Congressional Research Service Reports - 396 Matching Results
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- Veterans' Medical Care: FY2015 Appropriations
- This report focuses on funding for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through the nation's largest integrated health care system.
- "Who is a Veteran?"-- Basic Eligibility for Veterans' Benefits
- This report examines the basic eligibility criteria for VA administered veterans' benefits, including the issue of eligibility of members of the National Guard and reserve components.
- Veterans' Benefits: Issues in the 110th Congress
- This report provides a general discussion of veterans' benefits issues that are part of the legislative agenda of the 110th Congress or are likely to be of legislative interest. Among those issues are disability compensation and pensions; education benefits; homelessness; life insurance; the status or eligibility of groups such as U.S. merchant seamen and World War II Filipino veterans for veterans' benefits; Reserve and National Guard eligibility for veterans' benefits; the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and legal representation for veterans. For each issue, an overview is provided, along with summaries of pertinent pending legislation. In addition, an overview of the benefits and their eligibility requirements, demographics for both the veteran population and the benefit population, and summary data on the FY2008 budget for veterans' benefits are provided.
- Improving Health Care Access for Veterans: H.R. 3230
- This report provides a brief comparison of the Senate ("Senate Bill") and House ("House Bill") provisions that would provide expanded authority to the VA to provide care to veterans through non-VA health care providers and facilities. This report compares only major provisions contained in Title III of the Senate version and Sections 2 and 3 of the House Version of H.R. 3230.
- Veterans' Benefits: Current Life Insurance Programs
- This report provides information on the current Veterans Affairs life insurance programs available for service-members and veterans, management and administration issues, and associated policy issues.
- A Brief History of Veterans' Education Benefits and Their Value
- This report reviews the evolution of veterans' education benefit programs and describes the types of education benefits that have been made available under these programs. It also examines how changes in the estimated value of these benefits compares with changes in average college prices, and provides a discussion of the interaction between veterans' education benefits and federal student aid benefits made available under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended.
- TRICARE and VA Health Care: Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
- This report addresses key questions concerning how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) affects the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.
- Veterans' Benefits: The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Duty to Assist Claimants
- This report analyzes court decisions that have examined the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) obligation to assist veterans during the claims process.
- Veterans' Benefits: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for Survivors
- This report outlines the eligibility requirements and benefit levels for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and related policy issues.
- A Brief History of Veterans' Education Benefits and Their Value
- This report reviews the evolution of veterans' education benefit programs and describes the types of education benefits that have been made available under these programs. The first section provides an historical overview of education benefits for military veterans, beginning with the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill of Rights). The second section is an analysis of the estimated value of veterans' education benefits relative to average college prices. This section focuses on the estimated value of veterans' education benefits and college prices at four-year public and private institutions, and two-year public institutions. The final section briefly examines the interaction between veterans' education benefits and federal student aid benefits authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended.
- Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs: Status of the Integrated Electronic Health Record (iEHR)
- The purpose of this report is to provide a background on the long-standing efforts in sharing health information between Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- Veterans Medical Care: FY2009 Appropriations
- This report provides a brief background on the veterans' health care system, followed by a discussion of the FY2009 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) budget request, and House and Senate Appropriations Committee action. The report concludes with a discussion of major VHA budget issues.
- Health Care for Rural Veterans: The Example of Federally Qualified Health Centers
- This report discusses considerations that may arise during possible attempts to increase the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) collaboration with federally qualified health centers (FQHC), and describes policy levers Congress might use to encourage VA-FQHC collaboration.
- Suicide Prevention Efforts of the Veterans Health Administration
- This report discusses seven areas of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) suicide prevention interventions: easy access to care, education, screening and treatment, limited access to lethal means, suicide hotline, media restrictions, and suicide prevention coordinators.
