VFW Department of Wisconsin Legislative Updates http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/ en-us Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:18:43 -0500 Policlicks LLC Here is the current federal legislation.    Key Bills in Congress    Bill Name  Number of Sponsors  Position S. 1467 - 'A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide coverage under Traumatic Servicemembers'' Group Life Insurance for adverse reactions to vaccinations administered by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.' 1 (1 D)  S. 1390 - National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) FY 2010 1 (1 D) - S. 1118 - 'A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.' 4 (4 D)  S. 1106 - 'A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision of medical and dental readiness services to certain members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve based on medical need, and for other purposes.' 8 (1 R, 7 D)  S. 1026 - Military Protection Voting Act (MVP Act) 34 (27 R, 1 I, 6 D)  S. 1015 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. 3 (2 R, 1 D)  S. 919 - 'Clarification of Characteristics of Combat Service Act of 2009 1 (1 D)  S. 847 - 'A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that utilization of survivors'' and dependents'' educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs.' 1 (1 D)  S. 831 - 'A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay.' 27 (10 R, 1 I, 16 D)  S. 821 - 'A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled, and for other purposes.' 1 (1 I)  S. 820 - 'A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the automobile assistance allowance for veterans, and for other purposes.' 1 (1 I)  S. 734 - rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009 3 (3 D)  S. 728 - Veterans' Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009 1 (1 D)  S. 663 - Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of WW II Act of 2009 45 (10 R, 2 I, 33 D)  S. 597 - 'Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 21 (4 R, 17 D)  S. 572 - 'A bill to provide for the issuance of a "forever stamp" to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart.' 17 (5 R, 12 D)  S. 546 - Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009 43 (9 R, 2 I, 32 D)  S. 543 - Requires VA and DOD to carry out a pilot program to asses the feasibility and advisability of providing caregivers of seriously disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces to provide caregiver services to such veterans and members, and for other purposes.' 13 (1 R, 12 D)  S. 476 - Care and Affordability for Military Families Act 14 (4 R, 10 D)  S. 475 - Military Spouses Residency Relief Act' 44 (26 R, 1 I, 17 D)  S. 475 - Military Spouses Residency Act 44 (26 R, 1 I, 17 D)  S. 423 - 'Advanced Funding Bill/ Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 56 (17 R, 2 I, 37 D)  S. 407 - Veterans Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 (COLA) compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.' 18 (6 R, 1 I, 11 D)  S. 404 - The Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009 2 (2 D)  S. 347 - 'A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to distinguish between the severity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a qualifying loss of a non-dominant hand for purposes of traumatic injury protection under Servicemembers'' Group Life Insurance, and for other purposes.' 2 (1 R, 1 D)  S. 307 - 'The Crtitcal Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009 16 (7 R, 9 D)  S. 263 - The Servicemembers Accsss to Justice Act of 2009 3 (3 D)  H.R. 3590 - Servicemembers Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009 41 (3 R, 38 D)  H.R. 3554 - The National Guard Education Equality Act 72 (6 R, 66 D)  H.R. 3155 - Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act 10 (3 R, 7 D)  H.R. 2879 - Rural Veterans Health Care Imporvment Act of 2009 6 (6 D)  H.R. 2647 - National Defense Authorization Act - FY 2010 (NDAA) 1 (1 D) - H.R. 2594 - 'To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a plot allowance for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in State cemeteries.' 47 (35 R, 12 D)  H.R. 2562 - 'To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the first-time homebuyer credit for one year for members of the Armed Services of the United States serving outside the United States in 2009.' 19 (8 R, 11 D)  H.R. 2561 - 'To amend section 484B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to forgive certain loans for servicemembers who withdraw from an institution of higher education as a result of service in the uniformed services, and for other purposes.' 21 (8 R, 13 D)  H.R. 2547 - 'To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes.' 14 (8 R, 6 D)  H.R. 2504 - Amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.' 5 (5 D)  H.R. 2491 - 'To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income any enlistment, accession, reenlistment, retention, or incentive bonus paid to a member of the Armed Forces.' 5 (2 R, 3 D)  H.R. 2461 - 'To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the responsibility of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to verify the veteran status of the owners of small business concerns listed in the database maintained by the Secretary.' 2 (1 R, 1 D)  H.R. 2456 - Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009 34 (2 R, 32 D)  H.R. 2410 - 'To authorize appropriations for the Department of State and the Peace Corps for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, to modernize the Foreign Service, to authorize democratic, economic, and social development assistance for Pakistan, to authorize security assistance for Pakistan, and for other purposes.' 1 (1 D)  H.R. 2393 - Military Protection Voting Act (MVP Act) 44 (42 R, 2 D)  H.R. 2379 - 'To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans an opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans'' Group Life Insurance.' 1 (1 R)  H.R. 2270 - Benefits for Qualified World War II Veterans Act of 2009 7 (4 R, 3 D)  H.R. 2254 - 'Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 180 (47 R, 133 D)  H.R. 2243 - Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 70 (35 R, 35 D)  H.R. 2126 - Correspondence With Our Heroes Act 1 (1 R)  H.R. 2014 - 'To award a congressional gold medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP").' 334 (148 R, 186 D)  H.R. 1821 - 'To amend chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, to increase vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance, and for other purposes.' 4 (4 D)  H.R. 1821 - Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009 4 (4 D)  H.R. 1803 - Veterans Business Center Program Act of 2009 4 (1 R, 3 D)  H.R. 1681 - Veterans Transitional Assistance Act of 2009 17 (17 D)  H.R. 1474 - The Servicemembers Access to Justice Act 29 (29 D)  H.R. 1377 - 'To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes.' 3 (3 D)  H.R. 1335 - Amends title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.' 