Senate Hearing on the 2016 Veterans Affairs Budget
January 1, 2016
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The Frame
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.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
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.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
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.
- 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.
Why It Matters
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of this hearing?
Who testified at the hearing?
News Coverage
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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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