VFW Washington Weekly - July 21, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 01:53 PM
by nevada
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.
Read more...
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Vote and Get a Free Download
Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 03:59 PM
by nevada
(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 03:41 PM
by nevada
(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 02:18 PM
by nevada
A sample of what's being talked about today in the
VFW WebCOM Membership Forum:
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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