VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, September 18, 2006
Sep. 19, 2006 at 12:12 PM
by Blogmaster
In This Issue:1. VFW Legislative Committee Approves Priority Goals
2. House Passes VA Medical Facilities Bill
3. Vet Committee Holds Hearing on VBA Training Process
4. Senate Passes Stolen Valor Bill
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1. VFW Legislative Committee Approves Priority Goals
The VFW Legislative Committee arrived in Washington last week to decide on this year's priority goals, and to take those key issues to Capitol Hill. The 2006/2007 Legislative Priority Goals come from resolutions passed at our National Convention. The members reviewed the goals then stormed the hill, visiting their legislators with our key issues and talking points.
The goals are listed below:
**VA Budget
Ensure that sufficient funding is consistently provided and appropriated for the Veterans Health Care Administration so that it can fulfill its obligation to care for all of our nation's sick and disabled veterans. Ensure that VA has a proper funding mechanism that matches funding with demands so that the Department of Veterans Affairs receives the appropriate level of funding to adequately care for all our nations veterans in a timely manner.
**VA Benefits and Compensation
Ensure that the VA disability compensation program is preserved in its current form to protect the needs of current and future veterans. The VFW opposes any changes to current definitions of line of duty, structural changes to the programs for disability and survivors benefits, or curtailment of veterans or beneficiaries rights of entitlement, or to appeal benefit decisions. Oppose involvement of fee-for-service attorneys at the initial level of claim processing.
**Education
Secure authority and full funding for a GI Bill for the 21st Century that supports recruitment and retention and recognizes the valuable contributions of those serving in uniform. Provide for the total cost of education including tuition, books, fees and living expenses for attendance at any educational institution.
**Military Retirees
Ensure that Congress enacts legislation that authorizes and fully funds legislation that allows all disabled military retirees to receive their full military retirement pay and full disability compensation without offset.
2. House Passes VA Medical Facilities Bill
Last week, the House passed, by voice vote, a bill that provides $2.4 billion dollars for construction and renovation of several VA medical facilities. Included in the measure is funding for two VA medical facilities damaged by hurricane Katrina-Biloxi and New Orleans. HR 5815 would allocate money from fiscal years 2007 through 2011. Other medical centers receiving funds include Las Vegas and Orlando.
The Senate bill (S.3421), was approved by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, but awaits floor action by the full Senate. It is slightly different then the House.
For more on the House Bill go to:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.05815:
For the Senate Bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:s.03421:
3. Vet Committee Holds Hearing on VBA Training
The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing to assess training and procedures of VA's claims adjudicators. Testimony included an overview of the types of training provided to claims adjudicators, the standards used to measure proficiency and performance, and what the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is doing to enhance the performance of claims examiners.
Steve Smithson, Deputy Director for the American Legion testified from the VSO community. According to Smithson, "The culture of VA's claims adjudication has been, and continues to be, production driven. That means veterans can be denied benefits without enough examination because employees need to complete cases swiftly."
The VFW has long held that VBA's performance in servicing claims is inadequate due to poor decision-making quality, severe backlogs, weak leadership, and ineffective oversight, as well as inadequate training. Subcommittee Chairman, Jeff Miller (R-FL) said that the Subcommittee will continue its oversight responsibility into the future.
For more about the hearing go to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee website at: http://veterans.house.gov/news/109/9-13-06.html
4. Senate Passes Stolen Valor Bill
The Senate passed VFW-supported legislation that would make it a crime to falsify military honors. The Stolen Valor Act amends the federal criminal code to prohibit wearing, manufacturing or selling military decorations or medals without legal authorization. Penalties include fines and up to one year in prison.
The bill, sponsored by Kent Conrad (D-ND) in the Senate and Representative John Salazar (D-CO) in the House (HR 3352), has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and awaits action.
According to Salazar, "It is our job in Congress to protect the honor and integrity of our veterans and to make sure the memory of their heroism is not tarnished."
For more on the bill click here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:s.01998:
