VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, Oct. 3, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008 at
09:43 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. President Signs VA Funding Bill
2. Congress Clears Veterans' Health and Benefit Bills
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. FY2009 Defense Spending Set
2. New Air Force Secretary Confirmed
3. Federal Employment for Military Spouses Made Easier
4. Vietnam War MIA Identified
5. WWII MIA Identified
6. Reserve Component Mobilization
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. President Signs VA Funding Bill: President Bush signed the FY 2009 VA funding
bill on Tuesday that is $4.5 billion more than last year. Some of the highlights in
the VA funding package, which was passed as a part of the $634 billion Continuing
Resolution, include $3.8 billion for mental healthcare, $584 million for substance
abuse programs, $510 million for medical and prosthetic research, and additional
funding for homeless grants. It allows the Veterans Benefits Administration to hire
2,000 additional claims adjudicators to help reduce the disability claims backlog,
raises the mileage reimbursement rate to 41.5 cents per mile, and provides an
additional $750 million in funding for the construction of VA medical facilities.
It was the first time in well over a decade that the VA was able to begin a new
fiscal year with an on-time budget. VFW national commander Chief Glen Gardner
thanked Congress and the president, and said, "We hope the delivery of an on-time
budget is the start of a trend that will continue into the next administration and
Congress."
Read the VFW Press Release at:
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4772. For a summary of the bill,
visit the House Appropriations Committee website at
http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/MCFY09CONFSummary09-22-08.pdf.
2. Congress Clears Veterans' Health and Benefit Bills: Congress cleared two large
veterans' bills last weekend to enhance and update an array of VA programs.
* S. 2162, The Veterans' Mental Health And Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, will
expand mental health care, substance use disorder, and readjustment and transition
programs, as well as improving access to health care for veterans in rural areas.
The bill also addresses a comprehensive policy on pain management, and authorizes
$150 million to VA's homeless grant and per diem program. It also would close a
loophole that forced many veterans to pay out-of-pocket expenses for emergency
treatment they received at non-VA facilities.
* S. 3023, The Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2008, expands claims assistance
and veterans housing, increases access to the VA court system, and updates USERRA
and other veterans' employment programs. One provision will also increase the
maximum home loan guarantee to $730,000, bringing it line with recent changes to FHA
during this unstable housing market. The change is effective through the end of
2011.
Both bills have sent to the president for signature. For a complete breakdown of
both bills, visit the Senate VA Committee website at
http://veterans.senate.gov/public/.
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. FY2009 Defense Spending Set: The president's signature Tuesday of the
"Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act,
2009" fully funds the Departments of Defense ($487.7 billion) and Homeland Security
($40 billion), as well as VA/Military Construction ($72.9 billion) for fiscal year
2009, which began Wednesday. Included in the defense funding was a 3.9% military
pay raise in January. The Act also continued funding the other federal departments
and agencies at FY2008 levels until March 6, 2009.
2. New Air Force Secretary Confirmed: The Senate confirmed Michael B. Donley as the
new Secretary of the Air Force yesterday. His nomination had been stalled for
months by the long-running controversy over a new aerial tanker program. The Senate
also confirmed Air Force Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, currently the Air National
Guard director, to become head of the National Guard Bureau and for promotion as its
first four-star chief. It also voted to approve McKinley's predecessor, Army Lt.
Gen. H. Steven Blum, to become the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, which
is in charge of homeland security. The Senate also confirmed Army Gen. David D.
McKiernan, who is commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, as commander of U.S.
forces in Afghanistan, a new post.
3. Federal Employment for Military Spouses Made Easier: President Bush signed an
executive order this week that will make it easier for spouses of military
servicemembers to get federal jobs. The order authorizes noncompetitive hiring of
spouses and should make the hiring process easier and faster. To be eligible,
individuals have to be the spouse of an active duty member or of a reservist on
active duty called on to relocate. Also eligible are the spouses of servicemembers
listed as 100 percent disabled and separated or retired, as well as widows or
widowers of servicemembers who died on active duty and who have not remarried. The
director of the Office of Personnel Management will issue the implementing
regulations.
4. Vietnam War MIA Identified: The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO)
announced that the remains of Air Force Col. David H. Zook, Jr., of West Liberty,
OH, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full
military honors. On Oct. 4, 1967, Zook was on a psychological warfare operation
over Song Be Province in South Vietnam when his U-10B Super Courier aircraft
collided in mid-air with a C-7A Caribou. The C-7 pilot said he saw the other
aircraft hit the ground and explode. Several search and rescue attempts failed to
locate Zook's remains. In 1992, a joint U.S./Vietnamese team, led by the Joint
POW/MIA Accounting Command, investigated the incident in Song Be Province. The team
interviewed Vietnamese citizens who witnessed the crash and saw remains amid the
wreckage. The team surveyed the site and found evidence consistent with Zook's
crash. While later examining the evidence recovered from the site, a small fragment
of bone was found. In 1993, another joint team excavated the crash site and
recovered a bone fragment and non-biological material, including small pieces of
military clothing. In March 2008, a final excavation was conducted and more human
remains were recovered.
5. WWII MIA Identified: The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced that the
remains of Army 2nd Lt. Ernest E. Martin, of Hanover, MT, have been identified and
will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. In November
1944, the 109th and 112th Infantry Regiments, 28th Infantry Division, were attacking
east through the Hürtgen Forest in an attempt to capture the German towns of
Vossenack and Schmidt. On Nov. 4, the Germans counterattacked in what would become
one of the longest running battles in U.S. history. Martin, a member of C Company,
109th Infantry Regiment, was reported missing in action near Vossenack on Nov. 10.
