In This Issue:
1. Advanced Funding Ready for President
2. Veterans May Receive $250 Payment
3. House VA Committee Hearings
4. Maine Troop Greeters - The Movie
5. Entire Military Exceeds Recruiting Goals
1. Advanced Funding Ready for President: The Senate this week approved
the VFW's top priority-advanced funding for veterans' health care. The
legislation now heads to the President's desk for his signature. VFW
thanks Congress for its support in getting this critical bill passed.
The new law will allow VA to receive its funding a year in advance so
that VA's managers will be able to provide high-quality health care and
better address the needs of America's veterans. The VFW has called on
President Obama to quickly sign it. Read the VFW Partnership's press
release at
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5250.
2. Veterans May Receive $250 Payment: A proposal that would provide
another one-time $250 payment to Social Security recipients,
VA-compensated veterans and others collecting disability payments, has
earned the backing of the President. The payment is designed to help
seniors and veterans who are unlikely to receive a
cost-of-living-adjustment in 2010 due to the inflation rate and other
factors being negative. This is the first time in decades such payments
have not received a COLA increase.
3. House VA Committee Hearings:
* On Wednesday, the House VA Committee held a hearing to discuss
the current "State of VA." Secretary Eric Shinseki assessed the
challenges his agency is facing, to include new GI Bill implementation,
health care enrollment, the claims backlog, cemetery planning, among
many other. He answered questions concerning accountability, program
improvements, new initiatives for veterans, and his vision for the VA in
the 21st century. To read his report, go to the House VA Committee
website at
http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=472.
* On Thursday, the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
held another oversight hearing on GI Bill implementation. VA Director
of the Office of Education Services Keith Wilson testified on recent
delays in education payments, and the lack of communication regarding
resources, which has angered members of Congress. Subcommittee Chair
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) asked VA to speak about IT upgrades and
the unique demands of the new benefit. Others asked about feedback from
veterans on the problems they encountered and if legislative fixes are
needed.
* Also on Thursday, the House VA Subcommittee on Health held a
hearing on inappropriate VA billing practices. Subcommittee Chair
Michael Michaud (D-ME) questioned witnesses about overbilling, copayment
charges and the overall inefficiencies in the billing system. Witnesses
discussed data collected from independent surveys that suggested VA was
incorrectly billing veterans and private insurance companies for
service-connected conditions. Members agreed that VA has attempted to
implement more accurate billing practices and relies on third party
collections, but has failed to document the non service-connected care
provided to insured veterans, and assign the appropriate billing codes
essential to accurate collections.
For more on any of the hearings, visit the House VA website at
http://veterans.house.gov/.
4. Maine Troop Greeters - The Movie: Since 2003, a band of patriotic
veterans and citizens have greeted every deploying and redeploying troop
plane that landed at Bangor International Airport regardless of the hour
or the weather. At last count, they have now shaken the hands of more
than 970,000 service personnel heading to or back from Afghanistan,
Iraq, and elsewhere. Their devotion is now the subject of an 86-minute
documentary entitled, "The Way We Get By," which is now showing in
select theaters nationwide. Highlighted in the film are VFW Post 1761
member Bill Knight and friends Joan Gaudet and Jerry Mundy. Click here
for a theater nearest you:
http://www.thewaywegetbymovie.com/screenings/.
5. Entire Military Exceeds Recruiting Goals: For the first time since
the All Volunteer Military went into effect in 1973, all four active
duty services and six Guard/Reserve components reached or exceeded their
recruiting goals for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. The Pentagon
cited the economic downturn and job market, as well as enlistment
bonuses and other incentives as contributing factors. By the numbers:
* Army had 70,045 accessions, making 108 percent of its 65,000
goal.
* Navy had 35,527 accessions, making 100 percent of its 35,500
goal.
* Marine Corps had 31,413 accessions, making 100 percent of its
31,400 goal.
* Air Force had 31,983 accessions, making 100 percent of its
31,980 goal.
* Army National Guard had 56,071 accessions, making 100 percent of
its 56,000 goal, and the Army Reserve had 36,189 accessions, making 105
percent of its 34,598 goal.
* Navy Reserve had 7,793 accessions, making 101 percent of its
7,743 goal.
* Marine Corps Reserve had 8,805 accessions, making 122 percent of
its 7,194 goal.
* Air National Guard had 10,075 accessions, making 106 percent of
its 9,500 goal, and the Air Force Reserve had 8,604 accessions, making
109 percent of its 7,863 goal.
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