- Health Care for Rural Veterans: The Example of Federally Qualified Health Centers
- This report discusses considerations that may arise during possible attempts to increase collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and describes policy levers Congress might use to encourage VA-FQHC collaboration. These approaches might also be employed to encourage collaboration between the VA and other types of facilities that may serve rural veterans.
- Federal Holidays: Evolution and Current Practices
- This report discusses the creation of federal holidays, how holidays affect employee pay, and recent holiday legislation.
- The Number of Veterans That Use VA Health Care Services: A Fact Sheet
- This report provides data on the number of veterans and VA health care users, and discusses the allegations of long delays in treatments.
- Survivor Benefits for Families of Civilian Federal Employees and Retirees
- This report discusses federal employees with permanent appointments that may be eligible for retirement and disability benefits under either the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
- Veterans' Medical Care: FY2014 Appropriations
- This report focuses on funding for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through the nation's largest integrated health care system.
- Health Care for Veterans: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- This report provides responses to frequently asked questions about health care provided to veterans through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). It is intended to serve as a quick reference to provide easy access to information. Where applicable, it provides the legislative background pertaining to the question.
- Unemployment Compensation (Insurance) and Military Service
- This report discusses unemployment compensation for Ex-Service members (UCX), which provides income support while former active duty military personnel or reservists released from active duty search for work. The report addresses funding for this service, who is entitled to UCX benefits, and Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) and the Extended Benefits (EB) payments, which a servicemember receives when regular unemployment benefits are exhausted.
- Employment for Veterans: Trends and Programs
- This report discusses veterans' employment trends and programs. The first section presents data on veterans' employment outcomes, identifying recent trends, and discussing issues to consider when interpreting veterans' employment data. The following sections present brief discussions of existing programs that provide employment-related services to veterans. These services are divided into (1) general programs that are broadly available to veterans, (2) programs that target veterans with service-connected disabilities, and (3) competitive grant programs that provide additional employment-related services to veterans but may be limited in scope or availability.
- "Leahy Law" Human Rights Provisions and Security Assistance: Issue Overview
- This report provides background on the Leahy laws, including a brief history of their legislative development; an overview guide to the standards and processes used to "vet"--that is, review and clear--foreign military and other security forces for gross violations of human rights; and a brief review of salient issues regarding the provisions of the laws and their implementation.
- Veterans and Homelessness
- This report discusses several issues relating to homelessness among veterans, which has become more prominent since the beginning of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- VA-Home Loan Guaranty Program: An Overview
- Report containing a summary of the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program.
- SBA Veterans Assistance Programs: An Analysis of Contemporary Issues
- Report that contains an examination of the current economic circumstances of veteran-owned businesses, available employment assistant programs offered by several federal agencies to assist veterans in their transition from the military to the civilian labor force, and veteran business development programs.
- Veterans' Benefits: Burial Benefits and National Cemeteries
- Report providing a descriptive analysis of both nonmonetary and monetary burial benefits and national cemeteries.
- Veterans' Benefits: Current Life Insurance Programs
- Report providing information on the current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) life insurance programs available for servicemembers and veterans, management and administration issues, and associated policy issues and legislation.
- Veterans' Medical Care: FY2014 Appropriations
- This report focuses on funding for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through the nation's largest integrated health care system. Eligibility for VA health care is based primarily on previous military service, disability, and income.
- Veterans' Benefits: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for Survivors
- This report outlines the eligibility requirements and benefit levels for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and related policy issues.
- The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 GI Bill): Primer and Issues
- This report provides a description of the eligibility requirements, benefit availability, benefit payments, participation, and obligations of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The report also describes a few issues that may be addressed by Congress.
- GI Bills Enacted Prior to 2008 and Related Veterans' Educational Assistance Programs: A Primer
- This report describes the GI Bills enacted prior to 2008. Although participation in the programs has ended or is declining, the programs' evolution and provisions inform current policy. Included is a description of the eligibility requirements, eligible programs of education, benefit availability, and benefits. The report also provides some summary statistics, comparisons between the programs, and brief discussions of related programs.
