Congressman
Henry E. Brown, Jr.

News

November 11, 2009
Brown Pays Tribute to All Veterans
     Full Story »

October 29, 2009
Brown Cosponsors Legislation to Further Strengthen Veteran Benefits
Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved two bills, including measures to improve and expand veterans’ benefits, and to improve job training opportunities for veterans. Full Story »

October 22, 2009
VA Health Subcommittee Passes Brown's Bill for Service Dog Training Program Along With Legislation to Improve Assistance for Homeless Veterans
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Subcommittee on Health approved five bills to improve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services for homeless veterans and establish a therapeutic pilot program in which veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would train service dogs for other veterans with physical disabilities. After passage, Ranking Member Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) made the following statment in appreciation to fellow Subcommittee members for supporting his bill, H.R. 3885 the Veterans’ Dog Training Therapy Act: Full Story »

October 21, 2009
Brown Joins 'Warrior Champions' to Support a New Partnership Between the VA and US Paralympics
WASHINGTON- Full Story »

October 20, 2009
Brown Supports American Military Families and Their Right to Fly the Flag
WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) became a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2546, The Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2009, legislation that will protect Americans seeking to honor the sacrifices of their family members. After signing on, Congressman Brown made the following statement: Full Story »

October 15, 2009
Brown Joins Bipartisan Group at Signing of Early Budget for VA Health Care
WASHINGTON- After joining his colleagues from the House Veterans Affairs Committee yesterday for the signing of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), the Ranking Republican on the VA Subcommittee on Health, made the following statement: Full Story »

September 30, 2009
Brown Disappointed With Delays as VA Makes Emergency GI Bill Payments
WASHINGTON - Today, Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) Ranking Republican of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, made the following statement on Secretary Shinseki’s recent announcement that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would provide “emergency payments” to veterans who are awaiting payment of their education claims: Full Story »

August 18, 2009
Brown Applauds New Vet Center Coming to Horry County in 2010
WASHINGTON- Last week, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), Erik Shinseki, announced that combat Veterans in 28 communities across the country, including Horry County, will be able to receive readjustment counseling and other assistance by 2010 at new Vet Centers. After the announcement, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), the Ranking Republican on the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, made the following statement: Full Story »

July 31, 2009
Veterans Organizations Voice Concerns Over National Health Care Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC — Six major veterans’ organizations with members in South Carolina, including AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, and Vietnam Veterans of America, wrote to Speaker Pelosi over the “grave concerns” within the Democrats’ version of the national health care reform plan. Additionally, the American Legion wrote a letter to Rep. Henry Waxman , chief author of the Democratic health care bill, that it “is deeply concerned with veterans’ related issues” in the Democrats’ proposal. Full Story »

July 28, 2009
Brown Lauds Passage of Legislation in Support of Disabled Veteransand Medal of Honor Recipients
WASHINGTON- Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), Ranking Republican Member of the Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health, made the following statement after this weeks passage of legislation that will provide necessary benefits and support to both disabled veterans and Medal of Honor recipients: Full Story »

June 23, 2009
Brown Applauds Cost of Living Increase for Nation's Heroes
WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) made the following statement in support of the passage of S. 407, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009, legislation which provides an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) to the rate of veterans’ disability compensation payments: Full Story »

June 23, 2009
Brown Supports Passage of Early Budget for VA Health Care
WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) made the following statement in support of the passage of H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, as it would provide for two-year advanced appropriations for certain VA health care accounts: Full Story »

June 23, 2009
Brown Works to Better Meet the Needs of Women Veterans
WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), Ranking Republican Member of the VA Subcommittee on Health, made the following statement after passage of H.R. 1211, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, legislation that would work to better provide for female veterans by conducting independent studies to look at the issues they face when trying to obtain VA health care: Full Story »

June 18, 2009
Brown Calls VA's Disregard of Basic Sterilization Inexcusable
WASHINGTON- After reports released earlier this week revealed that, despite earlier outrage on the issue, continued medical procedure failures at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in Miami, Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Augusta, Georgia may have exposed veterans to infectious diseases, Congressman Henry E. Brown (R-SC), Ranking Republican of the House Veterans’ Affairs  Subcommittee on Health, made the following statement: Full Story »

June 12, 2009
Brown Backs Early Budget for VA Health Care
WASHINGTON- Thursday, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) and his colleagues on the Committee on Veterans Affairs unanimously gave support to a bill that would provide for two-year advanced appropriations for certain Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health care accounts. Full Story »

May 21, 2009
Brown Honors Those Who Serve and Have Served
View my video message to our past and present troops here. Full Story »

May 15, 2009
Brown Continues to Commemorate Medal of Honor Recipients
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Henry Brown, Jr. (R-SC) made the following statement on the passage of H.R. 1209, the Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009: Full Story »

