VFW WA District 8

Video: National VOD and Patriot's Pen Winners

Posted at 10:09 PM on Saturday, April 11, 2009 by dist8

Natale Szabo from the Department of Washington is this year's Voice of Democracy winner.  Click the image below to view her winning entry.

VFW Washington Weekly - March 13, 2009

Posted at 09:35 AM on Monday, March 16, 2009 by dist8

In This Issue:
1. Third-Party Collection Proposal a Reality
2. VFW Testifies on FY 2010 VA Budget
3. House Small Business Hearing
4. VA Celebrates 20th Birthday Sunday

1. Third-Party Collection Proposal a Reality: VA Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed in House and Senate VA Committee testimony Tuesday that the Administration's FY 2010 VA budget is considering a proposal to bill veterans with private insurance for their service-connected disability treatments.  Although some committee members questioned the proposal, only three voiced their outright objections to it: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking minority member Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), and Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME).  VFW joins them in adamantly opposing any attempt to pass healthcare costs on to wounded and service-connected disabled veterans.  Billing a veteran's private insurance could lead to higher premiums and make it difficult for veterans and their families to obtain or retain their health insurance, as well as discourage employers from hiring disabled vets.  The VFW is asking all of its members as well as all Americans to contact the White House and their congressional delegations to urge them to stop this budget proposal. 
To send a message to the White House, go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
To send a message to your members of Congress, go to: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=12844211
To read the VFW press release, go to: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4952

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VFW Washington Weekly - February 27, 2009

Posted at 08:29 AM on Monday, March 2, 2009 by dist8

1. FY2010 VA Budget Released
2. GI Bill Hearing
3. FY2010 Defense Budget Released
4. HASC Hearing on Military Personnel
5. Dover Media Ban Lifted

1. FY2010 VA Budget Released: President Obama released a fiscal year 2010 budget outline Thursday for the Department of Veterans Affairs that contains a sizeable increase in veterans discretionary funding to a total of $55.9 billion, which is about $5.5 billion more than the current funding level.  The president's proposal is in line with what the VFW is calling for in the Independent Budget.  The budget proposal includes additional funding to allow more veterans to enroll in the VA system, and targets access issues, especially for rural veterans.  It would also expand concurrent receipt of disability compensation and retirement pay for highly disabled veterans who are medically retired from the service.  The VFW does have one note of concern that is being tracked down, and that's to determine if the budget anticipates charging a service-connected disabled veteran's private health insurance for service-connected disability care.  If true, the VFW will fight this proposal vigorously.  More information will be relayed as full budget details become available.
For more on the VFW co-written Independent Budget, go to: www.independentbudget.org.
To view the FY10 budget proposal for the VA, go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/fy2010_new_era/Department_of_Veterans_Affairs.pdf.

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VFW Washington Weekly - February 20, 2009

Posted at 10:29 AM on Saturday, February 21, 2009 by dist8

VFW Washington Weekly - February 13, 2009

Posted at 03:18 PM on Friday, February 13, 2009 by dist8

In This Issue:
1. Advance Funding Bill Reintroduced
2. Senate Holds VA Appeals Process Hearing
3. FY 2010 Independent Budget Now Online
4. TRICARE for Retired Reserve

2. Senate Holds VA Appeals Process Hearing: The Senate VA Committee held a hearing to examine ideas that could improve the timeliness of claims at the appeals level, as well as the relationship between the Board and the Court.  According to witnesses, the complexity of the appeal process adds months and sometimes years to the timeliness of a decision, and increases the workload at every level.  One witness said about 100,000 appeals were generated from the VA's 824,844 claims decisions in 2007.  In 2009, it is estimated 132,000 appeals will be created from the 942,700 claims decisions VA will make this year.  Members of the Committee questioned the need for drastic changes to include a military style "surge" to decrease claims decisions.  Other ideas discussed were holding federal workers more accountable for errors, and shortening deadlines for filing and ruling, to include reducing the amount of time a veteran has to appeal a case.  For more on the hearing, visit the Senate committee website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=16&release_id=11839&view=all.

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VFW Washington Weekly - January 30, 2009

Posted at 11:11 PM on Sunday, February 1, 2009 by dist8

In This Issue:
1. VFW Testifies on Veteran Priorities
2. New FY2010 Independent Budget Available Tuesday
3. Army Recalls Body Armor

1. VFW Testifies on Veteran Priorities: 
Tuesday: VFW participated in a House VA Committee roundtable discussion on legislative goals for the 111th Congress.  The group of 36 organizations discussed five issues of concern: advance appropriations for veterans' healthcare, fixing disability compensation, improving mental health, implementing the new GI Bill on Aug. 1, and smoothing the transition from military to civilian life.  Another topic of concern was that of allowing veterans to qualify for VA healthcare during these hard economic times.  VFW asked Congress to ensure that VA's eligibility waiver program -- which allows VA to consider economic hardship such as the loss of a job when determining health care eligibility -- is applied fairly throughout the country so that those who need VA can access it.

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A Christmas Message from VFW National Commander

Posted at 09:07 AM on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 by dist8

Anyone who has worn a uniform overseas knows this is the most difficult time of year to be separated from family and friends.

"It is easy to say 'let us remember our troops' during the Christmas season, but how many of us really understand the painful nobility of this sacrifice?" Bruce Kluger asked in USA Today last Christmas. "For those on active duty in the Middle East, the business of battle knows no holiday."

I could not have possibly said it better. But this writer did not stop there. "Equally heartbreaking—and incomprehensible—is the wrenching vacuum that war inflicts on families on the home front," he wrote.

Christmas celebrations in Afghanistan and Iraq are, by necessity, subdued. More quality food, special church services and private thoughts of loved ones usually constitute this most beloved of holidays in the war zone. Yet these gestures never seem to be enough.

On Dec. 25, 2007, McClatchy News Service was one of the few media outlets to report on the troops directly from the field. At Patrol Base Warrior Keep in southwest Baghdad, two of its reporters interviewed soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, to sample their sentiments.

"If I didn't feel like this is where I needed to be, I think it'd be horrible," Chaplain Eric Light told them. "Our holidays are so tied to our families, it's nearly impossible to re-create them here."

What we can do as veterans is to remind those around us of the emotional importance of this time of year to the troops thousands of miles from home. After all, they are "honoring our nation with their service while fighting wars whose consequences have nothing and everything to do with the humanity at the heart of the holiday," Kluger aptly pointed out.

While we are keeping them in our thoughts, let's not forget the other GIs on far-flung fronts that never make newspaper headlines. From Kosovo in the Balkans to South Korea in Northeast Asia, tens of thousands of Americans maintain lonely vigils. Still others prowl the seas, protecting our shores from afar. Their missions should never be taken for granted or forgotten.

The debt of gratitude we owe the tiny percentage—less than 1%—of Americans who bear the burden of our freedom can probably never be adequately paid. But the least we can do is to give them more than a passing thought. As we enjoy Christmas revelry, keep in mind that someone in uniform is making that possible. Chances are that it might even be a family member. If so, you need not be reminded of the sacrifices being made.

As the mother of one Afghanistan soldier said, "Each American should remember during this season that our soldiers are fighting the battle over there so we can be safe here at home."

In that spirit, let my wife, Jean, and me wish all veterans a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a great New Year.

Glen Gardner
VFW Commander-in-Chief

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