielded $5 million in savings in the first year, the following
year would see that savings of $5 million continue and even
increase slightly due to cost-of-living increases (but reduced
by some number of deaths) plus an addition $5 million in new
savings, for a total savings in the second year of about $10
million.
The NDNH database would allow VA to analyze more recent
wage and income data than the IRS data, which is up to a year
and a half old when the data comparison is run. However,
according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report,
unlike the IRS income match, the NDNH data does not include
complete information on independent contractors, self-employed
individuals, subcontractors, or individuals who provide
services such as childcare for private homes. According to the
Department of Labor, about 15 percent of the total workforce
would fall into one of those categories.
As another method to reduce improper benefit payments, VA
has recently re-instituted an annual certification form that
requires all individuals receiving means-tested veterans
benefits to certify their employment and income with VA. Use of
this annual certification was dropped in the late 1990s and VA
reports that the number of cases where individuals have been
discovered to have received these means-tested benefits
fraudulently has since increased significantly.
Based on VA's renewed use of the annual certification of
employment form and the NDNH database's lack of ability to
account for the total workforce population in the income match,
CBO estimates that the incremental savings from utilizing the
NDNH database would be about $2 million per year, or slightly
less than half of the current $5 million in annual savings VA
currently receives. As noted above, such added savings
continues in subsequent years, with cost-of-living and
mortality adjustments. This section would take effect 270 days
after enactment of the bill. Therefore, CBO estimates that
enacting section 2 would result in a decrease to direct
spending of about $1 million in 2008, $20 million over the
2008-2012 period, and $37 million over the 2008-2017 period.
Additional eligibility for impairment of vision involving both eyes
For veterans with a service-connected vision impairment in
one eye, current law requires that a veteran must be diagnosed
as blind in both eyes for vision impairment that was not caused
by military service to be rated as service-connected for the
purposes of disability compensation. Section 1 would allow
certain veterans who receive veterans' disability compensation
for impairment of vision where the impairment in the service-
connected eye is to a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or of a
peripheral field of 20 degrees or less to receive compensation
for impairment of vision in the other eye that is equal to or
greater than the service-connected eye. Thus, the change in
eligibility would increase the amount of compensation paid to
certain veterans. In total, CBO estimates that enacting section
1 would increase direct spending for veterans' compensation by
less than $500,000 in 2008, $6 million over the 2008-2012
period, and about $21 million over the 2008-2017 period.
Veterans Already Receiving Disability Compensation for
Vision Impairment. The Department of Veterans Affairs reports
that, as of September 30, 2006, disability compensation was
being paid for about 125,000 incidences of service-connected,
eye-related disability among veterans. This figure, however,
does not reflect the number of unique veterans who receive
disability compensation for eye-related disabilities, since a
veteran may exhibit more than one eye-related disability and
thus be counted more than once in the reported data. VA also
reports, as of that same date, that there were about 45,000
unique veterans receiving disability compensation primarily due
to eye disease or impairment of vision. VA data does not
indicate whether these veterans were receiving such
compensation for impairments in one or both eyes.
Based on information from VA, CBO assumes, for this
estimate, that the population of roughly 45,000 veterans
receiving disability compensation primarily because of eye
disease or impairment of vision would most likely constitute
the bulk of veterans that would be affected by enactment of
this bill. Of that population, CBO estimates that about 1,150
veterans would qualify for increased benefits under section 1.
That estimate reflects the exclusion of eye diseases that would
likely not cause impairment of vision (such as the loss of
eyebrows), and veterans rated as either 100 percent disabled or
less than 70 percent disabled (ratings that would not be
eligible for an increase under the bill--a veteran with a
visual acuity of 20/200 or less in both eyes or a peripheral
field of 20 degrees or less would be rated at least 70 percent
disabled). Finally, while VA data does not indicate whether a
veteran's disability rating considered conditions in one or
both eyes, VA indicated that between 30 percent and 50 percent
of the veterans currently on the rolls for eye disabilities
were rated as service-connected for both eyes. Based on that
information, CBO estimates that 40 percent of the affected
population are currently receiving disability compensation for
service-connected disabilities in both eyes, and therefore,
would have ratings that would be unaffected by enactment of
section 1. Thus, CBO estimates that about 700 veterans in 2008
might qualify for an increase in their disability rating under
this bill.
