Department of Virginia

Posted at 12:28 PM on Monday, June 18, 2007 by Virginia A/Q

VFW Washington Weekly
June 18, 2007

In This Issue:
1. Senate Appropriations Bill Update
2. VFW Testifies on Healthcare Bills
3. Senate Hears Servicemember Employment Concerns
4. Mullen to Succeed Pace as JCS Chairman
5. VFW Assists with Tricare Survey

1. Senate Appropriations Bill Update
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Military Construction and VA Funding approved their version of the fiscal year 2008 funding bill this week. The bill includes a record $43 billion for VA, which is $6.5 billion above last year's funding level.

Included in the bill:
**$29 billion for Medical Care, with money set aside for polytrauma care, mental health services, and specialized treatment for TBI and PTSD.
**$1.3 billion for the Veterans Benefits Administration to allow for the hiring of more than 500 new disability claims processors to tackle the backlog of compensation claims.
**$1 billion above the President's request for minor construction and nonrecurring maintenance of VA hospitals and facilities to avoid the same type of deterioration as at Walter Reed.
The bill is before the full Senate Appropriations Committee, and if cleared there, would move to the full Senate for a vote. If approved, the Senate bill would then need to be matched up with the version moving through the House to resolve differences before presenting it to the President for his signature. The House version has similar funding levels.

2. VFW Testifies on Healthcare Bills
VFW testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health on several bills designed to expand healthcare options for veterans. Included among the VFW-supported bills is HR 2005, which would require VA to create centers of excellence for veterans living in rural areas, would establish a grant program for groups that help transport veterans from rural areas to medical centers, and would increase the mileage reimbursement for travel to/from VA medical facilities that would be equal to the rate provided to federal employees.
Other bills include grants to organizations for a suicide prevention hotline targeted and staffed by veterans and armed forces personnel (HR 2219), and legislation (HR 1488) that would require VA to develop and implement a system to measure data about its healthcare facilities. For complete coverage of the hearing and our testimony, go to: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/schedule110/june07/06-14-07/witness.shtml

3. Senate Hears Servicemember Employment Concerns
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing focusing on employment concerns of current servicemembers. The hearing, the third in a series focusing on seamless transition, looked at the collaborative efforts between VA, DOD and the Department of Labor to serve the employment needs of returning veterans. The Committee referenced recommendations made in the Task Force Report to the President on the Returning Global War on Terror Heroes. For more, go to the Senate VA website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/

4. Mullen to Succeed Pace as JCS Chairman
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced last Friday that he has recommended Adm. Mike Mullen, currently the Chief of Naval Operations, to replace Marine Gen. Peter Pace as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gates said he had originally intended to seek another two-year term for Pace, but concluded that would have resulted in a divisive Senate confirmation focusing on the Iraq War. Mullen, a 1968 Naval Academy graduate, was the Vice CNO from 2003 to 2004 before taking over the top Navy position two years ago. His last operational assignment was as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe. Pace, who also served as the vice chairman from 2001 to 2005, indicated he would retire when his two-year term expires on Sept. 30.

5. VFW Assists with Tricare Survey
The VFW has been asked by a fellow Military Coalition member to assist with a web-based survey to investigate whether or not TRICARE beneficiaries are having difficulties in finding doctors who will accept TRICARE, or in the case of TRICARE for Life beneficiaries, doctors who will accept Medicare. The goal is to use the data to work with DOD and Congress to improve beneficiary access at problem locations around the country. The survey is being conducted by the Military Officers Association of America, and they hope to receive survey input from tens of thousands of TRICARE beneficiaries, who are military retirees, servicemembers and eligible family members. To take the survey, go to: http://www.moaa.org/tricaresurvey.