40 (2 R, 38 D)  H.R. 1293 - Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Act 17 (12 R, 5 D)  H.R. 1211 - The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act 53 (9 R, 44 D)  H.R. 1171 - 'The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 5 (2 R, 3 D)  H.R. 1169 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment.' 3 (3 R)  H.R. 1168 - Veterans Retraining Act of 2009 3 (3 R)  H.R. 1088 - The Mandatory Veteran Specialist Trainng Act of 2009 1 (1 D)  H.R. 1052 - Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predicatability Deployment Policy Act 26 (2 R, 24 D)  H.R. 1017 - Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act 27 (7 R, 20 D)  H.R. 1016 - Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 125 (20 R, 105 D)  H.R. 972 - 'To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits.' 2 (2 R)  H.R. 953 - 'To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a deduction for travel expenses to medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities.' 52 (35 R, 17 D)  H.R. 952 - Combat PTSD Act of 2009 95 (95 D)  H.R. 819 - Extends DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POW's 18 (2 R, 16 D)  H.R. 816 - The Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act 191 (62 R, 129 D)  H.R. 816 - Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act 191 (62 R, 129 D)  H.R. 809 - Reduces from age 57 to age 55 the age after which the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse.' 1 (1 R)  H.R. 806 - 'To establish a mail-order pharmacy pilot program for TRICARE beneficiaries.' 1 (1 R)  H.R. 785 - 'To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.' 5 (5 D)  H.R. 775 - Repeals the requirement for reduction of SBP by veterans dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) 297 (108 R, 189 D) - H.R. 667 - The Heroes at Home Act of 2009 44 (5 R, 39 D)  H.R. 466 - The Wounded Veteran Job Security Act 9 (9 D)  H.R. 403 - Home for Heroes Act of 2009 42 (1 R, 41 D)  H.R. 394 - 'To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension provided under that title by up to $1,000.' 2 (2 R)  H.R. 333 - Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act 118 (25 R, 93 D)  H.R. 303 - Concurrent Receipt for 111th 115 (57 R, 58 D)  H.R. 228 - Direct VA to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility.' 1 (1 D)  H.R. 32 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.' 41 (15 R, 26 D)    http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/210850/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:35:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/210850/ Your action is urgently needed to help pass this important legislation authorizing a commemorative coin to honor our nation's Medal of Honor Recipients. The letter reproduced below was sent from our National VFW Legislative Office in Washington, DC. Now it's your turn to help by contacting your congressional delegation. Read the letter, then scroll down for a list of senators who need to hear from you in support of this legislation: October 7, 2009       The Honorable [SENATOR FULL NAME] United States Senate Washington, DC  20510   Dear Senator [LAST NAME]:   On behalf of the 2.2 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and our Auxiliaries, I would like to urge your support for S. 883, the Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act.   This legislation would help raise funds for the Medal of Honor Foundation, which promotes the spirit that embodies the Medal of Honor: courage, sacrifice, service and patriotism. In 1999, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation was created to educate our nation’s youth on the power of heroism, selflessness and how one person can make an extraordinary difference. These commemorative coins would be legal tender and would be minted in 2011 in honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Medal of Honor’s initial authorization by Congress.      The VFW believes this is a worthy cause that recognizes America’s true heroes. The men and women who have been awarded the Medal of Honor have received the highest honor this country can bestow, and this coin would allow more Americans to hear about and learn from their inspiring stories. We ask you to do the right thing and honor our American Heroes by co-sponsoring S. 883 today.                                                                                Sincerely,                                                                             ROBERT E. WALLACE                                                                         EXECUTIVE DRIECTOR Here's how you can help... We need you to contact your Senator(s)- if they appear on the following list- and urge them to sponsor and vote for S. 883, The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act . VFW has been instrumental in getting the bill introduced and would like it to see it  passed before the end of this congressional session - time is of essence!! Below the list, you will find a link to getting their contact information. Non Cosponsoring Senators of S.883 as of 11/7/09   Democrats COJR Michael F. Bennet CTSR Christopher J. Dodd FLSR Bill Nelson IAJR   Tom Harkin INJR   Evan Bayh MDSR Barbara A. Mikulski MISR Debbie A. Stabenow MNJR Al Franken MTJR Jon Tester MTSR Max Baucus NCJR Kay Hagan NDJR Byron L. Dorgan NESR Ben Nelson NJSR   Frank Lautenberg NMJR Tom Udall NVSR Harry Reid NYJR Kirsten Gillibrand ORJR Jeff Merkley RISR   Jack Reed SDSR Tim Johnson VAJR Mark Warner VASR James Webb VTSR Patrick J. Leahy WAJR Maria Cantwell WIJR   Russell D. Feingold WISR Herb Kohl WVJR John D. (Jay) Rockefeller, IV Total 27 Republicans ALJR Jeff Sessions ALSR Richard C. Shelby AZJR Jon Kyl IASR   Charles E. Grassley INSR   Richard G. Lugar KYJR Jim Bunning KYSR Mitch McConnell MEJR Susan Collins MESR Olympia Snowe MOSR Kit Bond NHSR Judd Gregg OKJR Tom Coburn TNJR   Bob Corker TXSR Kay Bailey Hutchison UTJR   Robert F. Bennett UTSR Orrin G. Hatch WYJR John A. Barrasso Total 17     Independent VTJR   Bernie Sanders    You can use the letter (above) to let them know that we expect them to do the right thing and honor our Medal of Honor awardees with a coin. Call their district offices or DC offices today. You can use the capwiz link for phone numbers or look in your Congressional handbooks as well - Here is the CAPWIZ Link to Congressional addresses: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/ Once you have made contact and/or gotten a response, please update our Washington Legislative Office by emailing Theresa Morris           http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/208085/ Fri, 9 Oct 2009 12:50:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/208085/ Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs (Assembly) A public hearing has been scheduled by Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs in the Assembly.  Date/time: October 14, 2009 at 10:30 AM.  Location: 411 South.  Items: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Wisconsin Veterans:  Information for Policy Makers on the Availability of Clinical, Social, Legal, and Preventative Services http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/207735/ Wed, 7 Oct 2009 09:50:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/207735/ Courtesy of Mike "Gunner" Furgal Hill leaders are working on resolving the differences between the House and Senate versions of the FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill. There are big differences between them on many personnel and benefit issues, including upgrades on concurrent receipt, survivor benefits, health care, Guard/Reserve retirement, and manpower levels. Please send your legislators a MOAA-suggested message to retain these important provisions in the final versions of the defense bill. Defense Funding Bill Moving.  