- Employment for Veterans: Trends and Programs
- This report discusses veterans' employment trends and programs. The first section presents data on veterans' employment outcomes, identifying recent trends, and discussing issues to consider when interpreting veterans' employment data. The following sections present brief discussions of existing programs that provide employment-related services to veterans. These services are divided into (1) general programs that are broadly available to veterans, (2) programs that target veterans with service-connected disabilities, and (3) competitive grant programs that provide additional employment-related services to veterans but may be limited in scope or availability.
- Military Benefits for Former Spouses: Legislation and Policy Issues
- The purpose of this report is to provide a general discussion of legislative provisions and proposals relating to the military benefits for former spouses.
- The Military Survivor Benefit Plan: A Description of Its Provisions
- This report describes the basic provisions of the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and all relevant changes or modifications that have occurred since its creation in 1972.
- Disability Benefits Available Under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Veterans Disability Compensation (VDC) Programs
- This report seeks to clarify why one group of individuals with disabilities may be eligible for benefits under Veteran's Disability Compensation (VDC), but ineligible for benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) (and vice versa), through a description and comparison of several distinguishing characteristics of the SSDI and VDC programs. This report concludes with a discussion of the challenges facing the administration of both programs, including processing delays for pending claims and appeals.
- Veterans' Benefits: Benefits Available for Disabled Veterans
- This report provides information on these benefits to assist disabled veterans, including eligibility, history, and the application process. Information regarding spending and the beneficiaries of these benefits is in the Appendix to this report.
- Veterans' Benefits: The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
- This report describes Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service (VR&E) program services available to veterans with service-connected disabilities and to their families. It provides information about eligibility and entitlement, the application process, and resources available through other agencies. A brief history of the program is also provided.
- Legal Issues Related to Proving “Service Connection” for VA Disability Compensation: Statutory Presumptions
- This report provides a basic overview of various statutory presumptions that help veterans substantiate a service-connected claim for disability compensation.
- The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): A Private Cause of Action
- This report discusses the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and related legislation, such as the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010, which clarifies certain SCRA protections.
- The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, As Enacted
- This report identifies and examines selected changes that the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 makes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other GI Bills, including expanded eligibility.
- Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Travel Program: Questions and Answers
- This report offers an overview of the Travel Beneficiary Program for veterans and includes a question-and-answer section with basic information about eligibility, the types of travel covered and how benefits are calculated, and how to apply for the benefit.
- Military Construction: Analysis of the President's FY2012 Appropriations Request
- This report explains government activities funded under the military construction appropriation, examines trends in military construction funding over the past few years, and outlines military construction issues extant in each of the major regions of U.S. military activity.
- Veterans Affairs: The Appeal Process for Veterans' Claims
- This report discusses the appeal process for veterans who are denied veteran's affairs claims. It ends with discussion of legislation considered in the 111th Congress to modify the process.
- Veterans' Benefits: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for Survivors
- This report outlines the eligibility requirements and benefit levels for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and related policy issues.
- TRICARE and VA Health Care: Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
- This report addresses key questions concerning how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) affects TRICARE and VA health care.
- Veterans Affairs: The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims— Judicial Review of VA Decision Making
- This report discusses legislation enacted by the 111th Congress to address funding, operations, and benefit appeal procedures within the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims (CAVC).
- Veterans Affairs: The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims—Judicial Review of VA Decision Making
- This report discusses legislation enacted by the 111th Congress to address funding, operations, and benefit appeal procedures within the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims (CAVC).
- Veterans Affairs: Historical Budget Authority, Fiscal Years 1940 Through 2010
- This report provides information on the historical budget authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (formerly the Veterans Administration) for FY1940 through FY2010. Budget authority is presented in both current dollars and constant 2010 dollars (i.e., inflation-adjusted).
- Veterans and Homelessness
- This report discusses several issues relating to homelessness among veterans, which has become more prominent since the beginning of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.