May 4, 2009
VA Now Taking Applications for Post 9/11 GI Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced that eligible individuals with active duty service in the Armed Forces after September 10, 2001 can begin submitting on-line applications for education benefits under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill. Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) was a proud cosponsor and supporter of the “Post-9/11 GI Bill,” the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI bill was signed into law in 1944, which will pay full tuition and fees for many veterans beginning on October 1st, 2009. Full Story »

April 3, 2009
Brown Applauds Unanimous Passage of Essential Veterans Legislation
WASHINGTON- After the House passed the Federal Reform Act by unanimous voice vote, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC), the Ranking Republican Member of the Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health, made the following statement on provisions affecting veterans in the bill: Full Story »

March 26, 2009
Brown Lauds Essential Legislation Extending Emergency Care Coverage to All Veterans
WASHINGTON- Yesterday, after the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously passed a bill that would expand emergency care coverage for veterans, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC), the Ranking Republican Member of the Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health, made the following statement: Full Story »

March 18, 2009
Brown Calls on the President to Honor His Commitment to Our Nation's Disabled Veterans
WASHINGTON - Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC), as the Ranking Member on the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, along with the Republican Leadership and the other Republican Members of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs sent a letter to President Obama today urging him to reconsider his proposal to force veterans to pay for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide to wounded warriors.  After sending the letter, Congressman Brown made the following statement: Full Story »

November 10, 2008
Making Veterans a Priority 365 Days a Year
WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) made the following statement regarding America’s bravest citizens as he and the rest of the nation celebrated our Veteran’s individual sacrifices on this Veterans Day: Full Story »

October 16, 2008
MOVING WALL Arrives in Lowcountry
CHARLESTON, SC – The Moving Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, has arrived in the Lowcountry.  Area Vietnam Era veterans will be honored this Saturday at a ceremony to coincide with the wall’s visit.  The scheduling of the Moving Wall and the recognition ceremony has been organized by Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) with the support of area veterans’ service organization (VSOs).  Explaining the significance of these events, Brown said, Full Story »

September 26, 2008
Brown Helps Send ALS Registry Act to President
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, both the House and the Senate passed legislation that will establish a new system to collect data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as ‘Lou Gehrig's Disease. This legislation, S. 1382, mirrors legislation (H.R. 2295) originally cosponsored by Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC). The national ALS registry builds upon a registry started through the Department of Veterans affairs that was focused on veterans with ALS.  The data collected by this registry was important in this week’s decision by the VA to designate ALS as a service connected disability under the VA disability system.  In praising the passage of the ALS Registry Act, legislation championed by Charleston’s General Thomas Mikolajcik, Congressman Brown made the following statement: Full Story »

September 23, 2008
Veterans' Affairs Implements Brown/Mikolajcik ALS Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) issued new regulations establishing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as ‘Lou Gehrig's Disease,’ as a service connected disability. The VA’s actions come after years of work by Charleston resident General Thomas Mikolajcik, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who advocated this important change to the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs, James Peake, and veterans’ committees in Congress.  In praising today’s announcement, Congressman Brown said:  Full Story »

September 10, 2008
Brown Continues to Support Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, joined today with the House of Representatives in support of two pieces of legislation to address the needs of our nation’s veterans.  The Rural Veterans Access to Care Act (H.R. 1527) establishes a three year pilot program to allow highly rural veterans, who are enrolled with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to elect to receive covered health services through a non-VA health care provider.  Congressman Brown, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health during the 109th Congress, held numerous hearings on health care issues facing rural veterans and today’s bill represents the next step in addressing the unique needs of these rural veterans.  The House also sent S.2617, which provides an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) to the rate of veterans’ disability compensation payments and other VA benefits, to the President for his signature today.  While the final COLA amount has yet to be set, it is estimated that it will provide veterans with a 2.8 percent increase in benefits over last year. Full Story »

September 8, 2008
Moving Wall Coming to Lowcountry
CHARLESTON, SC – The Moving Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is coming to the Lowcountry.  Area Vietnam Era veterans will be honored at a ceremony to coincide with the wall’s visit.  The scheduling of the Moving Wall and the recognition ceremony are being organized by Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) with the support of area veterans’ service organization (VSOs).  Explaining the significance of these events, Brown, said, Full Story »

August 1, 2008
Brown Supports Historic Veterans' Funding Increase
WASHINGTON - Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (SC), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, joined with a majority of his colleagues in support of legislation to provide funding for our nation’s veterans during the upcoming fiscal year. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill (H.R. 6599) provides a record high $93.7 billion for all veterans’ programs, including $40.7 billion for veterans’ health programs. Today’s legislation continues Congress’ bipartisan commitment to meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans. After passage of the legislation, Brown, a longtime leader in the successful effort to double funding for our veterans since 2001, made the following statement: Full Story »