In 2000, a German construction company found human remains in an unmarked grave
while clearing wartime unexploded ordnance from the Hürtgen Forest. The remains,
along with military rank and branch insignia, were turned over to U.S. officials.
6. Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active duty in
support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is
91,929; Navy Reserve, 5,965; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 11,905;
Marine Corps Reserve, 7,930; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 753. This brings the
total number of mobilized Guard and Reserve personnel to 118,484, a decrease of 21
from last week. These figures include the totals of voluntary and involuntary
activated Reserve Component members. Of this total, 91,616 personnel have been
involuntarily mobilized, while 26,866 are voluntarily serving on active duty.
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VFW Washington Weekly, September 29, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008 at
07:54 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
1. VA Funding Increased in CR
2. VFW Testifies on GI Bill Implementation
3. Senate VA Committee Examines VA/DOD IT Progress
4. FY2009 NDAA Update
5. Code Talkers Recognition Act
1. VA Funding Increased in CR: Both the House and Senate have cleared a comprehensive spending measure to fund most government programs at fiscal 2008 levels. The Continuing Resolution includes the FY2009 Military Construction/VA Appropriation (HR 6599) to fund VA at $4.5 billion above last year; the appropriation meets Independent Budget recommendations for healthcare. This is a victory for veterans and for the VFW. The President is expected to sign the bill this week. Some of the highlights include:
• $3.8 billion for mental healthcare and $584 million for substance abuse programs;
• $250 million to improve access for veterans in rural areas;
• $510 million for medical and prosthetic research;
• $130 million for homeless grants and per diem program
For complete coverage of the bill visit the House Appropriations website at:
http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/MCFY09CONFSummary09-22-08.pdf
2. VFW Testifies on GI Bill Implementation: The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing Wednesday on the VA's ability to meet the Aug. 1, 2009, implementation deadline of the new GI Bill (P.L. 110-252), and the use of a private contractor to design the IT plan. Because VA lacks an IT department sufficient to design and develop such a system to administer the new benefit, the VFW testified in support of hiring of an outside contractor to develop a web-based computer program that allows veterans and VA employees to access the program online. Our view is VA has not been clear in its message about the contracting goal, which has created confusion and concern. VFW testified that VA needs a fail-safe plan in order for the benefit to be ready for eligible veterans by Aug. 1. 2009. We also testified that it was paramount that VA maintain ownership of the data, as well as the computer applications that the contractor will provide to administer the program. To read our testimony and the full hearing documents, visit the House VA Committee website at http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/
3. SVAC Examines VA/DOD IT Progress: The Senate VA Committee held an oversight hearing on VA and DOD's Information Technology progress. The FY2007 NDAA mandates that VA and DOD develop interoperable "seamless" health systems by September 2009. The Senate committee has held 10 hearings on the subject and has urged both agencies to continue to make progress to meet the 2009 deadline. Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) applauded the progress made, but made reference to a recent GAO report that outlined many more areas that needed further attention and action. For more on the hearing, visit the Senate VA Committee website at http://veterans.senate.gov/public/.
4. FY2009 NDAA Update: A House and Senate conference committee reached agreement this week on the FY2009 National Defense Authorization Act. The House passed the bill by a vote of 392-39. The Senate is expected to also adopt it, and send it to the President for his signature.
NDAA highlights include:
• A military pay raise of 3.9%;
• Prohibits TRICARE premium increases, and co-pays or user fees for the TRICARE retail pharmacy program;
• Requires DOD to recalculate the monthly premiums being charged to TRICARE Reserve Select beneficiaries;
• Provides tuition assistance and training opportunities for military spouses seeking degrees or careers that are portable as they move with their military spouse to other duty locations;
• Authorizes $1.7 billion for new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles for combat units in Iraq and Afghanistan;
• $3.2 billion for quality military housing;
• And prohibits the use of funds to establish permanent bases in Iraq.
More NDAA highlights and bill language can be found on the House Armed Services Committee website at: http://www.house.gov/hasc/.
5. Code Talkers Recognition Act: The House approved a measure this week to award the Congressional Gold Medal to all Native American Code Talkers for their contributions to U.S. victories in World War I and World War II. Previously, only Navajo Nation Code Talkers were awarded this medal. The measure, introduced by Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) and co-sponsored by 300 members of Congress, was passed unanimously by voice vote and will be sent to the Senate for consideration. The bill is supported by a VFW resolution that calls on Congress to identify and award them the Congressional Gold Medal all Native Americans who served as Code Talkers.
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VFW Washington Weekly - Sept. 19, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008 at
03:36 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Large Benefit Bill Passes Senate
2. House VA Hearings
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. National POW/MIA Recognition Day
2. FY2009 NDAA
3. Reserve Component Mobilization
NATIONAL VETERANS SERVICE
1. Economic Stimulus Payment Deadline is Oct. 15
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Large Benefit Bill Passes Senate: The Senate passed VFW-supported legislation designed to improve compensation, housing, labor and education, and insurance benefits for veterans. The bill, S. 3023, Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2008 contains some 34 provisions including claims assistance, veterans housing, more access to VAs court system and updating employment rights - Some of the highlights include:
**Makes the annual COLA permanent, indexing it with the Social Security Rate. Covers disability compensation, allowance to spouses and dependents, clothing allowance, and DIC rates- effective 12/1/09.
**Increases the maximum home loan guarantee to $730,000, bringing it line with recent changes to FHA's and Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's programs. Good through 12/31/11
**Raises the guarantee on VA home refinance loans to the same level as conventional loans, allowing more veterans to be able to refinance into a VA home loan. Also reduces the equity requirements from 10% of the value of the loan to 5%.
**Expedites USERRA claims by creating deadlines for agency responses
**Extends the period of time spouses of certain severely injured veterans can use their education benefits to twenty years.
**Increases the number of active judges on CAVC to nine from seven.
For the complete bill visit the Senate VA website at:
http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=12&release_id=11789
Washington Weekly is continued here
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Home Repair Scam Appears to Target Military Families
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at
12:48 PM
by Missouri
WASHINGTON - The letter that appeared in a Soldier's mailbox promised an offer almost too good to be true: a home improvement loan approved by Congress and backed up by a government agency.
Officials at the Federal Citizen Information Center fear it's a scam targeting military members that uses the center's credibility to lure victims in.
An eagle-eyed Soldier notified the Federal Citizen Information Center after receiving the ad from the "Home Information Center" linked to post office boxes in Dallas and in Owasso, Okla. The letter included a reference to FCIC's Web site in an apparent attempt to show a federal endorsement.
"The thing that immediately sends up a red flag is the fact that [the advertisement] says these loans are approved by the U.S. Congress," said Mary Levy, director of consumer education and outreach in the FCIC's Office of Citizen Services. "Congress would absolutely never approve any particular home improvement loan."
Source: DVIDS-Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System
Read Full Story Here: Home Repair Scam Appears to Target Military Families
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Hurricane Relief Fund Established by VFW Texas
Monday, September 15, 2008 at
11:59 PM
by Missouri
From: "Phyllis Cale"
To: "_All State Depts"
:
Subject:
Department of Texas
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:58:37 -0500
MEMORANDUM
FROM
ALLEN F. "GUNNER" KENT
ADJUTANT GENERAL
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES
To: Department Adjutant-Quartermasters
Date: September 15, 2008
As you are aware, homes, businesses and land from Galveston Island to Port Arthur to Beaumont in Texas have been destroyed by Hurricane Ike. However at this time, we do not know if any VFW Posts were lost.
As a result of the devastation, the Department Texas has established a special fund to assist our members who have been evacuated and or suffered a loss due to the hurricane.
The Department of Texas is asking for our support. Please notify the Posts in your Department and ask them to contribute to this immediate relief effort. Monetary donations may be sent directly to;
Roy Grona
Adjutant-Quartermaster
Department of Texas Headquarters
8503 N IH 35
Austin, Texas 78753-5722.
Thank you for all you do for this great Organization.
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The VFW's Voices Count: Bill Bradshaw
Saturday, September 13, 2008 at
04:20 PM
by Missouri
National Director of Veterans Services for the Veterans of Foreign of Wars of the US, Bill Bradshaw, speaks of the protracted cost of War and the importance of the VFW's Credibility and Legislative voice. 2005
Watch More VFW/Veterans Videos Here
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VFW Washington Weekly, September 5, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008 at
03:53 PM
by Missouri
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Congress Returns Next Week
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. WWII MIAs Identified
2. Reserve Component Mobilization
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Congress Returns Next Week: Congress returns from their August recess
next week to many important issues that still await final action with
only three weeks left to finish important funding bills and others
before their scheduled adjournment. Call your elected members and let
them know that you expect them to finish the work they started: To fund
VA and pass important defense and veteran-related legislation before the
federal government's new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. WWII MIAs Identified: The Department of Defense POW/Missing
Personnel Office (DPMO) announced that the remains of three U.S.
servicemen, missing from World War II, have been identified and will be
returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They
are Ensign Irvin A.R. Thompson, of Hudson County, NJ; Ensign Eldon P.
Wyman, of Portland, OR; and Fireman 2nd Class Lawrence A. Boxrucker, of
Dorchester, WI; all U.S. Navy. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
Dec. 7, 1941, the battleship USS Oklahoma suffered multiple torpedo hits
and capsized. As a result, 429 sailors and Marines died. Following the
attack, 36 of these servicemen were identified and the remaining 393
were buried as unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2003, an independent researcher contacted the
Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) with information he believed
indicated that one of the USS Oklahoma casualties who was buried as an
unknown could be positively identified. After reviewing the case, JPAC
exhumed the casket, and discovered that it contained what is believed to
be the remains of at least 28 other men in addition to the three
identified. Among other forensic identification tools and
circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA
Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental
comparisons in the identification of remains for Thompson, Wyman and
Boxrucker. Additional remains that could not be attributed to these
servicemen will undergo further analysis.
2. Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active
duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard
and Army Reserve is 84,820; Navy Reserve, 5,743; Air National Guard and
Air Force Reserve, 11,254; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,043; and the Coast
Guard Reserve, 738. This brings the total number of mobilized Guard and
Reserve personnel to 110,598, a decrease of 115 from last week. These
figures include the totals of voluntary and involuntary activated
Reserve Component members. Of this total, 84,854 personnel have been
involuntarily mobilized, while 25,744 are voluntarily serving on active
duty.
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VFW Washington Weekly, August 29, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008 at
08:29 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
1. Congress Returns Next Week
2. Airlines Drop Third Checked Bag Fee
1. Congress Returns Next Week: Congress returns from their August recess next week to many important issues that still await final action, such as VA funding, the Defense bill, and several veteran-related health and benefits packages. Call your elected members and let them know that you expect them to finish the work they started: To fund VA and pass important defense and veteran-related legislation before the federal government's new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Remind your senators and representatives that you will be watching their actions and voting accordingly in the November election, when the entire House and one third of the Senate is up for reelection. To find contact information for your legislators, go to: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/.
