James Tichacek's Veterans Information Bulletins |
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Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret) Director, Retiree Activities Office & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net (PRI) or raoemo@mozcom.com (Alternate) Web: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html Tel: (63-74) 442-7135 or FAX 1-801-760-2430 AL/AMVETS/CORMV/DAV/FRA/NCOA/PRA/TROA/USDR/VFW/VVA Member |
All Hands: This notice is to inform you of the Baguio Retiree Assistance Office (RAO) mission; the availability of informational assistance to fellow veterans; and the purpose of the Director's associated Newsletter. The service provides a POC for anyone who has queries on Veteran issues and/or residence in this Geographic area. It also provides a means for Veterans to keep abreast of benefit changes and/or pending Veteran related legislation. Bulletin Updates are sent twice a month...on the 1st & 15th. Twice a month allows time for readers to digest the info and make any inquiries they may have. It is understood that not every article that goes out is applicable to every reader but over a period of time every reader will find some article(s) of interest to him or her personally. Unfortunately, the Bulletin cannot be sent to some users of AOL and a few other servers. It does not meet their big Brother policy of deciding what their readers are allowed to receive. A few other servers such as Juno & Netzero allow their readers to receive the Bulletin but will not allow me to communicate with them. I can receive their messages but they cannot receive mine. Anyone currently in receipt of the Bulletin receiving duplicate copies let me know. Those who no longer want to receive it just click Reply and add the word Remove in the subject line. If you decide you no longer want the Bulletin feel free to drop me a line in the future if you ever need any assistance. The Baguio Retiree Assistance Office [RAO] is basically an "answer place" for all Veterans and Expats in addition to providing FPO mail services; Forms; U.S. & RP Government Services; etc.. There are no longer any bases in the Philippines and the Embassy is 180 km away...so over the last 18 years it has become the unofficial source for just about everything related to Government Programs impacting on those residing in this Geographic area. Because of our remote location...the majority of Veterans' assistance is provided by email. All questions received via email are responded to with either an answer or a source of where to obtain an answer. If you do not receive an answer within 72 hours, your inquiry was probably never received...and you should re-transmit it. The variety of questions, and subsequent research to answer them, has resulted in the development of a 2500+ page Library of articles, a 70+ page index of article titles available upon request for recall, and a Email Directory of over 70,000 email addees for dissemination of the newsletter to other RAO/RSO's, Military Fraternal Organizations and interested Veterans worldwide. The objective is to provide Veteran related information to at least one member of every Veteran Group worldwide who can act as a point of contact to pass on any information felt germane to that Organization's membership. Through their involvement, the Bulletin info presently reaches approximately half a million Veterans and/or Dependents. Our RAO meets the criteria, and is recognized as an "Independent RAO" and source of Veteran related info. However the Bulletin is not an "Official" DoD sanctioned newsletter. The articles provide items taken from a wide variety of sources that have been edited or editorialized for retransmission. They also include info to ease transition into the Philippines for those who may be considering relocating there. The information contained therein is just that...informational (FYI). The objective is only to PASS THE WORD in order to keep our Military Community informed. It is the responsibility of readers to verify exactly how information applies to them if they intend to expend funds or time in following up on the data provided in the articles. Unless you have questions concerning Veteran's issues to be answered, there is no need for comments. Although it's nice to get the occasional "thanks for the info", it's not necessary, and just adds to the 50+ emails I receive daily. I do not send out jokes - prayers - religious material or music - chain letters - photos - etc., so please reciprocate by not sending these to me. Nor do I normally participate in "political stuff" unless it is essential to an article being presented in the Bulletin. I would greatly appreciate that you not forward personal political comments/beliefs/prejudices, but I am always open to anything that could benefit other Veterans. Updates are sent either Bcc or via a Newsletter Mailing List provider, so recipients are not bothered with large headers nor have their email addee revealed to others. If you want to know if anybody else in your organization is receiving the Bulletin just ask. Articles contain subjects of interest to all Veterans regardless of Geographic location. The existing addees on the directory are about 2%:98% local vs. worldwide. The Bulletin content is for use in any way you see fit and retransmit is encouraged. Sources are provided wherever possible so readers can re-validate info if they desire. The primary source is always listed first and if multiple sources are used it is indicated by "++" after the primary source in the source line. Sometimes my Internet servers are inhibited in their ability to send to other servers worldwide because of filters incorporated by these servers to block spam. However I can always receive incoming messages. If you do not receive your Bulletin just let me know. Request all communications be sent to my primary email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net even though you may be receiving the Bulletin from some other addee. The email addee of any veteran or military fraternal organization can be added to the directory if desired. It only takes a click on the "Unsubscribe" line at the end of each Bulletin to drop anyone off later if they find the Updates are of no use to them. Of course, there are no charges, advertisements, or solicitations associated this service. Nor do we accept donations. If you are interested in other articles contained within the Bulletin, they can be forwarded via email. Attachments sent should be virus free, since it is our policy NEVER to open incoming attachments because they might contain a virus. My installed Norton Anti Virus program tells me about 1% do. At http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html you can view the current and review past Bulletins sent in the last 5 years. Bear in mind that the articles shown in these Bulletins were only valid at the time they were written (normally indicated in the source line) and may have since been updated. At this site, you can also find the Bulletin Index to identify any articles you may want to recall. They will be provided upon email request. Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek USN (Ret) Director RAO Baguio |
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Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret) Director, Retiree Activities Office & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net (PRI) or raoemo@mozcom.com (Alternate) Web: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html Tel: (63-74) 442-7135 or FAX 1-801-760-2430 AL/AMVETS/CORMV/DAV/FRA/NCOA/PRA/TROA/USDR/VFW/VVA Member |
All Hands: Some
servers block the Bulletin. This blockage has happened over the
years to a number of subscribers whose computer settings
or server automatically respond to the Bulletin as spam because
of its size. Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret)Associate
Director, Retiree Assistance Office, RAO BULLETIN 1 November 2009 Note: Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek USN (Ret) Director RAO Baguio |
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Vet Benefits Funding Update 02 (Debt Deal Speculation) Tricare Provider Availability Update 04 (Budget Bill Impact) JSCDR (Deficit Committee Makeup) Medical & Dental Costs Estimates (Where to Find) Patton Cologne (The Smell of Victory) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 38 (Michael Edward Harrison) VA Appeals Update 10 (Media Involvement Helps) VAMC St. Louis MO Update 02 (Turning the Corner) Mobilized Reserve 9 AUG 2011 (974 Decrease) VA Rural Access Update 10 (Tyranny of Distance) Vet Cremains Update 07 (Utah Unclaimed Vets) Mosquitoes (Myths Debunked) SSA Death Reporting Update 01 (Master File Errors) VAMC Fort Harrison MT (Orthopedic Surgery on Hold) Stolen Valor Update 43 (William Devereaux) GI Bill Update 102 (AUG 2011 Changes) Vet Jobs Update 33 (DHS Nears Goal) Vet Jobs Update 34 (Major Initiatives) Gulf War Medical Records (Intentional Destruction) Panic Attacks (Study Results) VAMC Beckley WV (Lawsuit) Texas Veteran Homes Update 01 (Watkins-Logan-Garrison) Cars Most Stolen (Top 10 in 2010) Tricare Prime Update 08 (Split Enrollment) IDES (Overview) GI Bill Update 75 (Risperdal Treatment Ineffective) POW/MIA Update 02 (Pvt. John Lavelle) Medicad Eligible Vets Update 01 (Maine) Your Doctor Update 02 (When to Fire) TSP Update 22 (JUL Results) U.S. Navy Seabee Museum (Opened 22 JUL) Tricare Nursing Home Coverage Update 03 (SNF vs LTC) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 38 (1-15 Aug 2011) SBA Vet Issues Update 14 (1400 Ineligibles Uncovered) Prescription Drug Epidemic (NDCP Kerlikowske Interview) Prescription Drug Epidemic Update 01 (7 Million People) Food Expiration (Longest) Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule (AUG 2011) Vet Toxic Exposure~TCE (El Toro MCAS) Saving Money (Tipping Tips) Notes of Interest (1-15 Aug 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 73 (1-15 AUG 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 45 (1-15 AUG 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (New Hampshire) Military History (The Greatest Marine Disaster in History) Military History Anniversaries (Aug 16-31 Summary) Military Trivia Update 33 (WWII North Africa) Tax Burden for DC Retirees (As of Aug 2011) Have You Heard? (Perjury) Veteran Legislation Status 12 AUG 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Vet Benefits Funding Update
02: Military pay raises, funding
for veterans health care and the Post-9/11 GI Bill could be sacrificed
The budget control law lumps the
discretionary budgets for the Defense, Homeland Security and
Veterans Affairs departments, *
MOAA Hayden said, "this leaves pay raises up for grabs"
as Defense crafts a new budget to meet cuts planned by the White
House. *
Retired Air Force Col. Philip Odom, another deputy director for
government relations at the Military Officers Association, *
Keith Weller, a spokesman for the Reserve Officers Association,
expressed concern that the "super committee" *
Carl Blake, legislative director of Paralyzed Veterans of America,
said he has real concerns about the effect the law will have
Government Executive learned that
John Carson, director of the White House office of public engagement,
met with veterans groups, He agreed that VHA funding faces
cuts under the budget control act, and predicted those would
come from new mental health projects, VA requested $11.1 billion for the
Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2012, up $2.1 billion from 2011, with more
than 260,000 veterans enrolled in [Source: GovExec.com Bob Brewin article 3 Aug 2011 ++] Tricare Provider Availability Update 04: Low reimbursements are the number one reason physicians say they turn away patients of Tricare Standard, the military's fee-for-service insurance option, or Tricare Extra, the preferred provider option. Access to health care for these two groups could become an even bigger challenge thanks to the convoluted deficit-reduction deal hammered out last weekend between the Obama administration and leaders i n Congress. The Budget Control Act of 2011, which President Barack Obama signed into law 2 AUG, establishes a two-step process toward reducing deficit spending by $2.4 trillion over the next decade. Step one directs Congress to cut discretionary spending by $917 billion to include $350 billion from defense budgets based on priorities set by a roles and missions study. Step two has Capitol Hill leaders establishing a 12-member committee of lawmakers, to be divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans, an arrangement that appears designed to produce gridlock. They are to identify an additional $1.5 trillion in reductions from entitlements and tax reforms. This bipartisan committee is to report out legislation agreed to by at least seven of its members by Nov. 23 to produce the required cuts. The full Congress then must vote on the recommendations by 23 DEC. With Republican leaders already vowing to assign to the committee only lawmakers rigidly opposed to revenue increases of any sort, including any tax bump for the wealthy or loophole closures for corporations, and Democrats vowing to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, the likelihood of stalemate appears quite high. That's where the risk surfaces for Tricare clients. If the committee of 12 can't agree or the full Congress votes down their plan, the Budget Control Act inflicts its own formula: automatic cuts of $1.2 billion, half to come out of future defense budgets and the other half from entitlement programs. "The deal includes an automatic sequester on certain spending programs to ensure that...between the committee and the trigger...we at least put in place an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by 2013," a White House fact sheet on the arrangement explains. The arbitrary cut "would be divided equally between defense and non-defense programs, and it would exempt Social Security, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, programs for low-income families, and civilian and military retirement. Likewise, any cuts to Medicare would be capped and limited to the provider side." This last sentence, underlined and made bold in the White House fact sheet, ignores the likelihood beneficiaries still would be hurt as more doctors, feeling underpaid, turn away Medicare and Tricare patients. Any cut in Medicare provider fees
would tighten access to care for Tricare beneficiaries because
-- for the past 20 years -- Tricare physician fees, by law, have
been linked to fees allowed under Medicare. If Medicare reimbursements
are slashed, doctors who accept Tricare Standard and Extra patients
feel the same financial pain. Retired Air Force Col. Mike Hayden,
deputy director of government relations for Military Officers
Association of American, said Tricare users clearly have reason
worry if the 12-member committee fails to reach a deal. "Anything
that lowers payments to providers will negatively impact beneficiary
access to both Tricare and Medicare," Hayden said. Spending-cut
mandates in the new budget control law also could thwart efforts
to correct a long-standing flaw in the Medicare fee formula,
which has threatened access to care for Tricare patients for
many years. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 attempted to get
Medicare costs under control by adopting a mechanism called Sustainable
Growth Rate for setting spending targets for physician services.
When annual targets are met, doctor rates are to be adjusted
by medical inflation. When growth targets are exceeded, doctor
reimbursements are to be lowered. [Source: The daily Herald Tom
Philpott article 6 Aug 2011 ++] House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)
and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made it clear
from the beginning that no Republican on the panel would vote
in favor of tax increases of any kind, and their nominees reinforce
that: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's
and House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) selections
similarly underscores that Democrats are not going to sign off
on any drastic entitlement changes ahead of an election cycle
where Democratic control of the Senate is in question. Their
nominees were: None of the six senators tapped for
the deficit reduction panel were part of the "Gang of Six"
that has already done a lot of the leg work toward achieving
the committee's goals. Sen. Murray will serve as co-chairwoman
of the super committee while simultaneously running the Senate
Democrats' campaign operation for 2012. She is also a member
of leadership, a senior member of the Budget Committee, and a
woman on a male-dominated committee. Sen. Baucus is chairman
of the powerful Senate Finance Committee with jurisdiction over
many areas, including entitlement programs, that the committee
is expected to examine. As you use this site to estimate
the cost of medical services, keep in mind that visits with your
provider for consultation, evaluation, and management are typically
billed separately from the other services you receive. For example,
if you visit your provider for certain blood tests, your provider
will likely charge you for an office visit as well as the actual
tests performed. Also, any treatment scenarios involve more than
one procedure. A knee replacement, for example, is likely to
involve some form of anesthesia, a diagnostic scan of the knee
prior to surgery and physical therapy after surgery. Currently,
the FH Medical Cost Lookup includes information for provider
services related to medical and surgical procedures only. It
does not include information about procedures related to hospital
facilities, anesthesia, or durable medical equipment. Over time,
it will be expanding the FH Medical Cost Lookup to include such
data. VA leaders nationally have said their solutions include a new computer system and better cooperation with the active-duty military. They've told Congress that they're making progress, but that it will take time to dig out of the paperwork quagmire. Klobnak expressed thanks to Iowans who came to his aid after the Register story ran in June. At least 20 families offered help, including household items and cash. A lady in her 90s sent a check for about $250. Someone else sent $20 with a note that said "wish I could do more." Others donated basic supplies for Klobnak's young family. Klobnak said he has no intent to live off disability payments forever. He will continue taking online college courses, he said, and he plans to have a follow-up operation to remove bone growth that causes pain in the stump of his leg. He hopes to work full time eventually. In fact, he's looking into the possibility of becoming a police officer. One obstacle would be the required 1.5-mile run, which prospective cops must finish in a set time. Klobnak probably couldn't finish the run in the 15 minutes and 26 seconds allotted for men his age, but he noted that women and older men are given extra time to finish. He wonders why a disabled veteran couldn't also get dispensation. [Source: DesMoines Register article
9 Aug 2011 ++] VA leaders nationally have said their solutions include a new computer system and better cooperation with the active-duty military. They've told Congress that they're making progress, but that it will take time to dig out of the paperwork quagmire. Klobnak expressed thanks to Iowans who came to his aid after the Register story ran in June. At least 20 families offered help, including household items and cash. A lady in her 90s sent a check for about $250. Someone else sent $20 with a note that said "wish I could do more." Others donated basic supplies for Klobnak's young family. Klobnak said he has no intent to live off disability payments forever. He will continue taking online college courses, he said, and he plans to have a follow-up operation to remove bone growth that causes pain in the stump of his leg. He hopes to work full time eventually. In fact, he's looking into the possibility of becoming a police officer. One obstacle would be the required 1.5-mile run, which prospective cops must finish in a set time. Klobnak probably couldn't finish the run in the 15 minutes and 26 seconds allotted for men his age, but he noted that women and older men are given extra time to finish. He wonders why a disabled veteran couldn't also get dispensation. [Source: DesMoines Register article
9 Aug 2011 ++] U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and state Congressman Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis) joined the Secretary for the news conference. Both lawmakers had issued strong criticism of conditions at Cochran in 2010. Now they say the service is better. "I'm satisfied they have improved," said Rep. Clay. He described success stories his staff hears from veterans who rely on the Cochran Hospital. Senator McCaskill has organized an independent customer survey process with help from veteran organizations like AMVETS. The results of the first ninety days of surveys have been given to the hospital and McCaskill said she was impressed with the staff's willingness to work on problem areas. "I think the culture at Cochran is changed," she said noting evidence of more respect for veterans and a commitment to excellence. The U.S. Veterans Affairs Department is scrambling to keep up with a growing number of new military veterans, many with serious medical difficulties. But Shinseki is reassuring veterans the department is up to the challenge. In his speech Shinseki said, "As troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan an additional one million service members are expected to leave the military service between 2011 and 2016. We need to get out ahead of this," he told the crowd. Shinseki described efforts to computerize much of the paperwork the VA does to link veterans to their benefits. He outlined new efforts to prevent homelessness among veterans and to help them return to school. "Our goal is to end veterans' homelessness by 2015," he said. One million veterans were unemployed as of June. Shinseki wants to see a "reverse bootcamp" to help military train to transition back to a civilian workforce or to college. The VA's budget has increased more than 15 billion dollars since 2009. Both Clay and McCaskill promised to fight to keep funding to meet the needs of the growing veteran population even in the wake of the nation's budget troubles. [Source: St. Louis, MO (KTVI-FOX2Now.com)
Betsey Bruce article 10 Aug 2011 ++] The inaccessible category
would definitely include Kwigillingok, Alaska, or Kwig, located
in the far reaches of Central Yupik near the Bering Sea.
On Memorial Day, Secretary Shinseki visited Kwig to meet and
honor living members of the Alaska Territorial Guard, who served
bravely during World War II. No roads lead to Kwig, so the trip
wasnt easy. Simply put, with these changes, many Veterans may not need to drive as far for a check-up. To coordinate the efforts, VA established the Office of Rural Health, which has already funded over $500 million for more than 500 projects, including home based primary care and intensive case management. In other places, VA is partnering with private health care providers and connecting facilities through new means like telehealth technologies to keep patients closer to home. Over the next several years, VA will continue to invest in solutions that bridge the gap between VA Medical Centers and rural Veterans. Access requires creativity. The trips taken by Secretary Shinseki have reinforced that the department is dedicated to improving health care for Veterans who live in rural, remote, even inaccessible areas. While VA has made considerable progress, there is still much work to do. Whether in Montana or Alaska, North Dakota or Guam, Secretary Shinseki is unequivocal when it comes to rural access: Veterans have earned and deserve VA care and services wherever they live. He is committed to making that happen...even in the most remote parts of the country. [Source: White House rural Council
Drew Brookie article 3 Aug 2011 ++] A Deseret Mortuary hearse carrying the Cremains will be escorted by members of the MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT, a Veterans Recovery Program, with large American flags flying on motorcycles. The hearse will be followed by Patriot Guard Riders, POW/MIA Riders, The Green Knights M/C and other participating veterans focused motorcycle organizations, cars and other vehicles. Roger Graves, MIAP Utah State Coordinator, says it has been a privilege to work with the dedicated and professional staff at Deseret Mortuary, a Memorial Mortuaries and Cemeteries company, to ensure all unclaimed veterans in the State of Utah are laid to rest with the honors they deserve for their service to our country. Service Details: Attendance confirmations have been
received from the following: The purpose of the MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations; to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country, by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes. For more information, visit http://www.miap.us Source: MIAP Press Release 8 Aug
2011 ++] 1. Lemon dish soap and Listerine
repel mosquitoes. 2. Ultrasonic devices repel mosquitoes.
3. Taking B vitamins repels mosquitoes. 4. Eating garlic repels mosquitoes. 5. Skin-So-Soft products repel mosquitoes. 6. Creating a bat or insect-eating
bird habitat will rid your yard of mosquitoes. 7. Meat tenderizer calms an itchy
bite. 8. Mosquitoes die after feeding. 9. Mosquitoes transmit the HIV virus. [Source: Yahoo!Green Sarah B. Weir
article 18Jul 2011++] SSA doesnt always know why mistakes are made. Its a larger issue than just our agency, said Doug Nguyen, SSAs deputy regional communications director in Chicago. Several agencies other than the SSA submit death reports that might make it to the Death Master File. Its usually human typing errors entered into our system from another system, Nguyen said. We do not verify the accuracy of every death record. The Social Security number was never meant to be the identifying piece of information it has evolved into, he said. Unfortunately, he said, errors also can occur in recording the date of birth, date of death or the deceaseds name or address. Death reports also are provided by individuals, funeral parlors, nursing homes, state and federal agencies such as Medicare, the VA, railroad retirement plans, the Department of Defense and Department of Commerce, and other agencies that pay federal benefits, Nguyen said. All go into the Death Master File, which records 90 million deceased Americans. The information is used not only by agencies that pay federal benefits but to determine eligibility and prevent fraud for bank loans, credit cards and insurance coverage.We make it clear that our death records are not perfect and may be incomplete, or rarely, include information about individuals who are alive, he said. Out of 2 million deaths reported every year, the error rate is about 0.5 percent, he said. But if you are in that half of 1 percent, it feels like 100 percent, Nguyen said. When his agency discovers incorrect information, it moves as quickly as possible to correct it, he said. The agency requires current identification and signed statements from the person not birth certificates. This all helps, but its one piece of the puzzle, he said. SSA also has to track the mistake down to the source that reported the death and follow the chain of records in reverse.It takes time to untangle, he said. Mistakes usually are discovered when someone calls about a late check. But many of the walking dead in the Scripps Howard report said their deaths were discovered while shopping for a cell phone, applying for a student loan, mortgage or bank account, or renting an apartment. [Source: Southtown Star Susan Demar
Lafferty article 5 Aug 2011 ++] Robert Wombolt, a 77-year-old U.S.
Air Force Korean War veteran, is on the growing waiting list.
The Billings resident had three knee surgeries beginning in NOV
09 and was told that he would also need his left hip replaced.
With that, his wait began. At one point, Wombolt said, he was
No. 20 on the waiting list. On 1 MAR his wait became indefinite
after receiving a letter from Dr. Philip P. Alford, chief of
surgical service at the VA Hospital in Fort Harrison, which is
about 250 miles from Billings.We regret to inform you that
your upcoming orthopedic surgery will need to be postponed,
Alfords letter said. Someone will be contacting you
in the near future with further information to insure you receive
the orthopedic care you need. Wombolt still waits. Hes
heard nothing. The waiting list of veterans is due primarily to a shortage of staff at the VA Hospital in Fort Harrison, according to Testers office. The hospital has been searching for an orthopedic surgeon to replace Dr. Peter Wendt, who retired and hasnt operated since 18 MAR. There were two orthopedic surgeons on staff, but Wendt was the only one who performed hip and knee replacement surgery. Veterans were already waiting their turn on the operating table while Wendt was on staff. His absence has only exacerbated the problem. VA Montana has received several applications for the position, which pays between $97,988 and $375,000 and includes a generous benefits package. But no one has yet been hired, according to Testers office. The burgeoning backlog has caught the attention of both Tester and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. The topic dominated much of an hourl ong session Tester and Shinseki held with more than 100 veterans in July. Since then, the drumbeat of discontent has grown louder. In a tersely worded letter to Shinseki, Tester said, This situation is completely unacceptable and its getting worse. Tester implored Shinseki to provide as much assistance and guidance as necessary and urged the VA to more aggressively pursue fee-basis care that would allow the needs of veterans to be addressed locally and in a more timely manner. Further delaying or denying care for veterans whose conditions worsen each day is an outcome I cannot accept, Tester said. With more and more troops returning home and in need of care, the inability of the VA to recruit and retain quality doctors and surgeons has to become a higher priority. Shinseki has received the letter and in July promised veterans that getting them access to quality health care is a priority. While VA Montana continues its search for a surgeon, it is taking other steps to address veterans needs. At the end of August, VA Montana will begin a three-year pilot program called Project ARCH, Access Received Closer to Home. Billings has been chosen as one of five sites nationwide for the pilot project. ARCH will contract with Billings medical providers to deliver care not available at VA Montana. Veterans in the Billings area awaiting orthopedic surgery will be contacted by a VA representative to discuss their eligibility for the pilot and other care options through VA. If veterans agree to participate in Project ARCH, and they are eligible, they will be referred to the program. The contracted provider has 14 days to schedule an appointment with their network providers, and subsequently schedule the surgery in the community. [Source: Billings Gazette Cindy Uken
article 6 Aug 2011 ++] Snyder determined Friday that Devereaux had worked with veterans in Willingboro on a volunteer basis from May to October 2010. He assisted them with claims related to requests for records, including records associated with health care and military benefits. Bill Devereaux is Bill Devereauxs own worst enemy, Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Chase said at the hearing. Devereaux, appointed director of Veterans Programs for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs by former Gov. James McGreevey, admitted to using falsified veterans records and other falsified state documents to wrongly claim exemption from property taxes in Laurel Springs from April 2002 to his arrest in November 2008. He falsely stated he was 100 percent permanently and totally disabled due to military service, qualifying him for property tax exemption. In fact, Veterans Affairs had stated Devereaux was only temporarily disabled and was eligible to pay property taxes. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Criminal Investigation Division is continuing an investigation into other records Devereaux is accused of falsifying specifically military benefits forms for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in which Devereaux claimed he was a paratrooper and artilleryman, exchanged fire with enemy combatants and was involved in an incident of friendly fire. He also claimed to have been injured multiple times in Vietnam and asserted he received medals such as the Purple Heart, the Soldiers Medal and the Bronze Star with V device. Devereaux was never a paratrooper or artilleryman, according to court records. He served as a finance clerk in Vietnam for 4 months, 11 days in 1968. There is no record of his being injured in combat or his receiving the medals he has boasted of receiving. [Source: Gloucester County Times
John Barna article 5 Aug 2011++] Upcoming changes to the Post-9/11
GI Bill effective August 1, 2011 include paying the actual net
cost of all public in-state tuition and fees, rather than basing
payments upon the highest in-state tuition and fee rates for
every state; capping private and foreign tuition at $17,500 per
academic year; and ending payments during certain school breaks,
to preserve Veterans entitlement for future academic semesters.
Also, certain students attending private schools in select states
can now continue to receive benefits at the same rate payable
during the previous academic year. Beginning October 1, 2011,
eligible individuals will be able to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill
for programs such as non-college degrees, on-the-job training,
and correspondence courses, and they will be eligible to receive
a portion of the national monthly housing allowance rate when
enrolled only in distance learning courses. Complete information on the Post-9/11
GI Bill is available at: http://www.gibill.va.gov To ask a question in a secure e-mail, use the Ask a Question tab at: https://www.gibill2.va.gov/cgi-bin/vba.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php [Source: TREA Washington Update 5
Aug 2011 ++] Propst was able to finish his tour
of duty, but he recalls what he says he was ordered to do before
he could come home. "We were told [to] mail everything home.
Everything that's not mailed by the end of this week, you either
carry on your back or we're gonna burn it," Propst said.
"They were throwing our medical records and every non-essential
piece of equipment into the burn pits because there was no room
to fly it home. You're worried about getting shot the next day.
You're not worried about what they're doing with that box and
what's in it," he explained. And Propst didnt worry
too much about his back pain back then either. He was young and
strong. He did his final year of duty at Fort Bragg and then
joined a police force. But years later, Propst says it became
just too much to bear. When he started applying for VA disability
benefits about three years ago, he immediately hit a brick wall.
The Veterans Administration had no record of Propsts back,
knee, or ankle injuries while in the military. But earlier this year, there was a glimmer of hope. Propst saw a story similar to his done by a Florida TV station featuring what appears to be a letter from the Department of the Army with an admission. Units were told to destroy their records since there was no space to ship the paper back to the states, reads the letter, which it says was in direct contradiction to the existing army regulations. A copy of the 1 May 2007 letter can be seen in this Bulletin's attachment titled, "Gulf War Medical Records Destruction". Through a public record request, the Army sent ABC11 a copy of the original letter which they in turn provided to Senator Kay Hagan to get her reaction "My first reaction was certainly the military didn't destroy any records and so getting to the bottom of that has been interesting," she said. "I wanted to be sure what the protocol was to do such a thing and why." In turn, Hagan wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta asking what the protocol is if records are lost or missing. "I just want to be sure we get to the bottom of this so those veterans that have served our country and military, that we are certain that they not only can get the VA services, but the benefits they deserve," Hagan said. "I mean these people have fought for our country." She is currently awaiting a response. Probst and Layton continued to appeal VA denials. Probst even got the medic who treated him then - now a doctor - to confirm he was treated during the war for chronic pain due to parachute injury. He did eventually get a percentage of his service disability benefits approved, but was being denied compensation for back, leg, and other injuries. In the interim VA is providing medical treatment for both veterans injuries. Probst and Layton both say that since ABC11's story first aired, they heard from the Veterans' Administration and had examinations to determine if their injuries are service related. The examination was good news for Propst, who says the VA doctor gave his medical opinion that all his medical issues are service related. He is now just waiting for the official VA decision in writing and what that will mean in terms of compensation for those injuries. Layton has not heard his results yet. This comes down to his and other Gulf War veterans disability benefits for service-connected injuries. ABC11 has heard from other veterans who say theyre dealing with roadblocks when it comes to getting treatment or services. [Source: ABC11 Diane Wilson article 9 May & Veteran Issues by Colonel Dan 4 Aug 2011 ++] Panic Attacks: A study funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Beth and Russell Siegelman Foundation suggests that Panic attacks do not come "out of the blue". They are preceded by physiological changes similar to those that precede seizures, stroke, and even manic episodes. "There is reason to believe that waves of physiological instability occur for a substantial period of time before the attack is reported by patients," Alicia E. Meuret, PhD, an assistant professor from the Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas, who led the study. The finding may have relevance for other medical disorders where symptoms seemingly happen "out of the blue," such as seizures, strokes, and even manic episodes, the researchers note. There is speculation that panic attacks are triggered by marked changes in physiology, in particular breathing, Dr. Meuret explained. However, until now, very little is known on the physiological functioning of those with panic attacks outside the laboratory. In the current study, 43 patients with panic disorder underwent repeated 24-hour ambulatory monitoring of various physiological indices, including respiration, heart rate, and skin conductance level. During 1960 hours of monitoring, 13 natural panic attacks were recorded. "We managed to capture spontaneously occurring attacks in these recordings, which we were able to examine closer. The study marks the first to gain an in-depth look into what occurs in early stages before a panic attack occurs," Dr. Meuret said. The investigators specifically analyzed the 60 minutes before panic onset and during the panic attack. The researchers say they detected significant patterns of instability across a number of autonomic and respiratory variables as early as 47 minutes before panic onset. The final minutes preceding the attack were dominated by respiratory changes, with significant decreases in tidal volume followed by abrupt carbon dioxide partial pressure increases, they report. With the onset of a panic attack, heart rate and tidal volume increased and carbon dioxide partial pressure decreased. Skin conductance levels were generally elevated in the hour preceding an attack and during an attack. "These changes were largely absent in the control periods," the investigators write. Because most patients report panic attacks as being unexpected, "it appears that they do not 'feel' these instabilities," Dr. Meuret noted. "From a patient's point of view, our study may be upsetting news, since it is hard to control something that one does not sense. "However, it would be fascinating to explore whether it is possible to monitor such changes and train the patient to become aware of them, similar to patients who have auras before a migraine or an epileptic attack strikes," Dr. Meuret said. "Likewise, the extent to which therapies that alter physiological responding (such as pharmacotherapy or respiratory therapy) can help to combat such instabilities remains to be tested," she noted. Reached for comment, Alexander Bystritsky, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences and director of the Anxiety Disorder Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, said this study provides "new evidence that [unexpected] panic attacks are not so unexpected. "The dynamic changes in some physiological parameters may be detected by the brain and trigger the response. This is important for behavioral treatments of panic," Dr. Bystritsky added. [Source: Medscape Today News Megan
Brooks article 2 Aug 2011 ++] "The United States of America, through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Beckley Veterans Hospital, undertook to be the deceased Robert Bailey's medical professional care provider and failed to exercise that degree of care, skill and learning required or expected of a reasonable prudent health care provider in the profession or class to which the health care providers at the Beckley Veterans Hospital belong acting in the same or similar circumstances," the lawsuit said. "Such failure proximately caused deceased, Robert L. Bailey, to suffer a delay in treatment of cancer, pain and suffering, loss of opportunities, loss of enjoyment of life, and eventually his death." The delay in treatment also resulted in a loss of opportunity for a cure, his son's suit alleges. The man's estate, represented by Timothy P. Lupardus of Pineville, is seeking damages. [Source: The Record | News - Federal
Court Jessica M. Karmasek article 3 Aug 2011 ++] Unlike previous Texas State Veterans Homes, the Smith County home will consist of 10 cottages and one common building. The design approach for each cottage focuses on drawing residents into social connection by mixing the best communal aspects of a home while still maintaining privacy and independence for residents. An open kitchen, dining room and large table are at the heart of each of the 10 cottages. Family-style meals will be served at the table and residents can enjoy each others company afterward in a large living room with a fireplace. This hearth, or communal heart of the home, is what sets this Texas State Veterans Home apart from any other long-term care facility in Texas. The kitchen is the heart of any home, and the new Texas State Veterans Home were going to build in Smith County takes that into account, Patterson said. Instead of one large, hospital-like facility, this home will consist of a cluster of small cottages built to draw residents into family-like social connections around the dinner table. A total of 10 private rooms, each with its own bathroom, will flank the hearth. Each cottage will be set up as a non-lift facility, where overhead tracks with slings in each residents room will provide safe transport of non-ambulatory residents from bed to bath. The newest Texas State Veterans Home is being built on 20 acres donated by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. The donated land is just north of the Health Science Center, along the west side of Highway 155, just south of County Road 334. The home is being built with a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, with the remaining 35 percent paid for by the Texas Veterans Land Board. The new Texas State Veterans Home will join seven others across the state in Amarillo, Big Spring, Bonham, El Paso, Floresville, McAllen and Temple. Texas State Veterans Homes offer a broad spectrum of health care services, comprehensive rehabilitation programs, special diets, recreational activities, social services, libraries, and certified, secured Alzheimers units, each with its own secured outdoor courtyard. For additional information on Texas State Veterans Homes, call 1-800-252-VETS (8387), visit the Texas Land Board website at http://www.texasveterans.com or find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TXVLB [Source: Cherokeean Herald article 3 AUG 2011 ++] Cars Most Stolen: Nationally...and for the first time since 2002...thieves preferred domestic makes over foreign brands, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported on 2 AUG. Ford took three spots, Dodge two, and Chevrolet held one. Heres the NICBs top 10 list, which uses 2010 data that it took till now to crunch. (Use https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/nicb_campaigns/hotwheels to search the most-stolen cars in your state).
Why are older-model Hondas and Toyotas
in such demand? Two reasons
The NICB has four suggestions for
how to prevent your car from being stolen, and only one of those
doesnt involve technology
[Source: Money Talks Michael Koretzky
article 4 Aug 2011 ++] For information on extending benefits for your college student, refer to http://www.tricare.mil/deers To use split enrollment, complete
and sign a TRICARE Prime Enrollment Application and PCM Change
Form (DD Form 2876). Send the form to the family members
new regional contractor at: The form should be sent within 30 days of the move. You must notify each family members regional contractor of the split enrollment status and establish one family enrollment fee, if applicable. TRICARE Prime enrollments follow the 20th of the month rule. Applications received by your regional contractor by the 20th of the month will become effective at the beginning of the following month (e.g., an enrollment received by Dec. 20 would become effective Jan. 1). If the application is received after the 20th of the month, coverage will become effective on the first day of the month following the next month (e.g., an enrollment received on 27 DEC would become effective on 1 FEB). To use the split enrollment option, you must notify the regional contractor in each region to establish a primary payer, usually the sponsor, if you pay enrollment fees. If your child enrolls separately in TRICARE Prime after arriving at college, and no other family members are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, it is considered a single enrollment. If the child enrolls and there are other family members enrolled elsewhere, your TRICARE Prime family enrollment fee remains the same. Your regional contractors will coordinate enrollment fees and billing statements. Student enrollment in TRICARE Prime is automatically renewed after one year, unless the renewal offer is declined. An unpaid enrollment fee will cause the entire family to be disenrolled. A 12-month lockout will result if you have been disenrolled for non-payment. Except for emergencies, your family member must receive care from his or her assigned primary care manager (PCM). A uniformed services identification card helps provide proof of coverage, and the TRICARE Prime enrollment card should be shown at the time of care. PCMs must provide specialty care referrals to avoid using the TRICARE Prime point-of service (POS)* option, which results in higher costs. If your child does not continue enrollment in TRICARE Prime, he or she will be automatically covered by TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra as long as his or her DEERS information is current. Visit www.tricare.mil if you have questions about using TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra. After aging out of TRICARE coverage under the sponsor, adult children, until reaching age 26, may be eligible to extend TRICARE coverage by purchasing TRICARE Young Adult, a premium-based health care plan. Visit http://www.tricare.mil/tya for more information. [Source: TRICARE Health Matters Fall
2011 ++] Although the new streamlined IDES system is intended to improve the delivery of disability services and benefits for all U.S. Soldiers, servicemembers, veterans and their families, Congress is being told this is not the case. This supposedly new and improved system cannot speedily handle the most obvious of cases, as Crystal Nicely, whose Marine husband Todd lost both arms and legs in Afghanistan in 2010 told a hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee 27 JUL. Nicely said that while IDES "is supposed to be a faster, more efficient way to complete the evaluations and transition service members, that has not been our experience." For example, Nicely said, "a very simple narrative summary of how my husband was injured sat on someone's desk for almost 70 days waiting for a very simple approval." She said the system started to work only after the intervention of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Since 43,000 troops have been wounded over the past decade in Afghanistan and Iraq, Murray will be mighty busy if she has to intervene in the thousands of cases still stuck in IDES. For a more detailed report on IDES refer to http://dtf.defense.gov/rwtf/m02/m02pa06.pdf [Source: GovExec.com Bob Brewin article
7/29/11 ++] Posttraumatic stress disorder is among the most common and disabling psychiatric disorders among military personnel serving in combat. No psychiatric medication is approved by the FDA to treat it. However, antidepressants are commonly prescribed for some symptoms of PTSD. Within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 89 percent of veterans diagnosed with PTSD and treated with pharmacotherapy are prescribed SSRIs, the most common type of antidepressant. However, [S]SRIs appear to be less effective in men than in women and less effective in chronic PTSD than in acute PTSD. Thus, it may not be surprising that an SRI study in veterans produced negative results. Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are commonly used medications for SRI-resistant PTSD symptoms, despite limited evidence supporting this practice, the authors write. Researchers wondered whether risperidone (Risperdal) added to an ongoing pharmacotherapy regimen would be more effective than placebo for reducing chronic military-related PTSD symptoms among veterans whose symptoms did not respond to at least two adequate SSRI treatments. The researchers also discovered that risperidone was not statistically superior to placebo on any of the other outcomes, including improvement on measures of quality of life, depression, anxiety, or paranoia/psychosis. Overall, the rate of adverse events during treatment was low but appeared related to dosing of risperidone. In summary, risperidone, the
second most widely prescribed second-generation antipsychotic
within VA for PTSD and the best data-supported adjunctive pharmacotherapy
for PTSD, did not reduce overall PTSD severity, produce global
improvement, or increase quality of life in patients with chronic
SRI-resistant military-related PTSD symptoms. Overall,
the data do not provide strong support for the current widespread
prescription of risperidone to patients with chronic [S]SRI-resistant
military-related PTSD symptoms, and these findings should stimulate
careful review of the benefits of these medications in patients
with chronic PTSD, the authors conclude. In treating military-related
PTSD, Charles W. Hoge, M.D., of the Walter Reed Army Medical
Center, writes that significant improvements in population
care for war veterans will require innovative approaches to increase
treatment reach. Research is required to better understand
the perceptions war veterans have concerning mental health care,
acceptability of care, willingness to continue with treatment,
and ways to communicate with veterans that validate their experiences
as warriors. [Source: Psych Central News Editor
article 2 Aug 2011 ++] Several states are using the federal database of the Public Assistance Reporting Information System set up to help stop fraud in Medicaid. The database has information identifying recipients who are also veterans and that has been used to provide information to those veterans about VA programs. In Washington state, where it has been used the longest, it has been successful because they have someone on the DHS staff that works with veterans to provide them the information about VA benefits, Ogden said. We have been trying to figure out how we could fund a position to do that here. It does cost to set up such a system, but other states have already realized significant savings. For example, Montana had $900,000 savings in its first year of use, 2008. Washington state estimates that since it first implemented the program in 2003, the state has saved $27 million and 9,500 veterans have been moved from Medicaid to VA programs. There is no doubt the savings here can be significant," Mayhew said. "We hope to at least start with some of the changes we can do in the next six to nine months. What is frustrating to some lawmakers is that the idea was first discussed two years ago by lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Services Committee and members of the Appropriations Committee. Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, has served on the panel several terms and is now the Democrat lead on the budget panel. We tried but couldnt seem to get much traction with the department two years ago after members of the veterans committee came to us with this suggestion, she said. I am very pleased Commissioner Mayhew is looking at this in a serious way. Mayhew said she had objected to moving forward and projecting savings in the current budget because she was not confident of the numbers. She said her agency is working with Ogden and his staff to develop a plan and a budget estimate. I am concerned that we do this right, Ogden said. We dont want to do anything that would hurt a veteran or in any way affect other benefits they are already receiving. For example, he said, some veterans would be concerned that some other income-determined benefit they are receiving would be affected if they were getting additional VA benefits. He said it may be that a veteran may only want to get some of the VA benefits they are due because they like the care they are getting where they live. A lot of veterans are on some sort of maintenance medications like for blood pressure or diabetes, he said. We could have those prescriptions provided through the VA. In other states, veterans have found they can get more generous benefits through the VA than through Medicaid. Most benefits in Maine are through the Togus VA center in Augusta, but a growing number of regional clinics also are being established. Ogden expects the new clinic in the Lewiston area will draw veterans from throughout that region of the state. This will be up to the veterans, Mayhew said. We are not going to force anyone to move to VA health benefits unless they want to. In general, anyone who has served in a branch of the military for 24 continuous months of the full period for which they were called to active duty is eligible for VA benefits. Ogden said he believes the state could double the 40,000 who now receive some VA health benefits and still not reach all who are eligible. [Source: Capitol News Service Mal
Leary article 31 Jul 2011 ++] 1. You don't mesh. You and your doctor don't need to see eye to eye on everything, but it's helpful if you work well together. If you want a partnership, for example, a doctor who spouts commands is not the best fit. If you value warmth, you may not be able to build an effective relationship with a physician who seems formal or distant. "Some patients like doctors who are very direct and blunt," says Washington, D.C. based family physician Kenny Lin, who blogs for U.S. News. "And some patients can't stand that type of doctor because they think he or she isn't empathetic enough or doesn't provide enough options." When there's a mismatch, neither person is at fault...but it could be grounds for termination. 2. He doesn't respect your time. Do you routinely wait an hour to see your physician only to feel like he's speed-doctoring through the visit? You should never feel like you're being rushed. If your doctor doesn't take the time to answer your questions or address your concerns, there's a problem. The medical community is becoming increasingly sensitive to patients' precious time. When they're late for an appointment, some habitually tardy doctors have even begun compensating patients with money or gifts. If your doctor's chronic lateness makes you grind your teeth, why stay with him? Hint: If you're evaluating a prospective physician, investigate his timeliness beforehand. 3. He keeps you in the dark. A doctor should be open and thorough about why he recommends a certain treatment or orders a specific test, and he should share all results with you. "If a doctor doesn't explain himself, or at least not to your satisfaction, at that point a doctor is bad," Lin says. "I know doctors who have drawn blood or run a bunch of tests without telling patients why they're doing them and what they mean." It's also important that a doctor uses terms you understand, rather than complicated medical jargon; otherwise, explanations are meaningless. Your health is too important to feel confused or uninformed. 4. He doesn't listen. Does your doctor hear you out without interrupting? "It all comes down to communication and whether you feel like you're asking questions and they're not being answered," says Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. She recalls visiting a doctor for a second opinion on whether she should go through with a procedure recommended by her dentist. "He made a big leapthat I didn't want to have it done because I was afraid of the pain...and kept reassuring me that it was virtually pain-free. That's not what I was asking. After three rounds, I concluded that we weren't going to get to a productive place, and I didn't go back." 5. The office staff is unprofessional. The receptionists are the link between you and the doctor. If they blow you offor neglect to give your message to the physician, say about side effects of a new medication...your health could be at risk. Even if you like your doctor, a bad office staff could signal it's time to look elsewhere. 6. You don't feel comfortable with him, or wonder about his competence. Doctors need to know intimate details you may not even share with friends or family members. If you're unable to disclose such facts, you and your doctor may not be the right match. A sense of unease about his decisions and recommendations, even if you can't say exactly why, is also a perfectly legitimate reason for cutting the cord, says Don Powell, president of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, a nonprofit that promotes healthy behavior through wellness programs and publications. Beware of sloppy medical mistakes, too: If your doctor prescribes a medication to which you're allergic, and you know that information is in your history, a separation may be in order. 7. He doesn't coordinate with other doctors. Your primary care physician should be the quarterback of your healthcare team, managing each step of the medical process. That means keeping track of specialists' reports and instructions and talking with you about their recommendations. If he's slacking, an important piece of your care could slip through the cracks. 8. He's unreachable. A good doctor is available for follow-up questions and concerns. Patient advocate Trisha Torrey, author of You Bet Your Life! The 10 Mistakes Every Patient Makes, recalls the time her husband developed severe tooth pain on a weekend. His dentist's voicemail included a cell phone number and a promise of a quick response, but he never heard back. An emergency clinic visit and root canal later, he told his dentist she was fired. A growing number of doctors are making themselves available to patients via E-mail, text message, and Skype, and at the very least, you need to know that in an emergency, you won't be left hanging. 9. He's rude or condescending. Time to part ways. Same goes if he trivializes your concerns as though they're not valid. One of the clearest signs you should move on is if he walks out of the room while you're still talking, says Clancy. That's what happened when her sister met with a surgeon to determine if her daughter should go through with a procedure. "When my sister finished asking her question, the doctor was gone," Clancy recalls. "She called me afterward and I told her, 'You have to find someone else. You'll regret it if you don't.'" [Source: U.S. News & Report Angela
Haupt article 26 Jul 2011 ++] All the life-cycle funds, designed to move investors to less risky portfolios as they get closer to retirement, saw losses for the third month in a row. The L 2040 dropped 1.49 percent in June; L 2030 declined 1.25 percent; L 2020 lost 0.94 percent; and L Income, for federal employees who have reached their target retirement date and have started withdrawing money, dropped 0.14 percent. The new L 2050 Fund, which opened on Jan. 31, declined 1.75 percent. L 2040 is up 3.81 percent so far this year, with L 2030 close behind at 3.60 percent and L 2020 up 3.31 percent. L Income grew 2.36 percent in that time. [Source: GovExec.com Emily Long article
1 Aug 2011 ++] For more information, visit the United States Navy Seabee Museum webpage http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/seabee_museum.htm Other U.S. Navy Museums Include:
Under skilled nursing care, TRICARE
typically covers Medically-necessary skilled nursing care; Rehabilitative
(physical, occupational, and speech) therapies; Room and board;
Prescribed drugs and laboratory work; Supplies; Appliances; and
Medical-equipment. The amount you pay varies, depending on your
eligibility status and TRICARE option. Your costs are different
depending on who you are and which health plan option you are
using. To determine your cost refer to the chart at http://www.tricare.mil/costs.
