By: Leo Shane III
WASHINGTON — The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will start its work this session with more than half of its members new to the panel, a significant turnover that veterans advocates have said leaves them with plenty of education work along with their lobbying goals.
But committee leaders are downplaying concerns about the numerous new faces, noting that the number of veterans on the panel will increase this year, featuring even more younger veterans than in the past.
“Those new veterans are eager to get started,” said Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif. “I’m not worried. They’re coming with a deep well of knowledge, the struggles they have had, and questions about things like the transition assistance program and getting care at the VA.