Organizational Assessment: The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

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History

The United States has the most comprehensive system and programs of assistance for Veterans of any nation in the world. The first domiciliary, a residential home for Veterans was authorized by the Federal Government in 1811. After the Civil War, President Lincoln made a promise to care for widows, orphans and injured soldiers; many State veterans homes were established to care for indigent and disabled veterans. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Congress established a new system of Veterans’ benefits, including the addition of disability compensation and vocational rehabilitation. In the 1920s, the ever-increasing benefits were administered by three different Federal agencies: the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, the Veterans Bureau, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The establishment of the Veterans Administration came in 1930 when Congress authorized President Herbert Hoover to consolidate the programs for Veterans into one government bureau. The Veterans Administration took over the responsibility of the National Cemetery System from the Department of the Army in 1973, but in 1989, President Bush established the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Cabinet-level position. President Bush was quoted as saying; "There is only one place for the veterans of America, in the Cabinet Room, at the table with the President of the United States of America." (United States Department of Veteran Affairs, 2010)

Structure

The mission statement of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is, “To fulfill President Lincoln's promise ‘To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan’ by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s vete...

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...he VA values diversity, innovation and professional growth, and contributing to the education of medical personnel. The established hierarchy creates accountability at all levels with a clearly defined budget process.

Works Cited

Department of Veteran Affairs. (1997). Master Agreement between he Department of Veteran Affairs and the American Federation of Government Employees (VA Pamphlet 05-68). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office

Office of Management and Budget. (2011). Budget of the United States Government: Fiscal Year 2012. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2012/assets/veterans.pdf

United States Department of Veteran Affairs. (2010). About VA. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/about_va.asp

United States Department of Veteran Affairs. (2010). Budget Report. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/budget/report/

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