Daniel K. Akaka

Vows to fight Bush’s expected veto of the New GI Bill with action in Veterans’ Affairs Committee

May 22, 2008 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka issued the following statement today regarding his votes in favor of passage of amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill (H.R. 2642):

Bush protester: Photo by Maggie Tacheny (CC)    » read more »

May 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake today, in response to a recently disclosed email from a VA mental health professional which suggested that time and money could be saved if VA stopped diagnosing veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Akaka also made a statement on this matter earlier today, calling the email "disturbing and disappointing."

A copy of the letter is copied below:

May 16, 2008

The Honorable James B. Peake, MD

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Avenue

Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Peake:    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Congress learns more about the mental health challenges facing veterans and the rate of suicides by veterans, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, is working with the Majority Leader and his other colleagues to bring S. 2162, the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, to the Senate floor.

"The sheer magnitude of mental health challenges facing veterans demonstrates the urgent need to improve VA's mental health system," said Akaka. "The Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act treats veterans' mental health care for what it is: a cost of war."    » read more »

April 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, called for the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Mental Health Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, following reports that Dr. Katz was involved in efforts to cover up the number of veterans attempting suicide. Akaka sent his request by letter to Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Under Secretary for Health.

US Army Soldier clears palm groves in Buhriz, Iraq: Photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall    » read more »

Proposal would remove enrollment cap, make quality of life an official program objective

April 15, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced the proposed "Training and Rehabilitation for Disabled Veterans Enhancement Act of 2008."

Disabled veteran, Chicago: Photo by TheeErin (CC)    » read more »

Following a Town Hall Meeting, Feingold Continues to Pressure VA to Implement Year-Old Law

February 29, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, are leading a group of senators in urging the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to implement a year-old health care law that will greatly benefit over a thousand veterans. In 2006, Congress enacted legislation requiring the VA to reimburse veterans and/or state veterans’ homes for care provided to certain veterans with service-related disabilities.    » read more »

February 8, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation today to increase veterans' compensation through a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). A bipartisan group of Veterans' Affairs Committee Members signed on as original cosponsors of this legislation, including Ranking Member Burr, and Senators Rockefeller, Murray, Obama, Sanders, Brown, Webb, Tester, Craig, and Isakson.    » read more »