2. Airlines Drop Third Checked Bag Fee: The VFW is saluting US-flagged air carriers for waiving the luggage fee they were charging traveling military personnel. The airlines had been allowing military personnel traveling on orders to check two bags without a fee, but the $100 industry norm for a third checked bag was creating a severe financial burden, especially within the junior enlisted ranks. In a press release, new VFW National Commander Glen Gardner praised the Air Transport Association for helping to negotiate the third checked bag fee waiver among its member airlines who carry passengers. The airlines are Air Tran, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Horizon, JetBlue, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways. To read the VFW release, go to: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4688.
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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, Aug. 14, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008 at
04:41 PM
by Missouri
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Congress on Recess
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. WWII MIA Identified
2. Reserve Component Mobilization
NATIONAL VETERANS SERVICE
1. American Airlines Drops Third Bag Fee
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Congress on Recess: Congress is on recess for the month of August and
will return to Washington on Sept. 9 to finish up funding bills and
other legislation that remain unresolved. Bills that await final action
include VA Funding (passed out of the House only), Defense initiatives,
and several veteran-related bills that expand healthcare and benefits
for veterans and their families. Now is the time to visit your
legislators in their district offices to discuss issues important to the
VFW. It is an election year for the entire House and one-third of the
Senate, so they should be willing to talk with you about what is
important for America's veterans, servicemembers and families.
To find your elected officials, go to:
http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/
For a list of VFW Priority Goals, go to:
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=caphill.leveld&did=3694
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. WWII MIA Identified: The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office
announced that the remains of U.S. Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Howard C.
Enoch Jr., of Marion, KY, have been identified and will be returned to
his family for burial with full military honors. On March 19, 1945,
Enoch was the pilot of a P-51D Mustang that crashed while engaging enemy
aircraft about 20 miles east of Leipzig, Germany. His remains were not
recovered at the time, and Soviet occupation of eastern Germany
precluded his recovery immediately after the war. In 2004, a team from
the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command surveyed a possible P-51 crash site
and found aircraft wreckage. In 2006, another JPAC team excavated the
site and recovered human remains.
2. Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active
duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard
and Army Reserve is 80,778; Navy Reserve, 5,799; Air National Guard and
Air Force Reserve, 11,491; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,096; and the Coast
Guard Reserve, 740. This brings the total number of mobilized Guard and
Reserve personnel to 106,904, a decrease of 850 from last week. These
figures include the totals of voluntary and involuntary activated
Reserve Component members. Of this total, 81,208 personnel have been
involuntarily mobilized, while 25,696 are voluntarily serving on active
duty.
NATIONAL VETERAN SERVICE
1. American Airlines Drops Third Bag Fee: The VFW is saluting American
Airlines for waiving the luggage fee it was charging traveling military
personnel. American, like most of the major airlines, currently allow
military personnel traveling on orders to check two bags without fee.
But there was no break for checking a third bag, with $100 being the
industry norm, which was creating a severe financial burden on traveling
military, especially those in the junior enlisted ranks. In a press
release, VFW National Commander George Lisicki said he is hoping the
other airlines follow American's lead and drop their third bag fees,
too. To view the VFW release, go to:
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4663
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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, Aug. 8, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008 at
11:29 PM
by Missouri
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Congress on Recess: Congress is on recess for the month of August,
and will return to Washington on Sept. 9 to finish up funding bills and
other legislation that remain unresolved. Bills that await final action
include VA Funding (passed out of the House only), Defense initiatives,
and several veteran-related bills that expand healthcare and benefits
for veterans and their families. Now is the time to visit your
legislators in their district offices to discuss issues important to the
VFW. It is an election year for the entire House and one-third of the
Senate, so they should be willing to talk with you about what is
important for America's veterans, servicemembers and families.
To find your elected officials, go to:
http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/
For a list of VFW Priority Goals, go to:
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=caphill.leveld&did=3694
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. Two USAF Generals Confirmed: Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, a 1973 graduate
of the Air Force Academy and 35-year veteran in special operations, was
confirmed by the Senate on Aug. 1 to be the 19th Air Force chief of
staff. He leaves his present post as commander of U. S. Transportation
Command. His command experience includes the 1st Special Operations
Group and 1st Special Operations Wing, both at Hurlburt Field, FL;
Special Operations Command-Pacific, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii; U.S.
Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL; and Alaskan Command,
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The Senate also confirmed Gen. Duncan McNabb,
who moves from his present assignment as Air Force vice chief of staff
to commander of USTRANSCOM. McNabb's Air Force career has revolved
around airlift and he previously served as commander of Air Mobility
Command, one of the three service commands comprising USTRANSCOM. He is
a 1974 Air Force Academy graduate.
2. Vietnam MIA identified: The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office
announced that the remains of Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Manuel R.
Denton, of Kerrville, TX, have been identified. On Oct. 8, 1963, Denton
was one of six men crewing a UH-34D Choctaw helicopter on a
search-and-rescue mission over Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. The
helicopter came under intense enemy ground fire and crashed with no
survivors. Over the next several days, the remains of four of the
crewmen were recovered; however, the remains of Denton and one other
crewman, Marine Lance Cpl. Luther E. Ritchey Jr., were not recovered.
Between 1991 and 2000, several joint U.S./Vietnam teams, led by the
Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, traveled to Quang Nam Province to
investigate the incident and interview witnesses. Teams also surveyed
the crash site and found wreckage consistent with a UH-34D. In 2000 and
2001, human remains associated with this incident were turned over to
U.S. officials. In 2002, a joint team excavated the crash site and
recovered additional human remains. As a result of the remains turned
over in 2000 and 2001, and of those recovered from the crash site in
2002, Ritchey's remains were identified in 2003. Some of these remains
could not be individually identified, and they are included in a group
representing the entire crew. Denton's remains are in this group, which
will be buried together in Arlington.
3. Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active
duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard
and Army Reserve is 81,806; Navy Reserve, 5,821; Air National Guard and
Air Force Reserve, 11,270; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,117; and the Coast
Guard Reserve, 740. This brings the total number of mobilized Guard and
Reserve personnel to 107,754, a decrease of 256 from last week. These
figures include the totals of voluntary and involuntary activated
Reserve Component members. Of this total, 81,879 personnel have been
involuntarily mobilized, while 25,875 are voluntarily serving on active
duty.
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VFW Washington Weekly, August 5, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at
08:57 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
1. VA Funding Passes House
2. New Housing Bill has Vet Provisions
3. House Passes Vet Bills
4. Congress on August Recess
1. VA funding Passes House: By a 409-4 vote, the House passed the 2009 VA and Military Construction funding bill. The bill builds on last year's historic funding increase, providing $8.8 billion more than last year's funding level. For VA, it's a $4.6 billion increase in funding to a total of $47.7 billion. It includes funding to treat the 40,000 new Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that VA expects to treat this year.
It also includes funding for:
* Priority 8 veterans - would allow a small number of new Priority 8 veterans back into the health care system
* Mental health care - nearly $1 billion more than last year's funding level for PTSD, suicide prevention and other mental illnesses
* Mileage Reimbursement - would increase the rate by $.13 per mile and freeze the deductible
* Rural care - increases funding for rural care options, especially targeted at returning Guard and Reserve members who live far away from VA facilities
* Research and prosthetics - over $170 million more than last year's amount
* Claims processors - allows the hiring of 2,100 additional processors to help reduce the disability claims backlog
* Construction - begins funding six additional VA facilities and allows smaller projects to be conducted at 145 additional locations
The Military Construction portion of the bill includes $336 million in new funding for quality of life programs for troops and their families, much of which is targeted towards barracks and medical facilities. It also sends $3.2 billion specifically towards military housing.
The bill awaits Senate action. With the Senate on recess until September, we will not see any movement for a while. Once the Senate passes its version of the funding bill, the differences would need to be resolved before being sent to the President.
For a detailed summary of the bill: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/MilConSummaryHP09.pdf
For information about the bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.06599:
To see how your Representative voted:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll563.xml
2. New Housing Bill has Vet Provisions: The housing and economic recovery legislation that was recently signed into law (PL 110-289) includes several VFW-supported provisions designed to safeguard servicemembers and veterans during the mortgage and foreclosure crisis.
Some of the provisions in the bill will:
**Prohibit foreclosure of servicemembers property for at least nine months following deployment.
**Increase the amount of VA's Home loan guarantee program.
**Authorize VA to provide assistance for specially adapted housing to active-duty members with certain service-connected disabilities.
**Allows individuals with severe burn injuries to be eligible for specially adapted housing assistance.
**Extend through December 31, 2011, the period of assistance for individuals residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member.
For the entire bill's provisions click here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.03221:
3. House Passes Vet Bills: The House passed eight veteran-related bills covering a wide array of benefits. Several of the bills will provide new protections for servicemembers who have or are in the process of being deployed. One such bill is HR 6225, The Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act of 2008. Provisions include requiring judges to give veterans a hearing when they are seeking to regain a job lost during deployment and allowing servicemembers to terminate contracts if they are notified of deployment. It also lets them continue education benefits where they left off prior to active duty.
VFW Resolution 639 supports another bill cleared by the House- HR 6445 ,The Veterans Health Care Policy Enhancement Act, would eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans and would direct VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain. It also mandates the VA to centralize third party billing, and allow family members of veterans to be eligible for counseling.
For a complete list of bills passed visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/news/
4. Congress on August Recess: Congress heads out of town with many items left on the agenda including VA funding and the Defense Authorization bill. Now is the perfect time to visit their local offices and talk about issues important to veterans and the VFW. Remember all of the House members are up for re-election in November so they should be willing and eager to visit with you. When making an appointment make sure you arrive promptly and come prepared to discuss your issues. It is best to stick to one or two specific items and give examples of why you (VFW) support these issues. Always thank them and remind them that you expect them to do the right thing for America's veterans and servicemembers. For a list of our priority goals visit our website at: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=caphill.leveld&did=3694
To find contact information for your Representative including district office locations, type your zip code in the box in the following link: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/
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VFW National Security & Foreign Affairs Weekly Update 1 Aug 08
Friday, August 1, 2008 at
08:29 PM
by Missouri
National Defense Strategy Released: The Department of Defense (DOD) released the 2008 National Defense Strategy (NDS) this week. The document outlines the national approach to the defense of this nation and its interests, as well as how DOD supports the President's National Security Strategy and informs the National Military Strategy and other subordinate strategy documents. The strategy builds on lessons learned and insights from previous operations and strategic reviews such as the 2006 QDR. The last NDS was published in March 2005. You can view and print the 23 page document at: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/2008 National Defense Strategy.pdf.
Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 82,075; Navy Reserve, 5,814; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 11,218; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,126; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 777. This brings the total number of mobilized Guard and Reserve personnel to 108,010, a decrease of 869 from last week. These figures include the totals of voluntary and involuntary activated Reserve Component members. Of this total, 82,070 personnel have been involuntarily mobilized, while 25,940 are voluntarily serving on active duty.
