Will: Veterans continue to suffer.

Dear Friend,
Our nation’s veterans continue to experience long and frustrating  wait times and technical challenges when simply scheduling medical appointments . The Department of Veterans Affairs should be using modern technology to reduce wait times and make scheduling more efficient.  On top of this, the VA has been unable to implement an electronic health record system that is secure and interoperable. Despite billions of tax dollars and reports outlining deficiencies, we have seen little to no improvement.  Veterans continue to suffer.
To address these issues, I am holding a hearing to examine the VA’s implementation of cybersecurity reforms, their development of an interoperable electronic database, and how to best utilize private-sector, ‘off-the-shelf’ technology in order to benefit veterans. My subcommittee will be hosting special guests Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) to discuss their legislation,  H.R. 4352, the Faster Care for Veterans Act , of which I am a proud cosponsor. 
If you would like to tune in, a live video stream of the hearing will be broadcast here .
WHEN: Wednesday, March 16, 2016
TIME: 1:00 pm CT/2:00 pm ET
INVITED WITNESSES:
Ms. LaVerne Council
Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology &  Chief Information Officer
Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Brent Arronte
Deputy Assistant Inspector General  for Audits and Evaluations
Department of Veterans Affairs
For more information on constituent services, current legislation, and to sign up for my E-newsletter, visit:www.hurd.house.gov .
Sincerely,

Trending Political Issues.

Chelsea: help build a better future.

Image
Welcome Robert!  I’m so grateful that you’ve joined our Clinton Foundation community. We can do more together than any one of us can do on our own, and we work on a wide range of issues where we believe we can uniquely make an impact. Whether it’s helping farmers negotiate better prices for their crops, helping college students turn their ideas into action to improve the world around them, or supporting children and families with the information and tools they need to lead healthier lives – our work is linked by a sense of common purpose. To learn more about our programs, our partners, and the people whose lives are improved through our work, check out our annual Impact Report here. Thank you again for joining our community and helping us empower people across our country – and around the world – to build better futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Sincerely, Chelsea The Clinton Foundation improves lives across t...
Read more

Adam: House was finally taking a stand against the NRA

Image
Friend, Remember a few weeks ago when I told you the House was finally taking a stand against the NRA and proposing legislation to establish universal background checks on guns? Good news. That bill, known as HR 8, is now moving forward. And on Wednesday, the House held its first hearing on gun safety reform in eight years. It’s about damn time. While President Trump will have you believe there’s a national emergency at the border that requires a “big, beautiful wall” paid for by American taxpayers, the  real  crisis facing our country is the epidemic of gun violence. We must take action to reduce gun violence, and establishing universal background checks is a commonsense measure that 90 percent of Americans support.  That’s why I joined a bipartisan group of representatives in introducing this legislation and standing up to the gun lobby and the NRA. While this legislation moves forward in the House, we need to make it clear to the Republican-controlled ...
Read more

Preston Elliot: give Kay a call

Robert, UPDATE: We’re $3,382 away from hitting our big FEC goal, and we’re just eight hours away from our deadline. After midnight tonight, we are out of time. I’m about to give Kay a call and let her know where we’re at. Can I tell her that you’ll contribute in the next eight hours? We set up a page for last-minute contributions here. Thank you so much for your help. We couldn’t do this without you. Preston Elliott Campaign Manager Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate
Read more

Al Franken: Senators Boxer, Gillibrand, Blumenthal and I are working to bring justice to victims of sexual assault in the military

Image
Dear Robert, We might not like to think that our men and women in uniform are at risk of being sexually assaulted when they volunteer to serve our country -- but the ugly truth is, it happens far too often. This month, the Department of Defense estimated that more than 26,000 cases of sexual assault took place in the military in 2012. It gets worse. The year before, only 10 percent of reported cases - only a fraction of the total - ever resulted in a trial where the victims could find justice. A stunning 62 percent of victims felt like they were retaliated against for coming forward. The system is broken. And we need to fix it. Click here to join me and Senators Barbara Boxer (CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Richard Blumenthal (CT) as we fight to fix our military’s response to sexual assault. Unbelievably, even if a jury does issue a conviction, senior military officers with no legal training -- and, often, glaring conflicts of interest -- can throw that conviction out with no e...
Read more

Scarlett: tell them thanks from me!