Medicare and TRICARE have the same benefits, skilled nursing
facility decision process and payment calculation method, except
TRICARE doesnt limit the benefit to 100 days (after obtaining
a Medicare claim denial). If you are Medicare and TRICARE eligible:
TRICARE covers medically necessary equipment costing more than $100, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, and respirators. You may buy or rent the equipment (whichever costs less). Send your doctor's prescription with your claim, specifying the type of equipment, why you need it and for how long. TRICARE wont cover general use equipment, such as air cleaners or whirlpool baths. Before getting durable medical equipment, check with your regions toll-free call center about rules and coverage limitations. TRICARE and Medicare will not pay for Long-term care. This includes support services for patients with a degenerative condition (Parkinsons, stroke, etc.), a prolonged illness (cancer) or cognitive disorder (Alzheimers). A trained professional doesnt have to provide long term care and it may be given in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day care centers or in your home. Long-term care services include help with the following: Walking; Personal hygiene; Sleeping; Using the bathroom; Dressing; Cooking/feeding; Medication; and Moving from a bed to a chair. All such care is your financial responsibility. So ask the facility whether you are getting skilled nursing care or long-term care. Ask your regional contractor or case manager about exceptions or partial exceptions to the "no coverage" guidance. For skilled nursing care and long-term care issues contact your TRICARE Service Center or your regional contractor. Hospice care is available for terminally ill patients expected to live six months or less if the illness run sits normal course. A Medicare-approved program must provide the hospice care, which may include: Physician services; Nursing care; Counseling; Inpatient respite care; Medical supplies; Medications; Home health aide services; and Short-term acute patient care. TRICARE Standard pays the full cost of covered hospice care services, except for small cost-share amounts the hospice may collect for drugs and inpatient respite care. Check with your regional contractor for details. For more information, visit the TRICARE website http://www.tricare.mil/Factsheets/viewfactsheet.cfm?id=258 [Source: Military.com | Benefits
article 1 Aug 2011 ++] DOL VETS - Raymond Jefferson, who headed the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) since 2009, resigned 2 AUG. According to a 21 JUL report by the agency's acting inspector general, Jefferson used his position to coerce or intimidate other employees to make the awards without open competition. A former Army officer who lost all five fingers on his left hand when a hand grenade detonated prematurely during Special Forces training, Jefferson was tapped by President Barack Obama to head the office that helps veterans find jobs and employment training programs. The report said that Jefferson and other lower ranking officials engaged in conduct "which reflects a consistent disregard of federal procurement rules and regulations, federal ethics principles and the proper stewardship of appropriated dollars." The investigation was prompted after a whistleblower reported irregularities last year to Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). McCaskill, who heads a Senate subcommittee that oversees government contracting, said she doesn't fault the Obama administration for appointing Jefferson, given his impressive resume. But she plans to take a hard look at what she sees as wasteful management consultant contracts that appear to offer little benefit to government agencies. [Source: Associated Press| Sam Hananel article 1 Aug 2011 ++] Mobile AL - A federal judge sentenced a contract postal worker from Conecuh County to 5 years probation 4 AUG for stealing prescription drugs that had been mailed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade also ordered substance abuse treatment for Derek Wayne Reed, who pleaded guilty in May to theft or receipt of stolen mail. The plea came the same month the Reed was to stand trial in U.S. District Court. The previous month, a jury had deadlocked on the charges. Reed, who worked as a driver for a contractor hired to move mail among postal facilities, admitted that he stole 90 hydrocodone pills from the mail stream at the Monroeville post office in July. Authorities have said they began investigating after veterans complained they did not receive prescription medication from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The indictment accused Reed of taking prescription drugs 3 other times from the Evergreen post office in 2010 May 21, June 10 and June 16. At the previous trial, prosecutors showed a surveillance video they contended showed Reed moving packages of Lortab from a bin to his truck in May 2010 at the Evergreen post office. Defense attorney Bill Scully argued that it is impossible to tell from the video what the package contained. After Reed decided to plead guilty, Scully cited new evidence presented by prosecutors after a grand jury issued a new indictment. [Source: Press-Register Brendan Kirby
article 4 Aug 2011 ++] The problem is prevalent among both active-duty service members and veterans, Kerlikowske says. In February, the New York Times reported the military's medical system is "awash in prescription drugs" after 10 years of treating troops injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. What may prove indicative of the problem locally was a recent warrant issued to search the Carlsbad apartment of a Camp Pendleton Marine suspected of illegally obtaining and selling prescription drugs. One way the administration aims to curb prescription drug use among veterans is to include the Department of Veterans Affairs in a national system that monitors the flow of prescription pills in this country. Kerlikowske also reaffirmed the administration's plan to reduce prescription drug abuse by 15 percent over the next five years. He responded to several related questions put to him by Camp Pendleton Patch: Camp Pendleton Patch: What can you say about prescription drug use among active-duty service members and veterans as a result of what theyve been exposed to while at war? Gil Kerlikowske: We can tell you without fear of being incorrect that the survey instruments on active-duty military show that they have been abusing or self-medicating with prescription drugs. That issue is also quite true with our veterans. Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense both have published, through their survey work and information, quite a bit. Admiral Michael Mullins [chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] has spoken about the prescription drug issue a year ago when he testified on the DOD budget. So there is a lot of information coming from this. Also, if you go back a few months ago, USA Today did a piece with a lieutenant general [David Fridovich] who was on the front page of USA Today talking about his own battle with prescription drugs, and I was really moved by that piece. Camp Pendleton Patch: What is the Obama administration doing to try and curb this epidemic? Kerlikowske: Well, first of all, there is a program...a piece of technology called prescription drug monitoring programs...these are electronic databases. Forty-eight of the 50 states have passed laws that...probably about 35 now have active technology programs, which are these monitoring programs. What they do is allow a doctor to search a database and they can detect if a patient is doctor shopping. The doctors call it a real patient safety tool. The other thing that it does is it helps medical boards detect whether or not a doctor may be over just prescribing. So if you had a VA hospital in a state with one of these programs, they were not allowed to participate because of a decision that had come from the VA General Counsel. So it wasn't a question that they didn't want to participate. But you don't want to see a veteran go into a VA hospital and get a prescription drug filled for painkillers and then go down the street to a private doctor or private pharmacy and get another prescription pill when there's a database that could actually help prevent that. So Sen. [Richard] Blumenthal from Connecticut, who is very active in the issue involving veterans, has moved forward with legislation to allow the VA hospitals to participate in these technology programs that would actually help to improve the safety of our veterans. Camp Pendleton Patch: (Regarding doctor shopping and pharmacy robberies) Is this something new thats being targeted by the Obama administration? Kerlikowske: No one has really captured, until within the last couple years, the extent of this prescription drug epidemic, as the CDC has called it. Part of that epidemic...and within the last year in particular...we have seen this increase in robberies and burglaries of pharmacies. Now its hard to figure out what the data, what the information shows, but if you listen to police departments and pharmacists and the groups that represent the drug stores, theyve been very concerned. Camp Pendleton Patch: Are service members' criminal cases...as they pertain to prescription pills...handled differently than civilians'? Kerlikowske: What I've seen and what I've visited...I went to the veterans court...there are now about 72 veterans courts in the country; theyre very new. Robert Russell in Buffalo, NY, started the first veterans court a few years ago when he was coming across cases in which veterans were coming forward with charges maybe involving drugs, could involve domestic violence, that involved domestic dispute issues. So he started a special court for veterans involving the VA, the criminal justice system and also those veterans service organizations. Gen. [Eric] Shinseki visited that court to take a look at how it's working, and we've seen that expand from one in Buffalo to now I believe over 70. You really see how everyone is concerned and kind of wraps their arm around that veteran to get him or her back on the right track. Camp Pendleton Patch: Which pills are most sought after? Kerlikowske: In the past, you would often read, and quite often talk about, OxyContin but the opioids, painkillers, generally are the most abused. Hydrocodone, oxycodone, on and on. So it can be a variety of these very powerful, very addictive and...unfortunately, at times...very deadly painkillers. Were seeing more people die as a result of drug overdoses than are dying of gunshot wounds in this country today. And in 17 states we're seeing more people die from drug overdoses than from car crashes. This is driven mostly, by the way, by prescription drugs. Prescription drug overdoses are taking more lives than heroin and cocaine overdoses combined. [Source: Camp Pendleton Press Jared
Morgan article30 Jul 2011 ++] There are many health concerns associated with prescription drug abuse. These risks include overdose, drug interactions and the possibility of the drugs falling into the hands of children with allergies, to name just a few. While opioids, such as codeine, oxycodone and morphine, have improved pain management, they have also become popular drugs for misuse. Central-nervous system depressants, such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines, can lead to overdose and dangerous withdrawal, including seizures. Abuse of stimulants like dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate (commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy) can cause psychosis, seizures and cardiovascular complications. Because prescription drugs are legal when properly used, they can often be found in our own medicine cabinets. If you have leftover medications that are not needed, do not flush them down the toilet or drain unless the label or patient information instructs you to do so. For information on drugs that can be flushed, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations website at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/default.htm and click on Resources for You. To dispose of non-flushable prescription
drugs, you may be able to participate in community drug take-back
programs or household hazardous waste-collection events, which
collect drugs at central locations for proper disposal. Contact
your city or county household trash and recycling service and
ask if a drug take-back program is available in your community.
If a take-back program is not available, the Office of National
Drug Control Policy recommends these simple steps to ensure your
no-longer-needed prescription drugs are not improperly used: Advances in medicine allow for management of acute and chronic pain and have improved the lives of many. But some of these medications are potentially addicting. If someone you know is struggling with prescription drug use, discuss it with your health care provider or use one of the many resources the Department of Defense makes available to service members, retirees and their families. Today, more than ever, health care providers are sensitive to the needs of those struggling with substance use and dependence. TRICARE is there to help! For information about TRICAREs substance use treatment coverage, refer to http://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth [Source: TRICARE Health Matters Fall
2011 ++] ? Canned Beans and Vegetables. Canned food, by definition, lasts longer than most products in the grocery store because it has been specially processed in air-tight cans. In general, canned items can stay good for 12-18 months, according to Gans, but some last even longer. Canned products like beans and vegetables, which are low in acid, can actually last for as long as two to five years. The only exception is if the can is dented or rusty, as that indicates the can has been punctured at some point, which speeds up the spoilage process. ? Spices. You may want to think twice before replacing the containers in your spice rack. In general, most common spices like salt, pepper and oregano don't actually expire in the traditional sense, they just become less and less flavorful. "Salt occurs naturally in nature, it has no expiration date," Heslin said. "There is no difference in 10-year-old salt at all, as long as it hasn't been exposed to moisture." But over time, the potency and taste of the spice begins to decline, which is why Gans recommends using these spices within two to four years to be safe. Keep in mind too by that point, you'll probably have to use more of each spice in order to compensate for the loss in flavor. ? Cereal and Crackers. You might as well start stocking up on crackers and cereal for the winter. According to Heslin, these products are essentially just "edible cardboard" that don't have enough moisture to grow bacteria or mold, so they can last for a very long time. Cereals like Cheerios and Puff Wheat, which have little to no sugar, can last for 18-24 months if unopened, while crackers like saltines can generally last for about two years. "The safety and nutrient quality of these products doesn't change, but the taste and texture might deteriorate somewhat," Heslin said. In other words, your body will be fine eating these things after more than a year, but you may find them a bit too stale to make it worthwhile. ? Dried Pasta and White Rice. as with cereal and crackers, dried pasta and white rice do not contain enough moisture to spoil, and can therefore last for at least two years unopened. Consumers should be mindful though of what kind of pasta and rice they intend to store, though. Brown rice and whole wheat pasta may seem the same, but in reality each of these products contains more oil than their traditional counterparts, and can therefore go rancid much quicker. ? Popcorn. Unmade popcorn kernels can last for up to two years, according to Gans, once again because they lack the oils and moisture that would lead to spoilage. ? Condiments. All those condiments you have left over from July Fourth festivities may just barely survive until Independence Day weekend next year. Ketchup, mustard, horseradish and salad dressings generally contain no ingredients that can go bad, and according to Gans, they will last for a solid 12 months unopened before they completely lose their taste. ? Coca Cola. Old fashioned Coca-Cola is the ultimate bomb shelter beverage. If left unopened, Heslin says a can of coke will take "an extraordinarily long time" to expire. Diet sodas, on the other hand, expire much more quickly because they contain artificial sweeteners that degrade with heat and time. ? Honey. Honey can take years to expire, but according to Gans, one can conservatively hold onto it for about a year before its consistency begins to change, hardening and losing its sweet taste. Interestingly, Gans says that honey stays good for 12 months whether it's opened or unopened, making it one of the only foods where that is the case. ? Twinkies. Despite all the claims in pop culture to the contrary, Twinkies don't actually last forever. In fact, you'd be lucky to have a Twinkie that is still edible after a few months. [Source: http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/index Seth Fiegerman article27 Jul 2011 ++] Membership of each committee and
their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete Vet Toxic Exposure ~TCE: As early as WWII, United States Air Force and other Military bases used and disposed of chemical degreasers and other toxic substances that were later determined to contaminate drinking water and pose multiple health risks including: Cancers, Reproductive disorders, Birth defects, and Multiple other serious difficulties. Countless military personnel, their families, and private individuals living and working in the near vicinity of the bases may have been affected by these contaminates, through drinking water, general water usage and exposure through vapor seepage. The four most alarming contaminants are: Trichloroethylene (TCE), Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Vinyl Chloride, and Benzene. Scientific studies show that some or all of these chemical compounds have breached the ground water supply on several of our US Military Bases and in some instances, have affected civilian properties adjacent to the bases including churches, schools and private wells. Currently, on-going research is being conducted on military bases around the country and on properties directly adjacent to these bases to identify just how wide spread this contamination may be. Marines take great pride "in taking care of their own." Marine and Navy veterans who were stationed at the former (decommissioned) MCAS El Toro in Irvine CA are at risk for exposure to toxic chemicals as a result of the contamination of the soil and groundwater. Very few know of their exposure. Marines have been exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), suffered serious health consequences, and have no idea of what hit them. A number of Marines report serious illnesses linked to toxic exposure. Some of the emails are posted at http://www.mwsg37.com Others have asked to withhold their names. Neither the Navy nor the Marine Corps made any attempts to notify El Toro veterans. MCAS El Toro was commissioned in 1943 and for many years the base obtained drinking water from fresh water wells on station. EPA in 1997 confirmed that the aquifers are "not currently a source of municipal water." After 56 years, El Toro was officially closed in July 1999, the 3rd MAW transferred to Miramar, and thousands of acres sold at a public auction to Lennar Corp. for $650 million. A TCE plume was discovered off base in 1985. MWSG-37 was ground zero for the TCE plume, spreading miles into Orange County. In 1997 EPA reported that the MWSG-37 area was the source of the toxic plume. EPA found that: "approximately 1,500 pounds of TCE are estimated to be present in soil gas; an additional 4,000 pounds of TCE would be present in the soil moisture. The mass of TCE in groundwater beneath Site 24 is estimated to be approximately 8,000 pounds." EPA traced the "hot spot" to MWSG-37's maintenance hangars: "the primary VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) source is present beneath Buildings 296 and 297, extending to the south with decreasing concentrations to the southern Station boundary. Several smaller source areas exist in the soil beneath Site 24, including a PCE soil gas plume located west of Building 297. The VOC concentrations in soil gas generally increase with depth, and the highest concentrations occur near the water table. VOCs in the area of Buildings 296 and 297 extend to groundwater directly beneath those buildings." How much TCE/PCE was used at El Toro? It's anybody's guess. El Toro kept no TCE usage records. Six of the base wells were in the path of the TCE plume. With the possible exception of one well (#4, 1947), the actual dates the wells were abandoned are unknown. Well water may have been used for years after the purchase of municipal water for swimming pools, irrigation, fire service, and washing of aircraft and vehicles. Contaminated well water would have exposed Marines, dependents, and civilian workers to these carcinogens. The Navy purchased municipal water
for El Toro and the Santa Ana Air Facility as early as 1951.
Theres no explanation for the reasons for the purchase,
but the high salt content (total dissolved solids) in the groundwater
may have corroded the wells. The base wells were constructed
in 1942 so something had to be seriously wrong with the wells
for the Navy to purchase municipal water. The early purchase
was not enough to replace the maximum daily output from the base
wells. In late 1969, the Navy entered into another contract which
exceeded the maximum output from the base wells. The 1969 contract
required the contractor to supply water to El Toro from the Santa
Ana Air Facilitys wells in the event of disruption in municipal
water services. El Toros wells were obviously off-limits.
All of El Toros wells are now destroyed. The consulting engineers well destruction reports show extensive well casing corrosion, at least one well screen in the contaminated shallow aquifer, broken discharge pipes, and one well failure (#4). The risk of serious illness for those who worked in MWSG-37 in or near the maintenance hangars was high because of exposure to toxic vapors from open containers and from vapor intrusion. Others on the base were at some risk for exposure from vapor intrusion from the contaminated soil and groundwater. If contaminated well water was used in swimming pools and for irrigation, the risk for exposure to these carcinogens through dermal contact is evident. In the words of one toxicologist El Toro was a toxic waste dump. At least one national law firm has taken an interest in injuries from toxic exposure at El Toro. [Source: http://www.militarycontamination.com Jul 2011 ++] Marines take great pride "in
taking care of their own." Marine and Navy veterans who
were stationed at the former (decommissioned) MCAS El Toro in
Irvine CA are at risk for exposure to toxic chemicals as a result
of the contamination of the soil and groundwater. Very few know
of their exposure. Marines have been exposed to trichloroethylene
(TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), suffered serious health
consequences, and have no idea of what hit them. A number of
Marines report serious illnesses linked to toxic exposure. MCAS El Toro was commissioned in 1943 and for many years the base obtained drinking water from fresh water wells on station. EPA in 1997 confirmed that the aquifers are "not currently a source of municipal water." After 56 years, El Toro was officially closed in July 1999, the 3rd MAW transferred to Miramar, and thousands of acres sold at a public auction to Lennar Corp. for $650 million. A TCE plume was discovered off base in 1985. MWSG-37 was ground zero for the TCE plume, spreading miles into Orange County. In 1997 EPA reported that the MWSG-37 area was the source of the toxic plume. EPA found that: "approximately 1,500 pounds of TCE are estimated to be present in soil gas; an additional 4,000 pounds of TCE would be present in the soil moisture. The mass of TCE in groundwater beneath Site 24 is estimated to be approximately 8,000 pounds." EPA traced the "hot spot" to MWSG-37's maintenance hangars: "the primary VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) source is present beneath Buildings 296 and 297, extending to the south with decreasing concentrations to the southern Station boundary. Several smaller source areas exist in the soil beneath Site 24, including a PCE soil gas plume located west of Building 297. The VOC concentrations in soil gas generally increase with depth, and the highest concentrations occur near the water table. VOCs in the area of Buildings 296 and 297 extend to groundwater directly beneath those buildings." How much TCE/PCE was used at El Toro? It's anybody's guess. El Toro kept no TCE usage records. Six of the base wells were in the path of the TCE plume. With the possible exception of one well (#4, 1947), the actual dates the wells were abandoned are unknown. Well water may have been used for years after the purchase of municipal water for swimming pools, irrigation, fire service, and washing of aircraft and vehicles. Contaminated well water would have exposed Marines, dependents, and civilian workers to these carcinogens. The Navy purchased municipal water
for El Toro and the Santa Ana Air Facility as early as 1951.
Theres no explanation for the reasons for the purchase,
but the high salt content (total dissolved solids) in the groundwater
may have corroded the wells. The base wells were constructed
in 1942 so something had to be seriously wrong with the wells
for the Navy to purchase municipal water. The early purchase
was not enough to replace the maximum daily output from the base
wells. In late 1969, the Navy entered into another contract which
exceeded the maximum output from the base wells. The 1969 contract
required the contractor to supply water to El Toro from the Santa
Ana Air Facilitys wells in the event of disruption in municipal
water services. El Toros wells were obviously off-limits.
All of El Toros wells are now destroyed. The consulting engineers well destruction reports show extensive well casing corrosion, at least one well screen in the contaminated shallow aquifer, broken discharge pipes, and one well failure (#4). The risk of serious illness for those who worked in MWSG-37 in or near the maintenance hangars was high because of exposure to toxic vapors from open containers and from vapor intrusion. Others on the base were at some risk for exposure from vapor intrusion from the contaminated soil and groundwater. If contaminated well water was used in swimming pools and for irrigation, the risk for exposure to these carcinogens through dermal contact is evident. In the words of one toxicologist El Toro was a toxic waste dump. At least one national law firm has taken an interest in injuries from toxic exposure at El Toro. [Source: http://www.militarycontamination.com Jul 2011 ++] Tip a percentage. Tip a flat figure. More advice on tipping. [Source: Money Talks Brandon Ballenger
7 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: Various 1-15 Aug 2011 ++] ? San Antonio TX - Dr. Herbert Joel Robinson, 78, has been indicted on charges that he committed more than $100,000 in Medicaid and Medicare fraud by billing for patients he did not provide medical service to or for people who were dead. Robinson ran a general practice and weight-loss clinic and was charged earlier this year. He was re-indicted last week as prosecutors added counts alleging that he billed the medical-assistance programs for people who were dead. He now faces 27 counts of health care fraud, punishable by up to 10 years in prison; three counts of mail fraud, punishable by a maximum of 20 years; and one count of aggravated identity theft, punishable by a mandatory two years on top of what he could get from any of the other charges. He intends to plead not guilty to all charges. From January 2006 through November 2009, Robinson billed the government for office visits during times when patients were not present, out of town and hospitalized, and times when defendant Robinson was outside of the United States, and at times when his office was closed, the indictment states. Court records allege that more than $100,000 was fraudulently billed, though agents with the U.S. Health and Human Services Department's Office of Inspector General were still calculating the purported loss. ? Brunswick GA - Arthiu Manasarian, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to aggravated identity theft in the scheme he operated out of Brunswick Medical Supply Inc in 2007 and 2008. Although he admitted his guilt, Manasarian offered no explanation to Chief U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood about his submission of $7.5 million to $20 million in phony claims to Medicare through Brunswick Medical and his eight other businesses in Savannah, New Mexico and California. Manasarian took a government plea bargain just 10 days before going on trial with two co-defendants in the Brunswick-based scheme. The government will dismiss eight other charges against Manasarian in exchange for his two guilty pleas and continuing cooperation including testimony if necessary against others, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Rafferty told the court. Manasarian's co-defendants, Sahak Tumanyan, 44, and his wife, Hasmik Tumanyan, 39, will stand trial on money laundering conspiracy charges beginning Aug. 15 in U.S. District Court in Brunswick. The Tumanyans operated and controlled at least four fictitious companies in the Los Angeles area as part of the money laundering conspiracy, according to the indictment. Armenian natives living in Los Angeles, Manasarian and the Tumanyans were among 73 defendants in a nationwide organized crime ring that submitted more than $163 million in phony Medicare claims. ? Miami FL - A Miami nurse was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 8 AUG for his role in what prosecutors say is a $11 million Medicare fraud ring. In May, a federal jury had convicted Armando Santos, 46, of multiple counts of health care fraud for his actions between 2007 and 2009. At trial, prosecutors said Santos billed the government for services that did not take place or were not medically necessary while one of ten Miami employees of the Ideal Home Health company charged with defrauding Medicare. The owners of Ideal Home Health, Elizabeth Acosta Sanz and Luis Alejandro Sanz, stand accused of masterminding the scheme in which the home nursing company sought $11 million in bogus reimbursements of which they received more than $7 million. Although their employee Armando Santos claimed in Medicare filings to make regular rounds injecting patients with insulin, prosecutors said that at least two of his patients did not need insulin and were not housebound. In total, prosecutors said, Santos submitted $230,315 in false claims. The ten year sentence imposed on Santos by U.S. district Judge Federico Moreno was the maximum advised under sentencing guidelines. ? Detroit MI - A Florida woman who committed multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud in the Detroit area has been given a generous reduction in her prison sentence. Federal Judge Gerald Rosen last week shaved 2 ½ years off the eight-year sentence ordered for Daisy Martinez in 2010. Prosecutors say she deserved a break after her testimony and cooperation helped convict others who committed health care fraud. Martinez arrived from Miami to set up three Detroit-area clinics that were a sham. The clinics billed Medicare for treatments that weren't performed or weren't necessary in 2006 and 2007. Her daughter and son-in-law also pleaded guilty in the scheme. ? Detroit MI - Friends of a Detroit-area pharmacy owner are willing to put up their houses as collateral if it would ensure his release from jail on fraud charges. Babubhai (BOB'-ooh-by) Patel has been locked up for a week. He's charged with about $60 million in health care fraud at his pharmacies. Patel was back in court 9 AUG, but a federal judge didn't make a decision. The hearing resumes 12 AUG. Prosecutors want the Canton Township man to stay in jail until trial. He's accused of giving kickbacks to doctors to write prescriptions and send people to Patel's pharmacies. The government says the painkillers were unnecessary or not provided. Prosecutors call it a brazen scheme to cheat Medicare and Medicaid. Patel is the vice chairman of the Canton Hindu temple. He's pleaded not guilty. ? Los Angeles CA - Two pastors of a defunct Los Angeles church have been found guilty of preying on their trusting parishioners to run a $14.2 million Medicare fraud scheme. Christopher Iruke, 60, and his wife Connie Ikpoh, 49, persuaded churchgoers at the now-defunct Arms of Grace Christian Center to provide personal information that they used to open fraudulent medical equipment supply operations. The two abused their positions of trust and persuaded those who blindly trusted in them to steal millions of dollars from taxpayers and Medicare. The conviction 9 AUG came at the end of a two-week federal trial. The couple was accused of using information from parishioners to set up several fraudulent medical supply businesses...one even shared the address of the church...that billed Medicare for power wheelchairs and other pricey equipment that was never provided or was unnecessary. Iruke was found guilty of one count of conspiracy and 17 counts of health care fraud. Ikpoh and employee Aura Marroquin, 30, were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy and four counts of health care fraud. According to evidence presented at trial, the three and co-conspirators used fraudulent prescriptions and documents that were illegally purchased to bill Medicare for high-end power wheelchairs. Though the wholesale price of each wheelchair was less than $1000, they were billed to Medicare at a rate of approximately $6,000, according to federal prosecutors. The ill-gotten proceeds were spent on luxury vehicles and home remodeling expenses. ? Miami FL - Federal investigators have arrested a 10th person in a South Florida scheme to defraud Medicare out of more than $27 million. Prosecutors in Miami said 39-year-old Elizabet Lombera is facing multiple counts of health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. She faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Prosecutors say Lombera used some of the illegal profits to take a trip to Japan. Nine other people have already been arrested in the scam. Prosecutors say it involved fraudulent invoices to Medicare for durable medical equipment devices submitted by five different companies. Six of those involved are already serving time in prison. One is a fugitive. ? Louisville KY - Federal officials say the owner or operator of six Kentucky hospitals has agreed to pay $8.9 million for claims improperly billed to Medicare. The U.S. attorneys' offices in Louisville and Lexington announced the settlement 11 AUG with Baptist Healthcare Systems Inc. and Hardin Memorial Hospital, under management of Baptist Healthcare. Hospitals involved besides Hardin Memorial are five facilities owned by Baptist Healthcare -- Baptist East in Louisville, Western Baptist in Paducah, Baptist Northeast in La Grange, Central Baptist in Lexington and Baptist Regional in Corbin. The U.S. attorneys' offices statements said Baptist Healthcare and Hardin Memorial made no admission of liability in agreeing to the settlement and that no issues of quality of patient care were involved. [Source: Fraud News Daily 1-15 Aug
2011 ++] Medicad Fraud Update 45: ? Rayville LA - Three former employees of a Rayville personal care services agency are accused of billing the state's Medicaid program for more than $575,000 in services supposedly done while they were really at other jobs. The state Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrested 50-year-old Georgia Lee Coleman on 35 counts of Medicaid fraud; 45-year-old Lisa Thomas on 10 counts and 37-year-old Yaschica Pleasant Jackson on four counts, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said Monday. The company's owner Patricia A. Bell, 51, was arrested earlier on 60 counts of filing or maintaining false public records and seven counts of Medicaid fraud. Investigators found that Louisiana Medicaid paid more than $575,000 for services supposedly provided by people who weren't working for bell any longer. Bell also allegedly billed for services reportedly given while patients were hospitalized. ? Brownsville TX - Felicitas Velez Alanis, 50, and her daughter-in-law Erika Ortega Alanis, 26, both of Brownsville, Texas, have been arrested on charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. A grand jury returned a six-count sealed indictment on 26 JUL, charging Felicitas Alanis and Erika Alanis with one count of conspiracy to defraud the Texas Medicaid program and five counts of submitting false and fraudulent claims to the Texas Medicaid program. Felicitas Alanis allegedly owns and operates Vel-Ala Inc. - a Texas corporation which does business as Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply in and around Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas, and elsewhere in South Texas. Her daughter-in-law, Erika Alanis, allegedly assisted in the day to day operation of the company. Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply is enrolled with the Texas Medicaid program to provide durable medical equipment (DME) to Texas Medicaid beneficiaries. The six-count indictment alleges Felicitas Alanis and Ericka Alanis conspired to send false and fraudulent bills to the Texas Medicaid program in the name of Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply. Between JAN 2005 and Oct 2006, the women submitted more than $646,000 in false and fraudulent bills to the Texas Medicaid program for diabetic supplies which Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply never purchased or supplied to Medicaid beneficiaries. The delivery records and billing records of Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply show that the Texas Medicaid program was routinely billed for more items than were actually delivered and the purchase records allegedly reveal that the Texas Medicaid program was billed for medical supplies and items that Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply had never purchased. Medicaid paid more than $554,000 on the allegedly false and fraudulent claims submitted to it. ? Mt. Vernon MO - Attorney General Chris Koster has filed a civil lawsuit against a Mt. Vernon dentist Thomas Alms Jr., DDS, and his wife Laura Alms alleging they made false and fraudulent claims to Missouri's Medicaid program. For nearly five years they filed claims and billed Missouri Medicaid for dental procedures that Dr. Alms was not authorized by the Missouri Dental Board to perform. They also billed Medicaid for services that were not provided. Medicaid has reimbursed Dr. Alms for services totaling more than $600,000. The lawsuit, filed 2 AUG in Cole County Circuit Court, asks the court to order Dr. Alms and his wife to pay restitution, as well as civil penalties and punitive damages. ? Indianapolis IN - William Maultsby, 52, was charged 5 AUG with health care fraud, following an investigation by the U.S. Health and Human Services Inspector General and Indiana Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The information alleges that William Maultsby owned Ace Transportation Service, a business providing transportation services in and around the Indianapolis, Indiana area. Between JAN 08 and DEC 2010, Maultsby submitted claims for services to Indiana Medicaid for services purportedly provided by Ace for Medicaid recipients. The scheme to defraud was that Maultsby submitted claims to Medicaid for transportation of Medicaid patients: (A) as if the patients were non-ambulatory when he knew that the patients were ambulatory, and (B) for transportation of patients when that transportation did not occur, for a total loss to the Medicaid program of approximately $63,612.68. An initial hearing will be scheduled in Indianapolis before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. [Source: Fraud News Daily 1-15 Aug
2011 ++] [Source: Military History Online
Irwin J. Kappes JUL 03 article http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/wilhelmgustloff.aspx Aug 2011] [Source: Various Aug 2011 ++] 3. The US 1st Armored Division was
well trained by pre-war standards. What major problem did they
face at Kasserine Pass? 4. The US did have Sherman tanks
at Kasserine Pass. How did the US tank crews fail to take advantage
of this tank? 5. General Fredendall was the US
commander at Kasserine Pass. What major mistakes did he make
that day during the German attack? 6. What did the US 2nd Armored Division
see as it attempted to restore order at Sidi bou Zid? 7. Who replaced General Fredendall
after Kasserine Pass? 8. What vital lesson was learned
from Kasserine Pass? 9. The inexperience of the US infantry
was obvious. What did the British notice about the GIs that stood
out? 10. What did Rommel think of the
US Army after Kasserine Pass? Answers 1. The operation to invade
North Africa in November of 1942 was called, Operation Torch.
It was the first major land offensive by combined US and British
troops in WWII against Germany and Italy. [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/war_history.html Aug 2011 ++] Sales Taxes Personal Income Taxes Property Taxes Inheritance and Estate Taxes For further information, visit the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer site http://cfo.washingtondc.gov/cfo/site/default.asp or call 202-727-2476. [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Aug 2011 ++] One day Harry didn't show up. Sam didn't think much about it and figured maybe he had a cold or something.. But after Harry hadn't shown up for a week or so, Sam really got worried. However, since the only time they ever got together was at the park, Sam didn't know where Harry lived, so he was unable to find out what had happened to him. A month had passed, and Sam figured he had seen the last of Harry, but one day, Sam approached the park and-- lo and behold!--there sat Harry! Sam was very excited and happy to see him and told him so. Then he said, 'For crying out loud Harry, what in the world happened to you?' Harry replied, 'I have been in jail.' 'Jail!' cried Sam. What in the world for?' 'Well,' Harry said, 'you know Sue, that cute little blonde waitress at the coffee shop where I sometimes go?' 'Yeah,' said Sam, 'I remember her. What about her? 'Well, one day she filed rape charges against me; and, at 89 years old, I was so proud that when I got into court, I pled 'guilty'. 'The damn judge gave me 30 days for perjury.' ============================= To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veterans feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise,
you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislators phone number, mailing
address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter
of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators
on their home turf. If you wish to use copyrighted material
from this newsletter for purposes of your own that go beyond
'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
Vet Benefits Funding Update 02 (Debt Deal Speculation) Tricare Provider Availability Update 04 (Budget Bill Impact) JSCDR (Deficit Committee Makeup) Medical & Dental Costs Estimates (Where to Find) Patton Cologne (The Smell of Victory) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 38 (Michael Edward Harrison) VA Appeals Update 10 (Media Involvement Helps) VAMC St. Louis MO Update 02 (Turning the Corner) Mobilized Reserve 9 AUG 2011 (974 Decrease) VA Rural Access Update 10 (Tyranny of Distance) Vet Cremains Update 07 (Utah Unclaimed Vets) Mosquitoes (Myths Debunked) SSA Death Reporting Update 01 (Master File Errors) VAMC Fort Harrison MT (Orthopedic Surgery on Hold) Stolen Valor Update 43 (William Devereaux) GI Bill Update 102 (AUG 2011 Changes) Vet Jobs Update 33 (DHS Nears Goal) Vet Jobs Update 34 (Major Initiatives) Gulf War Medical Records (Intentional Destruction) Panic Attacks (Study Results) VAMC Beckley WV (Lawsuit) Texas Veteran Homes Update 01 (Watkins-Logan-Garrison) Cars Most Stolen (Top 10 in 2010) Tricare Prime Update 08 (Split Enrollment) IDES (Overview) GI Bill Update 75 (Risperdal Treatment Ineffective) POW/MIA Update 02 (Pvt. John Lavelle) Medicad Eligible Vets Update 01 (Maine) Your Doctor Update 02 (When to Fire) TSP Update 22 (JUL Results) U.S. Navy Seabee Museum (Opened 22 JUL) Tricare Nursing Home Coverage Update 03 (SNF vs LTC) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 38 (1-15 Aug 2011) SBA Vet Issues Update 14 (1400 Ineligibles Uncovered) Prescription Drug Epidemic (NDCP Kerlikowske Interview) Prescription Drug Epidemic Update 01 (7 Million People) Food Expiration (Longest) Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule (AUG 2011) Vet Toxic Exposure~TCE (El Toro MCAS) Saving Money (Tipping Tips) Notes of Interest (1-15 Aug 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 73 (1-15 AUG 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 45 (1-15 AUG 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (New Hampshire) Military History (The Greatest Marine Disaster in History) Military History Anniversaries (Aug 16-31 Summary) Military Trivia Update 33 (WWII North Africa) Tax Burden for DC Retirees (As of Aug 2011) Have You Heard? (Perjury) Veteran Legislation Status 12 AUG 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Vet Benefits Funding Update
02: Military pay raises, funding
for veterans health care and the Post-9/11 GI Bill could be sacrificed
The budget control law lumps the
discretionary budgets for the Defense, Homeland Security and
Veterans Affairs departments, *
MOAA Hayden said, "this leaves pay raises up for grabs"
as Defense crafts a new budget to meet cuts planned by the White
House. *
Retired Air Force Col. Philip Odom, another deputy director for
government relations at the Military Officers Association, *
Keith Weller, a spokesman for the Reserve Officers Association,
expressed concern that the "super committee" *
Carl Blake, legislative director of Paralyzed Veterans of America,
said he has real concerns about the effect the law will have
Government Executive learned that
John Carson, director of the White House office of public engagement,
met with veterans groups, He agreed that VHA funding faces
cuts under the budget control act, and predicted those would
come from new mental health projects, VA requested $11.1 billion for the
Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2012, up $2.1 billion from 2011, with more
than 260,000 veterans enrolled in [Source: GovExec.com Bob Brewin article 3 Aug 2011 ++] Tricare Provider Availability Update 04: Low reimbursements are the number one reason physicians say they turn away patients of Tricare Standard, the military's fee-for-service insurance option, or Tricare Extra, the preferred provider option. Access to health care for these two groups could become an even bigger challenge thanks to the convoluted deficit-reduction deal hammered out last weekend between the Obama administration and leaders i n Congress. The Budget Control Act of 2011, which President Barack Obama signed into law 2 AUG, establishes a two-step process toward reducing deficit spending by $2.4 trillion over the next decade. Step one directs Congress to cut discretionary spending by $917 billion to include $350 billion from defense budgets based on priorities set by a roles and missions study. Step two has Capitol Hill leaders establishing a 12-member committee of lawmakers, to be divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans, an arrangement that appears designed to produce gridlock. They are to identify an additional $1.5 trillion in reductions from entitlements and tax reforms. This bipartisan committee is to report out legislation agreed to by at least seven of its members by Nov. 23 to produce the required cuts. The full Congress then must vote on the recommendations by 23 DEC. With Republican leaders already vowing to assign to the committee only lawmakers rigidly opposed to revenue increases of any sort, including any tax bump for the wealthy or loophole closures for corporations, and Democrats vowing to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, the likelihood of stalemate appears quite high. That's where the risk surfaces for Tricare clients. If the committee of 12 can't agree or the full Congress votes down their plan, the Budget Control Act inflicts its own formula: automatic cuts of $1.2 billion, half to come out of future defense budgets and the other half from entitlement programs. "The deal includes an automatic sequester on certain spending programs to ensure that...between the committee and the trigger...we at least put in place an additional $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by 2013," a White House fact sheet on the arrangement explains. The arbitrary cut "would be divided equally between defense and non-defense programs, and it would exempt Social Security, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, programs for low-income families, and civilian and military retirement. Likewise, any cuts to Medicare would be capped and limited to the provider side." This last sentence, underlined and made bold in the White House fact sheet, ignores the likelihood beneficiaries still would be hurt as more doctors, feeling underpaid, turn away Medicare and Tricare patients. Any cut in Medicare provider fees
would tighten access to care for Tricare beneficiaries because
-- for the past 20 years -- Tricare physician fees, by law, have
been linked to fees allowed under Medicare. If Medicare reimbursements
are slashed, doctors who accept Tricare Standard and Extra patients
feel the same financial pain. Retired Air Force Col. Mike Hayden,
deputy director of government relations for Military Officers
Association of American, said Tricare users clearly have reason
worry if the 12-member committee fails to reach a deal. "Anything
that lowers payments to providers will negatively impact beneficiary
access to both Tricare and Medicare," Hayden said. Spending-cut
mandates in the new budget control law also could thwart efforts
to correct a long-standing flaw in the Medicare fee formula,
which has threatened access to care for Tricare patients for
many years. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 attempted to get
Medicare costs under control by adopting a mechanism called Sustainable
Growth Rate for setting spending targets for physician services.