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VFW Washington Weekly, July 25, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008 at
08:42 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue
1. Guard/Reserve Access to VA
2. Agent Orange Bill
1. Guard/Reserve Access to VA: The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing this week on Guard and Reserve access to VA benefits. The hearing focused on a recent VA audit report on outreach and transition assistance programs to veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the IG report - entitled "VBA: Transition Assistance for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom Service Members and Veterans" - VA is not meeting its obligation to inform new veterans of the benefits they may have earned, and more than half of those left out are Guard and Reserve veterans. Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) relayed his concerns to the VA panel and other witnesses, and asked them to look into why Guard and Reserve members are not receiving the same level of support from VA. Panelist Sgt. Roy Meredith, Maryland National Guard, offered his personal insight and told senators that to be effective in providing Guard and Reservists with information and access to their benefits; a formal and defined program with proper oversight at the state level is critical.
A copy of the IG report is at http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2008/VAOIG-06-03552-169.pdf
Hearing information is at http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=16&release_id=11732&view=all
2. Agent Orange Bill: VFW attended a Wednesday press conference held by House Veterans Affairs' Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA). The press event introduced VFW-supported legislation HR 6562, "The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008." The bill would clarify the laws related to VA benefits provided to Vietnam War veterans suffering from Agent Orange exposure. Currently, VA requires Vietnam veterans to prove "foot on land" in order to qualify for the presumptions of service-connection for herbicide-exposure related illnesses. If enacted, this bill will make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War veterans' claims for service-connected conditions that scientists have linked to toxic exposures during the Vietnam War. It will also provide coverage and compensation to "Blue Water Navy" veterans and those who flew within Vietnamese airspace.
For more, go to http://veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=288
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VFW Washington Weekly, July 21, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008 at
07:49 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
1. FY2009 VA Funding Bill
2. House VA Committee Action
3. VA Outreach Hearing
4. SECDEF Recommends New Guard Chief
1. FY2009 VA Funding Bill: The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously cleared its version of the 2009 VA Funding Bill. The bill provides $72.7 billion in discretionary funding for military construction and Veterans Affairs. This is about $5 billion more than the current fiscal year, and is in line with the House Appropriations Committee's recommendations. It includes:
$47.7 billion in total VA discretionary funding.
$41.1 billion for VA health care.
$1.2 billion for VA construction projects, nearly double the president's request, and $1.1 billion for hospital maintenance and repairs.
$84 million more than the president's request for medical and prosthetic research.
$350 million to help certain higher income Category 8 veterans to begin enrolling in VA.
$250 million targeted to the care of rural veterans.
The bill now moves to the floor of the Senate for a vote.
2. House VA Committee Action: The House Veterans Affairs Committee cleared seven benefit-related bills which now move to the floor for final passage. Among the bills is HR 6445, which will eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans. VFW Resolution 639 supports this action. The VFW also supports other features of HR 6445 that would direct VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain, mandate the VA to centralize third party billing, and allow family members of veterans receiving non-service connected treatment to be eligible for counseling.
Some of the other bills passed by the committee include:
HR 1527 would create a three-year pilot program to allow certain rural veterans to receive covered health services through outside providers. The bill defines rural veterans as one who lives at least 60 miles from a VA facility that provides primary care and 120 miles from an acute care provider.
HR 6225 would improve Servicemember Civil Relief Act and USERRA protections by capping interest rates at 6% during deployments, requiring institutes of higher learning to refund tuition and fees, as well as guarantee service members a place when they return to school. It will also allow service contracts to be terminated or suspended without penalty while on deployment.
For the entire list of bills and the House VA Committee press release, visit their website at: http://veterans.house.gov/
For more information on the bills, type the bill number into the search box at: http://thomas.loc.gov/
3. VA Outreach Hearing: The House subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations talked to servicemembers, marketing and policy experts on how the VA can increase awareness of its programs to the newest generation of veterans. Subcommittee Chairman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) believes that VA needs to reach out to current OIF/OEF veterans through Internet sites such as Facebook and television advertisements. Iraq veteran and National Guard member Liz O'Herrin testified that e-mail and other electronic modes of communication are critical today's veterans, whereas the VA still relies on mail, often to outdated addresses. She suggested that VA allow veterans to use their e-mail address as a way of communication. She also suggested that the creation of an electronic mail enrollment form by VA would enable veterans to select the areas they are interested in learning about regarding disability, healthcare and education benefits. Lisette Mondello, assistant VA secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs, said VA is looking into several types of advertising markets, including social marketing and internet-based, nontraditional media, to help pass on its message. For more about the hearing, go to: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=278
4. SECDEF Recommends New Guard Chief: Defense Secretary Robert Gates has recommended to the president that Air Force Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley be nominated as the next Chief of the National Guard Bureau. McKinley is presently serving as the Director of the Air National Guard. With his pending nomination and Senate confirmation comes a promotion, as the FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act elevated the NGB chief to a four-star billet. Gates also announced that he is recommending the current NGB chief, Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, take over as the first guardsman to be the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, which oversees security in North America.
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VFW National Security & Foreign Affairs 18 Jul 08
Saturday, July 19, 2008 at
08:15 PM
by Missouri
SECDEF Recommends New Guard Chief: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is recommending Air Force Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley to the President for nomination as the next Chief of the National Guard Bureau (NGB). McKinley is presently serving as the Director of the Air National Guard. With his pending nomination and Senate confirmation comes a promotion, as the FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act elevated the NGB chief to a 4-star billet. Gates also announced that he is recommending the current NGB chief, Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, to take over as the first guardsman to be the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, which oversees security in North America.
Korean War MIA Identified: The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is Sgt. John H. White, U.S. Army, of Long Island, AL. In November 1950, White was a member of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division then occupying a defensive position near Unsan, North Korea, north of a bend in the Kuryong River known as the Camel's Head. On Nov. 1, elements of two Chinese Communist divisions struck the 1st Cavalry Division's lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. White was reported missing on Nov. 2, 1950, and was one of the more than 350 servicemen unaccounted-for from the battle at Unsan. In April 2007, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), acting through the intermediary of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, repatriated to the United States six boxes of human remains believed to be those of U.S. soldiers. One box also included two military identification tags with White's name on them. The DPRK reported that the remains were excavated in November 2006 near Unsan in North Pyongan Province.
