STATEMENT OF LEON SANCHEZ, NATIONAL SERVICE AND LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, AMVETS (AMERICAN VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II, KOREA, AND VIETNAM) Mr. DORN. Our next witness is Mr. Leon Sanchez, national service and legislative director from AMVETS. Mr. Sanchez, you may proceed. Mr. SANCHEZ. Congressman Dorn and members of this Subcommittee on Compensation and Pension, thank you and the members of your staff for the invitation extended to AMVETS to present our views on bills under consideration with regard to compensation and pension. The last increase granted to vetearns with service-connected disabilities was on July 1, 1970. On behalf of the AMVETS national organization I would like to report that we are on record in support of a costof-living increase at this time. You have bills in support of such increases before you. The Veterans' Administration has recommended an increase of 6 percent. We do not feel that 6 percent is reflective of the increase in the cost of living since the last increase went into effect. It is believed that an increase of 10 percent in compensation rates would more adequately reflect the true increase in the cost of living. A resolution was approved at our 27th national convention last August in Los Angeles, urging that an adequate raise in statutory awards be enacted. We, therefore, urge favorable consideration of H.R. 4535 which would provide such an increase in the special monthly award for anatomical loss or loss of use of. The last increase enacted for statutory awards was in 1952, 20 years ago. Certainly in this day and age when so many demands, requests and suggestions are being made on the expenditure of the Federal income, those who gave of themselves in defense of their country cannot be turned aside. Continuing in the area of special legislation, we are in support of S. 2013 and S. 3343 passed by the Senate on April 25 which provide an increase in the maximum amount of the grant payable for specially adapted housing for eligible disabled veterans from $12,500 to $20,000. We urge early and favorable consideration of the legislation. The following are additional mandates in the area of compensation legislation supported by AMVETS that I would like to enter into the record. There is at the present time an inequity in the amounts paid for peacetime and wartime rates in service-connected statutes. The current regulations require that only 80 percent of wartime rates be paid to the peacetime veterans. A single veteran who is totally disabled and considered peacetime, now receives $360 per month compared to the single and totally disabled wartime veteran who receives $450 per month. Since the needs of these handicapped veterans are equal, AMVETS is on the record urging Congress to equalize the rates of disability compensation. Numerous bills in your committee, such as H.R. 5482 and H.R. 3988 would increase or equalize the rates of disability compensation payable for peacetime service. We recommend that favorable action be taken on H.R. 14736 in order to benefit these peacetime veterans. AMVETS, through its convention delegates, expresses concern with the present regulation of the Veteran's Administration with regard to carcinoma (cancer). The Veteran's Administration will recognize a carcinoma condition as service connected if it is diagnosed in service or within 1 year from the date of separation from service. Much research has been undertaken on this disease and the etiology and length of time of existence before discovery remains in doubt. The 1-year presumptive period is too limiting and under sound medical principles a 3-year period from the date of separation from service should be granted whenever carcinoma is diagnosed with service-connection conceded. Legislation should be introduced to amend existing legislation to provide a 2-year presumptive period of service connection for a psychosis which developes within 2 years from the date of separation from service. At the present time, Veterans' Administration regulations provide for a 1-year presumptive period for service connection, although conceding service connection for treatment purposes only if the condition is diagnosed within 2 years following release from service. Here again, it would be most difficult to establish the earliest manifestation of the disease entity. A 2-year presumptive period appears logical in view of the Veterans' Administration's decision in favor of service connection recognition for treatment purposes. The members of this subcommittee, as it is true of all Congressmen serving on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, must deal with very complex and, at the same time, very emotional problems. We of AMVETS, I suppose, cannot fully comprehend the enormity of your task but we seek to understand and will present only legislation that is reasonable and worthy of consideration. Our national commander, Joe F. Ramsey, Jr., in asking me to extend his personal greetings stated that we seek only such legislation that will make it easier for our service-connected disabled veterans to live in the dignity which they have earned. Thank you, and be assured that the AMVETS stand ready and willing to assist you in every possible way. Mr. DORN. Thank you, Mr. Sanchez. Mr. Hammerschmidt? Mr. HAMMERSCHMIDT. I don't believe I have any questions, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Sanchez, for a fine statement. Mr. TEAGUE of California. I have no questions, Mr. Chairman. You have made the position of your organization very clear. I compliment you on that. Mr. SANCHEZ. Thank you, Mr. Teague. Mr. DORN. Thank you very much, Mr. Sanchez. This concludes our hearings on the compensation bills. If there is no other business to come before the committee, the subcommittee will stand adjourned subject to the call of the Chair. (Whereupon, at 11:15 a.m., the subcommittee adjourned to reconvene subject to the call of the Chair.) |