When annual targets are met, doctor rates are to be adjusted
by medical inflation. When growth targets are exceeded, doctor
reimbursements are to be lowered. [Source: The daily Herald Tom
Philpott article 6 Aug 2011 ++] House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)
and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made it clear
from the beginning that no Republican on the panel would vote
in favor of tax increases of any kind, and their nominees reinforce
that: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's
and House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) selections
similarly underscores that Democrats are not going to sign off
on any drastic entitlement changes ahead of an election cycle
where Democratic control of the Senate is in question. Their
nominees were: None of the six senators tapped for
the deficit reduction panel were part of the "Gang of Six"
that has already done a lot of the leg work toward achieving
the committee's goals. Sen. Murray will serve as co-chairwoman
of the super committee while simultaneously running the Senate
Democrats' campaign operation for 2012. She is also a member
of leadership, a senior member of the Budget Committee, and a
woman on a male-dominated committee. Sen. Baucus is chairman
of the powerful Senate Finance Committee with jurisdiction over
many areas, including entitlement programs, that the committee
is expected to examine. As you use this site to estimate
the cost of medical services, keep in mind that visits with your
provider for consultation, evaluation, and management are typically
billed separately from the other services you receive. For example,
if you visit your provider for certain blood tests, your provider
will likely charge you for an office visit as well as the actual
tests performed. Also, any treatment scenarios involve more than
one procedure. A knee replacement, for example, is likely to
involve some form of anesthesia, a diagnostic scan of the knee
prior to surgery and physical therapy after surgery. Currently,
the FH Medical Cost Lookup includes information for provider
services related to medical and surgical procedures only. It
does not include information about procedures related to hospital
facilities, anesthesia, or durable medical equipment. Over time,
it will be expanding the FH Medical Cost Lookup to include such
data. VA leaders nationally have said their solutions include a new computer system and better cooperation with the active-duty military. They've told Congress that they're making progress, but that it will take time to dig out of the paperwork quagmire. Klobnak expressed thanks to Iowans who came to his aid after the Register story ran in June. At least 20 families offered help, including household items and cash. A lady in her 90s sent a check for about $250. Someone else sent $20 with a note that said "wish I could do more." Others donated basic supplies for Klobnak's young family. Klobnak said he has no intent to live off disability payments forever. He will continue taking online college courses, he said, and he plans to have a follow-up operation to remove bone growth that causes pain in the stump of his leg. He hopes to work full time eventually. In fact, he's looking into the possibility of becoming a police officer. One obstacle would be the required 1.5-mile run, which prospective cops must finish in a set time. Klobnak probably couldn't finish the run in the 15 minutes and 26 seconds allotted for men his age, but he noted that women and older men are given extra time to finish. He wonders why a disabled veteran couldn't also get dispensation. [Source: DesMoines Register article
9 Aug 2011 ++] VA leaders nationally have said their solutions include a new computer system and better cooperation with the active-duty military. They've told Congress that they're making progress, but that it will take time to dig out of the paperwork quagmire. Klobnak expressed thanks to Iowans who came to his aid after the Register story ran in June. At least 20 families offered help, including household items and cash. A lady in her 90s sent a check for about $250. Someone else sent $20 with a note that said "wish I could do more." Others donated basic supplies for Klobnak's young family. Klobnak said he has no intent to live off disability payments forever. He will continue taking online college courses, he said, and he plans to have a follow-up operation to remove bone growth that causes pain in the stump of his leg. He hopes to work full time eventually. In fact, he's looking into the possibility of becoming a police officer. One obstacle would be the required 1.5-mile run, which prospective cops must finish in a set time. Klobnak probably couldn't finish the run in the 15 minutes and 26 seconds allotted for men his age, but he noted that women and older men are given extra time to finish. He wonders why a disabled veteran couldn't also get dispensation. [Source: DesMoines Register article
9 Aug 2011 ++] U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and state Congressman Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis) joined the Secretary for the news conference. Both lawmakers had issued strong criticism of conditions at Cochran in 2010. Now they say the service is better. "I'm satisfied they have improved," said Rep. Clay. He described success stories his staff hears from veterans who rely on the Cochran Hospital. Senator McCaskill has organized an independent customer survey process with help from veteran organizations like AMVETS. The results of the first ninety days of surveys have been given to the hospital and McCaskill said she was impressed with the staff's willingness to work on problem areas. "I think the culture at Cochran is changed," she said noting evidence of more respect for veterans and a commitment to excellence. The U.S. Veterans Affairs Department is scrambling to keep up with a growing number of new military veterans, many with serious medical difficulties. But Shinseki is reassuring veterans the department is up to the challenge. In his speech Shinseki said, "As troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan an additional one million service members are expected to leave the military service between 2011 and 2016. We need to get out ahead of this," he told the crowd. Shinseki described efforts to computerize much of the paperwork the VA does to link veterans to their benefits. He outlined new efforts to prevent homelessness among veterans and to help them return to school. "Our goal is to end veterans' homelessness by 2015," he said. One million veterans were unemployed as of June. Shinseki wants to see a "reverse bootcamp" to help military train to transition back to a civilian workforce or to college. The VA's budget has increased more than 15 billion dollars since 2009. Both Clay and McCaskill promised to fight to keep funding to meet the needs of the growing veteran population even in the wake of the nation's budget troubles. [Source: St. Louis, MO (KTVI-FOX2Now.com)
Betsey Bruce article 10 Aug 2011 ++] The inaccessible category
would definitely include Kwigillingok, Alaska, or Kwig, located
in the far reaches of Central Yupik near the Bering Sea.
On Memorial Day, Secretary Shinseki visited Kwig to meet and
honor living members of the Alaska Territorial Guard, who served
bravely during World War II. No roads lead to Kwig, so the trip
wasnt easy. Simply put, with these changes, many Veterans may not need to drive as far for a check-up. To coordinate the efforts, VA established the Office of Rural Health, which has already funded over $500 million for more than 500 projects, including home based primary care and intensive case management. In other places, VA is partnering with private health care providers and connecting facilities through new means like telehealth technologies to keep patients closer to home. Over the next several years, VA will continue to invest in solutions that bridge the gap between VA Medical Centers and rural Veterans. Access requires creativity. The trips taken by Secretary Shinseki have reinforced that the department is dedicated to improving health care for Veterans who live in rural, remote, even inaccessible areas. While VA has made considerable progress, there is still much work to do. Whether in Montana or Alaska, North Dakota or Guam, Secretary Shinseki is unequivocal when it comes to rural access: Veterans have earned and deserve VA care and services wherever they live. He is committed to making that happen...even in the most remote parts of the country. [Source: White House rural Council
Drew Brookie article 3 Aug 2011 ++] A Deseret Mortuary hearse carrying the Cremains will be escorted by members of the MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT, a Veterans Recovery Program, with large American flags flying on motorcycles. The hearse will be followed by Patriot Guard Riders, POW/MIA Riders, The Green Knights M/C and other participating veterans focused motorcycle organizations, cars and other vehicles. Roger Graves, MIAP Utah State Coordinator, says it has been a privilege to work with the dedicated and professional staff at Deseret Mortuary, a Memorial Mortuaries and Cemeteries company, to ensure all unclaimed veterans in the State of Utah are laid to rest with the honors they deserve for their service to our country. Service Details: Attendance confirmations have been
received from the following: The purpose of the MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations; to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country, by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes. For more information, visit http://www.miap.us Source: MIAP Press Release 8 Aug
2011 ++] 1. Lemon dish soap and Listerine
repel mosquitoes. 2. Ultrasonic devices repel mosquitoes.
3. Taking B vitamins repels mosquitoes. 4. Eating garlic repels mosquitoes. 5. Skin-So-Soft products repel mosquitoes. 6. Creating a bat or insect-eating
bird habitat will rid your yard of mosquitoes. 7. Meat tenderizer calms an itchy
bite. 8. Mosquitoes die after feeding. 9. Mosquitoes transmit the HIV virus. [Source: Yahoo!Green Sarah B. Weir
article 18Jul 2011++] SSA doesnt always know why mistakes are made. Its a larger issue than just our agency, said Doug Nguyen, SSAs deputy regional communications director in Chicago. Several agencies other than the SSA submit death reports that might make it to the Death Master File. Its usually human typing errors entered into our system from another system, Nguyen said. We do not verify the accuracy of every death record. The Social Security number was never meant to be the identifying piece of information it has evolved into, he said. Unfortunately, he said, errors also can occur in recording the date of birth, date of death or the deceaseds name or address. Death reports also are provided by individuals, funeral parlors, nursing homes, state and federal agencies such as Medicare, the VA, railroad retirement plans, the Department of Defense and Department of Commerce, and other agencies that pay federal benefits, Nguyen said. All go into the Death Master File, which records 90 million deceased Americans. The information is used not only by agencies that pay federal benefits but to determine eligibility and prevent fraud for bank loans, credit cards and insurance coverage.We make it clear that our death records are not perfect and may be incomplete, or rarely, include information about individuals who are alive, he said. Out of 2 million deaths reported every year, the error rate is about 0.5 percent, he said. But if you are in that half of 1 percent, it feels like 100 percent, Nguyen said. When his agency discovers incorrect information, it moves as quickly as possible to correct it, he said. The agency requires current identification and signed statements from the person not birth certificates. This all helps, but its one piece of the puzzle, he said. SSA also has to track the mistake down to the source that reported the death and follow the chain of records in reverse.It takes time to untangle, he said. Mistakes usually are discovered when someone calls about a late check. But many of the walking dead in the Scripps Howard report said their deaths were discovered while shopping for a cell phone, applying for a student loan, mortgage or bank account, or renting an apartment. [Source: Southtown Star Susan Demar
Lafferty article 5 Aug 2011 ++] Robert Wombolt, a 77-year-old U.S.
Air Force Korean War veteran, is on the growing waiting list.
The Billings resident had three knee surgeries beginning in NOV
09 and was told that he would also need his left hip replaced.
With that, his wait began. At one point, Wombolt said, he was
No. 20 on the waiting list. On 1 MAR his wait became indefinite
after receiving a letter from Dr. Philip P. Alford, chief of
surgical service at the VA Hospital in Fort Harrison, which is
about 250 miles from Billings.We regret to inform you that
your upcoming orthopedic surgery will need to be postponed,
Alfords letter said. Someone will be contacting you
in the near future with further information to insure you receive
the orthopedic care you need. Wombolt still waits. Hes
heard nothing. The waiting list of veterans is due primarily to a shortage of staff at the VA Hospital in Fort Harrison, according to Testers office. The hospital has been searching for an orthopedic surgeon to replace Dr. Peter Wendt, who retired and hasnt operated since 18 MAR. There were two orthopedic surgeons on staff, but Wendt was the only one who performed hip and knee replacement surgery. Veterans were already waiting their turn on the operating table while Wendt was on staff. His absence has only exacerbated the problem. VA Montana has received several applications for the position, which pays between $97,988 and $375,000 and includes a generous benefits package. But no one has yet been hired, according to Testers office. The burgeoning backlog has caught the attention of both Tester and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. The topic dominated much of an hourl ong session Tester and Shinseki held with more than 100 veterans in July. Since then, the drumbeat of discontent has grown louder. In a tersely worded letter to Shinseki, Tester said, This situation is completely unacceptable and its getting worse. Tester implored Shinseki to provide as much assistance and guidance as necessary and urged the VA to more aggressively pursue fee-basis care that would allow the needs of veterans to be addressed locally and in a more timely manner. Further delaying or denying care for veterans whose conditions worsen each day is an outcome I cannot accept, Tester said. With more and more troops returning home and in need of care, the inability of the VA to recruit and retain quality doctors and surgeons has to become a higher priority. Shinseki has received the letter and in July promised veterans that getting them access to quality health care is a priority. While VA Montana continues its search for a surgeon, it is taking other steps to address veterans needs. At the end of August, VA Montana will begin a three-year pilot program called Project ARCH, Access Received Closer to Home. Billings has been chosen as one of five sites nationwide for the pilot project. ARCH will contract with Billings medical providers to deliver care not available at VA Montana. Veterans in the Billings area awaiting orthopedic surgery will be contacted by a VA representative to discuss their eligibility for the pilot and other care options through VA. If veterans agree to participate in Project ARCH, and they are eligible, they will be referred to the program. The contracted provider has 14 days to schedule an appointment with their network providers, and subsequently schedule the surgery in the community. [Source: Billings Gazette Cindy Uken
article 6 Aug 2011 ++] Snyder determined Friday that Devereaux had worked with veterans in Willingboro on a volunteer basis from May to October 2010. He assisted them with claims related to requests for records, including records associated with health care and military benefits. Bill Devereaux is Bill Devereauxs own worst enemy, Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Chase said at the hearing. Devereaux, appointed director of Veterans Programs for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs by former Gov. James McGreevey, admitted to using falsified veterans records and other falsified state documents to wrongly claim exemption from property taxes in Laurel Springs from April 2002 to his arrest in November 2008. He falsely stated he was 100 percent permanently and totally disabled due to military service, qualifying him for property tax exemption. In fact, Veterans Affairs had stated Devereaux was only temporarily disabled and was eligible to pay property taxes. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Criminal Investigation Division is continuing an investigation into other records Devereaux is accused of falsifying specifically military benefits forms for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in which Devereaux claimed he was a paratrooper and artilleryman, exchanged fire with enemy combatants and was involved in an incident of friendly fire. He also claimed to have been injured multiple times in Vietnam and asserted he received medals such as the Purple Heart, the Soldiers Medal and the Bronze Star with V device. Devereaux was never a paratrooper or artilleryman, according to court records. He served as a finance clerk in Vietnam for 4 months, 11 days in 1968. There is no record of his being injured in combat or his receiving the medals he has boasted of receiving. [Source: Gloucester County Times
John Barna article 5 Aug 2011++] Upcoming changes to the Post-9/11
GI Bill effective August 1, 2011 include paying the actual net
cost of all public in-state tuition and fees, rather than basing
payments upon the highest in-state tuition and fee rates for
every state; capping private and foreign tuition at $17,500 per
academic year; and ending payments during certain school breaks,
to preserve Veterans entitlement for future academic semesters.
Also, certain students attending private schools in select states
can now continue to receive benefits at the same rate payable
during the previous academic year. Beginning October 1, 2011,
eligible individuals will be able to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill
for programs such as non-college degrees, on-the-job training,
and correspondence courses, and they will be eligible to receive
a portion of the national monthly housing allowance rate when
enrolled only in distance learning courses. Complete information on the Post-9/11
GI Bill is available at: http://www.gibill.va.gov To ask a question in a secure e-mail, use the Ask a Question tab at: https://www.gibill2.va.gov/cgi-bin/vba.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php [Source: TREA Washington Update 5
Aug 2011 ++] Propst was able to finish his tour
of duty, but he recalls what he says he was ordered to do before
he could come home. "We were told [to] mail everything home.
Everything that's not mailed by the end of this week, you either
carry on your back or we're gonna burn it," Propst said.
"They were throwing our medical records and every non-essential
piece of equipment into the burn pits because there was no room
to fly it home. You're worried about getting shot the next day.
You're not worried about what they're doing with that box and
what's in it," he explained. And Propst didnt worry
too much about his back pain back then either. He was young and
strong. He did his final year of duty at Fort Bragg and then
joined a police force. But years later, Propst says it became
just too much to bear. When he started applying for VA disability
benefits about three years ago, he immediately hit a brick wall.
The Veterans Administration had no record of Propsts back,
knee, or ankle injuries while in the military. But earlier this year, there was a glimmer of hope. Propst saw a story similar to his done by a Florida TV station featuring what appears to be a letter from the Department of the Army with an admission. Units were told to destroy their records since there was no space to ship the paper back to the states, reads the letter, which it says was in direct contradiction to the existing army regulations. A copy of the 1 May 2007 letter can be seen in this Bulletin's attachment titled, "Gulf War Medical Records Destruction". Through a public record request, the Army sent ABC11 a copy of the original letter which they in turn provided to Senator Kay Hagan to get her reaction "My first reaction was certainly the military didn't destroy any records and so getting to the bottom of that has been interesting," she said. "I wanted to be sure what the protocol was to do such a thing and why." In turn, Hagan wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta asking what the protocol is if records are lost or missing. "I just want to be sure we get to the bottom of this so those veterans that have served our country and military, that we are certain that they not only can get the VA services, but the benefits they deserve," Hagan said. "I mean these people have fought for our country." She is currently awaiting a response. Probst and Layton continued to appeal VA denials. Probst even got the medic who treated him then - now a doctor - to confirm he was treated during the war for chronic pain due to parachute injury. He did eventually get a percentage of his service disability benefits approved, but was being denied compensation for back, leg, and other injuries. In the interim VA is providing medical treatment for both veterans injuries. Probst and Layton both say that since ABC11's story first aired, they heard from the Veterans' Administration and had examinations to determine if their injuries are service related. The examination was good news for Propst, who says the VA doctor gave his medical opinion that all his medical issues are service related. He is now just waiting for the official VA decision in writing and what that will mean in terms of compensation for those injuries. Layton has not heard his results yet. This comes down to his and other Gulf War veterans disability benefits for service-connected injuries. ABC11 has heard from other veterans who say theyre dealing with roadblocks when it comes to getting treatment or services. [Source: ABC11 Diane Wilson article 9 May & Veteran Issues by Colonel Dan 4 Aug 2011 ++] Panic Attacks: A study funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Beth and Russell Siegelman Foundation suggests that Panic attacks do not come "out of the blue". They are preceded by physiological changes similar to those that precede seizures, stroke, and even manic episodes. "There is reason to believe that waves of physiological instability occur for a substantial period of time before the attack is reported by patients," Alicia E. Meuret, PhD, an assistant professor from the Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas, who led the study. The finding may have relevance for other medical disorders where symptoms seemingly happen "out of the blue," such as seizures, strokes, and even manic episodes, the researchers note. There is speculation that panic attacks are triggered by marked changes in physiology, in particular breathing, Dr. Meuret explained. However, until now, very little is known on the physiological functioning of those with panic attacks outside the laboratory. In the current study, 43 patients with panic disorder underwent repeated 24-hour ambulatory monitoring of various physiological indices, including respiration, heart rate, and skin conductance level. During 1960 hours of monitoring, 13 natural panic attacks were recorded. "We managed to capture spontaneously occurring attacks in these recordings, which we were able to examine closer. The study marks the first to gain an in-depth look into what occurs in early stages before a panic attack occurs," Dr. Meuret said. The investigators specifically analyzed the 60 minutes before panic onset and during the panic attack. The researchers say they detected significant patterns of instability across a number of autonomic and respiratory variables as early as 47 minutes before panic onset. The final minutes preceding the attack were dominated by respiratory changes, with significant decreases in tidal volume followed by abrupt carbon dioxide partial pressure increases, they report. With the onset of a panic attack, heart rate and tidal volume increased and carbon dioxide partial pressure decreased. Skin conductance levels were generally elevated in the hour preceding an attack and during an attack. "These changes were largely absent in the control periods," the investigators write. Because most patients report panic attacks as being unexpected, "it appears that they do not 'feel' these instabilities," Dr. Meuret noted. "From a patient's point of view, our study may be upsetting news, since it is hard to control something that one does not sense. "However, it would be fascinating to explore whether it is possible to monitor such changes and train the patient to become aware of them, similar to patients who have auras before a migraine or an epileptic attack strikes," Dr. Meuret said. "Likewise, the extent to which therapies that alter physiological responding (such as pharmacotherapy or respiratory therapy) can help to combat such instabilities remains to be tested," she noted. Reached for comment, Alexander Bystritsky, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences and director of the Anxiety Disorder Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, said this study provides "new evidence that [unexpected] panic attacks are not so unexpected. "The dynamic changes in some physiological parameters may be detected by the brain and trigger the response. This is important for behavioral treatments of panic," Dr. Bystritsky added. [Source: Medscape Today News Megan
Brooks article 2 Aug 2011 ++] "The United States of America, through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Beckley Veterans Hospital, undertook to be the deceased Robert Bailey's medical professional care provider and failed to exercise that degree of care, skill and learning required or expected of a reasonable prudent health care provider in the profession or class to which the health care providers at the Beckley Veterans Hospital belong acting in the same or similar circumstances," the lawsuit said. "Such failure proximately caused deceased, Robert L. Bailey, to suffer a delay in treatment of cancer, pain and suffering, loss of opportunities, loss of enjoyment of life, and eventually his death." The delay in treatment also resulted in a loss of opportunity for a cure, his son's suit alleges. The man's estate, represented by Timothy P. Lupardus of Pineville, is seeking damages. [Source: The Record | News - Federal
Court Jessica M. Karmasek article 3 Aug 2011 ++] Unlike previous Texas State Veterans Homes, the Smith County home will consist of 10 cottages and one common building. The design approach for each cottage focuses on drawing residents into social connection by mixing the best communal aspects of a home while still maintaining privacy and independence for residents. An open kitchen, dining room and large table are at the heart of each of the 10 cottages. Family-style meals will be served at the table and residents can enjoy each others company afterward in a large living room with a fireplace. This hearth, or communal heart of the home, is what sets this Texas State Veterans Home apart from any other long-term care facility in Texas. The kitchen is the heart of any home, and the new Texas State Veterans Home were going to build in Smith County takes that into account, Patterson said. Instead of one large, hospital-like facility, this home will consist of a cluster of small cottages built to draw residents into family-like social connections around the dinner table. A total of 10 private rooms, each with its own bathroom, will flank the hearth. Each cottage will be set up as a non-lift facility, where overhead tracks with slings in each residents room will provide safe transport of non-ambulatory residents from bed to bath. The newest Texas State Veterans Home is being built on 20 acres donated by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. The donated land is just north of the Health Science Center, along the west side of Highway 155, just south of County Road 334. The home is being built with a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, with the remaining 35 percent paid for by the Texas Veterans Land Board. The new Texas State Veterans Home will join seven others across the state in Amarillo, Big Spring, Bonham, El Paso, Floresville, McAllen and Temple. Texas State Veterans Homes offer a broad spectrum of health care services, comprehensive rehabilitation programs, special diets, recreational activities, social services, libraries, and certified, secured Alzheimers units, each with its own secured outdoor courtyard. For additional information on Texas State Veterans Homes, call 1-800-252-VETS (8387), visit the Texas Land Board website at http://www.texasveterans.com or find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TXVLB [Source: Cherokeean Herald article 3 AUG 2011 ++] Cars Most Stolen: Nationally...and for the first time since 2002...thieves preferred domestic makes over foreign brands, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported on 2 AUG. Ford took three spots, Dodge two, and Chevrolet held one. Heres the NICBs top 10 list, which uses 2010 data that it took till now to crunch. (Use https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/nicb_campaigns/hotwheels to search the most-stolen cars in your state).
Why are older-model Hondas and Toyotas
in such demand? Two reasons
The NICB has four suggestions for
how to prevent your car from being stolen, and only one of those
doesnt involve technology
[Source: Money Talks Michael Koretzky
article 4 Aug 2011 ++] For information on extending benefits for your college student, refer to http://www.tricare.mil/deers To use split enrollment, complete
and sign a TRICARE Prime Enrollment Application and PCM Change
Form (DD Form 2876). Send the form to the family members
new regional contractor at: The form should be sent within 30 days of the move. You must notify each family members regional contractor of the split enrollment status and establish one family enrollment fee, if applicable. TRICARE Prime enrollments follow the 20th of the month rule. Applications received by your regional contractor by the 20th of the month will become effective at the beginning of the following month (e.g., an enrollment received by Dec. 20 would become effective Jan. 1). If the application is received after the 20th of the month, coverage will become effective on the first day of the month following the next month (e.g., an enrollment received on 27 DEC would become effective on 1 FEB). To use the split enrollment option, you must notify the regional contractor in each region to establish a primary payer, usually the sponsor, if you pay enrollment fees. If your child enrolls separately in TRICARE Prime after arriving at college, and no other family members are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, it is considered a single enrollment. If the child enrolls and there are other family members enrolled elsewhere, your TRICARE Prime family enrollment fee remains the same. Your regional contractors will coordinate enrollment fees and billing statements. Student enrollment in TRICARE Prime is automatically renewed after one year, unless the renewal offer is declined. An unpaid enrollment fee will cause the entire family to be disenrolled. A 12-month lockout will result if you have been disenrolled for non-payment. Except for emergencies, your family member must receive care from his or her assigned primary care manager (PCM). A uniformed services identification card helps provide proof of coverage, and the TRICARE Prime enrollment card should be shown at the time of care. PCMs must provide specialty care referrals to avoid using the TRICARE Prime point-of service (POS)* option, which results in higher costs. If your child does not continue enrollment in TRICARE Prime, he or she will be automatically covered by TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra as long as his or her DEERS information is current. Visit www.tricare.mil if you have questions about using TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra. After aging out of TRICARE coverage under the sponsor, adult children, until reaching age 26, may be eligible to extend TRICARE coverage by purchasing TRICARE Young Adult, a premium-based health care plan. Visit http://www.tricare.mil/tya for more information. [Source: TRICARE Health Matters Fall
2011 ++] Although the new streamlined IDES system is intended to improve the delivery of disability services and benefits for all U.S. Soldiers, servicemembers, veterans and their families, Congress is being told this is not the case. This supposedly new and improved system cannot speedily handle the most obvious of cases, as Crystal Nicely, whose Marine husband Todd lost both arms and legs in Afghanistan in 2010 told a hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee 27 JUL. Nicely said that while IDES "is supposed to be a faster, more efficient way to complete the evaluations and transition service members, that has not been our experience." For example, Nicely said, "a very simple narrative summary of how my husband was injured sat on someone's desk for almost 70 days waiting for a very simple approval." She said the system started to work only after the intervention of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Since 43,000 troops have been wounded over the past decade in Afghanistan and Iraq, Murray will be mighty busy if she has to intervene in the thousands of cases still stuck in IDES. For a more detailed report on IDES refer to http://dtf.defense.gov/rwtf/m02/m02pa06.pdf [Source: GovExec.com Bob Brewin article
7/29/11 ++] Posttraumatic stress disorder is among the most common and disabling psychiatric disorders among military personnel serving in combat. No psychiatric medication is approved by the FDA to treat it. However, antidepressants are commonly prescribed for some symptoms of PTSD. Within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 89 percent of veterans diagnosed with PTSD and treated with pharmacotherapy are prescribed SSRIs, the most common type of antidepressant. However, [S]SRIs appear to be less effective in men than in women and less effective in chronic PTSD than in acute PTSD. Thus, it may not be surprising that an SRI study in veterans produced negative results. Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are commonly used medications for SRI-resistant PTSD symptoms, despite limited evidence supporting this practice, the authors write. Researchers wondered whether risperidone (Risperdal) added to an ongoing pharmacotherapy regimen would be more effective than placebo for reducing chronic military-related PTSD symptoms among veterans whose symptoms did not respond to at least two adequate SSRI treatments. The researchers also discovered that risperidone was not statistically superior to placebo on any of the other outcomes, including improvement on measures of quality of life, depression, anxiety, or paranoia/psychosis. Overall, the rate of adverse events during treatment was low but appeared related to dosing of risperidone. In summary, risperidone, the
second most widely prescribed second-generation antipsychotic
within VA for PTSD and the best data-supported adjunctive pharmacotherapy
for PTSD, did not reduce overall PTSD severity, produce global
improvement, or increase quality of life in patients with chronic
SRI-resistant military-related PTSD symptoms. Overall,
the data do not provide strong support for the current widespread
prescription of risperidone to patients with chronic [S]SRI-resistant
military-related PTSD symptoms, and these findings should stimulate
careful review of the benefits of these medications in patients
with chronic PTSD, the authors conclude. In treating military-related
PTSD, Charles W. Hoge, M.D., of the Walter Reed Army Medical
Center, writes that significant improvements in population
care for war veterans will require innovative approaches to increase
treatment reach. Research is required to better understand
the perceptions war veterans have concerning mental health care,
acceptability of care, willingness to continue with treatment,
and ways to communicate with veterans that validate their experiences
as warriors. [Source: Psych Central News Editor
article 2 Aug 2011 ++] Several states are using the federal database of the Public Assistance Reporting Information System set up to help stop fraud in Medicaid. The database has information identifying recipients who are also veterans and that has been used to provide information to those veterans about VA programs. In Washington state, where it has been used the longest, it has been successful because they have someone on the DHS staff that works with veterans to provide them the information about VA benefits, Ogden said. We have been trying to figure out how we could fund a position to do that here. It does cost to set up such a system, but other states have already realized significant savings. For example, Montana had $900,000 savings in its first year of use, 2008. Washington state estimates that since it first implemented the program in 2003, the state has saved $27 million and 9,500 veterans have been moved from Medicaid to VA programs. There is no doubt the savings here can be significant," Mayhew said. "We hope to at least start with some of the changes we can do in the next six to nine months. What is frustrating to some lawmakers is that the idea was first discussed two years ago by lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Services Committee and members of the Appropriations Committee. Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, has served on the panel several terms and is now the Democrat lead on the budget panel. We tried but couldnt seem to get much traction with the department two years ago after members of the veterans committee came to us with this suggestion, she said. I am very pleased Commissioner Mayhew is looking at this in a serious way. Mayhew said she had objected to moving forward and projecting savings in the current budget because she was not confident of the numbers. She said her agency is working with Ogden and his staff to develop a plan and a budget estimate. I am concerned that we do this right, Ogden said. We dont want to do anything that would hurt a veteran or in any way affect other benefits they are already receiving. For example, he said, some veterans would be concerned that some other income-determined benefit they are receiving would be affected if they were getting additional VA benefits. He said it may be that a veteran may only want to get some of the VA benefits they are due because they like the care they are getting where they live. A lot of veterans are on some sort of maintenance medications like for blood pressure or diabetes, he said. We could have those prescriptions provided through the VA. In other states, veterans have found they can get more generous benefits through the VA than through Medicaid. Most benefits in Maine are through the Togus VA center in Augusta, but a growing number of regional clinics also are being established. Ogden expects the new clinic in the Lewiston area will draw veterans from throughout that region of the state. This will be up to the veterans, Mayhew said. We are not going to force anyone to move to VA health benefits unless they want to. In general, anyone who has served in a branch of the military for 24 continuous months of the full period for which they were called to active duty is eligible for VA benefits. Ogden said he believes the state could double the 40,000 who now receive some VA health benefits and still not reach all who are eligible. [Source: Capitol News Service Mal
Leary article 31 Jul 2011 ++] 1. You don't mesh. You and your doctor don't need to see eye to eye on everything, but it's helpful if you work well together. If you want a partnership, for example, a doctor who spouts commands is not the best fit. If you value warmth, you may not be able to build an effective relationship with a physician who seems formal or distant. "Some patients like doctors who are very direct and blunt," says Washington, D.C. based family physician Kenny Lin, who blogs for U.S. News. "And some patients can't stand that type of doctor because they think he or she isn't empathetic enough or doesn't provide enough options." When there's a mismatch, neither person is at fault...but it could be grounds for termination. 2. He doesn't respect your time. Do you routinely wait an hour to see your physician only to feel like he's speed-doctoring through the visit? You should never feel like you're being rushed. If your doctor doesn't take the time to answer your questions or address your concerns, there's a problem. The medical community is becoming increasingly sensitive to patients' precious time. When they're late for an appointment, some habitually tardy doctors have even begun compensating patients with money or gifts. If your doctor's chronic lateness makes you grind your teeth, why stay with him? Hint: If you're evaluating a prospective physician, investigate his timeliness beforehand. 3. He keeps you in the dark. A doctor should be open and thorough about why he recommends a certain treatment or orders a specific test, and he should share all results with you. "If a doctor doesn't explain himself, or at least not to your satisfaction, at that point a doctor is bad," Lin says. "I know doctors who have drawn blood or run a bunch of tests without telling patients why they're doing them and what they mean." It's also important that a doctor uses terms you understand, rather than complicated medical jargon; otherwise, explanations are meaningless. Your health is too important to feel confused or uninformed. 4. He doesn't listen. Does your doctor hear you out without interrupting? "It all comes down to communication and whether you feel like you're asking questions and they're not being answered," says Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. She recalls visiting a doctor for a second opinion on whether she should go through with a procedure recommended by her dentist. "He made a big leapthat I didn't want to have it done because I was afraid of the pain...and kept reassuring me that it was virtually pain-free. That's not what I was asking. After three rounds, I concluded that we weren't going to get to a productive place, and I didn't go back." 5. The office staff is unprofessional. The receptionists are the link between you and the doctor. If they blow you offor neglect to give your message to the physician, say about side effects of a new medication...your health could be at risk. Even if you like your doctor, a bad office staff could signal it's time to look elsewhere. 6. You don't feel comfortable with him, or wonder about his competence. Doctors need to know intimate details you may not even share with friends or family members. If you're unable to disclose such facts, you and your doctor may not be the right match. A sense of unease about his decisions and recommendations, even if you can't say exactly why, is also a perfectly legitimate reason for cutting the cord, says Don Powell, president of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, a nonprofit that promotes healthy behavior through wellness programs and publications. Beware of sloppy medical mistakes, too: If your doctor prescribes a medication to which you're allergic, and you know that information is in your history, a separation may be in order. 7. He doesn't coordinate with other doctors. Your primary care physician should be the quarterback of your healthcare team, managing each step of the medical process. That means keeping track of specialists' reports and instructions and talking with you about their recommendations. If he's slacking, an important piece of your care could slip through the cracks. 8. He's unreachable. A good doctor is available for follow-up questions and concerns. Patient advocate Trisha Torrey, author of You Bet Your Life! The 10 Mistakes Every Patient Makes, recalls the time her husband developed severe tooth pain on a weekend. His dentist's voicemail included a cell phone number and a promise of a quick response, but he never heard back. An emergency clinic visit and root canal later, he told his dentist she was fired. A growing number of doctors are making themselves available to patients via E-mail, text message, and Skype, and at the very least, you need to know that in an emergency, you won't be left hanging. 9. He's rude or condescending. Time to part ways. Same goes if he trivializes your concerns as though they're not valid. One of the clearest signs you should move on is if he walks out of the room while you're still talking, says Clancy. That's what happened when her sister met with a surgeon to determine if her daughter should go through with a procedure. "When my sister finished asking her question, the doctor was gone," Clancy recalls. "She called me afterward and I told her, 'You have to find someone else. You'll regret it if you don't.'" [Source: U.S. News & Report Angela
Haupt article 26 Jul 2011 ++] All the life-cycle funds, designed to move investors to less risky portfolios as they get closer to retirement, saw losses for the third month in a row. The L 2040 dropped 1.49 percent in June; L 2030 declined 1.25 percent; L 2020 lost 0.94 percent; and L Income, for federal employees who have reached their target retirement date and have started withdrawing money, dropped 0.14 percent. The new L 2050 Fund, which opened on Jan. 31, declined 1.75 percent. L 2040 is up 3.81 percent so far this year, with L 2030 close behind at 3.60 percent and L 2020 up 3.31 percent. L Income grew 2.36 percent in that time. [Source: GovExec.com Emily Long article
1 Aug 2011 ++] For more information, visit the United States Navy Seabee Museum webpage http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/seabee_museum.htm Other U.S. Navy Museums Include:
Under skilled nursing care, TRICARE
typically covers Medically-necessary skilled nursing care; Rehabilitative
(physical, occupational, and speech) therapies; Room and board;
Prescribed drugs and laboratory work; Supplies; Appliances; and
Medical-equipment. The amount you pay varies, depending on your
eligibility status and TRICARE option. Your costs are different
depending on who you are and which health plan option you are
using. To determine your cost refer to the chart at http://www.tricare.mil/costs.