VA indicates that veterans receiving disability
compensation are, on average, 57 years old. According to
information from the National Institutes of Health and a report
on vision loss prepared by researchers at the University of
Washington, the most common causes of impairment of vision in
persons age 40 and older are age-related maculopathy,
cataracts, and glaucoma. Those organizations report that about
30 percent of persons over the age of 40 experience increased
impairment of vision due to one or more of those conditions.
Because VA does not track the progression of vision impairment
in the veterans' population, CBO assumes that veterans
experience vision impairment from these same conditions at the
same rate.
Thus, CBO estimates that about 200 of the roughly 700
veterans discussed above would likely experience additional
vision loss that could qualify them for a disability rating
increase under the bill. Using data provided by VA, CBO
estimates that about 15 percent of veterans who are already
receiving disability compensation apply for a reevaluation of
their rating each year. After adjusting for claims processing
times, CBO estimates that just over 30 of these veterans would
receive an increase in their disability rating in 2008 and that
number would increase to a little over 300 veterans by 2017.
In addition, based on VA data, CBO estimates that about 150
veterans who currently have a disability rating for eye-disease
or vision impairment between 20 and 60 percent (20 percent is
the lowest rating a veteran can receive for a service-connected
visual acuity of 20/200 in one eye) would apply to have their
rating reevaluated sometime over the 2008-2014 period and would
have the nonservice-disabled eye evaluated with a visual acuity
of 20/200 or less or a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less.
The disability rating for a veteran receiving disability
compensation for a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or a
peripheral field of 20 degrees or less in both eyes is 70
percent and in 2006 the average annual compensation payment for
that rating was $22,326. Using data from VA about the average
rating increase for veterans currently on the disability
compensation rolls with a 70 percent rating, CBO expects that
the average disability rating for veterans qualifying under the
bill would increase to 80 percent and that the average annual
disability compensation payment would increase by $2,388
(expressed in 2006 dollars). For veterans with a disability
rating between 20 and 60 percent, and with a visual acuity in
one eye of 20/200 or less or a peripheral field of 20 degrees
or less who come in for a reevaluation, CBO expects that they
would now qualify under section 1 and their average disability
ratings would increase to 70 percent. After adjusting for cost-
of-living increases and information from VA on individuals
moving to 70 percent on the disability rolls, CBO estimates
that enacting this provision would increase direct spending for
veterans' disability compensation for veterans currently on the
rolls by less than $500,000 in 2008, about $6 million over the
2008-2012 period, and $19 million over the 2008-2017 period.
New Accessions. According to information from VA, in 2006
there were roughly 2.7 million veterans receiving veterans'
disability compensation and less than 2 percent of those
veterans were rated disabled primarily due to eye disease or
vision impairment. Using both discharge data from the
Department of Defense, information from VA on new compensation
cases that enter the rolls at 70 percent disabled, the
information and assumptions above regarding common eye
disabilities for persons over age 40, and the rate at which
veterans return to be reevaluated, CBO also estimates that,
over the 10-year period, about 150 veterans out of the
impairment for the first time each year would be eligible for a
higher disability rating under this bill.
Assuming that disability ratings for veterans qualifying
under the bill would increase from 70 percent to 80 percent,
that the average annual disability compensation payment would
increase by $2,388 (expressed in 2006 dollars), and that
payments are adjusted for cost-of living increases, CBO
estimates that enacting this provision would increase direct
spending for veterans' disability compensation for veterans
coming onto VA's disability compensation rolls (i.e., for new
accessions after enactment) by less than $500,000 in 2008, $1
million over the 2008-2012 period, and $2 million over the
2008-2017 period.
Extension of authority for work-study activities
Under current law, the VA can compensate certain
individuals for specific work-study programs associated with
the department, although the eligibility for several of the
specified programs to participate in work-study would expire in
June of 2007. Section 3 would extend the eligibility of those
expiring programs for another two years, through June 2009.
Based on information from the VA regarding the numbers of
participants in such programs, CBO estimates that this
provision would increase direct spending by about $1 million in
2008 and by less than $500,000 in 2009.
Provision of bronze `V' for graves of eligible individuals in private
cemeteries.
