Cmdr. Brown outlines AMVETS’ goals for Congress, calls for justice in case of murdered Air Force pilot

On Thursday, April 3, AMVETS National Commander John P. “JP” Brown III testified before a special joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. Through heated dialogue with Rep. Steven Buyer of Indiana, Brown called for the committees’ adoption of the Independent Budget (IB) for 2009, which AMVETS helped to draft.

Brown cited the importance of AMVETS’ work along with Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in drafting the IB, which has been used as a guideline to fund the VA for more than 20 years. During a past budget hearing, Buyer waved around the IB calling it a “guesstimate,” to which AMVETS and the 50 veterans’ service organizations that endorse the document took offense.

In the end, Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota, a retired Army sergeant major, echoed AMVETS’ call for approval of the IB recommendations and condemned Congress for playing politics on last year’s VA funding.  

During his testimony, Brown also called for the extradition of Claudia Hoerig, the fugitive wife of Air Force Maj. Karl Hoerig, whom she is accused of murdering last spring. Hoerig fled to her native Brazil after allegedly killing her husband. Brazil has refused her extradition to the United States out of concern that she will face the death penalty.

Brown, a native of Ohio, is passionate about the return of Hoerig to face justice.

“I request that each of you support the Department of State and the Department of Justice in extraditing Mrs. Hoerig so she can stand trial for the crime she is accused, and allow the family of an American hero to have some closure in this tragic event,” Brown said during his testimony. The state of Ohio is considering trying Hoerig in her native Brazil, since the Federal Government has refused to pressure Brazil for her extradition.

Cmdr. Brown’s testimony outlined AMVETS’ legislative agenda for 2008. AMVETS supports Sen. Jim Webb’s proposal to overhaul the GI Bill, providing veterans with comparable benefits to those who served in WWII. AMVETS has also proposed legislation to provide funding for colleges and universities to commission a “one stop shop” for student-veterans to learn about their benefits and successfully transition into academic life. The bill, called the SERV act, is based on Cleveland State University’s SERV program, which was founded by CSU chemistry professor John Schupp.

In the wake of a recent report on veterans’ unemployment by the VA, AMVETS is pushing for improved transition assistance for recently-returned veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as robust education programs for veterans and their family members through partners such as University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Kaplan University.

To read Cmdr. Brown’s testimony, Click Here.

Media Contact:

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Jay Agg
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