Medicare and TRICARE have the same benefits, skilled nursing
facility decision process and payment calculation method, except
TRICARE doesnt limit the benefit to 100 days (after obtaining
a Medicare claim denial). If you are Medicare and TRICARE eligible:
TRICARE covers medically necessary equipment costing more than $100, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, and respirators. You may buy or rent the equipment (whichever costs less). Send your doctor's prescription with your claim, specifying the type of equipment, why you need it and for how long. TRICARE wont cover general use equipment, such as air cleaners or whirlpool baths. Before getting durable medical equipment, check with your regions toll-free call center about rules and coverage limitations. TRICARE and Medicare will not pay for Long-term care. This includes support services for patients with a degenerative condition (Parkinsons, stroke, etc.), a prolonged illness (cancer) or cognitive disorder (Alzheimers). A trained professional doesnt have to provide long term care and it may be given in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day care centers or in your home. Long-term care services include help with the following: Walking; Personal hygiene; Sleeping; Using the bathroom; Dressing; Cooking/feeding; Medication; and Moving from a bed to a chair. All such care is your financial responsibility. So ask the facility whether you are getting skilled nursing care or long-term care. Ask your regional contractor or case manager about exceptions or partial exceptions to the "no coverage" guidance. For skilled nursing care and long-term care issues contact your TRICARE Service Center or your regional contractor. Hospice care is available for terminally ill patients expected to live six months or less if the illness run sits normal course. A Medicare-approved program must provide the hospice care, which may include: Physician services; Nursing care; Counseling; Inpatient respite care; Medical supplies; Medications; Home health aide services; and Short-term acute patient care. TRICARE Standard pays the full cost of covered hospice care services, except for small cost-share amounts the hospice may collect for drugs and inpatient respite care. Check with your regional contractor for details. For more information, visit the TRICARE website http://www.tricare.mil/Factsheets/viewfactsheet.cfm?id=258 [Source: Military.com | Benefits
article 1 Aug 2011 ++] DOL VETS - Raymond Jefferson, who headed the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) since 2009, resigned 2 AUG. According to a 21 JUL report by the agency's acting inspector general, Jefferson used his position to coerce or intimidate other employees to make the awards without open competition. A former Army officer who lost all five fingers on his left hand when a hand grenade detonated prematurely during Special Forces training, Jefferson was tapped by President Barack Obama to head the office that helps veterans find jobs and employment training programs. The report said that Jefferson and other lower ranking officials engaged in conduct "which reflects a consistent disregard of federal procurement rules and regulations, federal ethics principles and the proper stewardship of appropriated dollars." The investigation was prompted after a whistleblower reported irregularities last year to Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). McCaskill, who heads a Senate subcommittee that oversees government contracting, said she doesn't fault the Obama administration for appointing Jefferson, given his impressive resume. But she plans to take a hard look at what she sees as wasteful management consultant contracts that appear to offer little benefit to government agencies. [Source: Associated Press| Sam Hananel article 1 Aug 2011 ++] Mobile AL - A federal judge sentenced a contract postal worker from Conecuh County to 5 years probation 4 AUG for stealing prescription drugs that had been mailed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade also ordered substance abuse treatment for Derek Wayne Reed, who pleaded guilty in May to theft or receipt of stolen mail. The plea came the same month the Reed was to stand trial in U.S. District Court. The previous month, a jury had deadlocked on the charges. Reed, who worked as a driver for a contractor hired to move mail among postal facilities, admitted that he stole 90 hydrocodone pills from the mail stream at the Monroeville post office in July. Authorities have said they began investigating after veterans complained they did not receive prescription medication from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The indictment accused Reed of taking prescription drugs 3 other times from the Evergreen post office in 2010 May 21, June 10 and June 16. At the previous trial, prosecutors showed a surveillance video they contended showed Reed moving packages of Lortab from a bin to his truck in May 2010 at the Evergreen post office. Defense attorney Bill Scully argued that it is impossible to tell from the video what the package contained. After Reed decided to plead guilty, Scully cited new evidence presented by prosecutors after a grand jury issued a new indictment. [Source: Press-Register Brendan Kirby
article 4 Aug 2011 ++] The problem is prevalent among both active-duty service members and veterans, Kerlikowske says. In February, the New York Times reported the military's medical system is "awash in prescription drugs" after 10 years of treating troops injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. What may prove indicative of the problem locally was a recent warrant issued to search the Carlsbad apartment of a Camp Pendleton Marine suspected of illegally obtaining and selling prescription drugs. One way the administration aims to curb prescription drug use among veterans is to include the Department of Veterans Affairs in a national system that monitors the flow of prescription pills in this country. Kerlikowske also reaffirmed the administration's plan to reduce prescription drug abuse by 15 percent over the next five years. He responded to several related questions put to him by Camp Pendleton Patch: Camp Pendleton Patch: What can you say about prescription drug use among active-duty service members and veterans as a result of what theyve been exposed to while at war? Gil Kerlikowske: We can tell you without fear of being incorrect that the survey instruments on active-duty military show that they have been abusing or self-medicating with prescription drugs. That issue is also quite true with our veterans. Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense both have published, through their survey work and information, quite a bit. Admiral Michael Mullins [chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] has spoken about the prescription drug issue a year ago when he testified on the DOD budget. So there is a lot of information coming from this. Also, if you go back a few months ago, USA Today did a piece with a lieutenant general [David Fridovich] who was on the front page of USA Today talking about his own battle with prescription drugs, and I was really moved by that piece. Camp Pendleton Patch: What is the Obama administration doing to try and curb this epidemic? Kerlikowske: Well, first of all, there is a program...a piece of technology called prescription drug monitoring programs...these are electronic databases. Forty-eight of the 50 states have passed laws that...probably about 35 now have active technology programs, which are these monitoring programs. What they do is allow a doctor to search a database and they can detect if a patient is doctor shopping. The doctors call it a real patient safety tool. The other thing that it does is it helps medical boards detect whether or not a doctor may be over just prescribing. So if you had a VA hospital in a state with one of these programs, they were not allowed to participate because of a decision that had come from the VA General Counsel. So it wasn't a question that they didn't want to participate. But you don't want to see a veteran go into a VA hospital and get a prescription drug filled for painkillers and then go down the street to a private doctor or private pharmacy and get another prescription pill when there's a database that could actually help prevent that. So Sen. [Richard] Blumenthal from Connecticut, who is very active in the issue involving veterans, has moved forward with legislation to allow the VA hospitals to participate in these technology programs that would actually help to improve the safety of our veterans. Camp Pendleton Patch: (Regarding doctor shopping and pharmacy robberies) Is this something new thats being targeted by the Obama administration? Kerlikowske: No one has really captured, until within the last couple years, the extent of this prescription drug epidemic, as the CDC has called it. Part of that epidemic...and within the last year in particular...we have seen this increase in robberies and burglaries of pharmacies. Now its hard to figure out what the data, what the information shows, but if you listen to police departments and pharmacists and the groups that represent the drug stores, theyve been very concerned. Camp Pendleton Patch: Are service members' criminal cases...as they pertain to prescription pills...handled differently than civilians'? Kerlikowske: What I've seen and what I've visited...I went to the veterans court...there are now about 72 veterans courts in the country; theyre very new. Robert Russell in Buffalo, NY, started the first veterans court a few years ago when he was coming across cases in which veterans were coming forward with charges maybe involving drugs, could involve domestic violence, that involved domestic dispute issues. So he started a special court for veterans involving the VA, the criminal justice system and also those veterans service organizations. Gen. [Eric] Shinseki visited that court to take a look at how it's working, and we've seen that expand from one in Buffalo to now I believe over 70. You really see how everyone is concerned and kind of wraps their arm around that veteran to get him or her back on the right track. Camp Pendleton Patch: Which pills are most sought after? Kerlikowske: In the past, you would often read, and quite often talk about, OxyContin but the opioids, painkillers, generally are the most abused. Hydrocodone, oxycodone, on and on. So it can be a variety of these very powerful, very addictive and...unfortunately, at times...very deadly painkillers. Were seeing more people die as a result of drug overdoses than are dying of gunshot wounds in this country today. And in 17 states we're seeing more people die from drug overdoses than from car crashes. This is driven mostly, by the way, by prescription drugs. Prescription drug overdoses are taking more lives than heroin and cocaine overdoses combined. [Source: Camp Pendleton Press Jared
Morgan article30 Jul 2011 ++] There are many health concerns associated with prescription drug abuse. These risks include overdose, drug interactions and the possibility of the drugs falling into the hands of children with allergies, to name just a few. While opioids, such as codeine, oxycodone and morphine, have improved pain management, they have also become popular drugs for misuse. Central-nervous system depressants, such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines, can lead to overdose and dangerous withdrawal, including seizures. Abuse of stimulants like dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate (commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy) can cause psychosis, seizures and cardiovascular complications. Because prescription drugs are legal when properly used, they can often be found in our own medicine cabinets. If you have leftover medications that are not needed, do not flush them down the toilet or drain unless the label or patient information instructs you to do so. For information on drugs that can be flushed, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations website at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/default.htm and click on Resources for You. To dispose of non-flushable prescription
drugs, you may be able to participate in community drug take-back
programs or household hazardous waste-collection events, which
collect drugs at central locations for proper disposal. Contact
your city or county household trash and recycling service and
ask if a drug take-back program is available in your community.
If a take-back program is not available, the Office of National
Drug Control Policy recommends these simple steps to ensure your
no-longer-needed prescription drugs are not improperly used: Advances in medicine allow for management of acute and chronic pain and have improved the lives of many. But some of these medications are potentially addicting. If someone you know is struggling with prescription drug use, discuss it with your health care provider or use one of the many resources the Department of Defense makes available to service members, retirees and their families. Today, more than ever, health care providers are sensitive to the needs of those struggling with substance use and dependence. TRICARE is there to help! For information about TRICAREs substance use treatment coverage, refer to http://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth [Source: TRICARE Health Matters Fall
2011 ++] ? Canned Beans and Vegetables. Canned food, by definition, lasts longer than most products in the grocery store because it has been specially processed in air-tight cans. In general, canned items can stay good for 12-18 months, according to Gans, but some last even longer. Canned products like beans and vegetables, which are low in acid, can actually last for as long as two to five years. The only exception is if the can is dented or rusty, as that indicates the can has been punctured at some point, which speeds up the spoilage process. ? Spices. You may want to think twice before replacing the containers in your spice rack. In general, most common spices like salt, pepper and oregano don't actually expire in the traditional sense, they just become less and less flavorful. "Salt occurs naturally in nature, it has no expiration date," Heslin said. "There is no difference in 10-year-old salt at all, as long as it hasn't been exposed to moisture." But over time, the potency and taste of the spice begins to decline, which is why Gans recommends using these spices within two to four years to be safe. Keep in mind too by that point, you'll probably have to use more of each spice in order to compensate for the loss in flavor. ? Cereal and Crackers. You might as well start stocking up on crackers and cereal for the winter. According to Heslin, these products are essentially just "edible cardboard" that don't have enough moisture to grow bacteria or mold, so they can last for a very long time. Cereals like Cheerios and Puff Wheat, which have little to no sugar, can last for 18-24 months if unopened, while crackers like saltines can generally last for about two years. "The safety and nutrient quality of these products doesn't change, but the taste and texture might deteriorate somewhat," Heslin said. In other words, your body will be fine eating these things after more than a year, but you may find them a bit too stale to make it worthwhile. ? Dried Pasta and White Rice. as with cereal and crackers, dried pasta and white rice do not contain enough moisture to spoil, and can therefore last for at least two years unopened. Consumers should be mindful though of what kind of pasta and rice they intend to store, though. Brown rice and whole wheat pasta may seem the same, but in reality each of these products contains more oil than their traditional counterparts, and can therefore go rancid much quicker. ? Popcorn. Unmade popcorn kernels can last for up to two years, according to Gans, once again because they lack the oils and moisture that would lead to spoilage. ? Condiments. All those condiments you have left over from July Fourth festivities may just barely survive until Independence Day weekend next year. Ketchup, mustard, horseradish and salad dressings generally contain no ingredients that can go bad, and according to Gans, they will last for a solid 12 months unopened before they completely lose their taste. ? Coca Cola. Old fashioned Coca-Cola is the ultimate bomb shelter beverage. If left unopened, Heslin says a can of coke will take "an extraordinarily long time" to expire. Diet sodas, on the other hand, expire much more quickly because they contain artificial sweeteners that degrade with heat and time. ? Honey. Honey can take years to expire, but according to Gans, one can conservatively hold onto it for about a year before its consistency begins to change, hardening and losing its sweet taste. Interestingly, Gans says that honey stays good for 12 months whether it's opened or unopened, making it one of the only foods where that is the case. ? Twinkies. Despite all the claims in pop culture to the contrary, Twinkies don't actually last forever. In fact, you'd be lucky to have a Twinkie that is still edible after a few months. [Source: http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/index Seth Fiegerman article27 Jul 2011 ++] Membership of each committee and
their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete Vet Toxic Exposure ~TCE: As early as WWII, United States Air Force and other Military bases used and disposed of chemical degreasers and other toxic substances that were later determined to contaminate drinking water and pose multiple health risks including: Cancers, Reproductive disorders, Birth defects, and Multiple other serious difficulties. Countless military personnel, their families, and private individuals living and working in the near vicinity of the bases may have been affected by these contaminates, through drinking water, general water usage and exposure through vapor seepage. The four most alarming contaminants are: Trichloroethylene (TCE), Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Vinyl Chloride, and Benzene. Scientific studies show that some or all of these chemical compounds have breached the ground water supply on several of our US Military Bases and in some instances, have affected civilian properties adjacent to the bases including churches, schools and private wells. Currently, on-going research is being conducted on military bases around the country and on properties directly adjacent to these bases to identify just how wide spread this contamination may be. Marines take great pride "in taking care of their own." Marine and Navy veterans who were stationed at the former (decommissioned) MCAS El Toro in Irvine CA are at risk for exposure to toxic chemicals as a result of the contamination of the soil and groundwater. Very few know of their exposure. Marines have been exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), suffered serious health consequences, and have no idea of what hit them. A number of Marines report serious illnesses linked to toxic exposure. Some of the emails are posted at http://www.mwsg37.com Others have asked to withhold their names. Neither the Navy nor the Marine Corps made any attempts to notify El Toro veterans. MCAS El Toro was commissioned in 1943 and for many years the base obtained drinking water from fresh water wells on station. EPA in 1997 confirmed that the aquifers are "not currently a source of municipal water." After 56 years, El Toro was officially closed in July 1999, the 3rd MAW transferred to Miramar, and thousands of acres sold at a public auction to Lennar Corp. for $650 million. A TCE plume was discovered off base in 1985. MWSG-37 was ground zero for the TCE plume, spreading miles into Orange County. In 1997 EPA reported that the MWSG-37 area was the source of the toxic plume. EPA found that: "approximately 1,500 pounds of TCE are estimated to be present in soil gas; an additional 4,000 pounds of TCE would be present in the soil moisture. The mass of TCE in groundwater beneath Site 24 is estimated to be approximately 8,000 pounds." EPA traced the "hot spot" to MWSG-37's maintenance hangars: "the primary VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) source is present beneath Buildings 296 and 297, extending to the south with decreasing concentrations to the southern Station boundary. Several smaller source areas exist in the soil beneath Site 24, including a PCE soil gas plume located west of Building 297. The VOC concentrations in soil gas generally increase with depth, and the highest concentrations occur near the water table. VOCs in the area of Buildings 296 and 297 extend to groundwater directly beneath those buildings." How much TCE/PCE was used at El Toro? It's anybody's guess. El Toro kept no TCE usage records. Six of the base wells were in the path of the TCE plume. With the possible exception of one well (#4, 1947), the actual dates the wells were abandoned are unknown. Well water may have been used for years after the purchase of municipal water for swimming pools, irrigation, fire service, and washing of aircraft and vehicles. Contaminated well water would have exposed Marines, dependents, and civilian workers to these carcinogens. The Navy purchased municipal water
for El Toro and the Santa Ana Air Facility as early as 1951.
Theres no explanation for the reasons for the purchase,
but the high salt content (total dissolved solids) in the groundwater
may have corroded the wells. The base wells were constructed
in 1942 so something had to be seriously wrong with the wells
for the Navy to purchase municipal water. The early purchase
was not enough to replace the maximum daily output from the base
wells. In late 1969, the Navy entered into another contract which
exceeded the maximum output from the base wells. The 1969 contract
required the contractor to supply water to El Toro from the Santa
Ana Air Facilitys wells in the event of disruption in municipal
water services. El Toros wells were obviously off-limits.
All of El Toros wells are now destroyed. The consulting engineers well destruction reports show extensive well casing corrosion, at least one well screen in the contaminated shallow aquifer, broken discharge pipes, and one well failure (#4). The risk of serious illness for those who worked in MWSG-37 in or near the maintenance hangars was high because of exposure to toxic vapors from open containers and from vapor intrusion. Others on the base were at some risk for exposure from vapor intrusion from the contaminated soil and groundwater. If contaminated well water was used in swimming pools and for irrigation, the risk for exposure to these carcinogens through dermal contact is evident. In the words of one toxicologist El Toro was a toxic waste dump. At least one national law firm has taken an interest in injuries from toxic exposure at El Toro. [Source: http://www.militarycontamination.com Jul 2011 ++] Marines take great pride "in
taking care of their own." Marine and Navy veterans who
were stationed at the former (decommissioned) MCAS El Toro in
Irvine CA are at risk for exposure to toxic chemicals as a result
of the contamination of the soil and groundwater. Very few know
of their exposure. Marines have been exposed to trichloroethylene
(TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), suffered serious health
consequences, and have no idea of what hit them. A number of
Marines report serious illnesses linked to toxic exposure. MCAS El Toro was commissioned in 1943 and for many years the base obtained drinking water from fresh water wells on station. EPA in 1997 confirmed that the aquifers are "not currently a source of municipal water." After 56 years, El Toro was officially closed in July 1999, the 3rd MAW transferred to Miramar, and thousands of acres sold at a public auction to Lennar Corp. for $650 million. A TCE plume was discovered off base in 1985. MWSG-37 was ground zero for the TCE plume, spreading miles into Orange County. In 1997 EPA reported that the MWSG-37 area was the source of the toxic plume. EPA found that: "approximately 1,500 pounds of TCE are estimated to be present in soil gas; an additional 4,000 pounds of TCE would be present in the soil moisture. The mass of TCE in groundwater beneath Site 24 is estimated to be approximately 8,000 pounds." EPA traced the "hot spot" to MWSG-37's maintenance hangars: "the primary VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) source is present beneath Buildings 296 and 297, extending to the south with decreasing concentrations to the southern Station boundary. Several smaller source areas exist in the soil beneath Site 24, including a PCE soil gas plume located west of Building 297. The VOC concentrations in soil gas generally increase with depth, and the highest concentrations occur near the water table. VOCs in the area of Buildings 296 and 297 extend to groundwater directly beneath those buildings." How much TCE/PCE was used at El Toro? It's anybody's guess. El Toro kept no TCE usage records. Six of the base wells were in the path of the TCE plume. With the possible exception of one well (#4, 1947), the actual dates the wells were abandoned are unknown. Well water may have been used for years after the purchase of municipal water for swimming pools, irrigation, fire service, and washing of aircraft and vehicles. Contaminated well water would have exposed Marines, dependents, and civilian workers to these carcinogens. The Navy purchased municipal water
for El Toro and the Santa Ana Air Facility as early as 1951.
Theres no explanation for the reasons for the purchase,
but the high salt content (total dissolved solids) in the groundwater
may have corroded the wells. The base wells were constructed
in 1942 so something had to be seriously wrong with the wells
for the Navy to purchase municipal water. The early purchase
was not enough to replace the maximum daily output from the base
wells. In late 1969, the Navy entered into another contract which
exceeded the maximum output from the base wells. The 1969 contract
required the contractor to supply water to El Toro from the Santa
Ana Air Facilitys wells in the event of disruption in municipal
water services. El Toros wells were obviously off-limits.
All of El Toros wells are now destroyed. The consulting engineers well destruction reports show extensive well casing corrosion, at least one well screen in the contaminated shallow aquifer, broken discharge pipes, and one well failure (#4). The risk of serious illness for those who worked in MWSG-37 in or near the maintenance hangars was high because of exposure to toxic vapors from open containers and from vapor intrusion. Others on the base were at some risk for exposure from vapor intrusion from the contaminated soil and groundwater. If contaminated well water was used in swimming pools and for irrigation, the risk for exposure to these carcinogens through dermal contact is evident. In the words of one toxicologist El Toro was a toxic waste dump. At least one national law firm has taken an interest in injuries from toxic exposure at El Toro. [Source: http://www.militarycontamination.com Jul 2011 ++] Tip a percentage. Tip a flat figure. More advice on tipping. [Source: Money Talks Brandon Ballenger
7 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: Various 1-15 Aug 2011 ++] ? San Antonio TX - Dr. Herbert Joel Robinson, 78, has been indicted on charges that he committed more than $100,000 in Medicaid and Medicare fraud by billing for patients he did not provide medical service to or for people who were dead. Robinson ran a general practice and weight-loss clinic and was charged earlier this year. He was re-indicted last week as prosecutors added counts alleging that he billed the medical-assistance programs for people who were dead. He now faces 27 counts of health care fraud, punishable by up to 10 years in prison; three counts of mail fraud, punishable by a maximum of 20 years; and one count of aggravated identity theft, punishable by a mandatory two years on top of what he could get from any of the other charges. He intends to plead not guilty to all charges. From January 2006 through November 2009, Robinson billed the government for office visits during times when patients were not present, out of town and hospitalized, and times when defendant Robinson was outside of the United States, and at times when his office was closed, the indictment states. Court records allege that more than $100,000 was fraudulently billed, though agents with the U.S. Health and Human Services Department's Office of Inspector General were still calculating the purported loss. ? Brunswick GA - Arthiu Manasarian, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to aggravated identity theft in the scheme he operated out of Brunswick Medical Supply Inc in 2007 and 2008. Although he admitted his guilt, Manasarian offered no explanation to Chief U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood about his submission of $7.5 million to $20 million in phony claims to Medicare through Brunswick Medical and his eight other businesses in Savannah, New Mexico and California. Manasarian took a government plea bargain just 10 days before going on trial with two co-defendants in the Brunswick-based scheme. The government will dismiss eight other charges against Manasarian in exchange for his two guilty pleas and continuing cooperation including testimony if necessary against others, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Rafferty told the court. Manasarian's co-defendants, Sahak Tumanyan, 44, and his wife, Hasmik Tumanyan, 39, will stand trial on money laundering conspiracy charges beginning Aug. 15 in U.S. District Court in Brunswick. The Tumanyans operated and controlled at least four fictitious companies in the Los Angeles area as part of the money laundering conspiracy, according to the indictment. Armenian natives living in Los Angeles, Manasarian and the Tumanyans were among 73 defendants in a nationwide organized crime ring that submitted more than $163 million in phony Medicare claims. ? Miami FL - A Miami nurse was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 8 AUG for his role in what prosecutors say is a $11 million Medicare fraud ring. In May, a federal jury had convicted Armando Santos, 46, of multiple counts of health care fraud for his actions between 2007 and 2009. At trial, prosecutors said Santos billed the government for services that did not take place or were not medically necessary while one of ten Miami employees of the Ideal Home Health company charged with defrauding Medicare. The owners of Ideal Home Health, Elizabeth Acosta Sanz and Luis Alejandro Sanz, stand accused of masterminding the scheme in which the home nursing company sought $11 million in bogus reimbursements of which they received more than $7 million. Although their employee Armando Santos claimed in Medicare filings to make regular rounds injecting patients with insulin, prosecutors said that at least two of his patients did not need insulin and were not housebound. In total, prosecutors said, Santos submitted $230,315 in false claims. The ten year sentence imposed on Santos by U.S. district Judge Federico Moreno was the maximum advised under sentencing guidelines. ? Detroit MI - A Florida woman who committed multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud in the Detroit area has been given a generous reduction in her prison sentence. Federal Judge Gerald Rosen last week shaved 2 ½ years off the eight-year sentence ordered for Daisy Martinez in 2010. Prosecutors say she deserved a break after her testimony and cooperation helped convict others who committed health care fraud. Martinez arrived from Miami to set up three Detroit-area clinics that were a sham. The clinics billed Medicare for treatments that weren't performed or weren't necessary in 2006 and 2007. Her daughter and son-in-law also pleaded guilty in the scheme. ? Detroit MI - Friends of a Detroit-area pharmacy owner are willing to put up their houses as collateral if it would ensure his release from jail on fraud charges. Babubhai (BOB'-ooh-by) Patel has been locked up for a week. He's charged with about $60 million in health care fraud at his pharmacies. Patel was back in court 9 AUG, but a federal judge didn't make a decision. The hearing resumes 12 AUG. Prosecutors want the Canton Township man to stay in jail until trial. He's accused of giving kickbacks to doctors to write prescriptions and send people to Patel's pharmacies. The government says the painkillers were unnecessary or not provided. Prosecutors call it a brazen scheme to cheat Medicare and Medicaid. Patel is the vice chairman of the Canton Hindu temple. He's pleaded not guilty. ? Los Angeles CA - Two pastors of a defunct Los Angeles church have been found guilty of preying on their trusting parishioners to run a $14.2 million Medicare fraud scheme. Christopher Iruke, 60, and his wife Connie Ikpoh, 49, persuaded churchgoers at the now-defunct Arms of Grace Christian Center to provide personal information that they used to open fraudulent medical equipment supply operations. The two abused their positions of trust and persuaded those who blindly trusted in them to steal millions of dollars from taxpayers and Medicare. The conviction 9 AUG came at the end of a two-week federal trial. The couple was accused of using information from parishioners to set up several fraudulent medical supply businesses...one even shared the address of the church...that billed Medicare for power wheelchairs and other pricey equipment that was never provided or was unnecessary. Iruke was found guilty of one count of conspiracy and 17 counts of health care fraud. Ikpoh and employee Aura Marroquin, 30, were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy and four counts of health care fraud. According to evidence presented at trial, the three and co-conspirators used fraudulent prescriptions and documents that were illegally purchased to bill Medicare for high-end power wheelchairs. Though the wholesale price of each wheelchair was less than $1000, they were billed to Medicare at a rate of approximately $6,000, according to federal prosecutors. The ill-gotten proceeds were spent on luxury vehicles and home remodeling expenses. ? Miami FL - Federal investigators have arrested a 10th person in a South Florida scheme to defraud Medicare out of more than $27 million. Prosecutors in Miami said 39-year-old Elizabet Lombera is facing multiple counts of health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. She faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Prosecutors say Lombera used some of the illegal profits to take a trip to Japan. Nine other people have already been arrested in the scam. Prosecutors say it involved fraudulent invoices to Medicare for durable medical equipment devices submitted by five different companies. Six of those involved are already serving time in prison. One is a fugitive. ? Louisville KY - Federal officials say the owner or operator of six Kentucky hospitals has agreed to pay $8.9 million for claims improperly billed to Medicare. The U.S. attorneys' offices in Louisville and Lexington announced the settlement 11 AUG with Baptist Healthcare Systems Inc. and Hardin Memorial Hospital, under management of Baptist Healthcare. Hospitals involved besides Hardin Memorial are five facilities owned by Baptist Healthcare -- Baptist East in Louisville, Western Baptist in Paducah, Baptist Northeast in La Grange, Central Baptist in Lexington and Baptist Regional in Corbin. The U.S. attorneys' offices statements said Baptist Healthcare and Hardin Memorial made no admission of liability in agreeing to the settlement and that no issues of quality of patient care were involved. [Source: Fraud News Daily 1-15 Aug
2011 ++] Medicad Fraud Update 45: ? Rayville LA - Three former employees of a Rayville personal care services agency are accused of billing the state's Medicaid program for more than $575,000 in services supposedly done while they were really at other jobs. The state Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrested 50-year-old Georgia Lee Coleman on 35 counts of Medicaid fraud; 45-year-old Lisa Thomas on 10 counts and 37-year-old Yaschica Pleasant Jackson on four counts, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said Monday. The company's owner Patricia A. Bell, 51, was arrested earlier on 60 counts of filing or maintaining false public records and seven counts of Medicaid fraud. Investigators found that Louisiana Medicaid paid more than $575,000 for services supposedly provided by people who weren't working for bell any longer. Bell also allegedly billed for services reportedly given while patients were hospitalized. ? Brownsville TX - Felicitas Velez Alanis, 50, and her daughter-in-law Erika Ortega Alanis, 26, both of Brownsville, Texas, have been arrested on charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. A grand jury returned a six-count sealed indictment on 26 JUL, charging Felicitas Alanis and Erika Alanis with one count of conspiracy to defraud the Texas Medicaid program and five counts of submitting false and fraudulent claims to the Texas Medicaid program. Felicitas Alanis allegedly owns and operates Vel-Ala Inc. - a Texas corporation which does business as Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply in and around Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas, and elsewhere in South Texas. Her daughter-in-law, Erika Alanis, allegedly assisted in the day to day operation of the company. Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply is enrolled with the Texas Medicaid program to provide durable medical equipment (DME) to Texas Medicaid beneficiaries. The six-count indictment alleges Felicitas Alanis and Ericka Alanis conspired to send false and fraudulent bills to the Texas Medicaid program in the name of Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply. Between JAN 2005 and Oct 2006, the women submitted more than $646,000 in false and fraudulent bills to the Texas Medicaid program for diabetic supplies which Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply never purchased or supplied to Medicaid beneficiaries. The delivery records and billing records of Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply show that the Texas Medicaid program was routinely billed for more items than were actually delivered and the purchase records allegedly reveal that the Texas Medicaid program was billed for medical supplies and items that Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply had never purchased. Medicaid paid more than $554,000 on the allegedly false and fraudulent claims submitted to it. ? Mt. Vernon MO - Attorney General Chris Koster has filed a civil lawsuit against a Mt. Vernon dentist Thomas Alms Jr., DDS, and his wife Laura Alms alleging they made false and fraudulent claims to Missouri's Medicaid program. For nearly five years they filed claims and billed Missouri Medicaid for dental procedures that Dr. Alms was not authorized by the Missouri Dental Board to perform. They also billed Medicaid for services that were not provided. Medicaid has reimbursed Dr. Alms for services totaling more than $600,000. The lawsuit, filed 2 AUG in Cole County Circuit Court, asks the court to order Dr. Alms and his wife to pay restitution, as well as civil penalties and punitive damages. ? Indianapolis IN - William Maultsby, 52, was charged 5 AUG with health care fraud, following an investigation by the U.S. Health and Human Services Inspector General and Indiana Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The information alleges that William Maultsby owned Ace Transportation Service, a business providing transportation services in and around the Indianapolis, Indiana area. Between JAN 08 and DEC 2010, Maultsby submitted claims for services to Indiana Medicaid for services purportedly provided by Ace for Medicaid recipients. The scheme to defraud was that Maultsby submitted claims to Medicaid for transportation of Medicaid patients: (A) as if the patients were non-ambulatory when he knew that the patients were ambulatory, and (B) for transportation of patients when that transportation did not occur, for a total loss to the Medicaid program of approximately $63,612.68. An initial hearing will be scheduled in Indianapolis before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. [Source: Fraud News Daily 1-15 Aug
2011 ++] [Source: Military History Online
Irwin J. Kappes JUL 03 article http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/wilhelmgustloff.aspx Aug 2011] [Source: Various Aug 2011 ++] 3. The US 1st Armored Division was
well trained by pre-war standards. What major problem did they
face at Kasserine Pass? 4. The US did have Sherman tanks
at Kasserine Pass. How did the US tank crews fail to take advantage
of this tank? 5. General Fredendall was the US
commander at Kasserine Pass. What major mistakes did he make
that day during the German attack? 6. What did the US 2nd Armored Division
see as it attempted to restore order at Sidi bou Zid? 7. Who replaced General Fredendall
after Kasserine Pass? 8. What vital lesson was learned
from Kasserine Pass? 9. The inexperience of the US infantry
was obvious. What did the British notice about the GIs that stood
out? 10. What did Rommel think of the
US Army after Kasserine Pass? Answers 1. The operation to invade
North Africa in November of 1942 was called, Operation Torch.
It was the first major land offensive by combined US and British
troops in WWII against Germany and Italy. [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/war_history.html Aug 2011 ++] Sales Taxes Personal Income Taxes Property Taxes Inheritance and Estate Taxes For further information, visit the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer site http://cfo.washingtondc.gov/cfo/site/default.asp or call 202-727-2476. [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Aug 2011 ++] One day Harry didn't show up. Sam didn't think much about it and figured maybe he had a cold or something.. But after Harry hadn't shown up for a week or so, Sam really got worried. However, since the only time they ever got together was at the park, Sam didn't know where Harry lived, so he was unable to find out what had happened to him. A month had passed, and Sam figured he had seen the last of Harry, but one day, Sam approached the park and-- lo and behold!--there sat Harry! Sam was very excited and happy to see him and told him so. Then he said, 'For crying out loud Harry, what in the world happened to you?' Harry replied, 'I have been in jail.' 'Jail!' cried Sam. What in the world for?' 'Well,' Harry said, 'you know Sue, that cute little blonde waitress at the coffee shop where I sometimes go?' 'Yeah,' said Sam, 'I remember her. What about her? 'Well, one day she filed rape charges against me; and, at 89 years old, I was so proud that when I got into court, I pled 'guilty'. 'The damn judge gave me 30 days for perjury.' ============================= To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veterans feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise,
you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislators phone number, mailing
address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter
of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators
on their home turf. If you wish to use copyrighted material
from this newsletter for purposes of your own that go beyond
'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
RAO Bulletin Non-Receipt Update 02 (Yahoo Subscribers) Vet Benefit Funding Update 01 (Retired Pay Cuts?) Web Domain Names (Limitations Lifted) POW/MIA Update 01 (U.S./Russian Program) WRAMC Update 15 (MOPH Salute) Jane Fonda (QVC TV Appearance Canceled) Veteran Charities Update 19 (Veterans in Need Foundation) WWII Vets Update 04 (Joe Morris) Vet Toxic Exposure~Mosul (Constrictive Bronchiolitis) VA Budget 2012 Update 04 (H.R.2055 Passes Senate) Reserve/Guard Tricare Update 01 (Eligibility Options) VA Presumptive VN Vet Diseases Update 18 (Change Defeated) Mobilized Reserve 26 JUL 2011 (1831 Decrease) Vet Cemetery Alabama Update 03 (Confederate Memorial Park) Veterans' Court Update 10 (Sheen Lobbies Congress) PTSD Update 73 (Marijuana Study Sought) PTSD Update 74 ** (2008 Lawsuit Results) VA Service Dogs Update 04 ** (H.R.198) VA Claim Filing ** (Email Use Questioned) VA Claim Shredding Update 05 ** (Special Handling Rules End) Military Retirement System Update 05 ** (Overhaul Plan) VA Wrong Surgery Study (Surgery Down, Close Calls Up) Traumatic Brain Injury Update 18 (Dementia Risk Doubles) Traumatic Brain Injury Update 19 (Data Collection) Medicad Eligible Vets (Shift to VA Care) CA Vet Driver Licenses (New Program) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 37 (15-31 JUL 2011) VAMC West Los Angeles Update 04 (Homeless Vouchers) Virginia Vet Tax Exemption Update 02 (IU Vets Included) VA Cemetery Texas Update 06 (VA Censorship Allegations) Cellphone Voicemail Hacking (Anyone can do it) VA Blue Button Prize Competition (PHR Incentive) National Guard Challenge Program (Survey Results) GI Bill Update 99 (Surviving Spouse Bill) GI Bill Update 100 (2.0 Coming Soon) GI Bill Update 101 (H.R.1383 Goes to President) National Park Passports Update 04 (Freedom Pass) VA Homeless Vets Update 22 (Down to 55,000) VA Appeals Update 09 (Steps to File) Chronic Itching (Debilitating as Chronic Pain) Tricare Overseas Program Update 12 (Fraud & Abuse Prevention) Army BCT Museum (Now Open) Arlington National Cemetery Update 27 (Chaplains Monument) VA Death Pension Update 01 (Importance of Contact Data) Vet Jobs Update 32 (VOW Act H.R. 2433) VA Appointments Update 07 (VA OIG Report) VAMC Child Care Program (3 Pilot Sites) COLA 2012 Update 04 (MOAA Chained CPI Position) Coppers Antibacterial Properties (DOD Support) Agent Orange Korea Update 05 (Camp Carroll SITREP) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 23 (Lawsuit Dismissed) Vet Toxic Exposure ~TCE (Barstow MCLB ) Saving Money (Food Expiration Dates) Notes of Interest (16-31 Jul 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 72 (16-31 JUL 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 44 (16-31 JUL 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Nevada) Military History (Remember the Alamo!-Anzio!) Military History Anniversaries (Aug 1-15 Summary) Military Trivia Update 32 (Vietnam Awards) Tax Burden for Delaware Retirees (As of JUL 2011) Have You Heard? (CPO wisdom) Veteran Legislation Status 28 JUL 2011 (Where we stand)
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you will have to work it out with them on your end. If they ask
for a domain number you can try 74.143.236.40. This may or not
be valid. Bulletins are sent on the 1st and 15th of each month and we have not missed publishing on those dates in 12 years. Thus, if you do not receive one there is most likely some type of problem on your end. In the future you can always tell if you missed a Bulletin by going to either http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html or http://s11.zetaboards.com/CFLNewsChat/forum/27519/ on the 2nd & 16th of every month. a) The site http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html contains a Website Edition which is an abbreviated version of the Bulletin in text format without pictures/graphs/color coding/attachments other than the Legislative Updates/and headers for Military Times copyrighted material. However, it does contain all of the Bulletins sent this calendar year and an alphabetical listing by title of all articles published in the last 5 years which are available for recall upon request. b) Under Pined topics at http://s11.zetaboards.com/CFLNewsChat/forum/27519/ you can open a PDF attachment that contains everything you would normally receive in the PDF email edition of the Bulletin. [Source: Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret), Associate Director RAO Baguio Jul 2011 ++] Vet Benefit Funding Update 01: If you're following the ongoing debt ceiling/budget negotiations you know multiple plans have been offered by various individuals or groups to cap federal spending or require a balanced budget. Those sound reasonable in concept, but then how can a balanced budget not be a good thing? Well the devil is in the details of how they will impact on you. In many cases, the specifics are vague...either because they have yet to be worked out, or because it's inconvenient to have constituents understand exactly what kind of pain would be involved before there's a vote. In some cases, proposals have been pretty specific. In others, impacts have to be inferred by doing some math. Consider the proposals submitted
to date: [Source: MOAA Legislative Update 22 Jul 2011 ++] Editors Note: As we approach the
11th hour without any long term agreement all the veteran community
can be sure of is that whatever happens each of us will be impacted
in some way. Whether now or later the budget will have to be
balanced and the policy of deficit spending reversed. There is
no short term fix and political procrastination is only making
the eventual outcome worse. Sen. Tom Coburn's comment on the
debt reducing proposals of President Obama's fiscal commission
as he laid out his own $9 trillion dollar debt reduction plan
was, "Four trillion dollars doesn't solve our problem. Four
trillion dollars buys us five years to solve the next five trillion
dollars that we're going to have to solve." This only speaks
to future cuts. Veterans must face the reality that some of their
benefits will eventually be trimmed and that future benefit gains
will be extremely difficult to obtain. The only recourse we have
is to monitor how our legislators deal with the crisis and note
our satisfaction with their response in the next election. Currently, .coms rule the roost, and this isn't likely to change any time soon. Of the 210 million domain names that had been registered by May 2011, .com names accounted for more than 90 million, according to Verisign, an Internet infrastructure company. In distant second place was .net, at 13 million. In all, 22 generic top-level domain extensions are now in existence. Unrestricted extensions, available to anyone, include .com, .net, .org, and .info. Other top-level domains, with specific requirements, include .edu, .gov, .int, .mil, .biz, .name, and .pro. There are many more country extensions, such as .ca for Canada and .de for Germany. Many companies are expected to register their company's name as an extension for defensive purposes, even without having a clear plan yet about what to do with it. On the other hand, trademark owners will receive the same kind of protection from ICANN that they have now, which prevents others from using their trade name in a website address. Still, the new system is controversial says Janet Satterthwaite, a trademark and domain name attorney at the law firm Venable in Washington, D.C. "The system is certain to create major headaches for companies because of the need for increased monitoring of all the new domains and the real potential for cybersquatting and creation of bogus addresses." Cyber squatters register domain names in hope of forcing a company or individual to buy it from them (at a huge profit), to gain online advertising revenue resulting from Web surfers mistakenly going to a fake site instead of a genuine one, and even as a "phishing" tool to trick surfers into revealing credit card and other personal financial information in order to steal from them. The new system also is controversial for Web users. Because the new domain extensions likely will result in many new website addresses, it likely will be more difficult to remember specific ones. The situation is analogous to having to remember and punch in area codes with local phone numbers, though Web users will be aided by their browser's favorites or bookmark feature as well as by being able to find a Web address fairly easily through a Web search. [Source MOAA News Exchange Reid Goldsborough
article 27 Jul 2011 ++] More information is available on
the Senate Appropriations Committee website at http://appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=952f6b79-1409-45a6-9923-7c5bc0ba88d3 [Source: Tricare News Release 21
Jul 2011 ++] [Source: VFW & FRA Action Alerts
20 Jul 2011 ++] For additional info refer to http://www.preserveala.org/confederatepark.aspx [Source: Associated Press Jay Reeves
article 20 Jul 2011 ++] A Confederate flag graces a soldiers
grave stone in Cemetery. [Source: Los Angeles Times Andrew
Seidman article 19 Jul 201 ++] VA Claim Shredding Update
05 **: The VA has ended special
handling rules for claims related to a 2008 disclosure that supporting
information filed by some veterans may have been shredded ...
Military times copyrighted material. Unlike other proposals to overhaul military retirement that would grandfather current troops, the board suggests that DoD could make an immediate transition to the new system, which would affect current troops quite differently depending on their years of service: * Recruits. The newest troops out of boot camp after the proposed change would have no direct incentive to stay for 20 years and would not get a fixed-benefit pension. Instead, they would receive annual contributions to a Thrift Savings Plan account and could leave service with that money at any time although under current rules, they cant withdraw the money until age 59½ without paying a penalty, except in certain specified circumstances. * Five years of service. Troops would immediately begin accruing new benefits in a TSP account. If they remained in service until the old vesting date the 20-year mark they also would get one-fourth of the old plan benefit, or about 12 percent of their pay at retirement, as an annuity. If they separated, for example, after 10 years, they would walk away with no fixed-pension benefit but would have a TSP account with five years of contributions. * 10 years of service. Troops would immediately begin accruing new benefits in a TSP account. If they remained in service for 10 more years, they would receive half of the old plan benefit, about 25 percent of their pay at retirement, as an annuity. If they separated after 15 years, they would walk away with no fixed-pension benefit but would have a TSP account with five years of contributions. * 15 years of service. Troops would immediately begin accruing new benefits in a TSP account. If they remained in service for five more years, they would receive three-fourths of the old plan benefit, about 37.5 percent of their pay at retirement, as an annuity. * 20 years and beyond. Troops who stayed in past 20 years would continue to receive annual TSP contributions. The far-reaching proposal comes at a time of immense pressure on the military to cut spending and help reduce the national debt. President Obama has talked about cutting $400 billion over the next 12 years, while some proposals gaining support on Capitol Hill would call for cutting more than $800 billion over the same period. Military retirement costs have soared in recent years because of rising life expectancy. If not contained, they will eventually undermine future war-fighting capabilities, Spencer said. A new system may allow the military to make rapid changes in the size and structure of the force. For example, troops with 15 years of experience are likely targets for downsizing, and this plan would provide them with a significant retirement benefit, Spencer said. The proposed change would have no affect on current retirees or disabled veterans. Most private-sector companies contribute 4 percent to 12 percent of base pay into an employees retirement savings account. By comparison, the current military retirement benefit, for those who ultimately get it, amounts to a 75 percent contribution each year, the board said. The board considered keeping the current system with some major changes, but concluded that those changes would not save enough money or fix the fairness and flexibility issues. Those changes included withholding pension payments until a traditional retirement age; reducing pensions to 40 percent of regular pay rather than the current 50 percent; or calculating retirement pay based on the average pay over a members last five years in uniform, rather than the three years under the current system. Those changes would save about $254 billion over 20 years, the board said. [Source: AirForceTimes Andrew Tilghman article 25 Jul 2011 ++] VA Wrong Surgery Study: Procedures and surgeries on the wrong patient
and wrong body part have declined substantially at Veterans Affairs
hospitals nationwide, while reports of close calls have increased,
according to a study that credits ongoing quality improvement
efforts. These efforts include a VA requirement for doctors,
nurses and other hospital workers to report medical errors and
near-misses to their bosses. The study is based on reports from
mid-2006 to 2009; they were compared with data from the previous
five years. The per-month rate of reported errors declined to
about two from about three at the VA's 153 centers that do surgery
or other major medical procedures. Reported monthly close calls
increased to about three from almost two. Skeptics might wonder
if a decline in reported errors means hospital workers are clamming
up, but co-author Julia Neily, a nurse and associate director
with the VA's National Center for Patient Safety, said, "Care
is becoming safer." She said the increase in close-call
reports suggests doctors, nurses and their co-workers are becoming
more willing to speak up when something goes wrong or looks like
it's about to. The VA's quality improvement efforts encourage
that kind of openness. Veterans facilities also are among hospitals
that have adopted pilot-style checklists, where a member of the
operating team reads off things like the patient's name, the
type of procedure, anesthesia and tools needed. Body parts to
be operated on are marked, and team members are supposed to speak
up if something doesn't sound right. Patients, too, are sometimes
involved before being wheeled into the operating room. The study
was published online 18 JUL in the Archives of Surgery. During
the 42 months studied, there were 101 medical errors and 136
close calls, out of more than half a million procedures. The
researchers and patient safety experts not involved in the study
said the results show a promising trend, including a decline
in the severity of medical errors at VA hospitals. Still, there
were troubling signs -- 30 procedures or surgeries on the wrong
patient and 48 on the wrong body part or wrong side of the body.
Most "wrong patient" events involved CT scans, MRIs
and other radiology procedures. "Wrong" surgeries included
implanting the wrong size eye lens and the wrong type of knee
joint. Why these major errors continued to happen despite a big
focus on improving safety "is THE question," Neily
acknowledged. Sometimes patients have the same or similar names,
she said. Sometimes patients speak different languages or otherwise
have difficulty communicating with their doctors, said Dr. Allan
Frankel of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, who stressed
that non-VA hospitals are also struggling to get those numbers
down to zero after adopting similar systems. Dr. David Mayer,
co-director of the Institute for Patient Safety Excellence at
the University of Illinois at Chicago, said sometimes surgeons
and other OR team members are distracted during "time-outs"
and checklist-reading before surgeries, thinking ahead to the
operation. At UIC's medical center, surgeons are encouraged to
have these sessions outside the operating room, in a quiet setting
around patients' beds, to make it easier to focus, Mayer said.
