Veterans'_Affairs_Committee
United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Standing committee of the United States House of Representatives
The standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning U.S. military veterans. Jurisdiction[1] includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education (including the G.I. Bill), vocational training, medical care, and home loan guarantees. The committee oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans' hospitals, and veterans' cemeteries, except cemeteries under the Secretary of the Interior.
The Veterans' Affairs Committee does not have legislative jurisdiction[1] over the following issues:
- Tax status of veterans benefits and contributions to Veterans Service Organizations (Committee on Ways and Means);
- Military retiree issues, including COLA's and disability pay (Committee on Armed Services);
- CHAMPUS and Tri-Care (Committee on Armed Services);
- Survivor Benefit Program (Committee on Armed Services);
- Veterans Preference in Federal civil service hiring practice (Committee on Government Reform and Oversight);
- Congressional charters for veterans service organizations (Committee on Judiciary);
- Immigration issues relating to veterans (Committee on Judiciary); and
- Issues dealing with Prisoners of War (POWs) and service members missing in action (MIAs) (Committee on Armed Services)
The committee was created by Section 121(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (Public Law 79-601), which authorized a standing committee of 27 members.
