Hearings to examine a grateful nation, focusing on maximizing veteran's success after service.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs

2025-11-05

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This hearing focused on the vital role of non-governmental community resources in supporting veterans' success after service, aiming to understand how these organizations operate and can better integrate with existing veteran programs, including those offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)[ 00:21:43-00:21:43 ] [ 00:22:46-00:23:05 ] . Witnesses emphasized that veterans are valuable civic assets whose post-service success is in the national interest[ 00:21:45-00:21:59 ] .

Themes

The Critical Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Many organizations, often veteran-led, are essential in bridging gaps in federal support, providing services that complement the VA[ 00:21:32-00:21:43 ] . Organizations like Combined Arms utilize technology platforms to connect veterans with local resources, streamlining access to housing, employment, and mental health care. The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) fosters coordinated referral networks through programs like America Serves, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability. Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) focuses on meaningful career opportunities for veterans and military spouses, with programs like the HOH Fellows Program for skill bridge and the Skilled Trades Academy. Student Veterans of America (SVA) extends VA services on campuses, helping student veterans convert benefits into degrees and careers[ 00:50:34-00:50:38 ]

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. Yale University, through its liaison for veteran affairs, ensures access to education by meeting 100% of financial need for undergraduate student veterans and partnering with preparatory organizations[ 01:01:10-01:01:28 ]

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. These NGOs often reach veterans not enrolled in VA services, building trust through personal connections and word-of-mouth referrals.

Challenges in Veteran Transition and Support Systems

The transition from military to civilian life is frequently difficult due to bureaucratic fragmentation and complex navigation of available resources. Many veterans, particularly those under 45 and non-retirees, do not access earned benefits beyond the GI Bill. Significant concerns were raised about the impact of increased living costs and potential cuts to critical safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid, which many veterans and their families rely on. Delays in GI Bill payments by the VA create financial hardship for student veterans, and food insecurity and housing assistance requests have seen recent surges. Military spouses face unique employment challenges due to frequent relocations, leading to "nonlinear" resumes that can be difficult for employers to assess.

Recommendations for Systemic Improvement

Witnesses proposed several solutions to enhance veteran support. A national veteran strategy is needed to establish shared outcome measures, fund evaluations, and support cross-sector coordination. Improving data sharing and interoperability among the DOD, VA, Department of Education, and Department of Labor would allow for better forecasting of veteran transitions and targeted program delivery[ 00:52:19-00:53:14 ]

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[ 00:53:55-00:55:14 ]

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. Modernizing the VA work-study program to align with veterans' degree fields and piloting targeted placements in high-demand sectors like healthcare were also suggested. Other recommendations included pre-enrolling service members in VA healthcare before separation and changing the default on forms to opt-out for sharing contact information with state veterans agencies to facilitate earlier support[ 01:41:24-01:41:28 ]

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. Enhancing mental health support, such as increasing funding for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant program, was deemed crucial. Finally, improving VA's referral process to community partners through digital infrastructure for tracking and accountability, rather than just handing out business cards, would ensure veterans receive necessary follow-up care[ 02:02:56-02:03:24 ]

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.

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a constructive and collaborative tone, with a strong bipartisan consensus on the importance of supporting veterans and their families[ 00:22:42-00:22:42 ] . While there was clear frustration regarding VA inefficiencies and the impact of federal support cuts on veterans, especially concerning financial and healthcare access, speakers often focused on identifying solutions and emphasizing the resilience and potential of the veteran community[ 01:18:11-01:18:21 ]

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. The discussion conveyed a sense of urgency for actionable improvements and better coordination between governmental and non-governmental entities, underpinned by a hopeful outlook on the capacity of veterans to contribute significantly to society.

Participants

Transcript

Good afternoon.  Committee will come to order.  I was looking at my opening statement with the intention of shortening it, but I was discovering the length of time it was taking me to shorten the statement was utilizing up the time that I would have saved.  But I'm delighted that you're here.  This is a bit of a different hearing than this committee has conducted in recent past, and I'm very interested in   what each of our witnesses have to say and what conversations it may generate.  The organizations that support veterans are broad, often led by other veterans and their families.   We often hear from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the programs and opportunities they provide to serve our nation's veterans.  And today the focus is on the non-veteran administration side of how we care for those who care for those that served our nation.  Each veteran is a significant asset for our country.   hugely important to their families and to their community in which they live and ultimately to the nation.  They demonstrated that in their service.  And every veteran is unique and different and their needs are different one from another.  And so what has arisen over a period of time in our country is often other veterans but certainly other citizens who rise to the occasion to try to make sure that veterans' needs are being met.   And I want to thank those who do that every day, individuals in Kansas and organizations in Kansas but across the country who see that needs of those who served are cared for.  Today's hearing recognizes that veterans are civic assets and that their success after service is in our national interest.   Much of the support available to veterans comes from non-governmental community resources, and today we're discussing how those resources support veteran success and can better integrate with veteran programs such as what the Department of Veterans Affairs provides.
I'll introduce the witnesses after I now turn to the ranking member for his opening statement.
Thanks, Mr. Chairman.  Thank you for holding this hearing, and thank you to all of our   witnesses, an unusually large panel, but we appreciate every one of you.  I want to thank particularly Holly Hermes, who is Yale University's liaison for military families and veterans.  This office has enabled two of my sons who have attended Yale Law School to go there.   with more aid and service and companionship than they would have otherwise.  One Marine Corps veteran served in Afghanistan, the other a Navy SEAL veteran who actually is there right now.  I hope he's in class.   really honored to serve as ranking member on this committee, along with very distinguished colleagues.  And let me come right to the point.  We're here because we need to assure veterans that they have the information and services they need when they go from military service to civilian life, often continuing to serve our country.  And I know about this transition.   because of my two sons and countless others whom I have watched and seen and sought to mentor as they go through this sometimes very, very difficult transition period when they need help from a VSO in filing a disability claim or how best to use their   earned education benefits, connect with local employers, or access assistance when they need it most.  And unfortunately, this administration has increased the difficulty of our veterans, not only in transitioning, but in living through civilian life after they leave the military.  All Americans are struggling with the increased costs of rent, food,
electricity and, yes, health care, most especially health care insurance, which is why we as Democrats are standing firm that there has to be an extension of health care insurance tax credits or subsidies past the end of the year.  And the administration, rather than curbing costs for the average American worker, including   is prioritizing historic cuts, and I mean unprecedented cuts, in SNAP, Medicaid, and health care coverage.  Americans often don't appreciate that veterans use these programs and depend on them.  More than 1.2 million veteran households use SNAP.  Yet this administration refuses to fully fund   the program despite orders from courts that they do so.  There's no equivalent service like SNAP through the VA or any other federal program to serve as a safety net, meaning these cuts have devastating impacts on veterans and their families.   And at the same time, reductions in access to private health insurance, Medicaid, and funding for community health services, we all know about the clinics that exist in communities with federal support, they will result in veterans relying more on the VA for their health care and benefits.  Here's the startling number.  Up to 1.75 million veterans and active duty service members   households rely on Medicaid.  Let me just give you that again.  1.75 million veterans and their households rely on Medicaid.  And that's nearly one in 10 veterans under the age of 65.
Forty percent of them rely on Medicaid as their sole coverage, often due to ineligibility for Medicare or VA health care.

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