Section 4 would allow VA to provide bronze `V'
representations to be attached to a headstone or marker of an
eligible individual at a private cemetery instead of a VA
provided headstone or marker. According to VA, the cost for
bronze `V' representations and headstones or markers are
similar. Therefore, CBO expects there would be no significant
change in direct spending under this section.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 797
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would not affect the budgets of state,
local, or tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Disability
Compensation and Burial Benefits--Dwayne M. Wright; Educational
Assistance--Mike Waters. Impact on State, Local, and Tribal
Governments: Melissa Merrell. Impact on the Private Sector:
Victoria Liu.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
PART II--GENERAL BENEFITS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 11--COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER VI--GENERAL COMPENSATION PROVISIONS
* * * * * * *
Sec. 1160. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR CERTAIN CASES OF LOSS OF PAIRED
ORGANS OR EXTREMITIES
(a) Where a veteran has suffered--
(1) [blindness] impairment of vision in one eye as
a result of service-connected disability and
[blindness] impairment of vision in the other eye as a
result of non-service-connected disability not the
result of the veteran's own willful misconduct, where
the impairment in each eye is to a visual acuity of 20/
200 or less or of a peripheral field of 20 degrees or
less;
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 23--BURIAL BENEFITS
* * * * * * *
Sec. 2306. HEADSTONES, MARKERS, AND BURIAL RECEPTACLES
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(d)(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(5) In lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker under this
subsection, the Secretary may furnish, if requested, a bronze
representation of the letter ``V'' to be attached to a
headstone or marker furnished at private expense. The Secretary
shall make such representation available in two sizes for such
purpose.
* * * * * * *
PART III--READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 34--VETERANS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER IV--PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS; VETERAN-STUDENT SERVICES
* * * * * * *
Sec. 3485. WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE
(a)(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(4) For the purposes of this section, the term ``qualifying
work-study activity'' means any of the following:
(A) The outreach services program under chapter 63
of this title as carried out under the supervision of a
Department employee or, during the period preceding
[June 30, 2007] June 30, 2009, outreach services to
servicemembers and veterans furnished by employees of a
State approving agency.
* * * * * * *
(C) The provision of hospital and domiciliary care
and medical treatment under chapter 17 of this title,
including, during the period preceding [June 30, 2007]
June 30, 2009, the provision of such care to veterans
in a State home for which payment is made under section
1741 of this title.
* * * * * * *
(F) During the period preceding [June 30, 2007]
June 30, 2009, an activity relating to the
administration of a national cemetery or a State
veterans' cemetery.
* * * * * * *
PART IV--GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 53--SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO BENEFITS
Sec.
5301. Nonassignability and exempt status of benefits.
* * * * * * *
5320. Use of National Directory of New Hires for income verification
purposes.
* * * * * * *
Sec. 5320. Use of National Directory of New Hires for income
verification purposes
(a) Information from National Directory of New Hires.--(1)
The Secretary shall furnish to the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, on a quarterly basis or at such intervals as
may be determined by the Secretary, information in the custody
of the Secretary for comparison with information in the
National Directory of New Hires maintained by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services pursuant to section 453 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653), in order to obtain the
information in such directory with respect to individuals under
the age of 65 who are applicants for or recipients of benefits
or services specified in subsection (d).
(2) The Secretary shall seek information pursuant to this
subsection only to the extent essential to determining
eligibility for benefits and services specified in subsection
(d) and the amount of benefits specified in paragraphs (1) and
(2) of that subsection for individuals under the age of 65.
(3)(A) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
cooperation with the Secretary, shall compare information in
the National Directory of New Hires with information in the
custody of the Secretary furnished pursuant to paragraph (1),
and disclose information in that Directory to the Secretary, in
accordance with this subsection, for the purposes specified in
this subsection.
(B) The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make a
disclosure in accordance with subparagraph (A) only to the
extent that the Secretary determines that such disclosure does
not interfere with the effective operation of the program under
part D of title IV of the Social Security Act.
(4) The Secretary may use information resulting from a data
match pursuant to this subsection only for the purpose of
determining eligibility for benefits and services specified in
subsection (d) and the amount of benefits specified in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of that subsection.