It appears that the FY2010 Defense Appropriations Bill will be enacted by the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year.  But Congress won't meet that deadline for many of the other Executive Branch departments, perhaps including the VA. Part B Premium Relief Coming.  Nervous members of Congress are pushing through legislation to protect certain Medicare enrollees (including many MOAA members) from taking a disproportional hit on their 2010 Part B premiums. MOAA Pushes Guard, Vet, Spouse Rights.  MOAA offered testimony and mobilized members in support of proposed legislation being considered at a Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing this week to assist veterans, Guard members, and military spouses. Defense Funding Bill Moving As this item was being written, the Senate was preparing to begin action on the FY2010 Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3326), which the House already has passed. This is one of 12 departmental appropriations bills Congress is supposed to finish before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. The House has passed all of them already.  Senate leaders acknowledge there's little chance of finishing all of them before the end of the month, but the Defense bill should be one of the ones that do pass before that deadline. For the other departments, Congress will have to pass a short-term "continuing resolution" to fund those executive branch operations into the month of October until Congress finishes the rest of the appropriations bills. The Defense Appropriations Bill is not to be confused with the FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill, which is still pending negotiations between House and Senate leaders.  It's the latter bill that addresses the personnel and compensation issues that interest most MOAA members. Will Congress finish action on the Authorization Bill before the end of the month?  It's always possible, but don't hold your breath.  In the last 10 years, Congress finished the Defense Authorization Bill before mid-October only once.  In four of those years, it didn't get done until December or later. Part B Premium Relief Coming As the potential implications sink in concerning the absence of any 2010 Social Security COLA, House leaders have rushed to pass legislation to prevent some unintended consequences for certain groups of Medicare enrollees. A special law protects most Medicare enrollees from seeing any Part B premium increase in the event that there's no COLA for Social Security.  Without that protection, a Part B hike would result in a net reduction of the person's Social Security check as of January 2010. But the premium increase exemption doesn't apply to about 25% of Medicare recipients, including those who will newly qualify for Medicare, low-income seniors who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and those with incomes above $85,000 ($170,000 for a married couple) who already are subject to "means-tested" (higher) Part B premiums. An additional wrinkle in the law requires disproportional Part B premium increases for that 25% to help make up for the loss of revenue from the 75% who are protected from the premium hike.  In this particular case, the Congressional Budget Office says those who aren't exempt would experience about four times the normal increase - a serious political hot potato. So House leaders rushed to pass legislation on Thursday (by a vote of 406 to 18) to bar any 2010 Part B premium increase for any Medicare beneficiaries.  The Senate is expected to follow suit quickly -- and likely will have done so by the time you read this update. MOAA Pushes Guard, Vet, Spouse Rights This week, MOAA has urged the House Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee to approve legislation supporting military spouses, wounded warriors and National Guard members. MOAA's statement for the subcommittee's Sept. 24 hearing urged adoption of several initiatives. One would increase the amount of VA assistance provided to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles, and adapted equipment.  Rene' Campos, MOAA Deputy Director of Government Relations for Health Affairs said, "Disabled veterans have been hit especially hard by recent economic and unemployment challenges.  These timely improvements are imperative to support disabled vets of all ages." Another bill would fix two significant inequities under the Post 9/11 GI Bill by authorizing vocational and related non-degree training and extending the new GI Bill benefits to full-time active duty members of the National Guard with post-September 10, 2001 service. "All previous GI Bill legislation covered apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs," said MOAA's COL Bob Norton, USA-Ret.  "And all full-time active duty members, including those full-time Guardsmen on active duty under state orders, deserve coverage under the new GI Bill." MOAA also urged quick action on legislation to allow active-duty military spouses the option to select the same state of domicile as his or her servicemember.  Earlier this week, MOAA sent a special electronic alert to MOAA members whose U.S. representatives are members of the Subcommittee to request their legislators' support. "Military spouses should be able to vote in the same state as their servicemember.  This legislation is about reducing turmoil and administrative hassle in the lives of military spouses," said Joy Dunlap, also of MOAA's Government Relations staff.  "The Senate already has passed this bill," she said.  "Now we need the House to act." http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/204569/ Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:43:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/204569/ Wis. bill gives veteran businesses edge MADISON, Wis. - The state Assembly has passed a bill that gives disabled veterans' businesses preferences in bids for state work. Under the bill, state officials could accept a bid from a disabled veteran's business that is 5 percent more than the lowest bid. The Department of Administration would report annually to lawmakers on the money paid to disabled veterans' businesses and develop a target percentage within four years. Similar preferences already exist for minority-owned businesses trying to win state work. The Democratic-controlled Assembly passed the bill on a voice vote. It goes next to the state Senate. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/203846/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:26:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/203846/ Provided by Mike "Gunner" Furgal COLA Watch Inflation rose 0.3% in August, but remains 2% down for the first 11 months of FY2009.  Since August is the mid-point of the annual July-September COLA calculation period, that -2% should be about where the index for FY209 ends up.  That confirms no COLA for 2010, and that the 2011 COLA countdown will start about 2% in the hole. Packed House Attends Wounded Warrior Symposium.  More than 600 people crowded Wednesday's day-long MOAA/USNI forum, "Coping with Unseen Injuries:  From Battlefield to Homefront," to hear progress reports from Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman ADM Mike Mullen, USN, and a host of other leaders, troops, families and government and non-government experts. Discussion Panels Provide Riveting Testimony.  