In order to further improve the lines of communication and to respond to the concerns between the National VA Council and you our members, I have established a National VA Council Briefing. This NVAC Briefing will bring you the latest news and developments within DVA and provide you with the current status of issues this Council is currently addressing. I believe that this NVAC Briefing will greatly enhance the way in which we communicate and the way in which we share new information, keeping you better informed. Alma L. Lee National VA Council, President

Who's Who of Key Players for VA in the House of Representatives

House Republican and Democrat leadership today released a preliminary list of who will be on key congressional committees affecting the VA and federal employees.

House Veterans Affairs Committee:

There will be 16 Republicans on the committee and 13 Democrats.

The Repbulican leadership has named 13 of the 16 Republican members. They will still add 3 more Republican lawmakers to the Committee.

The 13 Republican U.S. Representatives are:

Steve Buyer (R-IN) Chairman (The Chairman's name is pronounced Boo-yer) for more information about the new chairman http://veterans.house.gov/about/aboutchairman.html

Mike Bilirakis (R-FL)

Terry Everett (R-AL)

Rick Renzi (R-AZ) plus 3 more Republicans to be named to the committee by the House Republican leadership at a later date.

The 8 of the 13 Democrats to serve on the committee are:

Lane Evans (D-IL) Ranking Member

Bob Filner (D-CA)

Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)

Corrine Brown (D-FL)

Vic Snyder (D-AR)

Mike Michaud (D-ME)

Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) NEW TO COMMITTEE

Brian Higgins (D-NY) NEW TO COMMITTEE AND TO CONGRESS

The Democrat Leadership will name 5 other democrat US Representatives to the committee at a later date.

The Senate VA Committee roster is:

Republicans: Chairman Larry Craig (Idaho), Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), Richard Burr (North Carolina), John Ensign (Nevada), John Thune (South Dakota), and Johnny Isakson (Georgia).

Democrats: Ranking Member Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), John Rockefeller (West Virginia), Jim Jeffords (Vermont - Independent), Patty Murray (Washington), Barack Obama (Illinois), and Ken Salazar (Colorado). {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Verdana;}{\f1\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\f2\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Arial;}{\f3\fnil\fprq2\fcharset0 Chaucer;}{\f4\fswiss\fcharset161 Tahoma;}}