Some VA hospitals also use that approach, Neily said. The study
lacked data on deaths related to surgery mistakes during the
study, although the authors said there were no deaths in 2009,
the most recent year examined. A 2006-08 study published last
year reported an 18 percent decline in deaths at 74 Veterans
hospitals that had adopted the surgery checklist approach. [Source:
AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner article 18 Jul 2011 +] [Source: UCSF News Center Steve Tokar
article 19 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: Psychiatric Times &USA
Today articles 13 & 18 Jul 2011 ] [Source: Stateline | State Policy
and Politics Pamela M. Prah article 18 Jul 2011 ++] ? Saginaw MI - Financial desperation
is no excuse for defrauding disabled veterans and the U.S. government,
a federal judge said prior to sentencing Michael Andrews, 50,
for misdemeanor embezzlement. U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles E.
Binder on 18 JUL ordered him to serve three years or probation
and pay more than $19,105 in restitution to the U.S. Department
of Veteran Affairs. He pleaded guilty in March to one count of
embezzling funds belonging to the United State and the Veterans
Administration. Andrews, owner of Access Michigan Vans, Inc.,
admitted under oath that the veterans' agency paid him to install
handicap ramps at the homes of three veterans. The contracts
were handled through the veterans' office in Saginaw. Andrews
admitted that he did not install the three handicap ramps and
instead kept the money paid on the contracts for his own use.
? Peoria IL - A former parcel delivery service worker in central Illinois has pleaded guilty to stealing drugs headed to military veterans. Sean Locke of Mackinaw admitted that he stole drugs including methadone, oxycodone and fentanyl patches while working as a United Parcel Service clerk in East Peoria. The medications were being mailed to Department of Veterans Affairs patients. UPS and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency launched the investigation that led to Locke's arrest after several VA patients reported that their medication wasn't arriving. U.S. attorney's office spokeswoman Sharon Paul says most of the stolen drugs have been recovered. Locke was charged with one count of felony drug possession with intent to deliver. He faces between three and 20 years in federal prison when he's sentenced 27 OCT. [Source: Associated Press article 24 Jul 2011 ++]? VAMC Eire PA - Pamela Sue Hartleb faces one felony count of possession of a controlled substance by fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge. According to the indictment, the offense took place four years ago between AUG and OCT of 2007 while Hartleb was working as a registered nurse at the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Hartleb obtained multiple doses of hydrocodone and oxycodone by removing pills from an automated pill-dispensing machine, according to the indictment. Instead of administering the pills to patients, Hartleb pocketed the pills to "consume them either immediately or at a later time." She did not obtain or present a prescription for the drugs, the government says. The charge carries a maximum possible penalty of up to four years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Susan Paradise Baxter. [Source: Erie Times-News Lisa Thompson
article 16 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: 89.3 KPCC Southern California
Public Radio Frank Stoltze article 19 Jul 2011 ++] The document maintains: One of the most striking allegations contained in the lawsuit was that cemetery officials had ordered National Memorial Ladies to stop telling families "God bless you," and to remove "God bless" from condolence cards. The VA responded in the document that the cemetery had received a complaint about a year ago from a family member who was upset that military uneral honors had included references to Christianity although the family had specifically requested no religious symbol on the deceased veteran's grave marker. Subsequently, defendant Ocasio asked the Memorial Ladies to endeavor to respect particular family members religious preferences, and to provide only general condolences without religious reference unless the Memorial Ladies were aware of a family's religious preference and expressions of a specific religious nature would be appropriate. The nonprofit Liberty Institute, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the volunteer groups Veterans of Foreign Wars District 4, American Legion Post 586, and National Memorial Ladies, stands by all the allegations against the VA and Ocasio. "Everything we said is true," said Hiram Sasser, Liberty Institute's director of litigation. "My response is that we represent World War II and Vietnam veterans and veterans of the Persian Gulf and veterans of other wars, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their integrity and honesty is above reproach," Sasser said. "They have sacrificed and served this country well, and they expect to be treated with dignity and respect by the VA." [Source: Houston Chronicle Lindsay
Wise article 18 Jul 2011 ++] T-Mobile - To turn off / on your
voice mail password security, follow these steps: Verizon - Verizon is the one major cell carrier in the U.S. that requires you enter your PIN every time you access your voicemail. In fact, you have to jump through a little hoop if you want things set differently. So odds are, if youre a Verizon customer, youre already safe from this kind of an attack on your voicemail. Youre only as safe as your PIN. If youve never set up a PIN for your voicemail account, you might have a default one; anyone could dial in from any number, use the default PIN, and listen to your messages. To keep your voicemail private, you should set up a PIN or change your default PIN as soon as you can. If you set your PIN to something simple, like your address or birthday, youre not completely at risk, but you are close. Try to use something unique that has no connection to your personal life. It doesnt have to be hard to remember something like 7676 works well only unrelated to you. Taking this simple step can help ensure your private messages stay that way. [Source: MoneyTalksNews Dan Schointuch
article 19 Jul 2011 ++] Note: This does not include active duty or their GI Bill eligible spouses. Active Duty Post-9/11 GI Bill Users * Tiered Benefits - Active duty members will see their tuition and fees prorated based on the eligibility tiers (40%-100%). This previously applied to veterans only. These same limitations apply to transferee spouses of active duty servicemembers. - Went into effect on March 5, 2011. * Tuition Rate Limits - Active Duty Members and their transferees will be subject to the same national rate as veterans ($17,500 a year) for enrolled in a private or foreign school pursuing a degree. In addition, they will have their tuition and fees at public schools limited to the in-state tuition and fees rate. - Effective August 1, 2011. *
Transferability Expanded - NOAA and PHS personnel are now eligible
to transfer their entitlement to eligible dependents - Effective
August 1, 2011. * Monthly Kicker Payments - The VA will pay MGIB (chapter 30) and MGIB-SR (chapter 1606) kickers or Army/Navy College Fund payments, on a monthly basis instead of a lump sum at the beginning of the term. - Effective August 1, 2011. * Prorated Housing Stipend - Students enrolled at more than half-time but less than full-time will begin having their housing allowance prorated based on the number of classes they are taking (also called rate of pursuit). This amount will be rounded to the nearest tenth. For example a student enrolled with a rate of pursuit 75% would receive 80% of the BAH rate. - Effective August 1, 2011. * End of Payments During School Breaks The VA will no longer pay benefits during breaks like spring or winter break. The end to interval pay applies to all VA education benefit programs unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike. 1. This means that when your semester
ends (e.g. December 15th), your housing allowance is paid for
the first 15 days of December only and begins again when your
next semester begins (e.g. January 10th) and is paid for the
remaining days of January. * Multiple Licensing, Certification and National Placement Exams Reimbursement for more than one license or certification test will be possible. In addition to reimbursement of fees paid to take national exams used for admission to an institution of higher learning (e.g., SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT). - Effective August 1, 2011. * Expanded Vocation Training Opportunities Veterans will be eligible to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to cover the following: 1. Non-college degree (NCD) programs: Pays actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees at public NCD institutions. At private and foreign institutions, pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees or $17,500, whichever is less. Also pays up to $83 per month for books and supplies. 2. On-the-job and apprenticeship training: Pays a monthly benefit amount prorated based on time in program and up to $83 per month for books and supplies. Learn more about OJT and Apprenticeship. 3. Flight programs: Per academic year, pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the school or $10,000, whichever is less. 4. Correspondence training: Pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the school or $8,500, whichever is less. - Effective October 1, 2011. * New Voc-Rehab Stipend Options - Vocational Rehabilitation participants may now elect the higher housing allowance offered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill if otherwise eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. - Effective August 1, 2011 [Source: Military.com | Benefits
Week of July 18, 2011 ++] [Source: Huff Post college Amanda
M. Fairbanks article 26 Jul 2011 ++] * Go to the Courts website and review the procedures and requirements for filing an appeal. The site is http://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/about/how_to_appeal/HowtoAppealWithoutHowtoFile.cfm. * Complete the Courts Form 1Notice of Appeal and send it to the Court. See additional information below regarding mailing of Notice of Appeal. The form can be completed on online and downloaded at http://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/documents/NOA_Consent_Combined-Form.pdf Submit the one-time $50 fee to file, OR ask the Court to waive the fee by filing the Courts Form 4 Declaration of Financial Hardship The form can be completed on online and downloaded at http://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/documents/Form-04_DofFH_-_FORM-RE1.pdf. If you do not have computer access both forms can be requested from the court at the address below; or the Pro Bono Program can send them to you. * If time is running out and you cannot get these forms, you may simply print your name, current address, and telephone number on a piece of paper and write: I want to appeal my BVA decision dated ___________. Then sign your name. Dont forget the 120-day deadline for filing. Mail, hand deliver, or fax the completed form(s) or your letter to: Clerk of Court, US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 625 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004 Tel: (202) 501-5970 FAX (202) 501-5848. * If you fax your Notice of Appeal, you must mail the filing fee or Declaration of Financial Hardship so that the Court receives it not later than 14 days after the fax was sent. You should also contact the Court to confirm receipt of the Notice of Appeal as the Court is not responsible for faxes that are not received. * Self-represented appellants may file a Declaration of Financial Hardship with a Notice of Appeal by submitting those forms to esubmission@uscourts.cavc.gov. You should keep evidence of the date on which you sent the Notice of Appeal. SEND YOUR NOTICE OF APPEAL FORM DIRECTLY TO THE COURT. DO NOT SEND IT TO THE VA OR THE PRO BONO PROGRAM! *
NOTE: It is very important to use the Courts complete address,
including Suite 900. VA also has an office at 625
Indiana Avenue, and if the Postal Service delivers your appeal
to VA instead of to the Court, you can lose your case before
you even get a chance to tell the Court your side of the matter. [Source: ABC News | Health Kim Carollo
article 20 Jun 2011 ++] * Prepayment review: Prepayment review is a highly effective antifraud control. If unusual practices are detected by TRICARE, suspected providers may be required to submit additional information with their claims and have their billings subjected to closer examination. * National drug coding requirements: National Drug Code (NDC) numbers are three-segment numbers that identify drug products in the United States. Overseas providers are usually not required to submit NDCs for TRICARE pharmacy claims. However, overseas providers in the Philippines, Panama and Costa Rica who submit over $3,000 in claims are required to submit NDCs with pharmacy claims. Providers exceeding the $3,000 cap are notified that they will be required to submit NDCs with pharmacy claims and will be subject to cost-control measures outlined in the TRICARE Reimbursement Manual. * Exclusions: TRICARE does not make payments for any items or services furnished, ordered or prescribed by an excluded individual or entity. Fee schedules: Fee schedules help control costs and curb fraud and abuse that occur by the overbilling of services. For the Philippines and Panama, TRICARE has implemented country-specific maximum allowable charge (MAC) fee schedules by locality. Fee schedules can be viewed at http://www.tricare.mil/CMAC/default.aspx. *
Education letters: Education letters are sent to beneficiaries
and providers for inappropriate behavior. When possible, TRICARE
initiates this action before the behavior warrants a referral
to an investigative agency. If you receive an education letter,
take immediate action to correct the behavior. * Review explanations of benefits (EOBs): Many fraud or abuse notifications come from beneficiaries reviewing their EOBs and reporting discrepancies. You should review your EOB and report any discrepancy you notice with your claim. Note: if you are a TOP Standard beneficiary and your provider offers to waive your copayment or deductible, it may be an indication of fraud. * Avoid recoupment actions: On occasion, erroneous payments are issued and result in overpayment. In general, beneficiaries are responsible for refunding erroneous payments. If you suspect an overpayment for a claim, notify TRICARE immediately. * Protect your military identification (ID) card: Identity theft is a serious problem. If your military ID card is lost or stolen, it could be used to commit health care fraud. Please guard your ID card to help prevent fraud. You can report, anonymously or by name, any suspected fraudulent or abusive behavior by beneficiaries or providers using one of the following options. Provide as much information as possible when reporting suspected fraud or abuse. Any information you provide will remain strictly confidential. * By Phone: Fraud Tip Hotline: Toll-free: +1-877-342-2503Direct: +1-215-354-5020 By Fax: +1-215-354-2395 * By E-mail: TOPProgramIntegrity@internationalsos.com * Online: Visit http://www.tricare-overseas.com/pdf/fraudabuse.pdf to download and complete a fraud and abuse report form. * By Mail: ATTN: TRICARE Program Integrity, 1717 W. Broadway, P.O. Box 7635, Madison, WI 53707 [Source: The 2011 Publication for Tricare Standard Overseas Beneficiaries May 2011 ++] Army BCT Museum: The Fort Jackson Post Museum closed its doors about two years ago for remodeling and redesignation as the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum. Since then, the building has been totally renovated, including the installation of new bathrooms and a new roof. In addition, a new collections facility was built adjacent to the main building. Bessie Williams, the museum's director, said she had hoped that the facility would be open in 2010, but that construction delays changed the project timeline. "There were certain issues that came up that weren't expected, so that pushed things back," she said. With its redesignation, the museum has a different focus. In the past, the exhibits highlighted the history of Fort Jackson, beginning with the post's opening as Camp Jackson in 1917. Now the museum concentrates strictly on basic training throughout the years. Fifteen topics, such as land navigation, physical training and weapons training are highlighted in each of the museum's four galleries. The museum chronicles the history of the post and BCT from June 1917 to present day. The galleries focus on different time periods - World War I, World War II, the Cold War era and the present. More emphasis is placed on explaining artifacts by using text panels, graphics and information kiosks. The museum is located on Fort Jackson SC, the largest US Army training facility in the country, at Building 4442 Jackson BLVD. The fort is named in honor of President Andrew Jackson, a native of SC. Tours are self-guided. Admissions is free. Days and Hours of Operation are M-F 098-1600 with extended hours on Family Day. The museum is closed Sa-Su, and all federal holidays. For additional info call or Fax 803-751-7419/4434F. [Source: http://www.jackson.army.mil/sites/bct/pages/673 Jul 2011 ++] The Jewish Chaplains Monument (simulated
on right) will stand alongside memorials to fallen Catholic,
Protestant and World War I chaplains. * First, we must re-evaluate programs that are meant to acquaint our veterans with the civilian workforce. We owe it to these men and women, and every taxpayer, to ensure that these programs are effective and that measures are in place to gauge their viability. If they do not work, we must eliminate them and find ones that will. * Second, we must give unemployed veterans of past wars temporary access to education programs to acquire skills, especially in fields with a shortage of workers, such as technology and health care. Two-thirds of our unemployed veterans are between the ages of 35 and 64, and many face skills and training deficits. Veterans of past conflicts are more likely to face significant financial obligations such as mortgages and college tuition for their children. Imagine looking forward to retirement, only to have to begin again. * Third, we must enforce the job protections in place for veterans, especially those who serve in the National Guard and Reserve14 percent of whom are currently unemployed. * Fourth, we must work with the states to eliminate the regulations that hinder job growth. Our veterans have skills that are of value in the private sector and are being wasted due to unduly burdensome laws and regulations across the states. It is time for the states to recognize the quality of military training and the power of reciprocity. We cannot do this in a vacuum, however. We have an obligation to these men and women, and to all Americans, to decrease our debt, lower taxes that impede growth, and assure employers, especially the small businesses that are the engine of our economy that produces 40 percent of new jobs, that help and leadership is on the way. The VOW Act is the most comprehensive solution to address the range of impediments to reducing veteran unemployment. In addition, we must also recognize that Americas small businesses, many of which are veteran-owned, are suffering more today than other companies. Therefore to complement the pillars outlined in the VOW Act, I have also introduced legislation that would provide small businesses with a tax credit toward the purchase of capital equipment for every unemployed veteran they hire (H.R. 2443). We have the opportunity to have the most qualified and desirable veteran workforce since World War II. But we must vow to act today. [Source: Hill Congress Blog article
18 Jul 2011 ++] * Northport NY: 30 child capacity, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., ages 6 weeks to 12 years Tacoma WA: Varying capacity, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., ages 6 weeks to 10 years Buffalo NY: 6 to 10 child capacity, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., ages 6 weeks to 12 years In a survey, VA found that nearly a third of Veterans were interested in childcare services and more than 10 percent had to cancel or reschedule VA appointments due to lack of childcare. This pilot program will benefit both men and women Veterans. Development of the pilot program was facilitated by the Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group, which strives to make positive changes in the provision of care for all women Veterans. While the number of women Veterans continues to grow, they use VA for health care proportionately less than male Veterans, said Patricia Hayes, Chief Consultant of the VAs Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. We hope that by offering safe, secure childcare while the Veteran attends a doctors appointment or therapy session, we will enable more women Veterans to take advantage of the VA benefits to which they are entitled. Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population. Of the 22.7 million living Veterans, more than 1.8 million are women. They comprise nearly 8 percent of the total Veteran population and 6 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates women Veterans will constitute 10 percent of the Veteran population by 2020 and 9.5 percent of VA patients. For more information about VA programs and services for women Veterans, please visit: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth and http://www.va.gov/womenvet [Source: VA News Release 16 Jul 2011
++] * First, the Bureau of Labor Statistics already made a change to allow some relatively modest substitutions (of the peas and carrots variety) several years ago. * Second, when COLA changes (delays) previously were proposed in the 1990s, the outcry from seniors successfully won an exemption for Social Security, leaving COLA penalties to fall disproportionally on military retirees. * Third, smaller COLAs arent the only penalty of the chained CPI, because it also would be used for tax threshold adjustments. Smaller annual tax-bracket adjustments mean guess what? More people shifting into higher tax brackets every year. For all of these reasons, MOAA is not a fan of the chained CPI. Some think its the lesser of the evils we might face during the coming fiscal crunch, and that might well be true. But that doesnt make it right. If you agree, MOAA asks you use their suggested message at http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=51440506&PROCESS=Take+Action to urge your elected officials to avoid options like the chained CPI that disproportionally affect those who already have sacrificed the most for their country. If you prefer you can use the NCOA Action alert provided letter at http://capwiz.com/ncoausa/issues/alert/?alertid=52258501&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] [Source: MOAA Leg Up Steve Strobridge
article 15 Jul 2011 ++ Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret.,Dir.
MOAA Government Relations Can copper bridge the gap? Hospital-acquired infections, which kill more than 100,000 people a year in the United States and cost $45 billion per year to treat, create high costs both in loss of life and money. Which brings us to an even bigger problem than aesthetics, money. The cost of substituting copper for stainless steel could make it cost prohibitive, particularly for cash strapped government organizations. It may prove difficult to make a business case to outlay the cash today in the hope of saving money in the future. Nevertheless the research may well move the needle in coppers favor. Copper producers estimate between 250,000 to 1 million tons a year in additional copper demand could result from anti-bacterial uses, or about 5 percent of the worlds mined copper output. For a metal in surplus only to the tune of 40,000 tons in 2010 according to the World Bureau of Statistics, a market moving level of additional demand could prove significant. [Source: Metl Miner: Market Analysis
Stuart Burns article 13 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: Los Angeles Times John M. Glionna article 21 Jul 2011 ++] South
Korean technicians conduct a ground-penetrating radar survey
at Camp Carroll, a U.S. base in Waegwan, South Korea, to search
for drums of Agent Orange possibly buried there. For additional info refer to http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/pha/pha.asp?docid=8&pg=0 [Source: http://www.militarycontamination.com Jul 2011 ++] * Yogurt: 3 weeks Soft cheese: 1 week Cured ham: 5-7 days Beef, veal, pork, lamb: 3-5 days Milk: 3-5 days Poultry and ground meat: 1-2 days Variety meats (liver, tongue, etc.): 1-2 days Sausage from pork, beef, or turkey: 1-2 daysCooked or processed foods in the fridge: Follow use-by date. For a sell-by date or no date, cook or freeze within this time frame: * Canned ham: 9 months unopened, 3-4 days after opening Bacon or hot dogs: 2 weeks unopened, 7 days after opening Luncheon meat: 2 weeks unopened, 3 -5 days after opening * Commercial sliced bread: 2 weeks * Cooked ham: 1 week unopened, 1 week after opening (3 days if sliced) * Cooked poultry or sausage: 3-4 days unopened, 3-4 days after opening Pantry/cupboard : * Canned fruits and vegetables: 2-5 years High-acid foods (pickles, tomatoes): 12 to 18 months * Commercial sliced bread: 1 week For more info on food handling and preparation, safety, and labeling, visit the USDA website Fact Sheets at. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/index.asp [Source: MoneyTalksNews Brandon Ballenger
article 18 Jul 2011 ++] ? Tricare Pharmacy. MuGard, a medicine
for the treatment of oral mucositis has been added to the list
of TRICARE covered pharmacy items. Oral mucositis is a debilitating
side effect of many anticancer treatments. Up to 40% of all patients
receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy develop moderate to severe
mucositis, and almost all patients receiving radiotherapy for
head and neck cancer and those undergoing stem cell transplantation
develop mucositis. ? Presidential Coins. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) to save taxpayers money introduced a bill (S.1385) to repeal the 2005 Presidential Dollar Coin Act to honor all 44 U.S. chief executives on a $1 piece by 2016. Some 1.252 billion presidential $1 coins are currently sitting in plastic bags or boxes on shelves in vaults in Philadelphia and Baltimore. The cost of making the coins is about 32 cents each, or $576,000 per day. ? Vet Guns. A House Veterans Affairs panel on 22 JUL advanced a bill that would clarify the right of mentally incapacitated veterans to buy firearms. The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs approved the measure (H.R.1898), sponsored by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT), which provides that persons found to be "mentally incompetent" would not be prohibited from buying or transporting firearms, unless a judge or other judicial authority asserts that they are a danger to themselves or others. ? Lejeune Water Contamination Booklet. The USMC official website has removed a much-disputed pamphlet describing the history and effects of Camp Lejeune contaminated water. The much disputed booklet cited the 2009 National Research Council Report which downplayed the link between the contaminated water and adverse health affects. ? COLA. Inflation dropped 0.2% in June, marking the first time in ninth months the Consumer Price Index hasn't risen. With four months left in the fiscal year, cumulative inflation stands at 3.2%.? Pro Flowers. Sending flowers via phone or online is a convenience but buyer beware. Although not a scam Pro Flowers seems to have an unusual number of complaints on their shipping/charging policies. Check out http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/Pro-Flowers.aspx. ? VA Home loans. According to Veterans Affairs, 66,000 veterans defaulted on home loans last year and were assisted by the department, but that number did not include the tens of thousands of other veterans who faced foreclosure on FHA or conventional mortgages or those in the National Guard who fell behind their mortgage payments while deployed, leaving the actual number of defaulting veterans unknown. ? VA Workforce Diversity. The DVA has been selected by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) to receive the Outstanding HACU Public Partner Award in recognition of the Department's efforts to bring Hispanics into its workforce. The VAs student intern program averages 58 participants every summer. ? Tylenol. McNeil Consumer Healthcare announced it is lowering the maximum daily dose instructions for Extra Strength Tylenol to six pills a day (3,000 mg) to reduce the risk of acetaminophen overdose. ? Brown Water ships. VA has not yet posted an updated list of oceangoing U.S. Navy vessels presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. The list of so-called Brown Water ships should be available at VA's website sometime during the first week in August, officials say. VA began updating the Brown Water list a year ago. In April, the agency said it was expanding the list from 150 to 170 ships. However, it has so far not made the new list public. ? Military Retirement. The militarys contribution for retirement is 10 times greater than in the private sector. Average private sector pension contributions range from 4-12 percent per year [while the] military retirement benefit equates to 75 percent of annual pay per year for those who retire after 30 years. ? Degreaser. The Naval Air Warfare
Center Aircraft Division at Patuxent River said 29 JUL that a
chemist in its material laboratory developed an environmental
friendly product called NAVSOLVE. The solvent is not petroleum-based,
has lower emissions and a higher flash point than products typically
used for cleaning machinery and aircraft components. [Source:
Various 16-31 Jul 2011 ++] ? Miami FL - The manager of a Miami health care agency and a registered nurse pleaded guilty 13 JULfor their participation in a $25 million home health Medicare fraud scheme. Lisandra Alonso, 33, and Luisa Morciego, 39, each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard in Miami to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Alonso and Morciego were charged in a FEB 2011 indictment. Alonso was a manager and patient recruiter for ABC Home Health Care. Morciego was a registered nurse and worked for ABC and Florida Home Health Care Providers Inc. ABC and Florida Home Health were Miami home health care agencies that purported to provide home health and physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries. ABC and Florida Home Health were operated for the purpose of billing the Medicare program for expensive physical therapy and home health care services that were medically unnecessary and/or were never provided. Beginning in approximately JAN 06 and continuing until MAR 09, Alonso taught the owners and operators of ABC how to operate a fraudulent home health agency. Alonso explained the structure of the corrupt scheme, specifically the importance of recruiters, kickbacks, doctors, beneficiaries and Medicare billing. Alonso negotiated kickback payment rates between patient recruiters and the ABC owners and operators, distributed the kickback payments to patient recruiters on behalf of the ABC owners and operators., and served as a patient recruiter for ABC. She paid kickbacks and bribes to beneficiaries in return for those beneficiaries allowing ABC to bill Medicare for services that were medically unnecessary and/or never provided. Alonso also taught nurses at ABC how to falsify patient files for Medicare beneficiaries to make it appear that such beneficiaries qualified for home health care and therapy services from ABC. Alonso taught the nurses to do so by, among other things, describing in the nursing notes and patient files non-existent symptoms such as tremors, impaired vision, weak grip and inability to walk without assistance. These symptoms were described to make it appear that the patients qualified for home health care benefits under Medicare. Alonso admitted that the files were falsified so that ABC could bill Medicare for medically unnecessary services. Nurses employed by ABC also paid kickbacks to Alonso in return for being assigned patients at ABC. As a result of Alonsos participation in the illegal scheme, the Medicare program was billed approximately $17 million for home health care services that were medically unnecessary and/or were never provided. ? Gatlinburg TN - Allen R. Foster, 49, was sentenced to a year in federal prison and three years of supervised release in a Knoxville federal courtroom 15 JUL. The sentencing followed a guilty plea in February. Foster must also pay $74,307 in restitution to Medicare, $65,837 to TennCare, and $596,761 to the IRS. Foster also agreed to surrender his license to practice medicine to the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners.Court documents show that Foster billed Medicare and TennCare for pain management patients who were never seen face-to-face, but who were provided prescriptions during monthly visits to offices in Knoxville and Morristown in 2006 and 2007. The tax offense involved not filing a tax return for the 2005 tax year. ? Miami FL - Jorge Zamora, 48, pleaded guilty 14 JUL to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to court documents, Zamora was an owner of Dynamic Therapy Inc. Zamora and his co-conspirators purchased Dynamic from its previous owners, and transformed it into a fraudulent enterprise. Dynamic purported to provide physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries, but in reality used the stolen identities of a physical therapist and scores of patients to bill Medicare for physical therapy services that were never provided. From fall 2009 to summer 2010, Zamora and his co-conspirators submitted and caused the submission of $757,654 in fraudulent claims to the Medicare program by Dynamic. Zamora admitted that he and his co-conspirators submitted claims to Medicare for physical therapy services that were never provided. Three officers of Dynamic Therapy also have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, Zamora faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set. ? San Antonio TX - Pharmacist Marcelleus Anunobi, 47, ordered last year to serve 20 years in prison for defrauding Texas' Medicaid program returned to the same courtroom 19 JUL, this time pleading no contest to illicit business practices concerning two other insurance providers. He also agreed to forfeit $163,000 from investment accounts as well as his rare coin collection, which was seized by the government last year and appraised at $250,000. Anunobi, whose trial began a year ago, operated Advanced Doctor's Prescribed Pharmacy in 2007 and 2008. He would obtain Medicaid numbers from children including a group of Somali refugees and continually bill the government for massive amounts of medications that patients neither asked for nor received. Prosecutors said he bilked the program of $2.5 million. On the 19th, he agreed to a concurrent 20-year sentence for using the same scheme to steal $184,613 from Tricare. He also took a concurrent 10-year sentence for defrauding Aetna Health Insurance of $32,492. He has agreed to pay restitution to both companies and has dropped his appeal of the jury's verdict last year. His pleas were motivated in large part by a pending investigation of his wife, local pediatrician Endaline Anunobi, on money laundering charges concerning the seized coins.Mr. Anunobi wants to do everything in his power to keep his wife from being prosecuted, he said. He's hoping that by taking the blame for everything they'll let his wife go. Marcelleus J. Anunobi at the 227th district courtroom in San Antonio. ? Jersey City NJ - Neurologist Dr.
Madgy Elamir, who previously was arrested in connection with
a major Medicaid fraud and narcotics trafficking investigation,
was re-arrested on 25 JUL for engaging in the practice of medicine
while his license is suspended and submitting fraudulent prescription
claims to be submitted to Medicaid. Elamir, 58, was charged with
health care claims fraud, Medicaid fraud and the practice of
medicine by an unlicensed perso. Bail was set at $1 million cash
or bond . Elamir is scheduled to go on trial in September in
connection with a 15 JUL 2010 indictment charging him for his
alleged role in a major network that engaged in narcotics trafficking
and Medicaid fraud. Thst indictment alleges that between 2007
and 2009, he conspired with others to submit fraudulent claims
to Medicaid and received payments for medical examinations that
had not been provided. It also is alleged that he conspired to
write medically unnecessary prescriptions for Medicaid beneficiaries,
thereby causing pharmacies to submit claims to Medicaid for the
medically unnecessary drugs. Dr. Magdy Elamir ? Brooklyn NY - Pharmacists Luba Balyasny, 46, and Alla Shrayber, 40, were arrested 26 JUL for allegedly defrauding Medicare of more than $3 million after billing the federal government for prescriptions they never filled. Each is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to investigators, from January 2007 through December 2009, Balyasny and Shrayber systematically submitted false claims totaling 869,698 units to the Medicare Part D program through their pharmacies for medications that they did not purchase or dispense. HHS-OIG agents searched both pharmacies seizing more than 90 boxes containing wholesaler invoices, prescriptions, financial records Medicare correspondence and other business files. If convicted, Balyasny and Shrayber could face up to 10 years in federal prison. ? Baton Rouge LA - Thompson W. Chinwoh has been sentenced to four years in federal prison in a scheme that defrauded Medicare of $878,280. His attorney asked U.S. District Judge James J. Brady on 18 JUL to consider a sentence of probation. The Assistant U.S. Attorney argued for a prison term of nearly seven years. The prosecutor said Chinwoh's business partner, Samuel B. Johnson, earlier was sentenced to five years in prison. Chinwoh worked with Johnson at their Medical Supplies of Baton Rouge Inc. Both men admitted they defrauded Medicare by submitting bogus bills for power wheelchairs and other medical equipment that either had not been prescribed by physicians or were never delivered to patients. ? Tennessee - Psychotherapy fraud is becoming more and more common. Janet Renee Vaughn claimed she spent 20-30 minutes with patients at the Humphreys County nursing home and billed Medicare tens of thousands of dollars. But a video proved she spent less than five minutes with many residents and fabricated reports turned into Medicare. Agents caught Vaughn after hiding a camera in an alarm clock then watching how long she interacted with patients. She pleaded guilty to health care fraud and must re-pay the government more than $85,000. Glene Moye and Tabitha Jones pled guilty to defrauding Medicare of more than a million dollars. Their Nashville based health care company billed Medicare for psychotherapy services that either never happened or was done by unlicensed people. Then there's the case of Nashville doctor Cupid Poe. He pleaded guilty to fraud that involved sending untrained people like former patient, Delano Avent, into nursing homes to council residents. Dr. Poe billed taxpayers for counseling done by someone who was not licensed. Poe actually gave information that helped prosecute Candyce Jones. Her company billed Medicare for psychotherapy that either never happened or was performed by untrained people. This case involved a $650,000 loss to the Medicare program. [Source: Fraud News Daily 16-31 Jul
2011 ++] ? Washington Cnty OR - The last of four family members who were suspects in a Medicaid fraud ring that went on from 2006 to 2009 has been convicted. In AUG 2010, three of the family members pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft and fraud after an eight-month investigation by federal and state agencies. The family was accused of receiving more than $100,000 by filing false claims for progressive disabilities so they could qualify for government assistance. The ringleader, Rania S. Hamad, 34, received 13 months in prison, while her husband, Zack H. Maysi, 45, and her mother, Nahla S. Awad, 72, were given probation. The three paid the federal government $93,583.96 in restitution for money they defrauded from Medicaid. Awad was also ordered to pay $8,131 in restitution to the U.S. Social Security Administration. Rania Hamad's brother, Ahmad Hamad Hamad, 48, fled overseas but was arrested on 14 FEB by U.S. Marshals upon discharge from a Portland hospital. Officials did not say when Ahmad Hamad returned to the United States and would not comment on how they discovered his whereabouts. On 23 JUN Ahmad Hamad pleaded guilty to six of 99 counts he was facing. The 99 counts consisted of multiple charges of first-degree theft and of making false claims for health care payments. Ahmad Hamad Hamad ? New York NY - Indictments were handed out in connection with a scam that cost the city's Human Resources Administration nearly $100,000. The cases include 12 people who allegedly used Medicaid to fund a prescription drug ring. The ringleaders used a doctor's office on Grand Street in Bushwick to write fake prescriptions for Oxycontin and then sold the narcotic on the street. They made more than $200,000 in profit, while Medicaid lost $96,000. The ringleaders included two women who worked at a doctor's office and another who worked in a pharmacy across the street. Their nine alleged co-conspirators, who are Medicaid recipients, allegedly went to various Brooklyn pharmacies to fill the phony prescriptions. All 12 defendants are being charged with second degree grand larceny. Sandra Quinones, Jennifer Garrastegui and Lindsay Ortiz face additional charges including forgery and conspiracy. ? Hermiston OR - Barbara Kashuba will spend 19 months in prison for Medicaid fraud following sentencing 22 JUL in a case that involved her husband, Kenneth Kashuba, and his cousin, John. She received the same sentence as her husband on 37 counts of fraud, including making false claims to Medicaid, theft I and unlawful use of food stamps. The several dozen charges filed against the three stemmed from claims regarding John Kashuba's health. Kenneth and Barbara Kashuba filed for Medicaid money, claiming they were providing care for John Kashuba, who suffered severe medical conditions, leaving him unable to walk or drive, among other things. Kashubaclaimed he couldn't even squeeze a tube of toothpaste himself. DOJ investigators began putting a case together following a DHS report and provided contrary video and visual surveillance evidence to jury. John Kashuba received a probation of five years for his part in the scam. The reduced sentence was due to his poor health. Kenneth and Barbara both received 19 months in prison, along with three years post-prison supervision. All three will face $77,520 in fines. ? Brownsville TX - Felicitas Velez Alanis, 50, and her daughter Erika Ortega Alanis, 26, were arrested 28 JUL by state and federal authorities for health care fraud charges. A federal grand jury indictment alleges that between Jan. 1, 2005 and Oct. 12, 2006, the women submitted more than $646,000 in false and fraudulent bills to the Texas Medicaid program. Felicitias Alanis owns and operates Ve-Ala Inc., a corporation that does business as Nisi Medical Equipment Supply around the Brownsville and Harlingen areas. Erika Alanis was in charge of the day-to-day operations of the company. [Source: Fraud News Daily 16-31 Jul 2011 ++] State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Nevada provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these refer to the Veteran State Benefits NV attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each click on Learn more about wording highlighted in blue on the attachment. Housing Benefits * Financial Assistance Benefits * Employment Benefits * Other State Veteran Benefits [Source: http://www.military.com/benefits
Jul 2011 ++] Significant August events in U.S. Military History are: * Aug 01 1801 - Tripolitan War: The schooner USS Enterprise defeated the 14-gun Tripolitan corsair Tripoli after a fierce but one-sided battle. * Aug 01 1942 - WWII: Ensign Henry C. White, while flying a J4F Widgeon plane, sinks U-166 as it approaches the Mississippi River, the first U-boat sunk by the U.S. Coast Guard. * Aug 01 1950 - Korea: Lead elements of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division arrive in country from the U.S, in defense of Pusan/Naktong Perimeter * Aug 02 1990 - Iraq: Iraq invades Kuwait initiating Operation Desert Shield which became Desert Storm on 17 JAN 91 when it became clear he would not leave. * Aug 03 1958 - Cold War: The first nuclear submarine USS Nautilus passes under the North Pole. * Aug 04 1790 - The Revenue Cutter Service, forerunner of the COAST GUARD was established by Alexander Hamilton. * Aug 04 1952 - Korea: Battle for Old Baldy (Hill 266) which commenced on 26 JUN ends. * Aug 04 1964 - Vietnam: The U.S.S. Maddox and Turner Joy exchange fire with North Vietnamese patrol boats. * Aug 05 1861 - Civil War: Congress adopts the nations first income tax to finance the Civil War. * Aug 05 1864 - Civil War: Admiral David Farragut, USN, exclaiming "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," ran through a Confederate minefield at Mobile Bay, Alabama, and captured a defending group of Confederate ships. * Aug 05 1951 - Korea: The United Nations Command suspends armistice talks with the North Koreans when armed troops are spotted in neutral areas. * Aug 05 1995 - Operation Storm begins in Croatia. Aug 06 1945 - WWII: Paul Tibbets, the commander of Enola Gay, drops the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. * Aug 07 1782 - Revolutionary War: Purple Heart day. General George Washington authorizes the award of the Purple Heart for soldiers as an award for military merit. Only 3 were given. As we know it today it was reestablished in 1932 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. * Aug 07 1942 - WWII: The U.S. 1st Marine Division lands on the islands of Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomon islands. This is the first American amphibious landing of the war. * Aug 07 1964 - Vietnam: Congress overwhelmingly passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, allowing the president to use unlimited military force to prevent attacks on U.S. forces. * Aug 08 1942 - WWII: U.S. Marines capture the Japanese airstrip on Guadalcanal. * Aug 08 1944 - WWII: U.S. forces complete the capture of the Marianas Islands. *
Aug 08 1950 - Korea: U.S. troops repel the first North Korean
attempt to overrun them at the battle of Naktong Bulge, which
continued for 10 days. * Aug 10 1950 - Korea: President Harry S. Truman calls the National Guard to active duty to fight in the Korean War. * Aug 11 1972 - Vietnam: The last U.S. ground forces withdraw from Vietnam. * Aug 12 1898 - Spanish American War: Conflict officially ends after three months and 22 days of hostilities. * Aug 12 1952 - Korea: The Battle of Bunker Hill (Hill 122) began which continues for 4 days Aug 12 1969 - Vietnam: American installations at Quan-Loi come under Viet Cong attack. * Aug 13 1898 - Philippine-American War: Manila, the capital of the Philippines, falls to the U.S. Army. * Aug 14 1945 - WWII: The Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, ending World War II. * Aug 14 1973 - Vietnam: The United States ends the "secret" bombing of Cambodia. * Aug 15 1942 - WWII: The Japanese submarine I-25 departs Japan with a floatplane in its hold which will be assembled upon arriving off the West Coast and used to bomb U.S. forests. * Aug 15 1950 - Korea: Two U.S. divisions are badly mauled by the North Korean Army at the Battle of the Bowling Alley in South Korea, which rages on for five more days. [Source: Various Jul 2011 ++] 1. What South Vietnamese decoration
was issued to almost all US soldiers in Vietnam? What is it? 4. It's 1969. You've just completed your first tour in Vietnam with the Army and wear your ribbons on your dress as you head home. Which of the following ribbons would you NOT expect to have on your jacket - RVN Campaign Medal, Soldier's Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, or National Defense Service Medal? 5. For your exceptional service as colonel in Vietnam the ARVN awarded you this very prestigious medal. But when you first see it you think it's kind of a joke; the thing has a plaited ribbon on a jagged background, tassels, and a rosette. What was it ? 6. What was the main problem with US soldiers being awarded the RVN Wound Medal? 7. There were Bronze and Silver Star Medals awarded to service personnel during the conflict. Was there something like a Gold Star medal? 8. Of the 246 Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients, which of the following groups received three - Canadians, Colonels, Chaplains, or Conscientious Objectors? 9. Of the Air Force Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Aerial Achievement Medal, and Air Medal which could not possibly have been awarded to a superb pilot during the Vietnam War?10. More than 3 million US servicemen served in the Vietnam War, of which more than 150,000 were wounded. Approximately how many Purple Hearts were awarded? Answers 1. The Gallantry Cross Unit Citation was extensively awarded to foreign troops by the government of the RVN. By 1974 it was decided to award it retroactively to any American Army unit involved in the Vietnam Conflict between 1961 and 1974, and therefore the soldiers. 2. The Military Medal was modeled after the French Médaille Militaire, which could also only be awarded to enlisted men (and sometimes senior generals) for distinguished service. Reasoning that any man dying for the cause of the RVN made them a hero it was decided to award all of them this prestigious award. However, with the increased numbers of US troops in Vietnam, and corresponding higher number of KIAs, the number of bestowals soared, and the policy was abandoned. 3. The "1960-" device was supposed to show the start and end year of the conflict, the latter to be engraved upon victory. As the RVN lost and ceased to exist the field was left empty, with only "1960-" on the scroll. 4. The Soldier's Medal was rather rarely awarded for non-combat acts of heroism, in contrast to combat medals such as the Bronze Star Medal or the Commendation Medal with Valor Device. 5. Distinguished Service Order 1st Class. While it was based on ancient Vietnamese vestments for successful military commanders, given to them by the Emperor as a token of appreciation, it stands out as one of the most peculiar medal designs in modern history. 6. They were not allowed to wear it on their uniforms. While some may have thought that it brings them bad luck, Army regulations did not allow for the Wound Medal to be worn on the uniform, as the Purple Heart was the equivalent American decoration, and it was thus considered a needless redundancy. 7. Yes, in North Vietnam . The Gold Star was (and is) the highest decoration of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, modeled after the Soviet Gold Star Medal. There is no connection to the American Bronze and Silver Star. 8. Three. Vincent R. Capodanno, Angelo J. Liteky and Charles J. Watters. William A. Jones III was the only full-bird colonel to receive the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. Conscientious objector Thomas Bennett received it while serving as a medic, as did Canadian Peter C. Lemon as an infantryman. 9. Aerial Achievement Medal . It was created in 1988, well after the Vietnam War had ended. It is arguably one of the worst-looking American medals ever designed.10. Approximately 350,000. Servicemen could receive multiple awards of the Purple Heart for multiple instances of wounding. However, the figure for physical wounds dwarfs in comparison to the 830,000 soldiers who were left with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to the mental wounds they received in Vietnam. [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/war_history.html Jul 2011 ++] Homeowners 65 and older can get a
credit equal to half of the school property taxes, up to $500.