Also at the symposium, three panels of unit leaders, mental health professionals, and family members/caregivers provided ground-level insights on progress and continuing needs, including some urgent cries for help. Panel Examines VA Rating System.  The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony Thursday that "mental health disorders have a much more profound [adverse] impact on earnings than do physical disabilities." Packed House Attends Wounded Warrior Symposium An overflow crowd of more than 600 people attended the day-long symposium sponsored by MOAA and the U.S. Naval Institute on Sept 16 to highlight continuing challenges facing America's wounded warriors, their units, families, and caregivers. The event featured a special focus on the unseen injuries of traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. Three key speakers set the tone in expressing government actions and intentions. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman ADM Michael Mullen, USN, kicked off the event with a powerful statement of the nation's obligation to those who have suffered the brunt of wartime sacrifice. "We need to create a system [not just in the military and the VA, but] throughout America that sustains their needs for the rest of their lives," said Mullen.  "We have a sense of urgency to turn research into implementable solutions...I've pledged to do all I can to avoid creating another generation of homeless veterans.  Shame on us if we don't make sure that happens." LTG Jack Stultz, Chief of the Army Reserve, highlighted the need to provide help for children of the deployed and wounded, who often experience suppressed and confusing fear and anger.  For servicemembers, "Every returning soldier has suffered stress," he said.  "Counseling should be mandatory, not voluntary."  He is working to create "virtual installations" to assist families in areas with significant military populations but no military installation. Assistant VA Secretary Tammy Duckworth, a medically retired Army helicopter pilot who lost both legs and partial use of one arm in Iraq, said, "On any given night, there are 131,000 homeless veterans on the streets of America, and we're all dishonored by that." Duckworth said the VA is making a special focus on mental health outreach (including a 24/7 chat line to improve access to therapists), accelerated disability determinations, and upgraded care for female veterans. Discussion Panels Provide Riveting Testimony The symposium's three discussion panels provided "ground level" insights on the effects of TBI, PTSD and depression on units, families and caregivers, and actions still needed to address them. Panel 1:  "Managing the Battlefield and Beyond - A Leadership View" Moderated by COL Roger Dimsdale (USA-Ret), a Distinguished Service Cross recipient who recently retired as Chief of Staff of the Senior Oversight Committee on DoD/VA Health Care, this panel of military leaders and medical and legal professionals explored the challenges of unseen injuries for unit leaders before, during and between operational deployments. COL Richard O'Connor, USA, who deployed as an armored cavalry squadron commander, has a son who suffered significant PTSD, noted that behavioral health providers have been doubled at Ft. Carson, and 16 family life counselors have been added to support troops and their families.  "[But] we're supposed to train as we fight, and our combat stress teams (CSTs) don't hook up with us until after we've deployed...The stigma [associated with self-identifying a need for help] is alive and well and is a huge problem...Our medics are with us for the pre-deployment phase, and the CSTs (which prepare troops on what to expect and help them deal with combat stress) need to be, too." Col Andrew McMannis, USMC, Commander, Training Command at Quantico, VA who is selected to take command of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit next year, said support for families is improving, with units hiring full-time family support staff. McMannis expressed the need to train unit leaders, including officers and NCOs, to identify which unit members may need help and how to positively connect them with that help. COL Kathy Platoni, USAR, a clinical psychologist, cited a need for better pre-deployment baseline screening than the current, four-question survey.  Platoni's major concern is that many with psychological injuries are reluctant to self-identify and are being sent back to the battlefield, which dramatically increases their risk of increasingly serious impairment.  "We need that warrior ethos - about not leaving any fallen comrade behind -- on this topic too," she said. Mr. Brockton Hunter, a veteran and attorney who represents veteran clients, said military leaders need to take another look at how to deal with discipline issues that may be caused by PTSD or TBI.  Many troops are self-medicating, get into altercations or worse that lead to criminal convictions.  Hunter said civilian legal systems can take the veteran's combat experience and PTSD into account in ways that can lead to the record being expunged. "The military justice system," he said, "is less forgiving." CSM James Franklin, USA, Air Operations Group at Ft. McNair, DC, said leadership and general manpower turnover between deployments impedes training and cohesiveness, with many new soldiers arriving only 90 days before deployment. Once in theater, many are assigned to outposts without access to CSTs.  "They come back for debriefs after missions, but many don't want to talk to the CSTs."  Franklin expressed particular concern for medevac crews who deal with the tragic aftermath of combat, and for soldiers who "just check the blocks on the health assessment forms and say they have no problems, then later get in trouble...If they get a DUI, they get administrative action that will cause them to be separated.  We need to find a way to exercise some compassion." Panel 2:  Implications of Unseen Injuries:  How Do We Respond on the Homefront?" Moderated by Gregg Zoroya, a USA Today reporter, this panel focused on post-deployment issues for reunited families and for Guard/Reserve members and veterans returning to civilian life. "Spouses tell me 'separation is easier; it's the reintegration that's the challenge, and it gets harder each time,'" said Zaroya.  "And it's aggravated by PTSD or TBI...Many are on their 4th and 5th deployment - and some elite units on their 13th!...What have we learned after 8 years of war?" LTC David Rabb, USAR, Director of Psychological Health, 63rd Readiness support Command, Moffett Field, CA, asserted, "Outreach is the key.  Community heals; isolation kills.  Success requires going beyond your organization, department or service; staying in your lane doesn't work, because trauma isn't in your lane....We have to educate down to the lowest level on what troops and families are going through, and foster collaboration among all available assets." LTC Cynthia Rasmussen, USAR, Psychological Director, 88th Regional Support Command, Fort Snelling, MN, is associated with the Minnesota Yellow Ribbon program, often touted as a model for other states.  "My job is to help people who fall through the cracks," said Rasmussen, who visits Guard/Reserve troops and families at post-deployment sites at regular intervals.  "One huge problem is that we in the military speak a different language than civilians and family members do." CAPT Catherine Wilson (USN-Ret), Executive Director, Virginia Dept of Veterans Services Wounded Warrior Program, described Virginia's efforts, in cooperation with MOAA and other veterans' organizations, to integrate state-wide resources in providing behavioral health and other services to vets and families under three health planning districts, recognizing that "all health care is local."  Among other initiatives, the program trains civilian providers on unique military/veteran needs and benefits, works with the criminal justice system, and provides grants to partnerships that deliver behavioral health for all veterans of all ages, with special focus on the Guard and Reserve. Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a clinical psychologist, is founder of Give an Hour, a national network of 4,400 mental health professionals offering free services to troops, veterans, and their loved ones.  "Many don't seek care because they don't want to answer certain questions," said Van Dahlen. "We're trying to create a model to deliver them care for the rest of their lives...Partnerships out there are working; we just need leadership.  Meetings to create opportunities for more meetings won't hack it." Panel 3:  "Caring for Families & Caregivers:  Facing the Truth" Moderated by Dr. Karen Guice, Executive Director of the VA Federal Recovery Coordination Program, this panel addressed the longer-term needs of family members and other caregivers whose own lives have been changed by service-caused injuries to their loved ones. Dr. Eric Christensen, author of a 2009 CNA report on the economic sacrifices suffered by caregivers, said 7 out of 8 had to quit or significantly curtail work to be a caregiver.  "It's the rule, not the exception."  He said the average caregiver income loss in cases of the seriously wounded is about $60,000 over 1 ½ years.  Many have to give up not just their jobs, but their houses and health coverage. Mrs. Leslie Kammerdiener, mother of Cpl Kevin Kammerdiener, USA, who was seriously burned and suffered severe brain injury, said "The system is very broken for a lot of us."  As Kevin's guardian, she was barred by the state court from accepting any money from him, and has no income.  She reported receiving no support from the Army since her son left Brook Army Medical Center, even though he remains on active duty.  Transferred to a VA polytrauma center, he was provided no bed, food or medication for 30 hours after arrival.  "The commanders don't know what goes on in the wards," she said, describing experiences with massive medication overdoses, no-show therapists, and sitters who left her son alone in her absence.  When Kevin indicated he wanted to commit suicide, she called the VA for help and got no call back for days.  "Whoever thought of creating federal recovery coordinators deserves a lot of credit," she said. "My coordinator is the only person who has helped me."  After the session, she was connected with multiple sources of help. Mr. Noel Koch, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Office of Transition Policy and Care Coordination, said, "I'm not going to say we're doing a great job of taking care of wounded warriors. We do well at Powerpoint, conferences, and generating paper; we haven't done so well on outputs to care for our wounded warriors...One of our challenges is to find ways to measure outcomes...We want to focus on education, rehabilitation, and reemployment." Mrs. Shannon Maxwell, spouse of Lt Col Tim Maxwell (USMC-Ret) and co-founder of "Hope for the Warriors", said that, in contrast to Mrs. Kammerdiener's experience with the Army, she has received extensive Marine Corps support, even after her husband's retirement.  But she said caregiver needs for those significantly affected by TBI "are for life, not just 18 months.  No matter how high-functioning the TBI victim, caregiver needs never cease." Tim and Shannon Maxwell allowed MOAA to film a short video on how they deal with obstacles confronting TBI victims. Dr. Guice asked each panelist to identify the single most important fix needed. Mrs. Maxwell:  Wounded and families need expert advocate help in filling out the medical/physical evaluation board paperwork perfectly the first time.  "It's just extremely hard to go back and make corrections." Dr. Koch:  Providing cognitive rehabilitation should be made a DoD obligation. Mrs. Kammerdiener:  Caregivers desperately need a personalized support system.  "Who takes care of moms?  Who provides me the income, medical care, and retirement plan like I had before my son was wounded?" Dr. Christensen:  The government owes the same support for PTSD and TBI victims that it does for more visible injuries.  "They can perform the 'daily living functions,' but they have other serious disabilities.  It's better to be an amputee than to have severe TBI." Panel Examines VA Rating System Government witnesses, researchers and advocacy groups offered different perspectives at a Sept. 17 Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on calculation of compensation for service-caused disabilities.  Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Committee Chairman, said recent studies suggest some vets are undercompensated while others may be overcompensated, and that a "deliberate approach" is needed in reforming the system. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) pointed out that the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission (2007) and the Dole - Shalala Commission both concluded that the rehabilitation aim of the VA disability program was not being met.  Those studies also recommended that veterans should be compensated not only for lost earnings capacity but for lost quality of life. Dr. George Kettner, PhD, President of Economic Systems, Inc. testified that veterans with PTSD experience greater earnings loss than veterans with physical disabilities.  For example, veterans with a 100% rating for PTSD earn 92% less than their physically disabled counterparts.  For other mental disorders, earning loss can be even more significant. LTG Terry Scott, USA-Ret., who chaired the VA Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation, testified that his committee has informally recommended to VA Secretary Shinseki that the Deputy Secretary [Scott Gould] should be tasked to oversee a "systematic review and update process" for the VA Schedule of Rating Disabilities (VASRD) and a permanent staff to accomplish that "high priority" task.  Scott also said that quality of life compensation should be limited to "clearly defined and very serious disability." Scott noted that it takes about one year to do a complete review of one of the 15 "body systems" in the VASRD.  He urged that work get started to review and update three or four body systems per year and that the work should be done internally by the VA. Lt Col John Wilson, USAF-Ret., testifying for the Disabled American Veterans, pointed out that the VA's strategic plan doesn't address revising the VASRD, so tactical execution of the task could be questionable. MOAA believes strongly that the VA rating system needs to be modernized, with priority emphasis on improving rating criteria for TBI, PTSD and other behavioral wounds that occur in military service. MOAA - Military Officers Association of America 201 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/203845/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:21:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/203845/ This update courtesy of Mike "Gunner" Furgal, our State Legislative Chair FSA Discrimination Against Military Families For years, MOAA has urged the Pentagon to allow military members and families the same access to Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) already available to all other federal employees and major corporate employees in America. MOAA Government Relations Director Steve Strobridge's September "As I See It" column questions DoD's persistent resistance to including the uniformed community in this important and valuable program. Defense Bill Confusion.  