July 14, 2008
Brown & Graham Applaud Secretary Peake's ALS Decision
WASHINGTON -  U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and U.S. Representative Henry Brown (R-Hanahan) today expressed their support for the decision by Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs James Peake to make amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease,” a service connected disability. Full Story »

June 19, 2008
Brown Greets Sole Surviving WWI Veteran
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (S.C.) attended the reception for World War I veteran Frank Buckles. At 107 years old, Buckles is the only survivor of the more than 2 million U.S. troops sent overseas to fight during the Great War. Full Story »

April 28, 2008
Congressman Brown Welcomes VA Secretary Peake to First District
CHARLESTON, SC – Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (SC) teamed with Congressman Steve Buyer (IN), ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in welcoming VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake to the First District as he toured VA facilities in the Charleston area. (photos) Full Story »

March 6, 2008
Congressman Brown Announces Constituent Service Workshops
CHARLESTON –Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. today announced the schedule of workshops for First District constituents seeking assistance with various federal government agencies.  Representatives of the Congressman’s staff and several agencies are expected to participate. Full Story »

September 10, 2007
Congressman Brown Hosts VA Undersecretary
CHARLESTON, SC - Today, Congressman Henry Brown hosted Dr. Michael J. Kussman, Undersecretary for Health for the Veterans Health Administration and provided him with a status update on the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC and the Medical University of South Carolina. Full Story »

July 26, 2007
Mikolajcik Spotlights ALS Concerns for Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health held an oversight hearing to provide Members an update on scientific research that has been done on Gulf War illnesses.  Testimony focused on the incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (Lou Gehrig’s disease) among Gulf War veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research and treatment of Gulf War illnesses.  Full Story »

May 23, 2007
Representative Brown Backs Legislation Focused on America's Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (SC-01) today joined with a majority of his House colleagues in supporting legislation to enhance benefits and health care for America’s veterans and returning servicemembers.   Full Story »

January 31, 2007
House Passes Measure Supporting 'Hire a Veteran' Week
Washington, Jan 31 - Representative Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) joined with a majority of his House colleagues today in passing legislation calling on the President to establish a national “Hire A Veteran” week to urge all employers to hire more of America’s veterans. The passage of this resolution, which was also introduced by Representative Brown and Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) in the 109th Congress, represents a multi-year effort by Representative Brown to highlight the contributions of our nation’s veterans. Full Story »

Brown's Statement on Continuing Resolution Jan 31, 2007  -   On January 31, 2007, the House of Representatives passed legislation drafted by the Democratic leadership that will fund operations of the federal government through September 30, 2007. Congressman Henry E. Brown (R-SC) made the following statement after the House concluded its action on the... More

January, 2007 Newsletter Jan 30, 2007  -   The 110th Congress was sworn in at noon on Thursday, January 4th. I am honored to begin serving my fourth term as the Representative for the First Congressional District. President Bush delivered his State of the Union address on January 23rd. The President's speech illustrates his conti... More

Congressman Henry Brown's Statement on the President's State of the Union Address Jan 23, 2007  -   Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (SC-01) made the following statement concerning President Bush's State of the Union Address: "The President's speech illustrates his continued commitment to addressing our nation's most vital domestic and foreign policy issues. Renewable alternative en... More

Congressman Brown Responds to Call for Additional Troops in Iraq Jan 10, 2007  -   Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) issued the following statement concerning the expected call by President Bush for additional troops to be deployed to Iraq: "President Bush's strategy for Iraq is as important as the number of increased American forces. This plan to increase troop st... More

Congressman Brown, Senator Graham Provide Status Update on VA-MUSC Collaborative Project Dec 16, 2006  -   Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) joined with representatives of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide an end-of-session update on legislation recently passed by Congress providing fo... More

FEMA Announces Federal Funds for Emergency Food and Shelter Programs Dec 13, 2006  -   Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) announced today that federal funds totaling more than $535,000 have been awarded to the five counties that comprise the First Congressional District to help prevent homelessness, and feed and shelter the hungry and homeless. These grants are administere... More

House Passes Veterans Programs Extension Act Dec 6, 2006  -   Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) today spoke in support of H.R. 6342, The Veterans Programs Extension Act of 2006, as the measure passed the House. "This bill would reauthorize health care services for veterans exposed to chemical and biological testing and extends treatment and r... More

House Passes Legislation to Extend Vital Veterans Programs, Expand Elibility for Education and Training Assistance Nov 14, 2006  -   Representative Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) joined with a majority of his House colleagues today in passing legislation to extend a number of important Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs benefiting and providing essential services for our nation's veterans. Under the legislation, gr... More

Congressman Brown Pays Tribute to Nation's Veterans Nov 10, 2006  -   In observance of Veterans' Day, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) offered a tribute to the nation's veterans for their sacrifices and service in defense of our freedom. "We should all take the opportunity to thank those who have served and those who are presently serving to preserve... More