(5) The Secretary shall reimburse the Secretary of Health and
Human Services for the additional costs incurred by that
Secretary in furnishing information under this subsection. Such
reimbursement shall be at rates that the Secretary of Health
and Human Services determines to be reasonable (which rates
shall include payment for the costs of obtaining, verifying,
maintaining, and comparing the information).
(b) Notification to Beneficiaries.--The Secretary shall
notify each applicant for, or recipient of, a benefit or
service specified in subsection (d) that income information
furnished by the applicant to the Secretary may be compared
with information obtained by the Secretary from the Secretary
of Health and Human Services under subsection (a). The
Secretary shall periodically transmit to recipients of such
benefits additional notifications of such matters.
(c) Independent Verification Required.--The Secretary may
not, by reason of information obtained from the Secretary of
Health and Human Services under subsection (a) , terminate,
deny, suspend, or reduce any benefit or service described in
subsection (d) until the Secretary takes appropriate steps to
verify independently information relating to employment and
employment income.
(d) Covered Benefits and Services.--The benefits and services
specified in this subsection are the following:
(1) Needs-based pension benefits provided under
chapter 15 of this title or under any other law
administered by the Secretary.
(2) Parents' dependency and indemnity compensation
provided under section 1315 of this title.
(3) Health-care services furnished under
subsections (a)(2)(G), (a)(3), and (b) of section 1710
of this title.
(4) Compensation paid under chapter 11 of this
title at the 100 percent rate based solely on
unemployability and without regard to the fact that the
disability or disabilities are not rated as 100 percent
disabling under the rating schedule.
(e) Limitation with Respect to Individual Unemployability
Cases.--In the case of compensation described in subsection
(d)(4), the Secretary may independently verify or otherwise act
upon wage or self-employment information referred to in
subsection (c) of this section only if the Secretary finds that
the amount and duration of the earnings reported in that
information clearly indicate that the individual is not
qualified for a rating of total disability.
(f) Opportunity to Contest Findings.--The Secretary shall
inform the individual of the findings made by the Secretary on
the basis of verified information under subsection (c), and
shall give the individual an opportunity to contest such
findings, in the same manner as applies to other information
and findings relating to eligibility for the benefit or service
involved.
(g) Source of Funds for Administration of Section.--The
Secretary shall pay the expenses of carrying out this section
from amounts available to the Department for the payment of
compensation and pension.
(h) Termination of Authority.--The authority of the Secretary
to obtain information from the Secretary of Health and Human
Services under subsection (a) expires on September 30, 2012.
* * * * * * *
MINORITY VIEWS OF HON. STEVE BUYER
In my letter of March 8, 2007, objecting to the markup on
the bills, including H.R. 327, H.R. 612, H.R. 797, and H.R.
1284 (letter attached), I strongly urged legislative hearings
on these bills before the markup.
The Honorable John Boozman offered an amendment that was
accepted by voice vote, to extend the types of work study jobs
found in section 3485(a)(4) for two years through June 20,
2009. This section of title 38 specifies types of jobs that
qualify for work study benefits (up to 20 hours per week at
minimum wage). Current law allows work study recipients to
perform a variety of duties through out VA as well as veteran-
related paperwork at their schools. Public Law 109-461 extended
these provisions for 6 months to prevent loss of benefits in
mid-school year.
Also, the Honorable Doug Lamborn offered an amendment,
which was accepted by voice vote, to provide families the
option of choosing a bronze ``V'' denoting ``veteran'' in lieu
of a VA headstone for graves already marked by a private
marker. Many private cemeteries do not allow a second marker on
a grave because it complicates routine maintenance. Therefore,
a bronze ``V'' would identify a veteran's grave in a manner
that would be universally acceptable, and meet the families'
desires to honor the deceased veteran. It would also be readily
identifiable to anyone visiting the cemetery and a standards
way to identify veterans who choose not to use a VA-provided
headstone.
Had the Committee followed regular order in holding a
legislative hearing on H.R. 797, the Dr. James Allen Veterans
Vision Equity Act, the questions about the cost of the bill and
possible amendments to it, along with the required PAYGO
offsets to allow it to be considered by the House, could have
been fully explored well before the markup of the bill. I
support H.R. 797, as amended.
Steve Buyer.