This is the time of year when it's hard to keep news on multiple defense bills straight.  The FY2010 Defense Appropriations Bill made it through the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday.  But that's a much different animal than the FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill. Scam Targets Vets.  A reprehensible scam is targeting veterans and attempting to obtain their credit card information, allegedly to enroll them in a bogus "new VA pharmacy billing procedure." New Fiscal Year, Same Old Delays.  Hill leaders' initial hopes of passing all 12 government funding bills passed before Oct. 1 have been dashed by political reality.  How will that affect DoD and VA programs and people? Defense Bill Confusion Our members ask what the difference is between the defense authorization bill and the defense appropriations bill. It can be confusing because both bills are currently under consideration. The authorization bill is in conference committee while the appropriations bill passed through the full Appropriations Committee yesterday (September 10). The defense authorization bill (which is the responsibility of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees) includes the law changes needed to authorize troop levels, weapons procurement, new programs, and changes in pay and benefits (including pay raises, health care, concurrent receipt and survivor benefits). The defense appropriations bill (under the purview of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees) provides the funding to pay for the programs specified in the authorization bill. Congressional rules normally bar putting authorizing provisions in an appropriations bill, to make sure the legislators with the purse strings don't usurp the Armed Services committees' authority. Ideally, the authorization bill should pass before the appropriations bill.  That way all of the provisions authorized by Congress can have the funds appropriated. But it doesn't always happen that way. At present, both the House and Senate have passed their versions of the Authorization Bill and leaders of both chambers have begun negotiations to resolve the thousands of differences between them.  They hope to get that finished by the end of September. But in past years it's usually taken until October, November, or even later to resolve various contentious political issues that cause negotiation gridlock. The looming end of the fiscal year puts more pressure on the appropriators, so they often act on a more accelerated schedule, even though they start later.  The House already passed its version of the Appropriations Bill, and the full Senate likely will shortly.  Given that it includes much-needed war funding, it's a better bet that House/Senate negotiations on the Appropriations Bill may get finished before Oct. 1. Scam Targets Vets The VA reports that a reprehensible scam is targeting veterans. Scammers are calling VA beneficiaries under the guise of a phony "Patient Care Group".  The caller claims that VA prescriptions are being administered by this company. The scammers ask for personal information, including credit card information, claiming that this is necessary for the beneficiary to keep receiving prescriptions through the VA. This is completely bogus. The VA does not call vets and ask them to disclose personal information over the phone, and the VA hasn't changed any prescription dispensing rules. Be safe.  Never give out personal information to any unsolicited phone caller. New Fiscal Year, Same Old Delays September is the month when good congressional intentions bog down and hopes for timely action go a-glimmering. In theory, Congress is supposed to pass separate annual appropriations bills for the various government departments before October 1 -- the first day of the new fiscal year. The reality is that happens extremely rarely, and that only some of the bills are finished on time. The House has passed all 12 department funding bills, but the Senate almost always takes a more deliberate pace because its rules allow much more latitude for individual senators' time-consuming amendments, objections, and debate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) this week conceded that the Senate will likely finish only 8 of the 12 bills (hopefully including the Defense Appropriations Bill) by the end of this month. That means Congress will have to pass a "continuing resolution" to continue funding after September 30 so the remaining federal departments can keep operating until their respective appropriations bills are completed and signed into law. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/203833/ Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:11:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/203833/ VFW Legislative Alert: Save the Women’s Health Care Bill Comrades and Sisters, please contact our Senators concerning S.252 This is a high priority for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Thanks for your assistance on this legislation. Current Status: S. 252, which passed the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee earlier this year, is stuck in the Senate.  With time winding down in the year and the Senate is taking on many complicated bills, we need to ensure that the Senate approves this before the end of the session. Background: S. 252 includes a broad range of health-care improvements for all veterans, including expanded mental-health services and grants for homeless veteran programs.  It also includes a number of significant improvements for female veterans and the health care and services VA provides to them.   Improving the care and treatment of female veterans is a VFW Priority Goal.  This is among our highest priorities. The women veterans’ provisions include: ·         Studies into what access barriers exist ·         Requiring VA to provide a detailed plan on services and how to provide ·         A detailed study on the long-term health consequences of female vets serving in the Gulf Region ·         Improvements into training and care for military sexual trauma ·         Providing limited child care services for veterans seeking treatment at VA ·         Providing limited newborn care Other important provisions: improvements to recruiting and retention of medical professionals; pilot program on dental care; expanded mental health counseling through Vet Centers. Action Needed: Contact your two Senators to urge them to support this critical bill and to pass it before adjourning for the year.   Its provisions – especially the ones aimed at female veterans – are among the VFW’s highest priorities.  Let them know that you expect their strong support for this legislation and that you expect them to quickly approve the bill. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/202467/ Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:56:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/202467/ Compliments of Mike "Gunner" Furgal -------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Your Legislators Congress will return from the month-long August recess on September 8. That's when Hill leaders will get serious about resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of the FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill. There are big differences between them on many personnel and benefit issues, including upgrades on concurrent receipt, survivor benefits, health care, Guard/Reserve retirement, and manpower levels. Please send your legislators a MOAA-suggested message to retain these important provisions in the final versions of the defense bill. Widows Beat US Government. The US Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of a group of widows who sued the government, asserting that otherwise-qualifying widows who remarry after age 57 are entitled to both SBP and VA survivor benefits, without any offset. COLA in the Hole for 2011, Too?  We've said there won't be any 2010 COLA for Social Security, retired pay, or SBP annuitants. But a closer look at the COLA law reveals a "negative COLA carryover" effect for next year, too. MOAA, Coalition List Defense Bill Priorities.  The Military Coalition signed out a letter to House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders this week, offering prioritized recommendations on resolving personnel and benefits disparities between the two chambers' respective versions of the FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill. Congress On Report(s). When Congress isn't sure what to do on a military issue, they require a report from the Defense Department.  Many more trees will die in the coming year, because the pending defense bill is full of report requirements.  Check out a sample selection. Widows Beat US Government On August 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision in the case of Sharp v. the United States, a lawsuit brought by a group of widows over a recent law change that they say makes them eligible to receive Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities from DoD and VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), without any offset between the two. At issue is a 2004 law that restored DIC payments to veterans' surviving spouses who remarry after their 57th birthday.  Before the law change, survivors lost DIC upon remarriage at any age. In restoring eligibility for DIC, the language of the new law barred deduction of DIC from other veterans' benefits for these widows "under any other provision of law." When VA restored their DIC, but the Pentagon continued deducting it from their SBP annuities, three widows took the government to court, claiming violation of the new law.  DoD rejected that interpretation, in essence claiming that SBP is a DoD benefit rather than a veterans' benefit. On June 12, 2008 the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled in favor of the widows.  The government filed an appeal, and the U.S. Court of Appeals heard the case on June 4. The Appeals Court's ruling for the widows this week said what MOAA has been saying all along:  "Perhaps [the 2004 law change] simply represents a first step in an effort to eventually enact full repeal [of the SBP-DIC offset].  After all, the servicemember paid for both benefits: SBP with premiums; DIC with his life". This is a remarkable ruling and a poignant victory for the three widows involved. But the case isn't necessarily over yet, because it remains to be seen whether the government will appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court. We again commend these brave survivors for their tenacity.  This important case can only help in our continuing crusade to repeal the SBP/DIC offset. COLA in the Hole for 2011, Too? Last week, we officially threw in the towel on any prospect for a 2010 COLA for Social Security, military/federal retired pay, SBP, and VA disability compensation recipients. With inflation 2.3% in the hole through the first 10 months of the fiscal year, inflation would have to rise more than 4.6% in the next two months (the COLA is based on the July/August/September average) for there to be a 2010 COLA, and that's not going to happen. But this is the first time the nearly 50-year history of COLAs that there's been negative inflation for the full year, and that sent us back to research how the COLA law deals with that event. We know there won't be a cut in retired pay, Social Security, etc.  There just won't be a COLA. But how about 2011?  Does the "COLA clock" reset at zero, or do we start the new fiscal year in the hole by whatever negative number the CPI represents at the end of September? The short answer is that it's a cumulative calculation, and we will, in fact, start FY2010 in the "COLA hole." The law says the COLA is calculated based on CPI growth from the third quarter average to the next year's third quarter average. However, it specifies that the starting point for the calculation is the third quarter of the year prior to "the most recent adjustment..."  So if there's no COLA in 2010, then the starting point for the 2011 COLA calculation still remains the third quarter of 2008. So inflation will have to rise at least a couple of percentage points during the next fiscal year before the 2011 COLA clock will even start. MOAA, Coalition List Defense Bill Priorities MOAA and The Military Coalition (TMC), a consortium of uniformed services and veterans associations representing more than 5.5 million current and former servicemembers and their families and survivors, sent letters to House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders this week, outlining Coalition recommendations for resolving numerous differences between the House- and Senate-passed versions of the FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill. The TMC cover letter singled out several top priorities that merited special mention, including provisions concerning end strength, concurrent receipt, survivor benefits, TRICARE fees, and Reserve retirement service credit.  Attached to the letter was a detailed matrix of TMC views on selected House- and Senate-approved provisions. Conferees are expected to start work on resolving defense bill differences as soon as they return to Washington after Labor Day.  But the Armed Services Committee staffs already have begun preliminary negotiations. We urge MOAA members to act now to help move the negotiations in the right direction.  Please use MOAA's action alert to urge your legislators to support the Coalition's priorities. Congress On Report(s) The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have massive oversight responsibilities, but relatively modest staffs.  