May 20, 1999 Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing

SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS

HEARING ON NATIONAL AND STATE
VETERANS' CEMETERIES

Thursday, May 20, 1999 - 10:00 a.m.
Room 340, Cannon House Office Building

Click on the linked names for testimony.

As Ranking Democratic Member Corrine Brown of Florida waits her turn, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Terry Everett of Alabama makes his opening remarks.

Chairman Everett allowed a fellow Alabaman, Congressman Sonny Callahan, to question witnesses about the status of a proposed veterans’ cemetery in his District.


Vincent L. Barile, right, Director, Office of Operations Support at the VA’s National Cemetery Administration, listens as the Administration’s Acting Under Secretary, Roger R. Rapp, addresses the Subcommittee.	John C. Metzler, right, Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, talks about the nation’s most hallowed resting place for veterans. To his right is Brian E. Burke, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, which manages the cemetery.


Ray Boland, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, testified about the needs of veterans in his state. Two of his counterparts also spoke, Charles F. Smith, left, Assistant Secretary, North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs; and Robin L. Higgins, Executive Director, Florida Deparment of Veterans Affairs.	Veterans’ and military organizations also testified on the need to expand and improve veterans’ cemeteries. Rick Weidman, center, Director of Government Relations, spoke for Vietnam Veterans of America, and was joined by, from left, Robert F. Norton, Deputy Director of Government Relations, The Retired Officers Association; Joy J. Illem, Associate National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Philip Wilkerson, Deputy Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, The American Legion; and Larry D. Rhea, Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, Non Commissioned Officers Association.
	Committee staffers Alicemary Leach and Eric Klos began the hearing with The National Cemeteries Presentation. The slides showed deteriorating conditions at three national cemeteries.