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LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW VA TO ADVERTISE VETERANS'

BENEFITS -- H.R. 3681 would let the VA buy ads on national

media, but offers no funding to help in that effort.

 

 

Story below:

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As you know, the VA is under no obligation to tell veterans about any possible benefits.

We have to find out the hard way.

In the past, there have been legislative moves to force the VA to tell all veterans about all possible benefits.  These efforts have failed.

Now, a bill introduced in the House (H.R. 3681) would allow the VA to use the national media to advertise VA benefits.

Don't count on this happening.

The VA can't keep up with the workload generated by veterans already in the system.

And, this bill does not give the VA any additional funding for an advertising program.

I guess it's safe to say that this bill is well-intentioned, but not very well thought-out.

To read the bill, go to Thomas and enter the number...here...
http://thomas.loc.gov/

The bill is printed below:

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Veterans Benefits Awareness Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)

HR 3681 IH

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3681

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to advertise in the national media to promote awareness of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 27, 2007

Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to advertise in the national media to promote awareness of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Veterans Benefits Awareness Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ADVERTISE TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF BENEFITS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY.

(a) Authority To Advertise- Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 532. Authority to advertise in national media

`The Secretary may purchase advertising in national media outlets for the purpose of promoting awareness of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 531 the following:

`532. Authority to advertise in national media.'.

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Larry Scott  --