In considering what to do about various problems, they often have more questions than answers. In such cases, they include requirements in the annual defense bill for reports from the Pentagon, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), or others to provide findings and recommendations for action on various topics. The FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill is particularly laden with reporting requirements. Here's a selection of some of the more notable ones. DoD to report by Feb. 1, 2010 on whether open burn pits in Iraq are meeting health and environmental standards for solid waste disposal and whether DoD has the ability to track such hazards. DoD to review and report by Mar. 31, 2010 on service inconsistencies in awarding the Purple Heart for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and recommendations to improve consistency. GAO to report by Mar. 3, 2010 on the impact of prohibiting civilian employers from offering incentives for employees to use TRICARE in lieu of the employers' health plan (e.g., has it raised DoD health costs by causing more enrollments in TRICARE Prime?). DoD and VA will jointly report by Dec. 31, 2010 on current studies and alternative methods to treat PTSD. DoD to report within one year on shortfalls in dependents' access to health care, including behavioral health needs for children, and recommendations to ease the shortfalls. DoD to review TRICARE dental coverage for active duty and Guard/Reserve members and families, consult with beneficiary organizations and report to Congress by Apr. 1, 2010 on any recommended changes, particularly with respect to orthodontics coverage. GAO to report by Sept 30, 2010 on DoD efforts to minimize and track hearing loss. http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/201770/ Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:34:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/201770/ Compliments of Mike "Gunner" Furgal This is MOAA's LEGISLATIVE UPDATE for Friday, August 21, 2009. -------------------------------------------------------------- Forget Any 2010 COLA The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that inflation dropped 0.2% in July.  For the first 10 months of FY2009, cumulative inflation has declined 2.3%. What would it take for retirees and survivors to see any COLA for 2010?  Inflation would have to rise more than 2.4% each month for August and September.  That's just not going to happen, barring some kind of disaster that nobody wants to see. One last reminder: The law doesn't allow a negative COLA.  If inflation is negative for the year, as seems almost certain, there just won't be a COLA. -------------------------------------------------------------- TRICARE Contracts Under Protest.  The current contractors for TRICARE's North and South regions have formally protested the Pentagon's recent award of those contracts to different companies.  What does that mean for you? -------------------------------------------------------------- More Member Questions.  Last month we answered some of our members frequently asked questions.  We opened up the mail bag again to address legislative questions that have been coming into our member service center. -------------------------------------------------------------- TRICARE Contracts Under Protest Last month, the Defense Department announced that the TRICARE contract for the North region (from North Carolina to Wisconsin and northeast) would be awarded to Aetna Government Health Plans, and the contract for the South region (from Texas to South Carolina) would be awarded to UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services. The contract changeover wasn't scheduled until next year, to allow for a 10-month transition period. But the current contractors for those regions (Health Net Federal Services for the North region and Humana Military Healthcare Services for the South) have filed formal protests of DoD's decision. As a result, a "stop work" order has been issued on the contract changeover until the Government Accountability Office (GAO) rules on the validity of the protests.  That ruling is supposed to come within 100 days. What's the likelihood that the protest could nullify the award? It's possible, but our non-insider guess is it's unlikely. Barring that possibility, the practical effect for beneficiaries is a delay in the effective date of the contract changeover until sometime next fall. We'll provide more on the implications of the contract changes in future updates. -------------------------------------------------------------- More Member Questions Here are some answers to the legislative questions most frequently asked by MOAA members over the last several weeks. 1)      Am I eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill?  Do I qualify to transfer the benefit to my spouse or child? Servicemembers who have active duty service of at least 90 consecutive days since Sept. 10, 2001 qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Any current member of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserve) who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and agrees to complete the service required under the transfer policy may transfer their benefits to a spouse and/or dependent children. For more information on GI bill benefits check out our Post 9/11 GI Bill Guide. 2)      When will we find out whether Congress will approve concurrent receipt or a fix for military widows' SBP? The House and Senate have approved separate versions of this year's National Defense Authorization Act.  The bill now heads to conference committee to hash out the differences between the two versions of the bill.  The House bill would phase out the offset for all medical (Chapter 61) retirees, and the Senate bill would eliminate the widows' SBP/DIC offset. The conference committee will start in earnest when Congress reconvenes in September.  Hill leaders hope to finish by the end of September, but that may prove optimistic. In the past, the final bill usually hasn't been finished until October or November...or later. 3)      I rarely get responses when I write my legislator, do my letters and e-mails really matter? Each legislator's office has a different policy about how it responds to letters and e-mails. The absence of a reply doesn't necessarily mean your legislator isn't listening.  We've learned through experience that volume counts.  The more mail legislators get on a topic, the more they pay attention to it.  Legislators typically get inundated with inquiries on all kinds of subjects, and most give standard replies.  When they get large numbers on a particular subject, staffers usually get tasked to craft an answer aimed specifically at that topic. 4)      I think most members of Congress don't understand what it's like to serve in the armed services.  How many members of Congress have served in the military? The numbers of veterans in Congress has significantly diminished over the years.  From the 70's to today the number of veterans in Congress has dropped by 75 percent.  According to a recent report published by the Congressional Research Service: There are 121 total legislators who have served in the military (five less than the last Congress) There are 96 veterans in the House and 25 in the Senate Their collective wartime service includes World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. 5)      I enjoy the monthly "As I See It" column.  How do I submit a suggestion for a topic? We encourage our readers to write a review of the monthly As I See It column, using the space provided at the end of the column.  If you have specific suggestions please feel free to e-mail them to legis@moaa.org. -------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/200049/ Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:39:00 -0400 http://www.vfwwebcom.org/wi/legislative/200049/