HVAC Hearing to Examine VAOIG Audit on Improperly Marked Graves

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2013, at 2:30 P.M., in Room
334 of the Cannon House Office Building, the Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs will hold a hearing
examining the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector
General's (VAOIG) report regarding a National Cemetery Administration
(NCA) audit of all NCA burial sites.



Last year, Congress and VA agreed that NCA would conduct an audit of
all its burial sites following the discovery of 47 improperly placed
grave markers at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio,
Texas. A subsequent VAOIG report revealed that NCA's audit lacked
impartial and independent review procedures and found that the time
frame in which NCA conducted the audit did not take into account the
various sizes of national cemeteries, resulting in some large cemetery
directors feeling overwhelmed and rushed.



This hearing will examine whether NCA's audit methodology and scope
were effective, and explore the preventative measures NCA has
implemented to avoid future problems with improperly placed grave site
markers and grave site audits. The hearing will also serve to provide
an update on the state of other cemeteries within the Subcommittee's
jurisdiction, including Arlington National Cemetery and American
Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries.



The following event is open to the press:



WHO: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

WHAT: Hearing: Sustaining the Sacred Trust: An Update on our
National Cemeteries

WHEN: 2:30 P.M., Wednesday, April 10, 2013

WHERE: Room 334, Cannon House Office Building and streaming at
veterans.house.gov





The witness list is as follows:



Panel 1

The Honorable Steve L. Muro

Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs

National Cemetery Administration

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs



Accompanied by:



Mr. Glenn Powers

Deputy Under Secretary for Field Programs

National Cemetery Administration

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs



Ms. Kathryn Condon

Executive Director of Army National Cemeteries Program

U.S. Department of Defense



The Honorable Raymond Wollman

Deputy Secretary

American Battle Monuments Commission



Panel 2

Ms. Linda Halliday

Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations

Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General



Accompanied by:



Ms. Cherie Palmer

Director, OIG Chicago Office of Audits and Evaluations

Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General



Panel 3

Ms. Diane M. Zumatto

National Legislative Director

AMVETS



Ms. Ami Neiberger-Miller

Director of Outreach and Education

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors



Written Testimony Submitted for the Record

Ms. Kari Cowan

Surviving Spouse of CW3 Aaron William Cowan, United States Army

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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
Web: http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog: Cold War Veterans Blog
Email: Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone: 716 720-4000
Network: My Fast Pitch! Profile