VFW MO Legislative Updates

1. Emergency GI Bill Payments: VA announced that its 57 regional benefits offices would begin providing on-the-spot emergency payments of up to $3,000 today to student-veterans who have yet to receive a government payment under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.  Also beginning today is online registration for the emergency payment.  The difference between the two programs is a personal visit-with proper identification and enrollment certification-yields an immediate payment, whereas the online request may take a week or more due to processing and mail delivery.  Knowing that many student-veterans attend school far away from any regional office, VFW National Commander Tommy Tradewell asked his Departments and Posts this week to reach out to campus student-veterans organizations and offer transportation assistance to the nearest VA regional office.  The VA, too, is offering to provide transportation assistance.

For more on the VA emergency payment program, go to http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1790.

To read the VFW press release, go to http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5227.

 

2. Congress Passes CR to Fund VA: Congress failed to pass funding for all government agencies as the FY 2010 budget year began yesterday, but they did pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government operating through the end of October.  VA was funded at a slight increase.  VFW National Commander Tommy Tradewell said he appreciates the plus-up in healthcare funding, but that Congress missed a golden opportunity to pass an on-time budget and advanced appropriations legislation that the president and the entire veterans' community supports.  "The VFW will continue to advocate hard for that legislation so that America's veterans will be properly cared for by a VA that is funded in a sufficient, timely and predictable manner."

 

3. TRICARE Fee Increase Proposed: Despite promises from DOD that there would be no proposed TRICARE fee increases for FY 2010, VFW has been made aware of a proposed increase to retirees and their family members and survivors covered by TRICARE Standard. TRICARE Management Activity proposed Wednesday increases of $110 per day on hospital inpatient copayments-from $535 to $645 per day.  VFW is working with members of The Military Coalition to reverse the proposed fee increase.

 

4. DOD Expands Homeowners Assistance Program: The Defense Department announced details this week of a temporary expansion of the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) to partially reimburse eligible military personnel, surviving spouses, and federal civilian employees whose service to the nation required them to relocate and sell their primary residence at a loss.  Potential eligible personnel include:

The HAP expansion is not designed to pay 100 percent of losses, or to cover all declines in value, but it can help protect eligible applicants from financial catastrophe due to significant losses in their home values.  Potentially eligible personnel who have sold a primary home for a loss, who are considering selling their home or who have to sell their home are encouraged to visit the DOD website (http://hap.usace.army.mil) to check specific program criteria and, if eligible, to apply online.

 

5. Senate Hearing on VA Contracts: The Senate VA Committee heard testimony this week from VA and outside contractors on how health care services are purchased, and who oversees and manages those services.  VA spent about $3 billion on contract fees services in FY 2008. They recently restructured the contracting process to move contracting authority from the local level to a more centralized area.  Committee members voiced their concern about how the reorganization will help VA ensure that contractors provide quality services at a fair price that benefits VA and veterans.  For more on the hearing, visit the Senate VA website at http://veterans.senate.gov/.

 

6. VFW Testifies on House VA Bills: VFW testified this week before the House VA Subcommittee on Health on recently introduced legislation designed to enhance homeless programs, physical therapy, hearing loss, and other programs and benefits for veterans.  Some of the VFW-supported bills included:

For our complete statement, or to view the hearing on the web, visit the House VA Committee website at http://veterans.house.gov/