Vietnam War MIAs Identified: The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Chief Warrant Officer Bobby L. McKain, of Garden City, KS; and Warrant Officer Arthur F. Chaney, of Vienna, VA, both U.S. Army. On May 3, 1968, these men flew an AH-1G Cobra gunship on an armed escort mission to support a reconnaissance team operating west of Khe Sanh, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. Their helicopter was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, exploded in mid-air and crashed west of Khe Sanh near the Laos-Vietnam border. The crew of other U.S. aircraft flying over the area immediately after the crash reported no survivors, and heavy enemy activity prevented attempts to recover the men's bodies. In 1985, an American citizen with ties to Southeast Asian refugees turned over to U.S. officials human remains supposedly recovered from an AC-130 aircraft crash in Laos. While subsequent laboratory analysis disproved the association of the remains to the AC-130 crash, some of the remains were those of McKain and Chaney. Between 1989 and 2003, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) investigative teams working in Laos and Vietnam made five attempts to locate the crew's crash site, but could not confirm the location.
Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 84,570; Navy Reserve, 5,727; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 11,148; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,189; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 787. This brings the total number of mobilized Guard and Reserve personnel to 110,421, a decrease of 1,378 from last week. These figures include the totals of voluntary and involuntary activated Reserve Component members. Of this total, 83,734 personnel have been involuntarily mobilized, while 25,945 are voluntarily serving on active duty.
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VFW Washington Weekly, July 11, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008 at
04:39 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
1. House VA Committee Questions Chantix Drug Use
2. House VA Committee Move Bills
3. Senate Holds Hearing on Claims Backlog
4. Medicare/TRICARE Vote
1. House VA Committee Questions Chantix Drug Use
The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing on VA's use of the smoking cessation drug, Chantix, on veterans suffering from PTSD. Recent news articles have reported that VA did not properly warn veterans of the risks associated with the drug. Veterans were not informed that using the drug may cause side effects including anxiety, depression and feelings of suicide.
VFW Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki has demanded VA accountability over the incident and has asked Secretary James Peake to take decisive action with anyone involved. "Those in the VA who failed to properly notify America's veterans that their medication could produce fatal side effects must resign their positions," said Lisicki, if not, then the VA secretary must take decisive action to terminate their employment."
For the VFW's Press Release: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4627
For all the hearing information visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/
2. House VA Committee Moves Bills
The House VA Subcommittee on Health moved several benefit bills yesterday, allowing the full committee to take action.
The VFW-supported bills before the committee included:
HR 6419 would extend mental health care benefits to family members of veterans who receive non-service-connected treatment.
HR 6445 would eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans in category 4.
HR 1527 would create a three-year pilot program to allow certain rural veterans enrolled in four of the VA's 21 health care networks to receive covered health services through outside providers.
HR 6122 would direct VA to develop a pain management program for veterans.
3. Senate Holds Hearing on Claims Backlog
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held the fourth in a series of hearings on VA's claims backlog delays. Congress recently approved a historic increase in staffing for VBA, but the backlog in claims remains at around *300,000 with an average of 182 days to process. VA's goal is to process all claims in 125 days. Chairman Akaka questioned what else VA needs to make necessary technological and staffing improvements to speed the process. The VSO panel referenced recommendations of the IBM Claims Processing Improvement Study and how some of their recommendations can be implemented by VA.
*Please note that what was reported to the Committee represents only a part of the VA backlog. In the week ending July 5, 2008 there were a total of 637,000 rating and non-rating cases pending of which 23% were over 6 months old, in addition the VA has over 172,000 cases on appeal.
For more about the hearing visit the Senate VA website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/
4. Medicare/TRICARE Vote
The Senate voted (69-31) against a 10.6% cut to Medicare rates on Wednesday. The VFW was a strong advocate in making sure that the proposed cuts were defeated. Payments to TRICARE doctors are directly linked to Medicare which would have meant that many doctors would have chosen to stop seeing TRICARE patients as well as Medicare users.
For the Senate Roll Call Vote:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00169
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VFW Washington Weekly, June 27, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008 at
07:46 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
1. New GI Bill Ready for President's Signature
2. House VA Committee Hearings
3. Senate Moves Vet Bills
4. Congress on 4th of July Recess
1. New GI Bill Ready for President's Signature: One of VFW's top legislative priorities has become a reality. The Senate, in a late night vote (92-6), passed a new GI Bill for the 21st Century. The House had passed their version June 19 by a vote of 416-12. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law next week. This legislation is a major victory for the VFW, who has been lobbying for a new GI Bill for the 21st Century for the past 10 years, and who led all veterans' service organization to ensure the passage of the legislation that Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) proposed on his first in office in January 2007.
The new GI Bill will pay the highest in-state public tuition rate, and provide for books, fees, and a living stipend. It eliminates the $1,200 enrollment fee, extends the use-or-lose benefit requirement from 10 to 15 years, and greatly enhances the amount paid to Guard and Reserve members. The new GI Bill automatically adjusts itself as tuitions increase, and provides a dollar-for-dollar tuition match for private colleges and universities who choose to participate in the program. A new provision added to the bill allows reenlisting servicemembers to transfer their educational benefit to their spouse and/or children. VFW wants to thank every National Legislative Committee member and the entire Action Corps for helping us bring this long-term goal to fruition.