For property tax rates refer to http://www.dedo.delaware.gov/pdfs/main_root/publications/2008-2009_property_tax_report.pdf Inheritance and Estate Taxes In July 2005 the legislature eliminated the requirement to file a Delaware estate tax return for dates on which the federal estate tax law does not allow a credit for state death tax (currently 2005 through 2010). It has now been reinstate for decedents dying after June 30, 2009. For further information, visit the Delaware Division of Revenue site http://revenue.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8200 [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Jul 2011 ++] Drill 7 holes on the seat. The Devil did just that. The squid then sat on the chair and let out a very loud fart. Standing up, he asked, Which hole did my fart come out of? The Devil inspected the seat and said, The third hole from the right. Wrong, said the chief, it came out of my a**hole. And the Chief went to Heaven... The HeadA Chief and a captain happened to be in the head at an airport one day, both standing at the urinals. The chief, finishing first, proceeded to the door and was about to leave when the captain said, You know, Chief, we officers are taught from OCS to wash our hands after we urinate. The Chief responded with, You know, Captain, we enlisted are taught from boot camp not to piss on our hands. And promptly departed. A wise old Master Chief once said...A young Ensign approaches the crusty old Master Chief and asked about the origin of the commissioned officer insignias."Well," replied the Master Chief, " the insignias for the Navy are steeped in history and tradition.First, we give you a gold bar representing that you are very valuable but also malleable.The silver bar also represents significant value, but is less malleable.Now, when you make Lieutenant, your value doubles, hence the two silver bars.As a Captain, you soar over the military masses, hence the eagle.As an Admiral, you are, obviously, a star.Does that answer your question?""Yes Master Chief" replied the young Ensign. "But what about Lieutenant Commander and Commander?""That, sir, goes waaaay back in history - back to the Garden of Eden. You see we've always covered our pr*cks with leaves." "THE FIVE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS IN THE US NAVY"A Seaman saying, "I learned this in Boot Camp..."A Petty Officer saying, "Trust me, sir..."A Lieutenant JG saying, "Based on my experience..."A Lieutenant saying, "I was just thinking..." A Chief chuckling, "Watch this shit..." The greatest use of life is to spend
it for something that will outlast it. --- William James (1842
- 1910)
HR 46:
Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2011. A bill to ammend the Immigration
and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant status for an
alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a United States
citizen child if the child was born abroad and is the parent
of a a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
HR 79:
Dependent Care Act of 2011. A bill to ammend title 38, United
States Code to provide certain abused dependents of veterans
with health care. HR 115:
CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011. A bill to ammend title
38, United States Code to increase the maximu age for children
eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program. HR 117:
Help Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to ammend title 38, United
States Code, to make certain improvements in laws administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R. 169:
Publicize VA VetSuccess Internet Website. A bill to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of
the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a
hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet Website. H.R. 178:
Military Surviving Souuses Equity Act. A bill to ammend title
10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction
of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan for military
surviving spouses to offset the receipt of veterans dependency
and indemnity compensation. H.R. 181:
National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act. A
bill to ammend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members
of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served
on active duty or performed active service since September 11,
2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency
situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility
for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for
other purposes. H.R. 186:
Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility. A bill to ammend title 10, United
States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt
of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation
to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired
under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of
the members' disability rating persentage. H.R. 208:
Tricare Mental Health Reimbursement. A bill to ammend title 10,
United States Code, to authorize the reimbursement of mental
health counselors under TRICARE, and for other purposes. H.R. 210:
Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011. A bill to ammend title
38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized
military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service
for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs. H.R. 238:
Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2011. A bill to ammend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit
to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare
Part B. H.R. 240:
Promote Vet Jobs with DVA Sole Source Contracts. A bill to ammend
title 38, United States Code, to promote jobs for veterans through
the use of sole source contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs
for purposes of meeting the contracting goals and preferences
of the Department of Veterans Affairs for small business concerns
owned and controlled by veterans. H.R. 248:
Depleated Uranium Screening and Testing Act. A bill to provide
for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed, during
military service, to depleted uranium, to provide for health
testing of such members, and for other purposes. H.R. 284:
Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and Persons With Disabilities
Housing Fairness Act of 2011. H.R. 287:
Homes for Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to provide housing assistance
for very low-income veterans. H.R. 303:
Retired Pay Restoration Act. A bill to ammend title 10, United
States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed
Forces, who have a service-connected disability and either retired
pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under
current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R. 309:
Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act. A bill to
provide compensation for certain World War II veterans who survived
the Bataan Death March, and were held as prisoners of war by
the Japanese. H.R. 319:
Veterans Day Off Act. A bill to require employers to provide
veterans with time off on Veterans Day. H.R. 333:
The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act. A bill to ammend title
10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed
Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than
50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay
and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in
period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent
receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years
of service, and for other purposes. H.R. 396:
TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defence
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to cary out a pilot program
under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments
of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R. 420:
Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011. A bill to provide an
amnisty period during which veterans and their family members
can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration
and Transfer Redord, and for other purposes. H.R. 493:
Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act. A bill to ammend title
10, united States Code, to provide for forginess of certain overpayments
of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed
Forces following their death. H.R. 540:
In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act. A bill to direct
the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to honor veterans of
the Armed Forces who died after their service in the Vietnam
War, but whose deaths were a direct result of their service in
the Vietnam War. H.R. 544:
Servicemen Mortgage Foreclosure Protection. A bill to ammend
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently extend the
period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage forclosures,
and for other purposes. H.R. 545:
Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill
to ammend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide
funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans. H.R. 561:
Veterans Employment Tax Credit Act of 2011. A bill to ammend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity
tax credit with respect to veterans. H.R. 575:
HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011. A bill to ammend title 38, United States
Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into
contracts with community health care providers to improve access
to health care for veterans in highly rural areas, and for other
purposes. H.R. 595:
National Song of Rememberance. A bill to ammend title 36, United
States Code, to designate the musical pice commonly known as
"Taps" as the National Song of Remembrance, and for
other purposes. H.R. 652:
Tricare Premium Limits. A bill to amend title 10, united States
Code, to limit the increaase of premiums, deductibles, copayments,
or other charges for health care provided under the TRICARE program. H.R. 743:
Tricare Premium Limits. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to limit the increase of premiums, deductibles, copayments,
or other charges for health care provided under the TRICARE program. H.R.743:
Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to To amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to small businesses
which hire individuals who are members of the Ready Reserve or
National Guard. H.R.802:
VetStar Award Program. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to establish a VetStar Award Program. H.R.803:
Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to increase vocational rehabilitation
and employment assistance, and for other purposes. H.R.804:
Operation New Dawn Vet Care. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to clarify the eligibility of certain veterans who
serve in support of Operation New Dawn for hospital care, medical
services, and nursing home care provided by the Department of
Veterans Affairs. H.R.805:
Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights Education. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate certain
staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform veterans
about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, and for
other purposes. H.R.806:
End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to make certain improvements in the services
provided for homeless veterans under the administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.809:
Post Women Veterans Bill of Rights. To direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to display in each facility of the Department
of Veterans Affairs a Women Veterans Bill of Rights. H.R.810:
Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the
timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board
of Veterans' Appeals, and for other purposes. H.R.811:
Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide
funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans. H.R.812:
Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011. A bill to To amend title 38,
United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure
of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic
of Vietnam. H.R.813:
Vet Survivor Benefit Eligibility. To amend title 38, United States
Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be
totally disabled before the veteran's survivors are eligible
for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time
of death. H.R.814:
Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011. A bill to To provide Medicare
payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities
for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans
for non-service-connected conditions. H.R.834:
Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act of 2011. A bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow eligible
veterans to use qualified veterans mortgage bonds to refinance
home loans, and for other purposes. H.R.865:
Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity
credit to certain recently discharged veterans. H.R.923:
Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to exempt reimbursements of expenses
related to accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from determinations
of annual income with respect to pensions for veterans and surviving
spouses and children of veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.924:
Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Small Business
Act to establish a Veterans Business Center program, and for
other purposes. H.R.930:
PTSD Disability Compensation Evaluation. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to improve the disability compensation
evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health
conditions related to military sexual trauma, and for other purposes. H.R.938:
Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act. To establish a commission
to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War
I and to designate memorials to the service of men and women
of the United States in World War I. H.R.943:
K-9 Companion Corps Act. A bill to establish a grant program
to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of
the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.948:
Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision
of behavioral health services to members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment
readiness and fitness standards, and for other purposes. H.R.961:
Safe Haven for Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 18,
United States Code, with respect to the prohibition on disrupting
military funerals, and for other purposes. H.R.1003:
National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving
Spouses Space-available Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military
aircraft for reserve members, former members of a reserve component,
and unremarried surviving spouses and dependents of such members
and former members. H.R.1014:
Children of Military Service Members Commemorative Lapel Pin
Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to recognize
the dependent children of members of the Armed Forces who are
serving on active duty or who have served on active duty through
the presentation of an official lapel button. H.R.1025:
Reserve Veteran Status. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain
persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law. H.R.1092:
Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in
fees for military health care. H.R.1130:
Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents
(EARNED) Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces
who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement
to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents. H.R.1133:
Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit organizations
to collaborate in the provision of case management services associated
with certain supported housing programs for veterans, and for
other purposes. H.R.1154:
Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs from prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department
of Veterans Affairs property. H.R.1169:
National Guard Technician Equity Act. A bill to amend titles
5, 10, and 32, United States Code, to eliminate inequities in
the treatment of National Guard technicians, to reduce the eligibility
age for retirement for non-Regular service, and for other purposes.
H.R.1178:
Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military
commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable
service-connected disability and to their dependents. H.R.1245:
Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. To recognize the memorial at the Navy UDT-SEAL
Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national memorial
of Navy SEALS and their predecessors. H.R.1260:
Support for Survivors Act. A bill to provide for the preservation
by the Department of Defense of documentary evidence of the Department
of Defense on incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment
in the military, and for other purposes. H.R.1263:
Surviving Spouse Mortgage Protection. A bill to amend the Servicemembers
Civil Relief Act to provide surviving spouses with certain protections
relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures. H.R.1283:
Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal
year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service
used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve
component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular
service. H.R.1285:
Military Health Care Affordability Act. A bill t o amend title
10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees
for military health care before fiscal year 2014. H.R.1288:
World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act. A bill to direct the
Secretary of Homeland Security to accept additional documentation
when considering the application for veterans status of an individual
who performed service in the merchant marines during World War
II, and for other purposes. H.R.1298:
Veterans' Efficiencies Through Savings Act of 2011. A bill to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct cost-benefit
analyses for the provision of medical care by the Department
of Veterans Affairs in certain geographic areas served by multiple
Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. H.R.1312:
Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit with
respect to recent veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1383:
Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011. A bill to temporarily
preserve higher rates for tuition and fees for programs of education
at non-public institutions of higher learning pursued by individuals
enrolled in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs before the enactment of the Post-9/11
Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, and
for other purposes H.R.1392:
Fairness to Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to provide assistance
to veterans and veteran-owned businesses with respect to contract
opportunities, and for other purposes. H.R.1407:
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.
A bill to to increase, effective as of December 1, 2011, the
rates of 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
by the same percentage as applies to any social Security rate
increase. H.R.1441:
Arlington Gravesite Reservations. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to codify the prohibition against the reservation
of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes.
H.R.1451:
Post 9/11 GI Bill Payment Restoration Act. A bill to repeal a
modification of authority to make certain interval payments of
educational assistance under laws administered by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.1457:
William Shemin Jewish World War I Veterans Act. A bill to direct
the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Navy to conduct
a review of military service records of Jewish American veterans
of World War I, including those previously awarded a military
decoration, to determine whether any of the veterans should be
posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and for other purposes.
H.R.1460:
Automatic Combat Vet Enrollment. A bill to provide for automatic
enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA
medical system, and for other purposes. H.R.1484:
Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to improve the appeals process of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish a commission
to study judicial review of the determination of veterans' benefits.
H.R.1497:
Tripoli Libya Vet Remains. A bill to direct the Secretary of
Defense to take whatever steps may be necessary to exhume and
transfer the remains of certain deceased members of the Armed
Forces buried in Tripoli, Libya, and for other purposes. H.R.1450:
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. A bill
to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military
activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012,
and for other purposes. H.R.1491:
Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to
guarantee that military funerals are conducted with dignity and
respect. H.R.1595:
Veterans' Home Loan Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to amend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make all veterans eligible
for home loans under the veterans mortgage revenue bond program. H.R.1627:
Arlington Monument Placements. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to provide for certain requirements for the placement
of monuments in Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes. H.R.1647:
Veterans' Choice in Filing Act of 2011. A bill to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under
which certain veterans may submit claims for benefits under laws
administered by the Secretary to any regional office of the Department
of Veterans Affairs. H.R.1657:
Vet Business Misrepresentation Penalties. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for
misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern
owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern
owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. H.R.1671:
Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to extend the authority of the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to provide specially adapted housing assistance
to individuals residing temporarily in housing owned by a family
member. H.R.1775:
Stolen Valor Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States
Code, to establish a criminal offense relating to fraudulent
claims about military service. H.R.1811:
National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment and reemployment
rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National
Guard duty. H.R.1826:
Unauthorized Vet Fees Penalty. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to reinstate criminal penalties for persons charging
veterans unauthorized fees. H.R.1850:
Army Combat Action Badge Eligibility Expansion. A bill to expand
retroactive eligibility of the Army Combat Action Badge to include
members of the Army who participated in combat during which they
personally engaged, or were personally engaged by, the enemy
at any time on or after December 7, 1941. H.R.1854:
Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011. A Bill to require
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of outreach
for veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1855:
Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the provision of rehabilitative services for veterans
with traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. H.R.1863:
Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48
contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one
full-service Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in
the State or receive comparable services provided by contract
in the State, and for other purposes. H.R.1871:
Wounded Warrior Tax Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent the extension of the tax collection
period merely because the taxpayer is a member of the Armed Forces
who is hospitalized as a result of combat zone injuries. H.R.1898:
Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. A bill 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. H.R.1910:
Unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance. A bill to extend for
one year the authority of certain members of the Armed Forces
and veterans to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
benefits to family members. H.R.1911:
Protecting Veterans' Homes Act. A bill to amend the Servicemembers
Civil Relief Act to permanently extend the period of protections
for servicemembers against mortgage foreclosures, and for other
purposes. H.R.1928:
Women's Fair and Equal Right to Military Service Act. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the ground combat
exclusion policy for female members of the Armed Forces. H.R.1941:
Hiring Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to improve the provision of
Federal transition, rehabilitation, vocational, and unemployment
benefits to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for
other purposes. H.R.1968:
Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service
medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during
the Cold War, and for other purposes. H.R.1979:
Chapter 61 CRDP + SBP/DIC Offset + Reserve Retired Pay: A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand eligibility
for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans'
disability compensation to include additional chapter 61 disability
retirees, to coordinate eligibility for combat-related special
compensation and concurrent receipt, to eliminate the reduction
of SBP survivor annuities by dependency and indemnity compensation,
and to enhance the ability of members of the reserve components
who serve on active duty or perform active service to receive
credit for such service in determining eligibility for early
receipt of non-regular service retired pay. H.R.2002:
Post 9/11 Educational Assistance Transfer. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to permit disabled or injured members
of the Armed Forces to transfer Post 9/11 Educational Assistance
benefits after retirement, and for other purposes. H.R.2026:
Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act. A bill
to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts. H.R.2046:
Vet Discharge Transitional Services. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces
who are being separated from active duty receive comprehensive
employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional
services. H.R.2048:
Vet Private Cemetery Headstones. A bill to expand the eligibility
for the provision of Government headstones, markers, and medallions
for veterans buried at private cemeteries. H.R.2051:
Veterans Missing in America Act of 2011. A bill to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist in the identification
of unclaimed and abandoned human remains to determine if any
such remains are eligible for burial in a national cemetery,
and for other purposes. H.R.2052:
Fort McClellan Health Registry Act. A bill to direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry of certain veterans
who were stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and for other
purposes. H.R.2053:
Veterans' Disability Claims Efficiency Act of 2011. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of processing
certain claims for disability compensation by veterans. H.R.2055:
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2012. H.R.2070:
World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2011. A bill to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to install in the area of the World
War II Memorial in the District of Columbia a suitable plaque
or an inscription with the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt
prayed with the nation on June 6, 1944, the morning of D-Day. H.R.2074:
Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to require a comprehensive policy on
reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents and other safety
incidents that occur at medical facilities of the Department
of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2115:
Filipino Veterans of World War II Family Reunification Act. A
bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans
from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas. H.R.2116:
Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2011. To exempt
children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical
limitations on immigrant visas and for other purposes. H.R.2148:
Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act.
A bill to To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military
commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable
service-connected disability and to their dependents. H.R.2192:
National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act of 2011.
A bill to exempt for an additional 4-year period, from the application
of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying
members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and members
of the National Guard who, after September 11, 2001, are called
to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for
not less than 90 days. H.R.2203:
Alaska Hero's Card Act of 2011. A bill to establish a pilot program
under which veterans in the State of Alaska may receive health
care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department
medical facilities, and for other purposes. H.R.2232:
AMRA Charter Amendment. A bill to amend title 36, United States
Code, to grant a Federal charter to the American Military Retirees
Association, and for other purposes. H.R.2243:
Veterans Employment Promotion Act. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to require the Secretary of Labor to publish
on an Internet website certain information about the number of
veterans who are employed by Federal contractors. H.R.2274:
Annual Post 9/11 VA EAP Report. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and
the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress annual reports
on the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other
purposes. H.R.2300:
VA Paralympic Team Allowance. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to extend the authorization of appropriations for
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly assistance
allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the
Paralympic Team. H.R.2301:
Streamlining Education Claims Processing Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to make payments to educational institutions
under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program at the end
of a quarter, semester, or term, and for other purposes. H.R.2302:
DVA Conference Congressional Notification. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to notify Congress of conferences sponsored by the Department
of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2305:
Memorialize Our Guardsmen and Reservists Act. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to make memorial headstones and
markers available for purchase on behalf of members of reserve
components who performed inactive duty training or active duty
for training but did not serve on active duty. H.R.2318:
Medal of Honor Stipend Increase Act. A bill 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 $500. H.R.2345:
VA Assistance to Paralympics, Inc. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to extend the authorization of appropriations
for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly assistance
allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the
Paralympic Team and the authorization of appropriations for the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to United
States Paralympics, Inc. H.R.3349:
Veterans' Benefits Training Improvement Act of 2011 . A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to annually assess the skills of certain
employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration,
and for other purposes. H.R.2369:
American Legion Charter Amendment. A bill to o amend title 36,
United States Code, to provide for an additional power for the
American Legion under its Federal charter. H.R.2383:
Modernizing Notice to Claimants Act. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to use electronic communication to provide required notice to
claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary,
and for other purposes. H.R.2388:
Access to Timely Information Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to improve the submission of information by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Congress. H.R.2403:
National Guard Outreach Act. A bill to authorize the Secretary
of Defense to provide assistance to State National Guards to
provide counseling and reintegration services for members of
reserve components of the Armed Forces ordered to active duty
in support of a contingency operation, members returning from
such active duty, veterans of the Armed Forces, and their families. H.R.2419:
COMBAT PTSD Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code,
to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for
purposes of service-connection of disabilities. H.R.2433:
Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws
relating to the employment and training of veterans, and for
other purposes. H.R.2443:
Tax Credit to Hire Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the limitation on expensing
certain depreciable assets for certain businesses that hire veterans. H.R.2470:
E-SERV Act. A bill to improve the electronic health information
systems and capabilities of the Department of Defense and the
Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2477:
VA Distinguished Public Service Medal. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to establish a Department of Veterans
Affairs Medal for Distinguished Public Service to honor veterans
who make remarkable and distinguished contributions to their
communities. H.R.2498:
Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act. A bill to amend title 36,
United States Code, to encourage the nationwide observance of
two minutes of silence each Veterans Day. H.R.2530:
State Nursing Home Reimbursement Rates. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to provide for increased flexibility
in establishing rates for reimbursement of State homes by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for nursing home care provided
to veterans. H.R.2550:
Spouses of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to provide for the transfer of entitlement
to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs by deceased members
of the Armed Forces. H.R.2559:
Helping Homeless Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to
homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.2563
KWVM Wall of Remembrance. A bill to authorize a Wall of Remembrance
as part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial and to allow certain
private contributions to fund that Wall of Remembrance. H.R.2634:
Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2011. A bill to direct
the Secretary of State to provide assistance for certain individuals
affected by exposure to Agent Orange and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to enhance the availability of medical care for descendants
of veterans of the Vietnam era, and for other purposes. H.R.2654:
Don't Default on Military Families Act. A bill to amend the Servicemembers
Civil Relief Act to provide servicemembers increased protection
during a funding gap. **: Union Calendar: A separate calendar in the United States House of Representatives that schedules bills involving money issues. It arose from the requirement in Article One of the United States Constitution that all revenue bills originate in the House of Representative. To meet that requirement, Rule XIII.
S.63:
WWII Filipino Vet Claims. A bill to require the Secretary of
the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos
that they performed military service on behalf of the United
States during World War II. S.67:
Disabled Vet Space A Travel. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed
Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total
to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the
same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled
to travel on such aircraft. S.68:
POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of
war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores. S.70:
Restore Memorial Day Observance. A bill to restore the traditional
day of observance of Memorial Day, and for other purposes. S.146:
Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity
credit to certain recently discharged veterans. S.260:
SBP DIC Offset. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities
under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity
compensation. S.277:
Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care, medical
services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed
at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated
at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes. S.316:
Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act. A bill
to ensure that the victims and victims' families of the November
5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood, Texas, receive the same treatment,
benefits, and honors as those Americans who have been killed
or wounded in a combat zone overseas and their families. S.325:
Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision
of behavioral health services to members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment
readiness and fitness standards, and for other purposes. S.344:
Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the
uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to
receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans
Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason
of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special
Compensation, and for other purposes. S.367:
Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to small businesses
which hire individuals who are members of the Ready Reserve or
National Guard, and for other purposes. S.402:
Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service
medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during
the Cold War, and for other purposes. S.411:
Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit organizations
to collaborate in the provision of case management services associated
with certain supported housing programs for veterans, and for
other purposes. S.423:
Fully Developed VA Claim Applications. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to provide authority for retroactive
effective date for awards of disability compensation in connection
with applications that are fully-developed at submittal, and
for other purposes. S.491:
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011. A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service
in the reserve components of the Armed Forces of certain persons
by honoring them with status as veterans under law, and for other
purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material
from this newsletter for purposes of your own that go beyond
'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
Medal of Honor Update 07 (Leroy Petry) California Vet Home Update 10 (Budget Cut $12.1 Million) Purple Heart Vets (Decreased Mortality) VA Vet Contaminant Exposure Update 09 (Court Case) COLA 2012 Update 03 (Calculation Change Proposal) Vet Housing Update 03 (Foreclosure Suit) Vet Cemetery Philippines (Clark Veterans Cemetery) Volunteer Opportunities (Where to Look) Commissary Coupon Use Update 03 (Overseas) TRICARE Philippines Update 02 (Reimbursement Changes) VA Claims Backlog Update 53 (AL Survey Results) VA Sexual Assaults Update 03 (Unreported Numbers) Louisiana Vet Legislation Update 01 (House Bill 143) VA Women Vet Programs Update 13 (Call Center) Mobilized Reserve 5 JUL 2011 (1772 Decrease) Bariatric Surgery Update 03 (Older Vet Survival Impact) Health Care Reform Update 42 (AMA Membership Drops) Automated Phone Menus (How to Bypass) Displaying the Flag Update 01 (Lompoc Floral Flag) Social Security Myths Update 01 (Fears vs. Facts) Tricare Overseas Program Update 11 (Submitting Care Claims) NM Vet Legislation (Nine New Vet Laws) Guard Empowerment Legislation (S.1025) Medicare Scam (Pull-Through Business) Cell-Phone Radiation Scams (FTC warning) SVAC Update 08 (Savings at Risk) NDAA 2012 Update 02 (SASC Action) Senior Exercise (Stretching) Social Security Reform Update 02 (AARP Position) Afghanistan, Iraqi Campaign Medals (More Stars) VA Caregiver Program Update 10 (1st Checks Sent) VA Cemetery Texas Update 03 (Houston National Controversy) VA Cemetery Texas Update 04 (Alleged Discrimination) VA Cemetery Texas Update 05 (No Problem in Abilene) Commissary Update 05 (Dismantling Attempt) Arlington National Cemetery Update 26 (DOJ Now Involved) Chronic Pain Update 01 (116 million Affected) Vet Jobs Update 31 (Senate Report) Military Retirement System Update 04 (Under Discussion) Vet Toxic Exposure ~TCE (Camp Pendleton MCB) Saving Money (Cellphone Bills) Notes of Interest (1-15 Jul 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 71 (1-15 Jul 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 43 (1-15 Jul 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Nebraska) Military History (Saga of Ormac Bay) Military History Anniversaries (Jul 16-31 Summary) Military Trivia 31 (Celebrities at War ) Tax Burden for Connecticut Retirees (As of JUL 2011) Veteran Legislation Status 13 JUL 2011 (Where we stand) Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule (16-31 Jul 2011) Have You Heard? (My New Doctors Advice) Current United States House and Senate Legislation
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Medal of Honor Update 07: A century and a half after the Medal of Honor
was established by Lincoln, another president from Illinois awarded
the medal to a living recipientonly the second from the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sergeant First Class and Army Ranger
Leroy Petry earned the award when his team came under insurgent
attack during a raid in Afghanistan in 2008. A fighter lobbed
a grenade at his men, but SFC Petry grabbed it and tossed it
away from his men without hesitation. He lost a hand in the process,
but saved the lives of his men. As the saying goes, he showed
conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.
[Source: Miami Herald Fred Tasker
a=article 11 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: AP Jim Gomez article 7 Jul
2011 ++] For more info on this refer to http://www.supportourtroops.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1435 [Source: Military Life, Spouse &
Family News, by Amy article 1 Jul 2011 ++} *
85 percent of respondents described the overall performance of
the regional offices as "inefficient and untimely."
Only 6 percent said their claims were adjudicated in 120 days
or less, a standard VA Secretary Eric Shinseki has set as a goal
for the department. At the 92nd American Legion National Convention
in 2010, he told Legionnaires, "We intend to break the back
of the backlog." This progress includes: For more information about VA programs
and services for women Veterans, refer to http://www.va.gov/womenvet and http://www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth [Source: VA News Release 7 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: VA News Release 7 Jul 2011
++] [Source: MedPage Today | Emily P. Walker article 20 Jun 201 ++] Automated Phone Menus: A survey by Consumers Union of 1000 people
disclosed that 71 percent were extremely irritated when they
couldnt reach a human on the phone. Websites such as http://www.dialahuman.com and http://gethuman.com list customer service numbers and tell how
to bypass automated prompts to get a real person. Another free
service, http://www.lucyphone.com will help you avoid sitting on hold by letting
you to provide your phone number and hang up. The service calls
you back when a live representative is on the line. Other Tips
for getting to a human: 1. Dial O, or try multiple zeros2. You
can add the # key or the * key before and after a 03. Dial multiples
of other numbers 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, etc.4. Being silent
sometimes works (believe it or not some people still have rotary
phones)5. Speak non-sensible phrases to confuse computer6. Try
speaking and repeating "Operator" or "Customer
Service" 7. If there is a company directory, press just
one letter and then try to connect to that person and then may
transfer you or give you an inside phone number8. Make sure once
you get a human, ask for the direct line to call (and then email
us with it!) [Source: MoneyTalksNews Karla Bowsher article 22
Jun 2011 ++] [Source: http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?topic=21794.0 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: AARP Magazine Liz Weston article July/August 2011 issue ++] Tricare Overseas Program Update 11: As a TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) Standard beneficiary, you may be required to submit your own claims for health care services. You should take the following steps to help avoid late or denied payments. * To file your own medical claim, you must complete and submit a TRICARE DoD/CHAMPUS Medical ClaimPatients Request for Medical Payment form (DD Form 2642). The sooner your claims processor receives your paperwork, the sooner you will be paid. Claims must be filed within one year of the date of service or within one year of the date of an inpatient discharge, but you are encouraged to send your DD Form 2642 to your claims processor as soon as possible after you receive care. You can access the DD Form 2642 at http://www.tricare.mil/claims or http://www.tricare-overseas.com You may also be able to submit your claims electronically using the secure portal available on http://www.tricare-overseas.com Certain restrictions apply. Note: Providers who file claims for you are required to submit their claims directly using either the CMS-1500 or UB-04 forms. * You must submit proof of payment with your claim form in order for your payment to process. Proof of payment may include a receipt, canceled check, bank or credit card statement or invoice from the provider that clearly states payment was received. Note: Claims for services provided in Puerto Rico are reimbursed according to stateside guidelines and TRICARE-allowable charges. Claims for services provided in the Philippines and Panama are reimbursed based on government-provided foreign fee schedules. To file a claim attach a readable copy of the providers bill to the claim form, making sure it contains the following: * Sponsors Social Security number. (An eligible former spouse should use his or her own SSN, not the sponsors.) Name of beneficiary receiving services Providers name and address (If more than one providers name is on the bill, circle the name of the person who treated you.) * Date and place of each service. * Description of each service or supply, * Charge for each service. * Diagnosis (If the diagnosis is not on the bill, be sure to complete block 8a on the form.) * Fill out all 12 blocks of the form correctly. * Do not forget to sign the claim form. The beneficiary or a spouse, parent or guardian may sign the initial claim form. Claims Mailing Addresses Non-active duty, TRICARE Eurasia-Africa send to TRICARE Overseas Program, P.O. Box 8976 Madison, WI 53708-8976 USA * Non-active duty, TRICARE Latin America and Canada send to TRICARE Overseas Program, P.O. Box 7985 Madison, WI 53707-7985 USA * Non-active duty, TRICARE Pacific send to TRICARE Overseas Program, P.O. Box 7985, Madison, WI 53707-7985 USA * TRICARE For Life (TFL) claims in the United States and U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) send to WPS TFL, P.O. Box 7890 Madison, WI 53707-7890 USA Any forms submitted later with additional required information may only be signed by a beneficiary age 18 or older, or by the parent or guardian if the beneficiary is under age 18. Be sure to keep a copy of the paperwork for your records. Mail your completed claim form to your claims processor to the address for the overseas region where you live. For assistance with filing claims, contact your TOP Regional Call Center and select option 2. Note that International SOS Assistance, Inc. issues reimbursements to overseas beneficiaries in U.S. dollars unless you specifically request reimbursement in foreign currencies. [Source: The 2011 Publication for Tricare Standard Overseas Beneficiaries May 2011 ++] NM Vet Legislation: Nine New Mexico state laws and benefits aimed at military veterans took effect 1 JUL, including disabled veteran license plates, enrollment priority for military children and tax exemptions for veterans service organizations. The laws were enacted during the 2011 legislative session and signed by the governor. They cover the following areas: *
Disabled veteran license plate. Any honorably-discharged veteran
of the U.S. Armed Forces who is rated at least 50 percent service
disabled can apply for a state of New Mexico vehicular license
plate which identifies the veteran as a disabled veteran. [Source: Clovis News Journal article
30 Jun 2011 ++] [Source: PR Newswire Karen Hinton
article 5 July 2011 ++] Accordingly, during a recent session
they approved the following: * Combat Pay Windfall: Only the Senate bill would require the services to begin to prorate monthly imminent danger pay and hostile fire pay of $225 a month based on number of days in designated danger areas. Under current law, spending only part of a day in a war zone or imminent danger area makes a member eligible for the full $225 payment. Amid the looming debt crisis, and congressional leaders searching for ways to lower federal spending, senators decided to address perceived combat pay windfalls to save $30 million a year. The main targets are persons on temporary assignments. Flight crews, for example, can spend only hours in Afghanistan and get a full month of danger pay. The committee also received reports of military personnel attending first-of-the-month change of command ceremonies in war zones and, by arriving a day early and departing immediately after the ceremony, qualifying for two months of danger pay. Members on full deployments also would be impacted by this change. Currently, if a member on a yearlong, wartime deployment arrives mid-month and, a year later, departs mid-month, he or she qualifies for a total of 13 months of danger pay. If the prorated formula becomes law, total payments would reflect the actual length of deployment, ending the extra month of danger pay so many members now receive. * Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance: The Senate bill is silent on a House-passed provision that would ease further a reduction in Survivor Benefit Plan payments felt by 57,000 surviving military spouses. Spouses of these survivors either have died on active duty or, in retirement from a service-connected injury or ailment. As a result they qualify for tax-free Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from VA. But to accept DIC they must forfeit an equal amount of taxable SBP. To ease this so-called widows tax, Congress four years ago authorized a Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) valued now at $70 a month and rising by $10 a year until it hits $100 by 2014. The House version of this years defense bill would raise SSIA higher and extend its life so that by fiscal 2017 payments would reach $314 a month. The House was able to pay for this $150 million SSIA initiative in part by accepting the administrations plan to curb costs linked to the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan, a managed care plan for military beneficiaries living in six areas of the U.S. near former Public Health Service hospitals. The Senate bill also would curb costs under USFHP, as described below. But rather than use the dollars saved to expand SSIA, senators choose to beef up incentives available to downsize the force. * Force Shaping Tools: The Senate bill would give the services three new or extended authorities to downsize forces. One new tool would be a voluntary retirement payment which could be offered to certain officers with between 20 and 29 years of service if they agree to retiree. The payment could equal up to 12 times an officers monthly basic pay. This could be used as an alternative to an early retirement board. The Senate bill also would extend the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) authority that was set to expire. VSI is an annuity used extensively during the Post-Cold War drawdown to entice members to leave service. A third initiative would expand from three months to a full year the period service prior to expiration of an enlistment contract that member could be discharged without a loss of benefits such as the GI Bill. The change would apply only to benefits, not pay or allowances. * USFHP and Medicare: Both the Senate and House would require individuals newly enrolled in the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan to transition to TRICARE for Life, and out of USFHP, as they become Medicare eligible due to age. But only the Senate bill praises the USFHP model and directs Defense officials to work with USFHP and Medicare to develop and evaluate health plan alternatives for TRICARE for Life beneficiaries so they can get integrated health care management like that being delivered to elderly through USFHP. [Source: Standard-Examiner Tom Philpott
article 29 Jun 2011 ++] Before you start, follow these safety
tips: Tricep
Stretches: lengthen muscles in the back of the upper arm. Important:
If you have had a hip replacement, do NOT perform double hip
rotation exercises without permission from your surgeon. How Much Should You Stretch, and
How Often? [Source: About.com | Senior Living
Sharon O'Brien article 5 Jul 2011 ++] In Afghanistan, the previously
identified campaign phases are: [Source: AFPS Donna Miles article
30 Jun 2011 ++] [Source: Houston Chronole Lindsay
Wise article 30 Jun 2011 ++] MOAA supports expanding VA care to cover Camp Lejeune veterans, but the Veterans Affairs Committee needs to find another way to fund it besides raiding the military commissary system. Make no mistake, without the federal subsidy, military commissaries would eventually go out of business, as prices would have to rise, and savings to customers would be lost. The commissary is one of DoDs most cost-effective people programs. Every dollar of the subsidy translates to nearly three dollars of benefit value to patrons (and considerably more than that for lower-grade enlisted families). Where else can the Pentagon get that kind of compensation bang for the buck? Active duty and retired community veterans are encouraged to go to MOAAs preformatted editable message at http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=51001611&PROCESS=Take+Action and forward it to their legislators. The messages asks for legislators to reject this attack on military commissaries. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 1 Jul 2011 ++] [Source: MedPage Today Emily P. Walke
article 30 Jun 2011 ++] *
Michigan 29.4 percent (10.3) The
complete report at http://jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=f18b678e-10a0-4e9e-a01c-1aa3606964d5 is the sixth edition of state-by-state snapshots
issued by the Joint Economic Committee during the 112th Congress
and includes data through May 2011. For the first time, the report
includes the 2010 average unemployment rates forPost-9/11 veterans
(those who have served on active duty since September 2001) and
for all veterans. Post-9/11 veterans faced higher unemployment
rates than the overall veteran population in 35 states and the
District of Columbia. Post-9/11 veterans in Michigan had the
highest unemployment rate (29.4 percent). Indiana saw the largest
difference between the Post-9/11 unemployment rate (23.6 percent)
and the overall veteran unemployment rate (9.0 percent)
a gap of 14.6 percentage points. Nationally, Post-9/11 veterans
had an average unemployment rate in 2010 almost 3 percentage
points higher than the overall veteran-unemployment rate, 11.5
percent vs. 8.7 percent. [Source: AL Online Update Rick Maze
article 30 Jun 2011 ++] [Source: http://www.militarycontamination.com Jul 2011 ++] Even if youre not affected by this move, its a good reminder to check your own usage and your bill for any potential savings. Here are five ways to save money on your cell phone bill: 1. Pay attention to where and when you use your phone. You probably already know that many plans offer reduced rates if you talk or text at different times and on different days. And you should know to watch out for roaming charges. But heres something you may not be aware of: Its not where you roam, but where your carrier sends the signal (i.e. the closest tower). 2. Look at how you use your phone. Think less about cost per minute or per text and more about cost per month. If you live on your cell phone and have dropped your land line, then you might need a plan that lets you talk, text, and check sports scores on an unlimited basis...and that just leaves you with Sprint among the big providers. But if you just have your phone for emergencies, then look at a prepaid plan. Shop around and you could spend as little as $20 every three months. Best of all, since you dont have a contract commitment, if you dont like the model or your reception isnt up to your standards, you can try a different one when your minutes and time run out. 3. Use a land line for local calls. This might seem counterintuitive, but if you havent ditched your land line, use it for your local calls. Most all wired phone plans charge a flat fee for local calls, and if you dont use your cell, those are minutes saved at no additional cost. You can do the same at work, although some employers obviously frown on using company phones for personal use. 4. Eliminate unnecessary frills. You might really use text messaging, but what about roadside assistance or protection? Many carriers offer roadside assistance for only $3 or $4 a month, which means your carrier will come to your rescue if you have car trouble and, say, tow your car to the nearest service station. They also offer equipment protection for around $5 a month. Truth is, those additional costs quickly add up. Equipment protection sounds fairly reasonable, but unless you destroy the latest and greatest smartphone shortly after you get it, by the time you wreck or lose it youll probably have already paid for it in monthly fees and the deductible. Also, look to your auto insurance or motor club membership, or even a premium credit card. You dont want to pay for something you already have or can get cheaper elsewhere. 5. Ask and ye shall receive. Say you have a plan that doesnt include texting because you figure youll never use text messaging. Then you start getting texts from your friends. Or from work. Next thing you know, youre texting back. Then you get your next bill and find youre being charged $50 extra just for those couple of texts OK, those 23 texts you sent. If that happens go to your local AT&T office, where they offer to switch you to a new plan including text for only an additional $10 per month. You can be sure of one thing: Your service provider doesnt want to lose you to a competitor. So ask about better deals. Dont threaten, at least not at first, but it doesnt hurt to tell your service rep that a competitor is offering you a better plan. Chances are theyll do whatever it takes to keep you. Ultimately, it pays to be aware and to shop around. Pay attention to what you are paying for. [Source: Money Talks News Ross Boissoneau
7 Jul 2011 ++] ? Fast Food. McDonalds may
have served billions, but not every customers happy about
it. A new consumer survey has crowned In-N-Out Burger as
the nations fast food favorite, CNN reports, while
giving low marks to iconic chains such as McDonalds, Burger
King and KFC. ? Miami FL - Psychiatrist Alan Gumer, 64, pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud for his critical role in a $200 million scheme that enabled a chain of Miami-based mental-health clinics to bilk the government program. Gumer got in near the start of the nations largest mental-health clinic racket in 2004, signing bogus medical evaluations to qualify patients for costly group therapy sessions covered by Medicare. At times, Gumer also prescribed psychiatric medications to individuals who did not need them to make it appear to Medicare that the patients qualified for treatment, according to federal court documents. The racket enabled Miami-based American Therapeutic Corp. to bill the government program for psychotherapy that was unnecessary for thousands of patients who faked suffering from depression, schizophrenia or bipolar conditions. Gumer was responsible for $19.3 million in false claims filed on behalf of the patients, who were paid kickbacks by the American Therapeutic chain of South Florida clinics. Asked by U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz why he pleaded guilty, Gumer said: Its the right thing to do. Gumer became the first doctor among three psychiatrists indicted in the American Therapeutic case to admit playing such a dominant part in the seven-year scam, which netted $83 million in Medicare payments for the company. He and two other psychiatrists, Dr. Mark Willner of Weston and Dr. Alberto Ayala of Miami-Dade, served as the companys medical directors. Gumer faces between six and seven years in prison under sentencing guidelines for pleading to one count of conspiring to defraud the taxpayer-funded Medicare program. But because he is cooperating with authorities, Justice Department lawyers are expected to recommend that he receive a sentence reduction in the future, according to his plea agreement. Prosecutors dropped four other healthcare fraud charges as part of the deal. ? Miami FL - Three more Miami-area residents pleaded guilty 13 JUL to participating in a $200 million Medicare-fraud scheme. Under the scheme, Florida-based American Therapeutic Corp., its management company, as well as the American Sleep Institute conspired to bill the government insurance program for medically unnecessary services. The companies paid kickbacks to owners and operators of assisted-living facilities and halfway houses and to so-called patient brokers in exchange for delivering them ineligible patients. The participation of two of the men who pleaded guilty, Joseph Valdes and James Edwards, contributed $9.9 million and $8.16 million, respectively, to the overall Medicare fraud. The third individual, Adriana Mejia, laundered $2.25 million in funds, according to the Justice Department.. ? Baton Rouge LA - Sonya Lewis Williams and two of her employees were indicted 30 JUN on federal charges of health care fraud totaling at least $349,715. She operated two companies, Fusion Services and Grace Social Services, that were Medicare providers. Fusion employed two licensed clinical social workers who allowed their Medicare provider numbers to be used by Williams to defraud the health insurer for the elderly and disabled, the indictment alleges. Carla M. Clark and Lillie Lavan are accused of assisting Williams in the preparation and submission of false billings to Medicare for face-to-face psychotherapy services that were never provided to patients. Those false billings totaled $1.2 million between May 2006 and September 2010. Williams actually received $349,715 from Medicare and shared that money with Clark and Lavan. Unnamed other individuals also participated in the alleged scheme to defraud Medicare. Some of the patients listed as receiving face-to-face psycho-therapy died prior to the service dates for which Medicare was billed. ? Cowen WV - Angela McCracken will have to pay back nearly $25,000 dollars after being convicted of health care fraud. She falsified documents, which caused Medicaid to pay her for services she did not perform, according to a news released from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. She was convicted of health care fraud and was order to repay $24,493.60 in restitution, officials said. McCracken had a one to 10 year prison sentence suspended, but will spend five years on probation, officials also said. She worked as a residential habilitation service provider, who helped low income and developmentally disabled patients. ? Gambrills MD - Larry Bernhard, age 55, a podiatrist who operated his business from his home pleaded guilty to health care fraud and aggravated identity theft related to a scheme to fraudulently bill Medicare for more than $1.1 million. Bernhard admits that from 31 OCT 07 to JUL 2010 he fraudulently billed Medicare Advantage plans and was paid at least $1.1 million from these plans. All of the fraudulent billing occurred while Bernhard was excluded from billing all federal health care programs, including Medicare Advantage plans. Of the $1.1 million received by Bernhard, at least $1 million was for services that were not rendered. Bernhard admits that he used the names and personal identifying information of approximately 200 patients at various nursing homes to submit false bills for podiatry care that he never performed. Bernhard faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for health care fraud and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. U.S. As part of his plea agreement, Bernhard has agreed to pay restitution of $1,122,992.08. ? Brooklyn NY - Leonard Langman, M.D., a neurologist who owned and operated a., medical clinic pleaded guilty 6 JUL to one count of health care fraud for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare; the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP); the New York State Workers Compensation Board (NYS-WCB); the New York State Insurance Fund (SIF) and various private health insurance carriers. From JAN 06 to DEC 09, Dr. Langman caused false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare, OWCP, NYC-WCB, SIF and others. Langman submitted claims for services that were not provided; misrepresented the services he provided by billing for a level of service higher than that which he performed; double-billed different health care benefit programs for the same service provided to the same beneficiary; and billed for services purportedly performed when he was out of the country. At sentencing, Dr. Langman faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 2, 2011. ? Atlanta GA - Radiologist Dr. Rajashakher P. Reddy, 41, was found guilty 7 JUL of 20 counts of wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud, four counts of health care fraud, and one count of obstruction of justice after a six-day trial. He was acquitted of five counts of wire fraud. Reddy ran "Reddy Solutions Inc.," with provided services to hospitals in the Southeast that do not have full-time radiology coverage. He produced tens of thousands of reports claiming to include his medical findings and diagnoses based on radiology studies that had been performed, when in fact all NOV 09, also was convicted of obstructing the investigation by instructing his employees to destroy records subpoenaed by the government and create new ones. He also asked employees to lie to investigators, authorities said.He could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the fraud and obstruction counts. A sentencing date has not yet been set. ? Brunswick FL - Samuel Curtis III, 37, admitted t 8 JUL that he participated in a scheme to defraud Medicare out of more than a half million dollars by submitting phony claims from his Glynn County and Texas medical equipment companies. A FBI Special Agent testified the scheme began in JAN 05 at Team Orthotics and Prosethetics, which Curtis owned and operated. The scheme shifted to Preferred when Curtis bought the company in January 2008 and continued through June of that year. A Preferred employee uncovered the fraud and reported it to federal authorities. The scheme involved more than $539,000 in phony Medicare claims. Assisted by his office manager Cecil Risher, Curtis devised a plan to steal identification information from Medicare patients and doctors that the pair used to submit phony claims to Medicare. They billed Medicare for prosthetics, braces and other medical devices that either never were provided to patients, were never prescribed by doctors or were not medically necessary, an FBI and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigation showed. Curtis faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the conspiracy count. The judge ordered him to remain jailed without bail pending sentencing. Risher pleaded guilty on Jan. 10 to conspiracy under a similar plea agreement. He remains free on $20,000 bail while awaiting sentencing. ? Los Angeles CA - The co-owners of two health care companies have been convicted on multiple fraud charges after scheming to defraud Medicare out of about $20 million. A federal jury found Evans Oniha guilty 7 JUL on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, four counts of health care fraud and one count of false statements. The government says that from OCT 02 to FEB 2011, Oniha and a co-owner wrongly obtained Medicare beneficiary information and used it to submit false claims for equipment and home health services. Oniha and co-owner Camillus Ehigie operated Caravan Medical Supplies in Culver city and Prosperity Home Health Services in Lawndale. Ehigie pleaded guilty to multiple charges on 5 JUL and will be sentenced in JAN2012. Oniha is scheduled to be sentenced 19 SEP. ? Toms River NJ - Patrick Lynch, 54, admitted to treating patients, prescribing medicine and ordering procedures while posing as a licensed physician. Officials say that Lynch created the Visiting Doctors of New Jersey, a medical practice that offered care to elderly homebound patients in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. They say that he hired licensed doctors and nurses to serve clients, but that those professionals quit after they did not get paid. Instead of paying the employees, Lynch used their licensed identification numbers to write prescriptions and bill Medicare, according to a press release. He has been charged with health care fraud and aggravated identity theft and faces as up to 12 years in prison with fines totaling more than $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for 17 OCT. [Source: Fraud News Daily 1-15 Jul
2011 ++] OIG's most wanted health care fugitives can be seen at http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/index.asp In all, OIG is seeking more than 170 fugitives on charges related to health care fraud and abuse. [Source: Fraud News Daily 15 - 30
Jun 2011 ++] [Source: http://www.military.com/benefits Jul 2011 ++] [Source: http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/ormocbay.aspx Jul 2011 ++] *
Jul 16 1779 - Revolutionary War: American troops capture Stony
Point, N.Y. Answers... 1. Mel Brooks. During the battle,
Brooks responded to a German call to surrender by doing his version
of Al Jolson's Toot Toot Tootsie. To his credit, the diminutive Wally Cox tried but failed to make it through boot camp. After being hospitalized several times with heat stroke, he was given an honorable discharge for medical reasons. [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/war_history.html Jun 2011 ++] State Sales Tax: 6% (food, prescription
& non-prescription drugs exempt). VA
Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits
are not taxable because they generally are for disabilities and
are not subject to federal or state taxes. For further information, visit the
Connecticut Department of Revenue site http://www.ct.gov/drs/site/default.asp [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Jul 2011 ++] At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veterans feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise,
you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislators phone number, mailing
address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter
of your own making. Membership
of each committee and their contact info can be found at ? July 27. HVAC Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations will hold a mark-up on pending legislation.
