VFW NC Post 10485

VA News - Week of July 21, 2008

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 02:01 PM

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VFW Washington Weekly - July 21, 2008

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:50 PM

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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.

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NC Coordinator for National Military Services

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 08:21 AM

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State Commander Larry Flood has appointed Mark Bergman (Post 10630) be the NC Coordinator for National Military Services.

This includes all activities for the following programs:

Operation Uplink

Unmet Needs

Military Assistance Program (MAP)

Adopt a Unit Program

Area Coordinators are Bill Greene (Ft. Bragg/Pope AFB) Mark Sandman (Camp LeJune), Michael T. Burris (Seymour Johnson AFB), and Euell "Buzz" Griggs (National Guard/Reserves).

Mark can be reached at:  logsgm@yahoo.com

National Information can be found at: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.levelc&cid=1835

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Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen 2008-2009 Programs

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 08:12 AM

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State Commander has appointed a new Voice of Democracy Chairman for 2008-2009. Comrade Ray Yamrus (Post 7318) is this years VOD Chair. Ray can be reached at:   yamrusrayann@aol.com

Mike Asycue (Post 2417) remains the State Patriot's Pen Chairman. Mike can be reached at 919-496-5637

VOD Program 2008-2009 Theme
"Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefit Today’s Youth by ... "
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2008

National Information at:  http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.leveld&did=150

Patriot's Pen Program  2008-2009 Theme
"Why America’s Veterans Should be Honored”
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2008

National Information at: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.leveld&did=151

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Vote and Get a Free Download

Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 03:47 PM

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(via VFW.org)

The moment has arrived! Finalists have been chosen in the VFW Fly the Flag Photo Contest and voting has begun. Vote for your favorite photo and we’ll send you a free download of country music artist Ricky Lee's popular song "A Soldier Like You."

The best of the best have been selected. Now it's your turn to vote for the patriotic photo you think should win. Voting makes you eligible to download a country song from Ricky Lee!

Be part of VFW's 2008 Fly the Flag campaign! Let everyone know you support America's defenders and will never forget their sacrifice for freedom.

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VA Announces On-Line Claims Applications

Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 03:36 PM

by post10485

(via VA Press Release)

WASHINGTON (July 16, 2008) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that on-line applications are now accepted from veterans, survivors and other claimants filing initial applications for disability compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits without the additional requirement to submit a signed paper copy of the application.

Effective immediately, VA will now process applications received through its on-line application website (VONAPP) without the claimant's signature.  The electronic application will be sufficient authentication of the claimant's application for benefits.  Normal development procedures and rules of evidence will still apply to all VONAPP applications.

VONAPP (www.va.gov/onlineapps.htm) is a Web-based system that benefits both internal and external users.  Veterans, survivors and other claimants seeking compensation, pension, education, or vocational rehabilitation benefits can apply electronically without the constraints of location, postage cost, and time delays in mail delivery.

VONAPP reduces the number of incomplete applications received by VA, decreasing the need for additional development by VA claims processors.  The on-line application also provides a link to apply for VA health care benefits and much more.

Over 3.7 million veterans and beneficiaries receive compensation and pension benefits from VA and approximately 523,000 students receive education benefits.  Approximately 90,000 disabled veterans participate in VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program.

For more information about VA benefits, go to VA's website at www.va.gov or call our toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000.

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Happening Now in the Forum

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 02:03 PM

by post10485

A sample of what's being talked about today in the VFW WebCOM Membership Forum:

• The National VFW would like to hear your opinion on Retaining 40-Yr Old and Younger Members.
• If you could build a post home from scratch, what would it be like?  Add your thoughts to Next Generation Post Home.
• The new GI bill has passed.  Are you ready to attract and serve veterans attending colleges and universities?  Find out in College VSO's.

These discussions and more are going on right now in the VFW WebCOM Membership Forum.

And don't forget, you can stay on top of all the latest news and forum discussions by downloading your VFW WebCOM Department toolbar.

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The American Veteran - July Edition

Monday, July 7, 2008 at 07:34 AM

by post10485

(from The Pentagon Channel)

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President Signs New GI Bill Into Law

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 02:07 PM

by post10485

KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 30, 2008 – President Bush’s signature today on a new GI Bill for the 21st Century is being hailed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. as a tremendous victory for a new generation of military servicemen and women who have been at war for almost seven years.

"This is a tremendous victory for America's veterans, military and their families," exclaimed VFW national commander George Lisicki, a Vietnam combat veteran from Carteret, N.J.

"I salute Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) for his determination to get this bill passed, the president for his strong support of our military, and the entire VFW membership for their untiring effort to get their congressional delegations to cosponsor S. 22 or its companion bill in the House, H.R. 5740.”

The new 21st Century 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 also allows reenlisting servicemembers to transfer their educational benefit to their spouse and/or children.

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VFW Demands Accountability Over Chantix Issue

Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 04:33 PM

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WASHINGTON (June 19, 2008) - "Enough is enough," said George J. Lisicki, the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., in response to today's Washington Times article that provides additional information about the potential lethal effect a prescribed drug is having on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-diagnosed veterans who volunteered for a Department of Veterans Affairs smoking cessation program.

"Those in the VA who failed to properly serve America's veterans must resign their positions," said Lisicki, a Vietnam veteran from Carteret, N.J. "If not, then the VA secretary must take decisive action to terminate them."

The smoking cessation research program uses the drug Chantix, which Food and Drug Administration officials say helps people to stop smoking, but according to a Washington Times/ABC News investigative report on Tuesday, Chantix has also been linked to almost 40 suicides and more than 400 incidents of suicidal behavior. The drug's manufacturer and the FDA have recently cautioned healthcare providers about adverse side effects that could produce changes in behavior ranging from anxiety and depression to suicide.

All 940 veterans enrolled in the VA's smoking cessation program have PTSD. A test group of 143 of them were prescribed Chantix, which is also known as Varenicline.

Lisicki questions why VA clinicians who knew of Chantix's hazardous side effects would allow veterans suffering from PTSD to continue taking it, because "professional ethics and common sense just dictates that clinicians would stop their patients from taking the drug just to err on the side of safety for the veterans and their families," he said. As of May 21, the Federal Aviation Administration banned the use of Chantix by airline pilots and air traffic controllers.

The VFW national commander also questions the leadership ability of those who oversee these types of medical research programs, asks why it took the VA two more days before revealing additional details of those in the study; and wonders what other information has yet to be uncovered. Aside from Chantix, other drugs that are were reported to currently being used to treat veterans with PTSD are the anticonvulsant Divalproex, and the antidepressants Paroxetine, Mirtazapine and Citalopram, all of which carry warnings of potential suicidal side effects.

"The VA is known for quality healthcare that is delivered by highly trained and educated medical professionals and staff, but in recent weeks, the American public has read stories accusing the department of not properly taking care of veterans with mental health problems, to include veterans attempting suicide under VA care. These stories, to include the well-documented veterans' claims backlog, are having a negative cumulative effect on the overall image of the VA," said Lisicki.

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