To read VFW's Press Release, go to: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4614
2. House VA Committee Hearings:
Tuesday, the House VA Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on VA/DOD transition services for Guard and Reserve Members. The hearing's main focus was to address what DOD and VA are doing to help members of the National Guard and Reserves reintegrate into civilian life after their return from deployment. Currently, half of those serving in OIF and OEF are members of the Guard or Reserves. The FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act mandated a 30, 60 and 90-day reintegration program and outreach to ensure that all Guard and Reserve veterans and their families know about the services and benefits available to them. The Committee heard from witnesses about how those programs are working and where improvements need to be made.
Thursday, VFW testified on draft legislation that would improve several areas of health care. The bills before the Subcommittee on Health included draft bills to expand the VA counseling services to family members, especially of OIF/OEF veterans; one to eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled Category 4 veterans; and one to strengthen and improve VA's nonprofit research corporations by streamlining administrative costs to make more funds available for critical VA research.
To read our testimony and more about the hearings, visit the House VA Committee website at: http://veterans.house.gov/
3. Senate Moves Vet Bills: The Senate VA Committee marked up several veterans' bills yesterday. Among the bills discussed were the annual cost-of-living adjustment and two large health and benefit-related bills that would improve options for veterans and their families. Among the provisions in the benefits bill is language that would change the definition of "engaged in combat with the enemy" to all people who receive combat pay for purposes relating to VA compensation. It would also allow for new and better home loan refinancing options and a temporary increase in the maximum loan guaranty amount for veterans. The Committee also moved VFW-supported legislation that would expand and improve upon the health care services provided to women veterans. The bill would put special emphasis on providing mental health coverage, and requires several studies and assessments as to VA's capacity for care for women veterans and their future needs. For more about the bills, visit the Senate VA Committee website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/
4. Congress on 4th of July Recess: Congress heads out of town today to begin a week-long recess for the 4th of July holiday. They are expected back in Washington on July 7. Now is the perfect time to make an appointment to discuss VFW legislative priority goals in their district offices. Remember to thank them for providing a strong GI Bill for today's veterans. Many of your legislators will be campaigning and attending 4th of July events, so any time you can spend "bending their ear" is always helpful in furthering our legislative goals. To find contact information for your member, type your Zip Code in the box provided in this link: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/. For a list of our priority goals, go to the Capitol Hill link on the VFW website at: http://www.vfw.org/
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VFW Washington Weekly, June 20, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008 at
02:16 PM
by Missouri
In This Issue:
1. GI Bill Update
2. House VA Committee Hearing
3. TRICARE for Reserve Retirees
4. President Signs Military Tax Break Legislation
1. GI Bill Update: The House approved a $257.5 billion measure yesterday to fund the Iraq and Afghanistan wars into 2009 and to create a new GI Bill for the 21st century for servicemen and women who have served at least three years on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. The enhanced education benefits would cover the cost of a four-year education up to the most expensive in-state tuition, along with a monthly stipend of approximately $1,000 for living expenses and $1,000 annually for books. The education benefit can also be transferred to military spouses and children provided the member serves six years or longer. Current Montgomery GI Bill benefits only cover about 60 percent of the cost of public education. VFW is urging its swift passage in the Senate.
The major funding portions of the House bill include:
• $162 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• $62.8 billion over 10 years for veterans' education benefits
• $8.2 billion to extend unemployment insurance 13 weeks
• $5.8 billion to strengthen New Orleans levees
• $2.6 billion for Midwest flood relief
Other money would be for food and disaster relief overseas, build VA medical facilities, and improve food and medical product safety.
2. House VA Committee Hearing: The House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing Thursday on several bills focusing on transitioning services and employment-related benefits for servicemembers and their families. Some of the bills include updating the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), reviewing contracts for those on active duty, contracting goals for veterans' small business owners, and funding for the Service Members Occupational Conversion Training Act (SMOCTA). Another bill would create a Paralympics Program that would offer an opportunity for the U.S. Olympic Committee, in collaboration with Veterans, Paralympics and community-based organizations, to provide programs and mentors to disabled veterans. For the entire list of bills and testimony given, visit the House VA website at http://veterans.house.gov/
3. TRICARE for Reserve Retirees: As reported earlier, H.R. 6185 was introduced by Rep. Robert Latta (R-OH) to provide TRICARE Standard coverage for retired Reserve Component members and their families who are qualified for a non-regular retirement, but who have not yet reached the age of 60, commonly known as "gray area" retirees. The full premium cost, without government subsidies, would be the responsibility of the retired reserve member. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) is expected to introduce an amendment authorizing this benefit when the Senate takes up the FY09 National Defense Authorization Act. The VFW supports this initiative, as it would provide a continuity of healthcare between the member's active reserve service and the age of 60 when medical benefits are currently available. Action needed: Contact your representatives and ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 6185, and urge your senators to vote in favor of Senator Nelson's amendment to the FY09 NDAA.
4. President Signs Military Tax Break Legislation: President Bush signed into law a military tax bill this week that contains a combination of new tax benefits and the extension of existing benefits. The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008, or HEART Act, includes a provision allowing military families to receive the $600-per-person economic stimulus rebate, even if a spouse does not have a Social Security number. The law also allows for survivors of people who die on active-duty to put all or part of death gratuity payments into a tax-deferred savings or retirement plan, even if this puts them over the annual limit for contributions. Other highlights of the bill include: Mobilized National Guard and reserve members may make penalty-free withdrawals from their personal retirement plans, which especially helps those with financial troubles caused by military service; and Guard and reserve members who contribute to an employer-provided flexible spending account can get refunds of contributions at the end of a calendar year, rather than lose the money, if they have been mobilized, since mobilizations could interfere with their ability to spend money as expected.
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