(10:00 am, 334 Cannon) [Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael
Isam 14 Jul 2011 ++] Well...
I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had
about food and diets. And remember: Life should NOT be a journey
to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive
and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay
in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up,
totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"
AND..... For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the
final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the
truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies. CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you. ============================= 13 July 2011 Of the, 71 & 23 House/Senate
Joint Resolutions, 64 & 24 House/Senate Concurrent Resolutions,
346 & 21 3House/Senate Resolutions, 642 & 465 549 House/Senate
Amendments, 2495 & 1351 House/Senate bills introduced in
the 112th Congress as of 13 JUL, the following are of interest
to the non-active duty veteran community. A good indication on
the likelihood of a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate
for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President
is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An
alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum
to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to
iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At
http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills
text, determine its current status, the committee it has been
assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number,
mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message
or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor
or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments
your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship
on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html House Legislation ? Measures passed by both houses of a bicameral legislature and eligible to become a law if signed by the chief executive or passed over the chief executive's veto. H.J.RES. 13 - Flag Protection Constitutional
Amendment . Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical
desecration of the flag of the United States. H.J.RES.50 : Personal Income Tax
Elimination Constitutional Amendment. Proposing an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States relative to abolishing
personal income, estate, and gift taxes and prohibiting the United
States Government from engaging in business in competition with
its citizens.
? Measures passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but are not presented to the President and do not have the force of law. H.CON.RES.12 : Arlington Jewish Chaplains
Memorial. Expressing the sense of Congress that an appropriate
site on Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery should
be provided for a memorial marker to honor the memory of the
Jewish chaplains who died while on active duty in the Armed Forces
of the United States. H.CON.RES.45 : Honoring Post 9/11
Vets. Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United
States Armed Forces who are serving in, or have served in, Operation
Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New
Dawn. ? Measures that express approval or disapproval of something which the House cannot otherwise vote on, due to the matter being handled by another jurisdiction, or being protected by the constitution H.RES.15 : MILCON/VA Appropriations.
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require
that general appropriations for military construction and veterans'
affairs be considered as stand-alone measures. H.RES.111 : POW/MIA. Establishing
a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs. The select committee
shall conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters
relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from
the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War II, Cold War
Missions, Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation
Enduring Freedom, including MIAs and POWs missing and captured. H.RES.288 : MILCON/VA Appropriations.
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2055) making appropriations
for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2012, and for other purposes. H.RES.346 : National World War I
Memorial. Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
that a national World War I memorial should be established. H.AMDT.178 to H.R.830 Disabled Vets
Inclusion in FHA Refinance Program Study. Amendment includes
military service members and veterans who have service-connected
injuries, as well as survivors and dependents of such individuals,
in a study on use of the FHA Refinance program. H.AMDT.187 to H.R.836 Disabled Vets
Inclusion in Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act
Study. Amendment adds military servicemembers and veterans who
have service-related injuries, as well as survivors and dependents
of such individuals, to be included in the study in the Emergency
Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act. H.AMDT.409 to H.R.2055 An amendment
to redirect funds for the medical services and general administration
divisions of the Veterans Health Administration. H.AMDT.410 to H.R.2055 Amendment
increases funding for Military Construction Authorization by
$25 million through transfer. H.AMDT.412 to H.R.2055 Amendment
prohibits the use of funds to declare as excess to the needs
of the Department of Veterans Affairs of otherwise take any action
to exchange, trade, auction, transfer, or otherwise dispose of,
or reduce the acerage of, Federal land and improvements at the
St. Albans campus. H.AMDT.417 to H.R.2055 An amendment
printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds
to provide disability compensation under chapter 11 of title
38, United States Code, to any veteran for post-traumatic stress
disorder if the required in-service stressor claimed by the veteran
is related to the veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist
activity and the places, types and circumstances of the veteran's
service did not include a combat zone. H.AMDT.418 to H.R.2055 Amendment
prohibits the use of funds for using procedures that do not give
small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans any
preference to obtaining the contracts under the Small Business
Act. H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the
Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation
Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in
the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport
Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act
of 2011. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act
to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent
or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child
was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the
Armed Forces of the United States. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011.
A bill t amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain
abused dependents of veterans with health care. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care
under the CHAMPVA program. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving
Spouses Home Loans Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed
by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses
of certain totally-disabled veterans. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation
to Homeless Vets. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income
tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for
other purposes. H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess
Internet Website. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of
the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess
Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses
Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under
the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset
the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60
Retired Reserves. A bill 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. H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and
Reservists Parity for Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed
active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency
operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for
such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of
non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy
Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry
out a pilot program on dog training therapy. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor
Reimbursement. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to authorize the reimbursement of mental health counselors under
TRICARE, and for other purposes. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health
Care Relief Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees
for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B. H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA
Sole Source Contracts. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to promote jobs for veterans through the use of sole source
contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting
the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans
Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.284 : Veterans, Women, Families
with Children, and Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination
through the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for
the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, and for other purposes. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of
2011. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income
veterans. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration
Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under
current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan
Death March Compensation Act. A bill to provide compensation
for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death
March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A
bill to require employers to provide veterans with time off on
Veterans Day. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax
Termination Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment
of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to
eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend
eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees
with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.420 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms
Act of 2011. A bill to provide an amnesty period during which
veterans and their family members can register certain firearms
in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and
for other purposes. H.R.493 : Military Retiree Survivor
Comfort Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay
paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following
their death. H.R.540 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten
Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue
a medal to honor veterans of the Armed Forces who died after
their service in the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct
result of their service in the Vietnam War. H.R.743 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011.
A bill to To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals
who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard. H.R.776 : Guaranteed 3% COLA for
Seniors Act of 2011. A bill to To require the establishment of
a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living
increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the
Social Security Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries
under such title, for an annual cost-of-living increase which
is not less than 3 percent. H.R.802 : VetStar Award Program.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish
a VetStar Award Program. H.R.804 : Operation New Dawn Vet
Care. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify
the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation
New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home
care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.805 : Injured and Amputee Veterans
Bill of Rights Education. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans
Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee
Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. H.R.806 : End Veteran Homelessness
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless
veterans under the administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. H.R.809 : Post Women Veterans Bill
of Rights. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display
in each facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women
Veterans Bill of Rights. H.R.810 : Fair Access to Veterans
Benefits Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for
appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals,
and for other purposes. H.R.811 : Providing Military Honors
for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details
at the funerals of veterans. H.R.812 : Agent Orange Equity Act
of 2011. A bill to To amend title 38, United States Code, to
clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans
who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam. H.R.813 : Vet Survivor Benefit Eligibility.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of
time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the
veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans
rated totally disabled at time of death. H.R.814 : Medicare VA Reimbursement
Act of 2011. A bill to To provide Medicare payments to Department
of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services
provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected
conditions. H.R.834 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance
Opportunity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans
mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes. H.R.865 : Veteran Employment Transition
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged
veterans. H.R.923 : Veterans Pensions Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft,
loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with
respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children
of veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.924 : Jobs for Veterans Act of
2011. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans
Business Center program, and for other purposes. H.R.930 : PTSD Disability Compensation
Evaluation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic
stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military
sexual trauma, and for other purposes. H.R.938 : Frank Buckles World War
I Memorial Act. To establish a commission to ensure a suitable
observance of the centennial of World War I and to designate
memorials to the service of men and women of the United States
in World War I. H.R.943 : K-9 Companion Corps Act.
A bill to establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance
dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.948 : Embedded Mental Health
Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to require the provision of behavioral health
services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness
and fitness standards, and for other purposes. H.R.961 : Safe Haven for Heroes Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect
to the prohibition on disrupting military funerals, and for other
purposes. H.R.1003 : National Guard, Reserve,
"Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available
Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize
space-available travel on military aircraft for reserve members,
former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving
spouses and dependents of such members and former members. H.R.1014 : Children of Military Service
Members Commemorative Lapel Pin Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to recognize the dependent children of members
of the Armed Forces who are serving on active duty or who have
served on active duty through the presentation of an official
lapel button. H.R.1025 : Reserve Veteran Status.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the
service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring
them with status as veterans under law. H.R.1092 : Military Retirees Health
Care Protection Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health
care. H.R.1130 : Education Assistance to
Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority
for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years
on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance to their dependents. H.R.1133 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements
with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the
provision of case management services associated with certain
supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1154 : Veterans Equal Treatment
for Service Dogs Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting
the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property.
H.R.1169 : National Guard Technician
Equity Act. A bill to amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States
Code, to eliminate inequities in the treatment of National Guard
technicians, to reduce the eligibility age for retirement for
non-Regular service, and for other purposes. H.R.1178 : Disabled Veterans Commissary
and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store
privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability
and to their dependents. H.R.1245 : Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.
To recognize the memorial at the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort
Pierce, Florida, as the official national memorial of Navy SEALS
and their predecessors. H.R.1260 : Support for Survivors
Act. A bill to provide for the preservation by the Department
of Defense of documentary evidence of the Department of Defense
on incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military,
and for other purposes. H.R.1263 : Surviving Spouse Mortgage
Protection. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
to provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating
to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures. H.R.1285 : Military Health Care Affordability
Act. A bill t o amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit
certain increases in fees for military health care before fiscal
year 2014. H.R.1288 : World War II Merchant
Mariner Service Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Homeland
Security to accept additional documentation when considering
the application for veterans status of an individual who performed
service in the merchant marines during World War II, and for
other purposes. H.R.1298 : Veterans' Efficiencies
Through Savings Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to conduct cost-benefit analyses for the provision
of medical care by the Department of Veterans Affairs in certain
geographic areas served by multiple Department of Veterans Affairs
medical facilities. H.R.1312 : Jobs for Veterans Act
of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent
veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1383 : Restoring GI Bill Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to temporarily preserve higher rates for
tuition and fees for programs of education at non-public institutions
of higher learning pursued by individuals enrolled in the Post-9/11
Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans
Affairs before the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational
Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, and for other purposes H.R.1392 : Fairness to Veterans Act
of 2011. A bill to provide assistance to veterans and veteran-owned
businesses with respect to contract opportunities, and for other
purposes. H.R.1407 : Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to to increase,
effective as of December 1, 2011, the rates of 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 by the same percentage
as applies to any social Security rate increase. H.R.1441 : Arlington Gravesite Reservations.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the prohibition
against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery,
and for other purposes. H.R.1451 : Post 9/11 GI Bill Payment
Restoration Act. A bill to repeal a modification of authority
to make certain interval payments of educational assistance under
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes H.R.1457 : William Shemin Jewish
World War I Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of the
Army and the Secretary of the Navy to conduct a review of military
service records of Jewish American veterans of World War I, including
those previously awarded a military decoration, to determine
whether any of the veterans should be posthumously awarded the
Medal of Honor, and for other purposes. H.R.1460 : Automatic Combat Vet Enrollment.
A bill to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning
from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. H.R.1484 : Veterans Appeals Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs
and to establish a commission to study judicial review of the
determination of veterans' benefits. H.R.1497 : Tripoli Libya Vet Remains.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to take whatever steps
may be necessary to exhume and transfer the remains of certain
deceased members of the Armed Forces buried in Tripoli, Libya,
and for other purposes. H.R.1540 : National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2012. A bill to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department
of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.
H.R.1591 : Sanctity of Eternal Rest
for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to guarantee that military funerals
are conducted with dignity and respect. H.R.1595 : Veterans' Home Loan Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to make all veterans eligible for home loans under the veterans
mortgage revenue bond program. H.R.1627 : Arlington Monument Placements.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for
certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington
National Cemetery, and for other purposes. H.R.1647 : Veterans' Choice in Filing
Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to carry out a pilot program under which certain veterans may
submit claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary
to any regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.1657 : Vet Business Misrepresentation
Penalties. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise
the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business
concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans
or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled
veterans. H.R.1671 : Andrew Connolly Veterans'
Housing Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
provide specially adapted housing assistance to individuals residing
temporarily in housing owned by a family member. H.R.1775 : Stolen Valor Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a
criminal offense relating to fraudulent claims about military
service. H.R.1811 : National Guard Employment
Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain
individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. H.R.1826 : Unauthorized Vet Fees
Penalty. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate
criminal penalties for persons charging veterans unauthorized
fees. H.R.1850 : Army Combat Action Badge
Eligibility Expansion. A bill to expand retroactive eligibility
of the Army Combat Action Badge to include members of the Army
who participated in combat during which they personally engaged,
or were personally engaged by, the enemy at any time on or after
December 7, 1941. H.R.1854 : Veterans Outreach Enhancement
Act of 2011. A Bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to carry out a program of outreach for veterans, and for other
purposes. H.R.1855 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain
Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision
of rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain
injury, and for other purposes. H.R.1863 : Veterans Health Equity
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are
able to receive services in at least one full-service Department
of Veterans Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable
services provided by contract in the State, and for other purposes. H.R.1871 : Wounded Warrior Tax Equity
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to prevent the extension of the tax collection period merely
because the taxpayer is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized
as a result of combat zone injuries. H.R.1898 : Veterans 2nd Amendment
Protection Act. A bill 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. H.R.1910 : Unused Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance. A bill to extend for one year the authority of certain
members of the Armed Forces and veterans to transfer unused Post-9/11
Educational Assistance benefits to family members. H.R.1911 : Protecting Veterans' Homes
Act. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently
extend the period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage
foreclosures, and for other purposes. H.R.1928 : Women's Fair and Equal
Right to Military Service Act. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to repeal the ground combat exclusion policy for
female members of the Armed Forces. H.R.1941 : Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.
A bill to improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation,
vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed
Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1968 : Cold War Service Medal
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
provide for the award of a military service medal to members
of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War,
and for other purposes. H.R.1979 : Chapter 61 CRDP + SBP/DIC
Offset + Reserve Retired Pay: A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of
military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to
include additional chapter 61 disability retirees, to coordinate
eligibility for combat-related special compensation and concurrent
receipt, to eliminate the reduction of SBP survivor annuities
by dependency and indemnity compensation, and to enhance the
ability of members of the reserve components who serve on active
duty or perform active service to receive credit for such service
in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service
retired pay. H.R.2002 : Post 9/11 Educational
Assistance Transfer. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to permit disabled or injured members of the Armed Forces
to transfer Post 9/11 Educational Assistance benefits after retirement,
and for other purposes. H.R.2026 : Services, Education, and
Rehabilitation for Veterans Act. A bill to provide grants to
establish veteran's treatment courts. H.R.2046 : Vet Discharge Transitional
Services. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure
that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from
active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job
training assistance, and other transitional services. H.R.2048 : Vet Private Cemetery Headstones.
A bill to expand the eligibility for the provision of Government
headstones, markers, and medallions for veterans buried at private
cemeteries. H.R.2051 : Veterans Missing in America
Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to assist in the identification of unclaimed and abandoned human
remains to determine if any such remains are eligible for burial
in a national cemetery, and for other purposes. H.R.2052 : Fort McClellan Health
Registry Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed
at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and for other purposes. H.R.2053 : Veterans' Disability Claims
Efficiency Act of 2011. To amend title 38, United States Code,
to improve the efficiency of processing certain claims for disability
compensation by veterans. H.R.2070 : World War II Memorial
Prayer Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior
to install in the area of the World War II Memorial in the District
of Columbia a suitable plaque or an inscription with the words
that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the nation on
June 6, 1944, the morning of D-Day. H.R.2115 : Filipino Veterans of World
War II Family Reunification Act. A bill to exempt children of
certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations
on immigrant visas. H.R.2116 : Filipino Veterans Family
Reunification Act of 2011. To exempt children of certain Filipino
World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant
visas and for other purposes. H.R.2148 : Disabled Veterans Commissary
and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to To amend title 10,
United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange
store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected
disability and to their dependents. H.R.2192 : National Guard and Reservist
Debt Relief Extension Act of 2011. A bill to exempt for an additional
4-year period, from the application of the means-test presumption
of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying members of reserve components
of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard who, after
September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a
homeland defense activity for not less than 90 days. H.R.2203 : Alaska Hero's Card Act
of 2011. A bill to establish a pilot program under which veterans
in the State of Alaska may receive health care benefits from
the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department medical
facilities, and for other purposes. H.R.2232 : AMRA Charter Amendment.
A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal
charter to the American Military Retirees Association, and for
other purposes. H.R.2243 : Veterans Employment Promotion
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require
the Secretary of Labor to publish on an Internet website certain
information about the number of veterans who are employed by
Federal contractors. H.R.2274 : Annual Post 9/11 VA EAP
Report. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense
to submit to Congress annual reports on the Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance Program, and for other purposes. H.R.2300 : VA Paralympic Team Allowance.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorization
of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay
a monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training
or competing for the Paralympic Team. H.R.2301 : Streamlining Education
Claims Processing Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make
payments to educational institutions under the Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance Program at the end of a quarter, semester, or term,
and for other purposes. H.R.2302 : DVA Conference Congressional
Notification. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress of
conferences sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2305 : Memorialize Our Guardsmen
and Reservists Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code,
to make memorial headstones and markers available for purchase
on behalf of members of reserve components who performed inactive
duty training or active duty for training but did not serve on
active duty. H.R.2318 : Medal of Honor Stipend
Increase Act. A bill 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 $500. H.R.2345 : VA Assistance to Paralympics,
Inc. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend
the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to pay a monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans
training or competing for the Paralympic Team and the authorization
of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide
assistance to United States Paralympics, Inc. H.R.2349 : Veterans' Benefits Training
Improvement Act of 2011 . A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to annually
assess the skills of certain employees and managers of the Veterans
Benefits Administration, and for other purposes. H.R.2369 : American Legion Charter
Amendment. A bill to o amend title 36, United States Code, to
provide for an additional power for the American Legion under
its Federal charter. H.R.2383 : Modernizing Notice to
Claimants Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code,
to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use electronic
communication to provide required notice to claimants for benefits
under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes. H.R.2388 : Access to Timely Information
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
the submission of information by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to Congress. H.R.2403 : National Guard Outreach
Act. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide
assistance to State National Guards to provide counseling and
reintegration services for members of reserve components of the
Armed Forces ordered to active duty in support of a contingency
operation, members returning from such active duty, veterans
of the Armed Forces, and their families. H.R.2419 : COMBAT PTSD Act. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning
of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection
of disabilities. H.R.2433 : Veterans Opportunity to
Work Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code,
to make certain improvements in the laws relating to the employment
and training of veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.2443 : Tax Credit to Hire Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to increase the limitation on expensing certain depreciable assets
for certain businesses that hire veterans. H.R.2470 : E-SERV Act. A bill to
improve the electronic health information systems and capabilities
of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2477 : VA Distinguished Public
Service Medal. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code,
to establish a Department of Veterans Affairs Medal for Distinguished
Public Service to honor veterans who make remarkable and distinguished
contributions to their communities. ** Union Calendar: A separate calendar in the United States House of Representatives that schedules bills involving money issues. It arose from the requirement in Article One of the United States Constitution that all revenue bills originate in the House of Representatives. To meet that requirement, Rule XIII.
Senate Legislation S.J.RES.19 : Flag Desecration. A
joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of
the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical
desecration of the flag of the United States. S.CON.RES.10 : Last WWI Vet Honors.
A concurrent resolution authorizing the remains of Frank W. Buckles,
the last surviving United States veteran of the First World War,
to lie in honor in the rotunda of the Capitol. S.CON.RES.13 : Honoring Post 9/11
Vets. A concurrent resolution honoring the service and sacrifice
of members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving
in, or have served in, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation
Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. S.RES.17 : National Military Family
Month. A resolution designating the month of November 2011 as
"National Military Family Month". S.RES.55 : Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
Day .A resolution expressing support for designation of a "Welcome
Home Vietnam Veterans Day". S.RES.89 : Last WWI Vet. A resolution
relating to the death of Frank W. Buckles, the longest surviving
United States veteran of the First World War. S.RES.130 : Gold Star Wives Day.
A resolution designating April 5, 2011, as "Gold Star Wives
Day". S.RES.160 : Military Spouse Appreciation
Day. A resolution designating May 6, 2011, as "Military
Spouse Appreciation Day". S.RES.166 : 66th anniversary of V-E
Day. A resolution commemorating May 8, 2011, as the 66th anniversary
of V-E Day, the end of World War II in Europe. S.RES.178 : Silver Star Service Banner
Day. A resolution expressing support for the designation of May
1, 2011, as "Silver Star Service Banner Day". S.RES.202 : National PTSD Awareness
Day. A resolution designating June 27, 2011, as "National
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day". S.AMDT.388 to S.CON.RES.4 Arlington
National Cemetery Advisory Commission. To express the sense of
Congress on the establishment of an advisory commission on memorials
at Arlington National Cemetery and facilitate evaluation and
approval of future monuments and memorials at the cemetery. S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims.
A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the
validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed
military service on behalf of the United States during World
War II. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A
Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the
same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the
Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain
disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense
commissary and exchange stores. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance.
A bill to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial
Day, and for other purposes. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged
veterans. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement
for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit
Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation. S.277 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care
to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina,
while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other
purposes. S.316 : Fort Hood Victims and Families
Benefits Protection Act. A bill to ensure that the victims and
victims' families of the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood,
Texas, receive the same treatment, benefits, and honors as those
Americans who have been killed or wounded in a combat zone overseas
and their families. S.325 : Embedded Mental Health Providers
for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to require the provision of behavioral health services
to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary
to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness and fitness
standards, and for other purposes. S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a
service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation
from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability
and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service
or Combat-Related Special Compensation, and for other purposes.
S.367 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the
work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals
who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard, and for
other purposes. S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide
for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed
Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other
purposes. S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements
with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the
provision of case management services associated with certain
supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes.
S.423 : Fully Developed VA Claim
Applications. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide authority for retroactive effective date for awards of
disability compensation in connection with applications that
are fully-developed at submittal, and for other purposes. S.491 : Honor America's Guard-Reserve
Retirees Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of the
Armed Forces of certain persons by honoring them with status
as veterans under law, and for other purposes. S.536 : Survivor Educational Assistance
Limitations. 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. S.542 : National Guard, Reserve,
"Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available
Travel Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft
for members of the reserve components, a member or former member
of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for
age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents. S.658 : Support for Survivors Act.
A bill to provide for the preservation of the Department of Defense
of documentary evidence of the Department of Defense on incidents
of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military, and
for other purposes. S.666 : Veterans Traumatic Brain
Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to require a report
on the establishment of a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or
Polytrauma Network Site of the Department of Veterans Affairs
in the northern Rockies or Dakotas, and for other purposes. S.696 : Vet Center Travel Pay. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to treat Vet Centers
as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of
payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to Department facilities,
and for other purposes. S.698 : Arlington Gravesite Reservations.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the prohibition
against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery,
and for other purposes. S.728 : NAIV Federal Charter. A bill
to grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans,
Incorporated. S.731 : Travel Reimbursement for
Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2011. A bill to
amend title 37, United States Code, to provide travel and transportation
allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance
and certain other travel to inactive duty training. S.745 : GI Bill Tuition Guarantee.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to protect certain
veterans who would otherwise be subject to a reduction in educational
assistance benefits, and for other purposes. S.769 : Veterans Equal Treatment
for Service Dogs Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from
prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans
Affairs property. S.780 : Veterans Pensions Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft,
loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with
respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children
of veterans, and for other purposes. S.798 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms
Act of 2011. A Bill to provide an amnesty period during which
veterans and their family members can register certain firearms
in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and
for other purposes. S.815 : Sanctity of Eternal Rest
for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to guarantee that military funerals
are conducted with dignity and respect. S.866 : Reserve Retirement Deployment
Credit Correction Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to modify the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain
active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age
at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services
may retire for non-regular service. S.873 : Spina Bifida Children Benefits.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide benefits
for children with spina bifida of veterans exposed to herbicides
while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era outside
Vietnam, and for other purposes. S.894 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2011,
in the rates of 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. S.910 : Veterans Health Equity Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure
that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to
receive services in at least one full-service Department of Veterans
Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable services
provided by contract in the State, and for other purposes. S.935 : Veterans Outreach Enhancement
Act of 2011. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to carry out a program of outreach to veterans, and for other
purposes. S.951 : Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.
A bill to improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation,
vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed
Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. S.955 : Protect Those Who Serve Act.
A bill to provide grants for the renovation, modernization or
construction of law enforcement facilities. S.957 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain
Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision
of rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain
injury, and for other purposes. S.981 : National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2012. A bill to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department
of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. S.993 : Wounded Warrior Tax Equity
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to prevent the extension of the tax collection period merely
because the taxpayer is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized
as a result of combat zone injuries. S.1017 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver
Housing Assistance Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who
are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member,
and for other purposes. S.1025 : National Guard Empowerment
and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the national defense
through empowerment of the National Guard, enhancement of the
functions of the National Guard Bureau, and improvement of Federal-State
military coordination in domestic emergency response, and for
other purposes. S.1044 : DECA BRAC Pilot Program.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the
Defense Commissary Agency to conduct a pilot program at military
institutions to be closed or subject to an adverse realignment
under a base closure law under which a commissary store may sell
additional types of merchandise. S.1060 : Honoring All Veterans Act
of 2011. A bill to improve education, employment, independent
living services, and health care for veterans, to improve assistance
for homeless veterans, and to improve the administration of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. S.1080 : PRO-VETS Act of 2011. A
bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available
benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits,
to provide for automatic enrollment for veterans returning from
combat zones into the Department of Veterans Affairs medical
system, and for other purposes. S.1141 : WWII Filipino Vet Child
Immigration Limits. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino
World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant
visas and for other purposes. S.1146 : Alaska Hero's Card Act of
2011. A bill to establish a pilot program under which veterans
in the State of Alaska may receive health care benefits from
the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department medical
facilities, and for other purposes. S.1148 : Veterans Programs Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the provision of assistance to homeless veterans, to
improve the regulation of fiduciaries who represent individuals
for purposes of receiving benefits under laws administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. S.1154 : Honoring Promises to Service-Disabled
Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to require transparency for Executive
departments in meeting the Government-wide goals for contracting
with small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled
veterans, and for other purposes. S.1172 : VA Appeals Process. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency
of the appeals process under the United States Court of Appeals
for Veterans Claims by improving staff conferences directed by
such Court, and for other purposes. S.1184 : Vet Business Misrepresentation
Penalties. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise
the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business
concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans
or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled
veterans, and for other purposes. S.1235 : Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. A
bill to recognize the memorial at the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in
Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national memorial of Navy
SEALS and their predecessors. S.1253 : National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2012. An original bill to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department
of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities
of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. S.1314 : Disabled Vet Outreach Program.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Labor to establish minimum funding levels for States
for the support of disabled veterans' outreach program specialists
and local veterans' employment representatives, and for other
purposes. [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 13 Jul 2011 ++] If you wish to use copyrighted material
from this newsletter for purposes of your own that go beyond
'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
Tricare Young Adult Program Update 05 (Modest Response) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 22 (Erin Brockovich) Military Records/DD-214 Update 03 (60-Year Delay) Flag Presentation Update 07 (HOA Flagpole Policy) Filipino Vet Inequities Update 20 (Denied FVECF Claims) VA Appeals Update 09 (Steps to File) Cell-Phone Radiation Scams (FTC warning) Depression Update 01 (Over 11% of 65+ Vets) Wall That Heals Update 01 (Soledad, Calif) King Veteran Memorial (Flag Dispute) SecDef (Overview) SecDef Update 01 (Retrospective: Robert M. Gates) Mobilized Reserve 21 JUN 2011 (1511 Decrease) WWII Vets Update 03 (James Downey Jr) PTSD Update 72 (Free Couples PTSD Retreat) Military Retirement System Update 03 (Secretaries Concur) Mil Funeral Disorderly Conduct Update 22 (NY Saratoga Cnty) Veteran Charities Update 18 (USNVA Prosecution) Tricare User Fees Update 70 (USDR Action Alert) FERS Update 01 (USPS Suspends Payments) Florida Vet Legislation Update 02 (4 Bills Signed) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 35 (Nancy Cook) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 36 (16-30 Jun 2011) Hypertension Update 05 (Frequency of Measurement) VAMC West Los Angeles Update 03 (Master Plan) VAMC West Haven CT (Lawsuit Settlement) Blue Angels (Shows Resume) Arlington National Cemetery Update 25 (Call Center/Records) Tricare Pharmacy Policy Update 06 (Walgreens Opts Out) Tricare Overseas Program Update 10 (Medicare Sign-up) National Museum of the U.S. Army (Site Selected) IRS FBAR Update 02 (Did You File?) Identity Theft Update 11 (Deceased Vets) Pentagon Papers (Advise to Whistleblowers) COLA 2012 Update 02 (May CPI Up 0.05%) Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2012 Update 01 (Budget Priority) Distinguished Service Cross (Latest Recipient) PTSD Update 71 (The Healing Tonic) VA Service Dogs Update 03 (Fido Rules) Agent Orange Korea Update 04 (Camp Carroll) VA Budget 2012 Update 03 ($1.4B Increase Request) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Updsate 35 (Dept of Veterans Affairs VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Updsate 36 Stolen Valor Update 41 (Warren K. Parker) Stolen Valor Update 42 (Navy Seal "Team Six) Vet Jobs Update 30 (Government Hiring Up) Flag Legislation Update 03 (HJR13 & SJR19) Credit Card Charges Update 07 (Penalty Rates) VA Blue Water Claims Update 16 (Debate Continues) VA Blue Water Claims Update 17 (Updated AO ships List) VA Sexual Assaults Update 01 (Opposing Views) VA Sexual Assaults Update 02 (16-30 Jun 2011) Tricare Retirement Benefits (Options) Social Security Overpayments (IG Report on 2009) Retiree Appreciation Days Update 08 (Updated List) Vet Deaths (2010 = 1373 per day) Saving Money (Car Insurance Tips) Notes of Interest (15-30 Jun 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 70 (15-30 Jun 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 42 (15-30 Jun 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Montana) Military History (Shadow Warriors) Military History Anniversaries (Jul 1-15 Summary) Military Trivia 30 (Vietnam Ap Bia) Tax Burden for Colorado Retirees (As of JUN 2011) Have You Heard? (Military Humor 1) Veteran Legislation Status 28 JUN 2011 (Where we stand) Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule (1-31 Jul 2011) Navy and Coast Guard Ships Associated with Service in Vietnam and Exposure to Herbicide Agents * See Attachment Shadow Warriors - Submarine Special Operations in World War Two * See Attachment
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Tricare Young Adult Program
Update 05: Despite all of the political
turmoil which surrounded health care reform last year, it turns
out that according to a survey by a leading online health insurance
broker, that less than half of the parents who were surveyed,
said they would be willing to provide their college graduates
with coverage on the familys health insurance plan until
age 26.The survey indicated that most parents are ready
to let their young adults take responsibility said the
survey authors. Insurance.com which sponsored this survey of
1,000 parents, college students and recent graduates completed
this in April. In addition, Aetna and Medical Mutual...two of
the largest Mid-Western regions insurers report that while
they have added 19-26 year olds to their parents plans, the demand
has not been overwhelming. Even despite the fact
that most of the civilian health plans do not charge high rates
for adding an extra child or two. The survey also noted that
college students and recent graduates may have more original
ideas on how to obtain health insurance without spending too
much. For instance, Question no. 9 on the survey hints that insurance
can be sexy: "If you were already attracted to a date or
potential |significant other and then found out that he or she
had health insurance, would you be more likely to be
?"
So far in the Department of Defenses TRICARE Young Adult insurance coverage program, there also has been modest enrollment to date with good satisfaction. A few points to remember about the plan are the individual to be covered must be: * A dependent of an eligible uniformed service sponsor. * Unmarried * At least age 21 (or age 23 if enrolled in a full-time course of study at an approved institution of higher learning and if the sponsor provides at least 50 percent of the financial support), but have not yet reached age 26. * Not eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored health plan offered by your own employer. * Not otherwise eligible for any other TRICARE program coverage. * A holder of a uniformed services identification card. After enrolling in the program, the sponsor will need to visit a uniformed services identification card issuing facility to obtain an ID card for the young adult. [Source: http://www.moaablogs.org/healthcare/category/benefits Kathryn
M. Beasley article 23 Jun 2011 ++] Pollution
at Camp Lejeune is the largest documented Defense Department
environmental contamination incident on record. According to
the Department of Veterans Affairs, at least 500,000 people may
have been exposed in the 30-year period from 1957 to 1987 to
a host of toxic chemicals, including known human carcinogens
benzene and vinyl chloride, as well as drying cleaning solvents
and degreasers. A letter from Environmental Working Group was
sent late last week to the Senate Committee on Veterans
Affairs in support of the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans
Act of 2011 introduced by North Carolinas two senators,
Republican Richard Burr and Democrat Kay Hagan. Brockovich
also sat on a panel earlier this year that urged a Senate committee
to conduct an investigation into a male breast cancer cluster
surrounding Camp Lejeune. Her involvement is not the first time
the Camp Lejeune water contamination issue has been linked to
Hollywood. According to emails obtained by The Daily News, military
officials sought to delay releasing information about the bad
water at Camp Lejeune in 1998 so as not to coincide with the
release of the John Travolta film A Civil Action,
which depicted a legal battle over the pollution of drinking
water in Woburn, Mass. Camp Lejeune water contamination is also
the focus of the award-winning documentary Semper Fi: Always
Faithful, which has been screened at the Tribeca Film Festival
and shown to members of Congress. [Source: Dailey News Lindell Kay
article 29 Jun 2011 ++] In
June 1953, the Army sent him home with 100 dollars and a train
ticket to Chicago. Since he had eight years of active reserve
to fulfill, he didn't worry about discharge papers. "And
when the eight years were up I thought, well, I should get a
discharge, so I'll go down to Milwaukee to the veterans outfit
down there. They said, We don't have any records that you
were in service. OK, so that's the way it went. And on
and on it went. Finally
this spring a friend sent a registered letter to President Obama's
office. In early JUN, Don Schneider, now 81 years old, received
an honorable discharge, 58 years after last firing his weapon.
"I tell you, it didn't really register, I think, three or
four days before it really sunk in that I was discharged, that
I finally got it, so it was a good feeling." Because his
records were lost, Schneider was never paid for his two years
of service. "I figured 13 cents an hour at that time, 24
hours a day, Uncle Sam owes me between $68-70,000 which I'm never
going to see. You know that, but that's the way I got it figured."
But at this point in his life he says he's going to let that
one go. [Source: ABC Green Bay WI WBAY-2
Jeff Alexander article 23 Jun 2011 ++] A similar
altercation occurred in Richmond Virginia in DEC 2009 when the
Sussex Square HOA threatened to take a 90-year old MOH holder
(Col. Van T. Barfoot) to court if he did not remove his flag.
Upon learning of the controversy Democratic Senators Warner and
Webb agreed that his service entitled him to display the flag
in any manner he wanted and championed the vets cause.
Ultimately, the HOA agreed to stop their legal action against
Van T. Barfoot. The retired Army Colonel is now free to fly the
Flag in his front yard. Depression
in late life may be brought on by losses or serious challenges
such as the death of a spouse, family member, or pet, medical
problems, disability, or even retirement. A Veteran who has worked
all his or her life may have trouble coping with the lack of
something to do every day, may experience financial
strain, or become isolated from others. Various medical conditions
such as diabetes and stroke can have effects on blood flow to
the brain, and can make older Veterans particularly vulnerable
to developing depression. Dementia,
another severe health problem that can occur in late life, appears
to influence depression and vice versa. Dr. Crabb points out
that depression can be a psychological reaction to dementia.
Older Veterans get frustrated with their memory problems.
It can also be hard to adjust to having to stop doing valued
activities, like driving. There are also physiological
connections between depression and dementia. Parkinsons
Disease or the after effects of a stroke, for example, can affect
brain tissue and blood flow to the brain in ways that may cause
Says
Dr. Crabb, We have to look at what works for treatment
of late-late depression. Generally, the same antidepressant medications
that are effective in younger adults are effective in older adults.