Robert -- I think you know by now how incredibly high the stakes are on November 4th, especially for women. And if we don't want to wake up on November 5th and find ourselves on the fast track back in time on women's rights, it's critical that Democrats vote. That starts with you, Robert. Will you take a moment to confirm your polling place, and then forward this email to three of your friends? http://my.democrats.org/Lookup If the Republicans take back the Senate, one of the first things they will try to dismantle will be a woman's right to make her own personal health care decisions. This year, I have been appalled again and again by decisions from the GOP and even the Supreme Court that attack a woman's right to choose, and this is our chance to take action. Our votes on Tuesday are all that can stop Republicans from doing even more damage.  So please, even if you remember your polling place, take a moment to confirm that it hasn't changed, and check that yo...
Read more

Rob: President’s address to veterans

Image
It was just over nine years ago that I wore the uniform of a United States Naval Officer for the last time. It seems like it was just yesterday. After four years at the U.S. Naval Academy and nearly seven years of active duty service, including a wartime deployment to the Middle East in 2004, I gained what I would argue is the most important and meaningful title I have ever been afforded -- I am a veteran. I think that leaving the military is challenging for all fellow service members. From worrying about what our next careers will be, to deciding whether to go back to school, to finding a path forward through the mental and physical wounds of war, veterans face a unique set of challenges in navigating their post-military lives. I know that this President appreciates that. And today, he is reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that those who have served our country receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.  You can watch the President’s address to veterans...
Read more

Marjorie: the “war room” we set up

Image
Robert, Today (April 2), the House Minority Whip Steve Scalise is taking action to FORCE the House of Representatives to VOTE on a  LIFE-SAVING  bill to protect babies BORN ALIVE during a failed abortion attempt. Nancy Pelosi and her pro-abortion allies have  blocked over two dozen requests  to vote on the bill, so now Scalise and the Republicans are taking aggressive action by filing what’s known as a “discharge petition.” If all Republicans and just 21 Democrats sign the petition, they can break the Pelosi blockade and hold a vote on this bill. I need you to contact your representative right away and urge them to immediately sign the discharge petition to save these innocent lives: Please use our easy Contact Congress tool to email YOUR U.S. Representative and convince them to do the right thing by voting to protect babies born alive in failed abortions. CONTACT MY REPRESENTATIVE Remember when Planned Parenthood used to pretend that their only go...
Read more

Scott: every conservative who cares

Image
Robert, Conservatives have a tough road ahead in 2016. We’re going up against the Big Government Labor Bosses, Hollywood liberals, and big-government cronies. While a lot of groups claim they help elect conservatives, none come close to the size, scope, and success of the Republican National Committee (RNC) –  the Official Committee in Charge of Taking Back the White House. Only the RNC has what it takes to fight the Obama-Clinton Machine head-on. But right now the RNC still has $40,000 to go to meet their November goal before the deadline TONIGHT at 11:59 p.m. On their behalf, I’m asking for your help, Robert. I know what we’re up against. The Big Government Labor Bosses hated our reforms for Wisconsin that took power away from the government and returned it to the people, and they launched an effort to recall me as governor in 2012. But the RNC stepped in to defend our conservative solutions for Wisconsin. They mobilized a grassroots effort to fight back against Big Labor. T...
Read more

Brett: Open Letter to the Judiciary committee

Image
Robert, I wanted you to be the first to see the letter below that Judge Brett Kavanaugh sent yesterday to the Senate Judiciary Committee. As you’ll see, the letter makes a few things clear: Judge Kavanaugh strongly denies the last-minute allegations that have been made against him He is prepared to testify again this Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer any questions that they have He will  NOT  allow himself or his wife and two daughters to be bullied by the other side into withdrawing his nomination SBA List is standing by Judge Kavanaugh. Over the last six weeks, SBA List and the Pro-Life Court Coalition has held over 30 events across seven battleground states, rallying support for Brett. TAKE ACTION NOW: Tell your Senators that you stand strongly with Judge Kavanaugh. The worst thing that can ever happen to any woman or man who has been a victim is to shut them down and not listen to them. This Thursday, Judge Kavanaugh’s accuser wi...
Read more

My black history was not white enough for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

 It's me the President of the Black Independent Party. Robert  Gilyard.  First black man to get a law degree from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith in 2007. The first class that graduated from the college.. I am black history in Fort Smith Arkansas. But the whites at the University of Arkansas is bringing their own form of black people to represent our city and they're supposed to be representations of black folks from our city. How can I respect my Alumni when I see the same issues that were there when I was a student. These black folks don't do nothing but go to a college. Then go home. They ignore us. But they are the white people's favorite. Now we have to listen another year and watch them applaud them people that don't give a fuk about us. Because that's how black folks are in this area. They're just like white people they just have black face on. Over a hundred years our people in this town are ignored. And when we finally get a little bit of a...
Read more