Hearing to Assess Veterans' Charities

On Thursday, the Committee held a hearing to examine whether all the charitable groups raising money for the purpose of helping our nation’s veterans are genuinely serving that need. Concerns have been raised that some charities are conducting high volume mail and telemarketing campaigns that enrich the organizations and fundraisers but fail to provide meaningful assistance to veterans. The hearing will include a discussion of what Americans can do to ensure that their contributions to veterans’ causes are being responsibly used. A preliminary transcript of this hearing is now available.

The following witnesses testified:

• The Honorable Charles Grassley, United States Senator
• Ed Edmundson, Father of a wounded veteran
• Bonnie Carroll, Executive Director, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
• Tracy L. McCurdy, Director, Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations
• Daniel Borochoff, President, American Institute of Philanthropy
• Bennett Weiner, Chief Operating Officer, Better Business Bureau
• Robert M. Friend, President, American Veterans Coalition
• Pamela L. Seman, Executive Director, Disabled Veterans Association