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Read. Follow. Verify.Senate Hearing on the 2016 Veterans Affairs Budget
Record date · January 1, 2016
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What This Bill Does
This document is the transcript of a February 2015 Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing regarding the proposed federal budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for 2016. The committee heard testimony from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and representatives from various .
The hearing established the legislative record for the 2016 funding levels for veterans' healthcare, benefits, and memorial services, which directly impacts the resources available to millions of U.S. veterans.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
U.S. Veterans
The budget discussed determines the funding levels for healthcare, disability benefits, and memorial services provided to veterans.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The agency is responsible for implementing the budget and managing the programs discussed in the hearing.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on February 26, 2015, in the Russell Senate Office Building.
- The session focused on the fiscal year 2016 budget request for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Testimony was provided by VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald and his senior staff, including the Under Secretaries for Health, Benefits, and Memorial Affairs.
- Representatives from major veterans service organizations, including the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America, provided independent budget perspectives.
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- The committee implemented a new rule for the hearing to limit opening statements to the Chairman and Ranking Member to allow more time for witness testimony.
- The hearing record includes extensive post-hearing responses to questions submitted by committee members to the VA.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Procedural Change in Hearing Format
The committee explicitly changed its rules for this hearing to limit opening statements to the Chairman and Ranking Member to prioritize witness testimony.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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