They may be less effective for older Veterans who also have cognitive
impairment. The same applies to psychotherapy, which is
also effective for older adults. We use present and past focused
exercises to help older Veterans with depression regain a sense
of hope, purpose, and meaning. Veterans are supported in solving
problems and getting re-engaged in meaningful activities, whether
that means volunteering, physical exercise, or spending time
with loved ones. As
Dr. Crabb explains, Caregivers should be involved whenever
possible. It helps to increase the Veterans involvement
in pleasant activities that utilize their strengths and to give
them manageable responsibilities, for example, tending to specific
tasks in the home or garden. Although late-life depression
is a common and treatable problem, Dr. Crabb said many older
Veterans are reluctant to seek care. One study showed that up
to two-thirds of older Veterans discontinue antidepressant medications.
There is the stigma of seeking help for a Late
life depression can have devastating consequences and is an important
and common health problem for older Veterans. Veterans or family
members who recognize any of the symptoms in this story should
see their VA health provider. They can also call the Veterans
Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 for confidential help. The Veterans
Crisis Line is staffed by caring VA responders, many who are
Veterans themselves. Each responder understands the unique Veteran
experience and is trained to handle any crisis. Veterans who
are having thoughts of suicide should press 1 to be transferred
to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline. Further information
on late life [Source: Veterans Today article 24
Jun 2011 ] Even
though it took some time and determination, correctional facility
officials helped make the visit happen. "This is a national
monument, it makes everyone proud to get it here. And the demeanor
and the actions that you saw in the inmates, it's like they're
not even in prison right now," said Correctional Facility
Public Information Officer Darren Chamberlain. It was an emotional
moment for inmates, who served time in the military. Information
on the Wall as well as its traveling schedule can be found
at http://www.vvmf.org/twth Following is Date City, State Location JUL 3 - 6 York, PA York Fairgrounds JUI 14 - 17 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field AUG 8 - 14 Sturgis, S.D. Broken Spoke Campground AUG 18 - 21 Billings, MT Rimrock Auto Arena at Metra Park AUG 25 - 28 Richmond, IN Veterans Memorial Park SEP 1 - 6 Evansville, IN Westside Branch Library SEP 8 - 11 Greenwood, S.C. Lander University SEP 13 - 19 Kinston, N.C. Emma Webb Park SEP 21 - OCT 2 Sanford, NC TBD OCT 6 - 9 Scranton, PA Everhart Museum of National History OCT 13 - 17 Wyndmoor, PA La Salle College High School OCT 20 -24 Newnan, GA Coweta County Veterans Center NOV 3 - 6 Refugio, TX The Fairgrounds NOV 11 - 13 The Colony, TX 5151 N. Colony Blvd NOV 17 - 20 Lafayette, LA TBD [Source: Central Coast News Matt
de Nesnera article 22 Jun 2011 ++] In
AUG 2010 the city council voted unanimously to keep the Christian
flag anyway. A second vote was taken in September and they followed
the advice of the city attorney to remove the flag. He had informed
them that the Christian flag was unconstitutional and that they
would have to pay a lot of money to defend themselves against
a lawsuit that they would inevitably lose. After the council
voted to remove the flag in September 2010, thousands of people
rallied on the behalf of the flag and criticized the city for
taking it down. Steven
Hewett, who won rights to the weeks of June 27, Sept. 5, Nov.
11 and Nov. 28 to honor himself and three brothers who also are
veterans, said in his original application that he intended to
fly the Christian flag at the monument, which has been the focus
of controversy over whether religious symbols should mark the
memorial. Then he said he planned to fly a Muslim flag the week
of Sept. 5, which would include Sunday, Sept, 11, the 10th anniversary
of the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania terrorist
attacks that killed nearly 3,000. Many King residents have opposed Hewett's plans. Hewett's decision to fly no flags at the memorial still violates the city's policy, which states that residents requesting a flag to honor a family member who is a veteran must pick a flag that represents the veteran's faith tradition. The city Council is considering asking for a court injunction to prevent the city from allowing Hewett to fly no flag. [Source: Winston-Salem Journal John
hinton article 24 Jun 2011 ++] The
Secretary of Defense (SecDef) is the head and chief executive
officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of
America. This position corresponds to what is generically known
as a Defence Minister. [Source: DoD News Release No. 547-11
dtd 24 Jun 2011 ++] [Source: TREA Washington Update 24
Jun 2011 ++] James Downey Jr At http://www.veteranswellnessandhealing.org you can download an application from the center's
website which also lists retreat dates through 23 SEP 2011. [Source:
NAUS Weekly Update 24 Jun 2011 ++] Even more ominous, multiple media reports have indicated military retirement cutbacks could be in play in ongoing deficit-reduction talks between administration and congressional leaders, headed by Vice President Joe Biden. Most current proposals are based on recommendations of the 2009 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC), which included: * Converting to a civilianized 401(k)-style system under which full retired pay wouldnt be paid until age 57-60 *
Authorizing the services to make variable annual retirement contributions
depending on changing retention and * Vesting retirement benefits after 10 years of service The
last major revision to the military retirement system was in
1986 when Congress passed the so-called REDUX system as part
of an earlier budget-cutting drill. REDUX entailed far smaller
cuts than the QRMC envisions. Under that plan, post-1986 entrants
were to receive 40% of high-three-year average basic pay (vs.
50%) at 20 years of service. In contrast to the advocacy of current
Defense leaders, then-Secretary Caspar Weinberger warned Congress
that REDUX cuts would cause serious future readiness problems
by undermining If you tried to build a plan to slash career retention, its hard to conceive a better way than taking lots of money from people who serve a career in order to pay more to people who separate early. Imagine the impact if the QRMC proposals were in effect in today's wartime environment. A 10-year soldier facing a fourth or fifth combat deployment would have a choice between (a) taking the vested military retirement and leaving to pursue a civilian career or (b) having to serve decades longer (with who knows how many more deployments) before being eligible for military retired pay at age 57-60. What do you think would happen to retention then? Especially knowing the services let very few people serve that long...but force nearly all out of uniform between their early 40s and early 50s. Advocates for these initiatives seek to sugar-coat them by saying they wouldn't affect anyone now serving, but would only apply to new entrants. That also was true of the REDUX system, and we know how that turned out. The only thing grandfathering the current force does is let retirement-cutting leaders evade responsibility for their ill-advised actions by deferring the inevitable retention disaster for a decade and dumping it on their successors. MOAA believes it's essential to avoid repeating past mistakes that traded temporary budget relief for major national security risks. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 24 Jun 2011
++] A series
of articles published by the St. Petersburg Times beginning in
March 2010 exposed the charity as an elaborate fraud, prompting
investigations by attorneys general in nine states, including
Ohio. The IRS also began an investigation that led its agents
and officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and
the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to
seize documents last summer at Contreras' Clair-Mel home. The
nonprofit had reported raising more than $100 million since 2002
and having 66,000 members, a national headquarters and offices
in 41 states. But the Times' investigation found that none of
the people listed on the group's website as state officers or
members of its board of directors existed. From.
17, 2007 until July 28, 2010, when regulators had begun their
investigations, Contreras cashed checks at Tampa banks totaling
$472,373...strictly from donations from Ohio residents to the
Navy Veterans Association. Thompson cashed a total of $900,000
from the same source during the same period, and a third unnamed
person cashed $201,000 during that span. This person may be indicted
soon. Photos of Contreras, and
her daughter Nancy were displayed on the association's website.
They weren't named, only identified as In March 2010, the St. Petersburg Times published "Under the Radar," stories that questioned the legitimacy of the U.S. Navy Veterans Association and examined more than $180,000 in political contributions from the nonprofit's mysterious founder, Bobby Thompson. The group claims 41 state chapters, 66,939 members and annual income in excess of $22 million. But its officers, members and auditors were nowhere to be found. Its charitable gifts are mostly undisclosed and unverifiable. Several state regulators opened investigations. The New Mexico attorney general determined the charity's officers were "fictional'' and ordered the group to cease operations there. Hawaii told the group to stop fundraising. Officials in Virginia, Missouri, Oregon and New Hampshire are investigating the charity. Minnesota regulators levied a $21,000 fine against Thompson, saying he broke a state law when he used a fake ID to contribute $13,000 to GOP candidates and committees in that state from 2008 to 2010. Florida opened two investigations, by the attorney general and by the consumer services division. U.S. Sen. Jim Webb asked the Department of Veterans Affairs last year why the charity was on the VA's list of recommended veterans service organizations. The VA removed the charity from its website and promised more screening safeguards. Webb also asked the IRS to look into the charity. That investigation is ongoing. [Source: St. Petersburg Times Michael
Van Sickler article 23 Jun 2011 ++] Blanca Contreras Our country
asked a great deal from our former service members who were tasked
to secure the blessings of freedom and protect our nation's interests.
These courageous men and women kept their end of the bargain
and now it is time to keep ours. [Source: USDR Action alert 23 Jun
2011 ++] According
to USPS spokesman David Partenheimer, the suspension does not
have a definite end date. The agency had to take action to keep
the mail moving, but it is not a permanent solution, he said.
USPS already has overpaid its FERS account by nearly $7 billion
and estimates it has a $75 billion surplus in its Civil Service
Retirement System fund. Officials continue to request legislative
changes to bring the agency back to financial health, such as
the flexibility to cut Saturday delivery, adjust the size of
the workforce and end an obligation to [Source: GovExec.com Emily Long article 23 Jun 2011 ++] Florida Vet Legislation Update 02: Gov. Rick Scott has signed a number of veteran-related bills following the end of the 2011 Florida legislative session. Among the bills signed were: * A Florida Veterans Hall of Fame will be established in the state Capitol. * Gold Star parents will be honored with free lifetime entrance to Floridas 160 State Parks. * Special recreational areas will be established in state forests for service-disabled veterans. * A persons status as a veteran may be displayed on a Florida driver license or ID card for a small fee and proof of veteran status with a DD Form 214 military discharge document [Source: e-Florida News article Jun
2011 ++] The
audit of the 32-bed, nonprofit Spruill Avenue shelter, also called
North Charleston Community Interfaith Shelter, was prompted by
a Post and Courier investigation of the facility's operations
late last year. Auditors performed the review Nov. 29 to Dec.
2 and wrote their findings in a February report. The federal
auditors specifically questioned $122,000 Cook spent on "personal
incidentals, repairs to a personal vehicle, fundraising, advertising"
and other fees charged to a per diem VA grant program intended
to feed, clothe and shelter The audit also found that health insurance coverage for the shelter's two paid employees...Cook and a program director...was paid entirely by the veterans' grants. The employees contributed no portion from their own paychecks, the audit said. In its investigation, the auditors sought insurance quotes from Blue Cross Blue Shield. The most expensive coverage for the two women should have been about $12,000 a year, but financial filings show the shelter spent an average of about $31,000 for the two employees. The
president of the shelter's board of directors, Bobby Knight,
said the insurance bill was higher than auditors expected because
more than two people were covered. Cook had indicated on insurance
paperwork that Mike Collins, then one of the shelter's board
members, was her husband, Knight said. The health coverage then
extended to both Cook's children and Collins' children, he said.
After learning of the issue, the members removed Collins from
the board in May, Knight said. Knight said the VA is using the
audit as a basis for examining possible criminal activity. The
federal agency's Office of Inspector General has requested Knight's
permission to review the shelter's bank accounts and financial
filings, he said. Until Bank of America froze the account this
spring, Cook was the only person who could access the federal
funds, he said. Recently released bank statements show Cook used
the account to pay for a hotel stay at Folly Beach, downtown
dining and yoga lessons, Knight said. Asked why the board provided
lax oversight of the shelter's affairs, Knight said: "We
were too trusting. We believed what (Cook) told us was the truth."
Cook
is suing the shelter and three members of its board of directors,
accusing them of breaching her contract and fraud in the wake
of her dismissal, according to her lawsuit. Cook demanded a jury
trial to recoup more than $10,000 in unpaid wages and benefits,
plus attorney fees and unspecified damages, according to the
suit. Cook, a former Charleston County School Board chairwoman
who unsuccessfully ran for County Council in 2008, was at the
center of a Post and Courier investigation last fall that detailed
controversial operations at the [Source: The Post and Courier Renee
Dudley article 17 Jun 2011 ++] Ø Batesburg-Leesville LA -
William C. Padgett, 63, was sentenced 20 JUN in South Carolina
to five months in prison for lying on a veterans benefits form.
Padgett also received three years of probation with the first
five months after his prison sentence to be served in home detention.
Padgett pleaded guilty earlier this year to fraudulently obtaining
disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
and the Social Security Administration. Padgett claimed he was
unable to work because of post-traumatic stress disorder he Ø VAMC Bath NY - Nurse Heather Pospiech is accused of cleaning out the bank account of a disabled veteran who was in her care and is now facing federal charges. According to court documents, she was only found out after she confessed to the man's wife and then a co-worker. Prospiech was a nurse at the VA Medical Center in Bath New York and investigators say as part of her duties she would provide daily living assistance. She was apparently assigned to care for a disabled veteran who was wheelchair bound after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Investigators say she got a hold of the man's debit card after taking him to a mall where he asked her help him withdraw money and provided her the pin number. She then gave him the money, but agents say she kept the card. Court documents claim she then made 19 ATM withdrawals over a two month period...totaling more than $7,300. An advocate for the elderly at Lifespan says that 40% of their cases involve financial exploitation. Art Mason offered this advice to those with older loved ones. Stay in touch with them, find out who they are associating with, who's gaining their trust, who's spending time with them and has that person ever asked for money or a loan or something like that." Earlier this month, the state released a study that showed that when polled, the elderly said financial abuse was the number one type of abuse they experienced with a rate of 41 per 1000 surveyed. Stolen Valor Update 41:
The owner of a metro construction
company was indicted on 16 JUN for allegedly defrauding a federal
program that sets aside federal contracts for businesses owned
by service-disabled veterans. Also
charged in the indictment are Mary K. Parker, 66, Blue Springs,
Mo, Parker's wife, who is charged with one count of conspiracy,
four counts of major program fraud, eight counts of wire fraud
and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; Michael
J. Parker, 37, Blue Springs, Mo., Parker's son, who is charged
with one count of conspiracy, four counts of major program fraud,
eight counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit
money laundering and two counts of making false statements; Thomas
J. Whitehead, 59, Prosecutors are seeking to get $6.8 million back from the defendants and have frozen bank accounts and moved to take property. Prosecutors say that, if convicted, the crimes carry the following penalties: Conspiracy to defraud the government: * A maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Program fraud: * A maximum penalty of 10 years on each count and a fine up to twice the loss to the government program. * Wire fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. * Conspiracy to commit Money laundering; A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. * False statements to government agents: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. [Source: Fox 4 News Kansas City story 16 Jun 2011 ++] Stolen Valor Update 42:
In the wake of Osama Bin Ladens
death at the hands of the top-secret Navy Seal Team Six,
former Navy Seals have been coming out of the woodwork, telling
their friends, coworkers and strangers at the bar about their
exploits. The
Defense Department does not centralize the collection of all
service records; each service is responsible for maintaining
their own files. SEAL claims can be among the easiest to verify;
names can be quickly run through a comprehensive and regularly
updated database of all men who trained and served with the Naval
Special Warfare units, which include the SEALs and their precursor
units, from the end of World War II to the present day. Robinson
estimates there are only 7,000 living former SEALs and 2,200
on active duty. Though its illegal under federal law to impersonate a member of the military or to wear unearned military honors, few perpetrators are prosecuted. The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 tried to close that loophole by outlawing verbal and written claims. However, it has set off a battle in the Supreme Court over whether liars are merely exercising their right to free speech. For
more information, visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/boast- [Source: Washington Post Annys Shin
13 Jun 2011 ++] Clinicians
often cite uncertainty about a patient's true blood pressure
based on clinic measurements as a common reason for not changing
therapy, according to the researchers. To look at the certainty
with which a patient's blood pressure can be determined using
various methods, Powers and his colleagues performed a secondary
analysis of the Hypertension Intervention Nurse Telemedicine
Study (HINTS), which was conducted in primary care clinics affiliated
with the Durham VA Medical Center. The current analysis included
444 veterans The
study "highlights the benefits of recording and averaging
high-quality blood pressure measurements across several visits,"
according to Lawrence Appel, MD, MPH, of Johns Hopkins University,
and colleagues. Although the cost of getting repeated measurements
across clinic visits is a concern, they wrote in an accompanying
editorial, home blood pressure readings improve precision to
a similar extent. "Hence, a benefit of home blood pressure
measurement is frequent... readings that can be averaged and
can potentially obviate the need for repeated clinic visits,"
they wrote. Appel and his colleagues advocated "a regulatory
approach in which [Source: MedPage Today Todd Neale
article 21 Jun 2011 ++] The
WLA Master Plan, introduced for public comment in January 2011,
outlines potential modernization projects that provide direct
benefit for Veterans through VA programs and services on the
WLA campus. The plan calls for an expansion of GLA's homeless
program through the renovation of Buildings 205, 208, and 209.
This renovation will create additional opportunities for long-term
therapeutic and supportive homeless programs at the WLA campus
focusing on the most chronically homeless disabled Veterans.
Other projects under * Constructing a new inpatient tower (clinical expansion), centralizing, * Research activities and locating them adjacent to the clinical area, * Expanding the Los Angeles national cemetery onto the WLA campus and * Collocating the VA regional office onto WLA grounds, offering veterans comprehensive services in one location. Under
the Master Plan, as each existing land use agreement expires,
renewal will be determined based upon the priorities and guiding
principles established in the Master Plan. This plan ensures
that all future proposed land use will be evaluated based on
three critical priorities: direct benefit to Veterans, fulfillment
of VA's mission, and compatibility with the community. For questions or concerns contact the VA GLA Public Affairs Office at (310) 268-3340. [Source: VA News Release 22 Jun 2011
++] According
to the lawsuit, Goncalves was blinded in his right eye when a
third-year resident at the VA hospital incorrectly administered
an anesthetic during the 1 NOV 07, procedure. Bernard said Dr.
Yue Michelle Wang, the resident during a routine outpatient cataract
operation, incorrectly placed a needle with a local anesthetic
"directly into Jose's eye instead of behind the eye as was
proper. Then, failing to recognize her error, she proceeded to
inject so much anesthetic, so quickly, that Jose's eye literally
exploded." He endured four more [Source: Connecticut Post Daniel
Tepfer article 27 JUN 2011 ++] * JUL 2-3 Battle Creek Battle Creek, MI * JUL 9 Pensacola Beach Air Show - Pensacola Beach, FL * JUL 23-24 Thunder Over Michigan - Ypsilanti, MI * JUL 30-31 Great Falls - Great Falls, MT * AUG 6-7 SeaFair 2011 - Seattle, WA * AUG 13-14 Fargo Air Show 2011 - Fargo, ND * AUG 27-28 Great State of Maine Air Show - Brunswick, ME * SEP 3-4 NAS Patuxent River Air Expo 11 - Patuxent River, MD * SEP 17-18 Millington - Millington, TN * SEP 24-25 NAS Oceana Air Show - Oceana, VA * OCT 1-2 MCAS Miramar Air Show - Miramar, CA * OCT 8-9 Fleet Week - San Francisco - San Francisco, CA * OCT 15-16 Central Valley Lemoore Air Show - Lemoore, CA * OCT 22-23 Amigo Airshow - El Paso, TX * OCT 29-30 Randolph AFB Air Show - San Antonio, TX * NOV 5-6 NAS Jacksonville Air Show - Jacksonville, FL * NOV 12 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show - Pensacola, FL [Source: Military.com article 20
Jun 2011 ++] In
a related issue Army criminal investigators are investigating
the discovery of 69 boxes of burial records from Arlington National
Cemetery found in a commercial storage facility. The criminal
investigation was revealed at a Capitol Hill hearing on 23 JUN.
Kathryn Condon, an Arlington official, has told a congressional
panel that cemetery officials called Army investigators to report
the records had been discovered earlier this month. She says
personally identifying details were in the records, but there's
not a security risk because the [Source: Military.com & AP articles
20 & 23 Jun 2011 ++] Walgreens is committed to providing quality, convenient and cost-effective pharmacy services to our patients, but we cannot continue to deliver these services under the terms and rates Express Scripts offered. As the largest retail provider in their pharmacy network, we were surprised by Express Scripts' ultimate stance during our talks, which made it clear to us that they no longer had an interest in continuing a meaningful relationship. " Walgreens said it had reluctantly reached this conclusion for the following reasons: * Express Scripts insisted on being able to unilaterally define contract terms, including what does and does not constitute a brand and generic drug, which would have denied Walgreens the predictability necessary to reliably plan its business operations going forward. * Express Scripts rejected Walgreens request to be informed in advance if Express Scripts intends to add or transfer a prescription drug plan to a different Express Scripts pharmacy network, and to provide patients with equal access to Walgreens retail pharmacies. Walgreens cannot reliably plan business operations without clear terms, transparency and predictability governing the provider network relationship. * Express Scripts proposed to cut reimbursement rates to unacceptable levels below the industry average cost to provide each prescription. Walgreens proposed to lower rates on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD) Tricare program, a pharmacy benefit plan managed by Express Scripts. Under Walgreens proposal, the reimbursement cost for the DoD would have been lower than under Walgreens commercial rates. In addition, Walgreens offered to contract separately with Express Scripts for Tricare beneficiaries, in order to continue providing services for all active and retired military personnel. For all other plans managed by Express Scripts, Walgreens offered to hold rates for a new contract at the level that will be in effect with Express Scripts at year end, which will be lower than current rates. In
their intermediary role as a pharmacy benefit manager, Express
Scripts processes approximately 90 million prescriptions that
are expected to be filled by Walgreens in fiscal 2011, representing
approximately $5.3 billion in annual sales. "We believe
the long-term ramifications of accepting Express Scripts' proposal
with below market rates and minimal predictability for the services
we provide would have been much worse than any short-term impact
to our earnings," said Walgreens Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer Wade Miquelon. "All parties
involved in providing health care must work together to bring
down costs. In a world where cost Moving
forward, Walgreens noted that Medicare Part D patients who use
its pharmacies will continue to have the option during the open
enrollment period near the end of the year to choose a Part D
plan that includes Walgreens. In addition, some Express Scripts
clients may have the ability to include Walgreens as part of
their benefit offering. As a result, Walgreens said it will look
for opportunities to have discussions with Express Scripts clients,
consistent with their contractual agreements, to ensure their
beneficiaries can continue to use the [Source: Walgreens press release
21 Jun 2011 ++] Individuals
who reside overseas may sign up for Medicare at the Federal Benefits
Office located at U.S. Embassies. In U.S. territories, go to
your local Social Security Administration office. Enroll no later
than two months before you turn 65, or if you develop ESRD or
a disability. Once you receive your Medicare card, verify that
your record in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
(DEERS) has been updated to reflect your Medicare entitlement.
Even though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sends
Medicare Exceptions to the requirement to have Medicare Part B to keep TRICARE are as follows: * Active duty service members (ADSMs) and active duty family members (ADFMs): If you are an ADSM or ADFM entitled to premium-free Medicare Part A, you do not need Medicare Part B to keep your TRICARE benefits. ADFMs entitled to Medicare based on disability or age may enroll in Medicare Part B during the special enrollment period (the special enrollment period does not apply to beneficiaries with ESRD)...which is any time your sponsor is on active duty or within the first eight months following your sponsors retirement date...or loss of TRICARE, whichever occurs first. The surcharge for late enrollment does not apply when you enroll in Part B during a special enrollment period. However, if you wait to enroll after your sponsor has retired, you will have a break in TRICARE coverage until Part B takes effect. If you enroll in Part B outside the special enrollment period, you will pay an additional 10 percent for each 12-month period that you were eligible to enroll but did not. The Department of Defense (DoD) strongly encourages you to enroll in Medicare Part B prior to your sponsors retirement date to avoid a break in TRICARE coverage and late-enrollment surcharges. *
TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) or TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)
enrollees: If you are enrolled in TRS or TRR and are eligible
for premium-free Medicare Part A, you do not need Medicare Part
B to keep your current TRS or TRR benefits. However, DoD strongly
recommends that you enroll in Medicare Part B when you are first
eligible to avoid a break in TRICARE coverage and Medicare Part
B late-enrollment surcharges. If you later disenroll from one
of these programs, you will have a break in TRICARE coverage
until you have [Source: The 2011 Publication for
Tricare Standard Overseas Beneficiaries May 2011 ++] The
Army is currently the only service without a centralized museum.
The Navy Museum is located at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C.;
the Marine Corps Museum is located at the Marine Base Quantico
in Prince William County, Va.; and the Air Force Museum is located
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. For more information,
contact Army Public Affairs at 703-697-5344. *
Checking the Amended box in the upper right-hand corner of the
first page of the form; You
may think this law does not apply to you because the funds in
your personal accounts may not have been $10,000 in 2010. But
think again. You are required to file if you are a signatory
on an account(s) where the amount(s) equals $10,000, whether
or not the funds belonged to you. For example, if your personal
funds combined with funds in your church, club, or company bank
accounts where you are a signatory equal $10,000, you are required
to file the FBAR. Additionally, "Foreign account" is
not limited to standard checking and savings accounts. You must
also take into account your mutual funds, trusts, and brokerage
accounts. Also, your business accounts may need to be included.
For more information, see IRS: FAQs
Regarding Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts at Help in completing Form TD F 90-22. * Negligence: Up to $500 * Non-Willful Violation: Up to $10,000 for each violation. * Pattern of Negligent Activity: In addition to $10,000 penalty, $50,000. *
Willful-Failure to File FBAR or Retain Records of Account: Up
to the greater of $100,000 or 50% of the *
Knowingly Filing False FBAR: Up to the greater of $100,000 or
50% of the amount in the financial account at [Source: The Tax Barron Report Summer
2011 ++] The
identities of KIA servicemembers may be even easier targets than
most deceased Americans because their deaths and surrounding
information, such as mothers maiden name, are often featured
in media reports, Sileo said. And unless the thief seeks to use
the information to access health care or other military benefits,
families likely wont notice the servicemembers identity
was stolen until tax time, if ever, he said. Theres
no one there to notice it when it happens, Sileo said.
Because there arent measures in place to stop the
theft of the identity, why not take somebody who is never going
to protest? As scholars pore over the 47-volume report, Ellsberg says the chance of them finding great new revelations is dim. Most of it has come out in congressional forums and by other means, and Ellsberg plucked out the best when he painstakingly photocopied pages that he spirited from a safe night after night, and returned in the mornings. He told The Associated Press the value in the release was in having the entire study finally brought together and put online, giving today's generations ready access to it. At the time, Nixon was delighted that people were reading about bumbling and lies by his predecessor, which he thought would take some anti-war heat off him. But if he loved the substance of the leak, he hated the leaker. He called the leak an act of treachery and vowed that the people behind it "have to be put to the torch." He feared that Ellsberg represented a left-wing cabal that would undermine his own administration with damaging disclosures if the government did not crush him and make him an example for all others with loose lips. It was his belief in such a conspiracy, and his willingness to combat it by illegal means, that put him on the path to the Watergate scandal that destroyed his presidency. Nixon's
attempt to avenge the Pentagon Papers leak failed. First, the
Supreme Court backed the Times, The Washington Post and others
in the press and allowed them to continue publishing stories
on the study in a landmark case for the First Amendment. Then,
the government's espionage and conspiracy prosecution of Ellsberg
and his colleague Anthony J. Russo Jr. fell apart, a mistrial
declared because of government misconduct. The
declassified report includes 2,384 pages missing from what was
regarded as the most complete version of the Pentagon Papers,
published in 1971 by Democratic Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska. But
some of the material absent from that version appeared...with
redactions in a report of the House Armed Services Committee,
also in 1971. In addition, at the time, Ellsberg did not disclose
a section on peace negotiations with Hanoi, in fear of complicating
the talks, but that part was declassified separately years later.
The
DSC is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded
to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry
and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.
Actions that merit the DSC must be of such a high degree to be
above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but
not meeting the criteria for the Medal of Honor. The Distinguished Service Cross was
established by President Woodrow Wilson on January 2, 1918. * During World War I, 6,309 awards of the Distinguished Service Cross were made to 6,185 recipients * During World War II, just over 5,000 awards were made * In the Korean War, there were just over 800 awards, of which over 300 were posthumous * There were just over 1,000 awards in the Vietnam War, almost 400 of which were posthumous * Operation Enduring Freedom and fifteen in Operation Iraqi Freedom seven as of May 2009 For a complete list if recipients
refer to http://homeofheroes.com/distinguishedservicecross/index.html When
it comes to dispensing healthcare, war veterans are a hard group
to reach. They came up in a military system that rewards toughness
and discourages complaints, particularly concerning psychological
problems. The study's results suggest that with some simple training, the women behind the bar...and most of them happen to be women...could be an untapped resource in identifying veterans in crisis and steering them toward professional help. At
lunchtime on a recent warm day, the parking lot of Post 1503
is full of pickups. The air inside is cool and smoky, four flat
screens flicker in the dark and the special is spaghetti with
meat sauce. Keys is tending bar and every stool is taken up by
creatures of habits so set, she can recite with eyes closed who
is there and the order in which they are seated. This flag-studded
brick building in the northern Virginia suburbs is tucked between
the Army's Ft. Belvoir and the Marine Corps base at Quantico.
Some guys like Rich Silva, 47, here this afternoon in his battle fatigues, are still on active duty. He fought in Panama, the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Bosnia, and twice each in Afghanistan and Iraq. A few weeks ago, a thunderstorm sent him diving under his bed for cover. Later at the bar, he told Keys. "When my wife divorced me, I had nobody to go to. Dori spent 10 or 12 hours talking to me. She was working a double shift that day," he says over a Captain Morgan as Keys, at the well and out of earshot, wipes down the copper railings. "Then she made sure I got a ride home." They talk; she listens...sister, confessor, wisecracker, friend, stationed behind the long, varnished bar sometimes 13 hours at a time, with the bad knees to prove it. She was busing tables at 15 and pouring drinks at 22. But no civilian saloon was ever like this. The men who come here aren't looking to get drunk, or see who they can take home. They come for the fellowship of service, where they can talk or not talk, and no war story is too stale or horrific to tell. Still,
it is by no means a glum place. The conversation is lively. If
someone gets out of line, one "Watch it" from Keys
generally suffices. When it doesn't, as in the case of the guy
who threatened her with a .357 Magnum, she has him kicked out.
"This place has made me tough and it's made me a better
person. I have more patience with everything now, I realize what
life is," she says, managing to carry on a conversation
with one eye on her patrons, an occupational talent. Most of
1503's members are men who served in Vietnam. They're in their
60s and 70s now, a generation of warriors who came home to a
country that was more angry than grateful. A lot of them turned
to one another, and still do. The door opens and in walks former
Marine Sam Pitts, 75, right on schedule. Keys pours an Old Crow
on the rocks. He went to Vietnam twice. He works 4 a.m. to noon
as the post's maintenance man and likes to stick around after.
Here, if he feels like it, he can bring up "the details"
of war only his comrades understand. The stuff civilians didn't
care to hear about back then any more than they do now. [Source: Los Angeles Times Faye Fiore
article 16 Jun 2011 ++] In a statement
23 JUN the U.S. 8th Army said the task force has interviewed
26 people with direct or indirect knowledge of chemical burial
and recovery at Camp Carroll and has plans to interview at least
30 more. It deployed ground-penetrating radar to search for barrels
of buried chemicals at sites identified by Mr. House but has
turned up nothing so far. Documents show that chemicals were
buried at Camp Carroll in 1978 but then removed the following
year. The list of chemicals did not include Agent Orange, however.
The radar mapping of Last week,
the U.S. and Vietnam began joint work on cleaning up environmental
damage from Agent Orange at a former U.S. military base in central
Vietnam. Its the first time the two countries have worked
together to clean up contamination from the war they fought in
the 1960s and early 1970s. The U.S. sprayed millions of gallons
of Agent Orange over South Vietnam during the war to destroy
the jungle that fighters used for cover. Warren Parker is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, four counts of major program fraud, eight counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and two counts of making false statements. Parker's company, Silver Star Construction, LLC, was incorporated in Missouri, with offices in Blue Springs, Mo., and Stilwell, Kan. The indictment alleges that Silver Star Construction acted as an illegal pass-through company for Phoenix Building Group, Inc., which was incorporated in Kansas, with Thomas J. Whitehead as a majority owner. Also charged in the indictment are Mary K. Parker, 66, Blue Springs, Mo, Parker's wife, who is charged with one count of conspiracy, four counts of major program fraud, eight counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; Michael J. Parker, 37, Blue Springs, Mo., Parker's son, who is charged with one count of conspiracy, four counts of major program fraud, eight counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of making false statements; Thomas J. Whitehead, 59, Leawood, Kan. who claimed he worked for Silver Star Construction and who is the majority owner of Phoenix Building Group, Inc., is charged with one count of conspiracy, four counts of major program fraud, eight counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and Silver Star Construction, LLC, the company, also is a defendant in the criminal indictment. Prosecutors are seeking to get $6.8 million back from the defendants and have frozen bank accounts and moved to take property. Prosecutors say that, if convicted, the crimes carry the following penalties: Conspiracy to defraud the government: * A maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Program fraud: * A maximum penalty of 10 years on each count and a fine up to twice the loss to the government program. * Wire fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. * Conspiracy to commit Money laundering; A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. *
False statements to government agents: A maximum penalty of five
years and a fine up to $250,000 on each [Source: Fox 4 News Kansas City story
16 Jun 2011 ++] This is the
first report on veterans' employment data since President Obama
issued an executive order in November 2009 to make hiring veterans
a priority. The order created Veterans Employment Program offices
in federal agencies, to guide veterans through the job application
process and help them adjust to life as civilian employees once
hired. Additionally, the order established a Council on Veterans
Employment. OPM called the increase a success but stressed that
more work remains. "The Veterans Employment Initiative is
off to a strong start, but this is only the beginning,"
OPM Director John Berry wrote in an introduction to the report.
"We must work even harder in the months and years to come."
[Source: GovExec.com Caitlin Fairchild article 16 Jun 2011 ++]
Since
then, The American Legion...along with the Citizens Flag Alliance
and a majority of Americans...have fought for a constitutional
amendment that would allow for the passage of flag-protection
laws. All 50 states have passed memorializing resolutions in
support of such an amendment. Protection
of our flag impairs no ones free speech. It does not prevent
a single idea from being expressed. It involves no censorship
of an idea. The amendment would only allow for the prohibition
of conduct with respect to one unique object, the flag of the
United States of America. House Joint Resolution 13, introduced
by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO) currently has 50 co-sponsors,
including 44 Republicans and six Democrats. A parallel measure,
Senate Joint Resolution 19, was introduced 15 JUN in the Senate
with bipartisan support by [Source: The American Legion Online
Update 15 Jun 2011 ++] The Credit Card
Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, which
largely went into effect last year, gave consumers many protections.
But most consumers are befuddled about how high interest rates
can go if they're late paying that credit card bill. As of 25
JUN, Bank of America will resume a penalty interest rate that
could be as high as 29.99 percent on future purchases and transactions.
"A late payment won't automatically Some consumer
groups would like to see federal limits on penalty rates. If
you read the terms for your credit card, you will discover that
late payments commonly can drive up the cost of borrowing to
nearly 30 percent. Many big issuers -- Citi, Chase, Capital One,
American Express -- have some type of penalty rates. The American
Express Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, for example, has a penalty
rate with a variable rate that is 23.99 percent plus the prime
rate, so it's now 27.24 percent. The penalty rate applies if
you make one or more late payments or make a payment that is
returned. The new credit card act protected you to some degree.
Everyone should know when their card payment is due -- due dates
must now be the same date each month. Any amount paid beyond
the minimum due now also goes toward the balance with the highest
rate. And there are protections A few years ago, consumers got whacked
hard when card issuers raised rates on previous purchases for
practically any infraction. The fees adding onto fees and the
higher rates pushed consumers over the financial edge. * That zero-percent introductory rate expires. Card issuers can raise rates once a promotional rate expires. In general, a promotional rate must run at least six months. (I have seen some offers with zero percent for the first 12 billing cycles on purchases.) * The prime rate or another rate index goes up. A credit card issuer can use a variable rate for the everyday interest rate on the card -- and the rate will go up on previous purchases when rates in general go up. * You paid 60 days or more late. The interest rate on past and future purchases would go up if you're extremely late. Consumers
can forget or overlook that interest rates on future purchases
can easily go up. "They may not even notice this happening,"
Detweiler said. But look at your credit card bill. You'd see
a "Late Payment Warning" at the top. "If we do
not receive your minimum payment by the date listed above, you
may have to pay a late fee of up to $35 and your APR will be
subject to a maximum Penalty APR of 29.99%," read one statement
for a Chase card. Go to the bottom of that bill to find your
actual interest charges. Of course, no one wants a credit card
rate of 30%. It's bad enough to be paying 15%. "People don't
usually factor in a penalty rate into their thinking," said
Ruth Susswein, deputy director of national priorities for Consumer
Action. "We don't expect to do anything to deserve it."
If you borrowed $4,000 on a credit card with a 15% rate and made
only the minimum required What happens at
30%? The Fed says you'd never pay it off if you made only the
required minimum payments each month. A calculator at Bankrate.com
says you could pay off $4,000 in debt on a credit card with an
annual rate of 30% in 36 months...if you paid about $170 a month.
One good part of the Credit Card Act of 2009, though, is that consumers do have a reprieve if they're hit with a penalty rate. After six months of being a good customer, the credit card issuer is supposed to go back and review your higher rate. Credit card experts say you'd want to be paying on time -- especially after getting slapped with a penalty rate. And you'd want to make sure you make the minimum payments...and then some. To avoid high penalty rates on credit cards: *
Sign up for a free e-alert to remind you that your credit card
payment is due. Due dates are the same each * Make all credit card payments on time...and pay at least the minimum required. Sending $10 when the minimum payment is $25 won't spare you a late penalty. * If the rate goes up as a penalty, make future payments on time for six months in a row and then contact your issuer to see about getting that rate lowered. * Do not borrow anywhere near the maximum amount allowed on your credit line if you're trying to get your rate lowered after six months with a penalty rate. * Pay attention to the rate on your card each month. If you have a high rate, stop charging until you pay off the entire balance. * Watch your spending. Check your rates. You do not want to go out and put a major purchase on a credit card if the rate on future purchases has gone up to nearly 30%. [Source: Detroit Free Press Susan
Tompor article 13 Jun 2011 ++] Dioxin has
been linked to an array of diseases, from cancer to heart conditions.
In 1991, Congress enacted legislation saying that Vietnam veterans
with diseases associated with defoliants like Agent Orange should
be treated as if those diseases were the result of their service
in the war. That presumption of service-related sickness made
it simpler for Vietnam veterans to receive health care and disability
compensation. Over the years, the Department of Veterans Affairs
has recognized 14 diseases as being related to exposure to defoliants,
including Parkinsons disease, multiple myeloma, Type 2
diabetes and some relatively common illness among the aging,
like ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer. Initially, the
department interpreted the law to apply to anyone in any of the
armed services who deployed to Vietnam. But in 2002, the department
narrowed its Given the inconclusiveness of the institutes report, it had been considered unlikely that the veterans department would changes its rules to make it easier for Blue Water sailors to obtain Agent Orange benefits. But the Blue Water veterans association asserts that would be the wrong conclusion to draw from the study. The association notes that the report finds that sprayed dioxin could have reached the sea on the wind or in runoff carried by streams and rivers, though the report suggests that the amounts would have been relatively small. TCDD would enter coastal marine water from river discharge (albeit a very small load because of the mechanisms discussed) and from spray drift, the report says. The committee concludes that TCDD loading due to spray drift could have occurred but would have been minimal. The report also says that deep-sea sailors could then have encountered dioxin through direct exposure to contaminated seawater, by swimming for instance, or through drinking water that was distilled from seawater contaminated with dioxin. (Large ships generated their own potable water by distilling ocean water.) The report also said some Blue Water sailors might have inhaled dioxin or had contact with it through their skin if they were near coastal waters while defoliant was being spraying inland. The committee cannot provide quantitative estimates of exposure by any of the exposure pathways described above because of lack of data, the report concludes. At best, the committee can judge whether specific routes of exposure are plausible. That plausibility
should be good enough reason for the government to extend benefits
to the deep-sea sailors of Vietnam, the Blue Water veterans say.
Some major veterans groups agree. If not the smoking gun,
this report reinforces the need for benefits to be paid to our
Vietnam War Blue Water sailors, said Jimmie L. Foster,
national commander of the American Legion. Reasonable doubt
should be given to the veteran who shows As the veterans
department continues to review the report, many veterans believe
their best chance of winning benefits is through legislation
circulating on Capitol Hill. But given the current budget-cutting
climate in Congress, it is far from clear that such legislation
will pass. By some estimates, as many as 800,000 service members
could be eligible for expanded benefits if the legislation passes,
with the cost potentially running into billions of dollars. But
Mr. Wells said the number of eligible Blue Water veterans who
are still alive could be fewer than 60,000. Thousands of Navy and Coast Guard veterans who served aboard ships during the Vietnam conflict experience health problems related to herbicide exposure, but their illnesses and disabilities are not automatically considered service-connected in the eyes of the VA, explains Slawinski. The VA restricts this type of presumptive service connection to vets who had boots on the ground or can prove their ship operated on inland waterways. Each addition to the VAs list of exposed vessels will make it easier for these veterans to prove exposure and will hopefully facilitate more timely determination of benefits. If you or someone you know served aboard any of these vessels during the times indicated and has herbicide-related health problems, a VA claim for exposure to an herbicide agent should be filed as soon as possible. To start
a claim, contact your nearest VA Regional Office or contact Chris
Slawinski, FRAs national veterans service officer, at vafra@fra.org
or FRA is working
to reverse the VAs policy that prevents so-called blue
water military retirees and veterans...those who served
off shore in Vietnam...from claiming disability benefits for
diseases related to exposure to Agent Orange. A recent report
by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) proves the distillation process
used to generate potable water from sea water did not remove
Agent Orange from the water; it actually enhanced This legislation would authorize the VA to presume service-connection for veterans and retirees suffering from ailments related to exposure to Agent Orange if they served in the waters off the coast of or in the skies above Vietnam. Those impacted by herbicide exposure are urged to use the FRA Action Center at http://www.capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=32082506 to ask their representative to co-sponsor this important legislation. Exposure to Agent Orange and other toxic substances is the focus of a feature article in the April edition of FRA Today, the Associations monthly membership magazine. FRA members are invited to share their exposure experiences and questions at http://www.fra.org/hottopics Congress recently took a step in the right direction by expanding eligibility for disability compensation due to non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) for veterans who served in Vietnams offshore waters. This is welcome news for Blue Water veterans whose claims for compensation benefits had been denied under VAs earlier more restrictive definition of the disease. The term NHL includes a number of different conditions that may be categorized differently under various medical classification systems. Recently, VA expanded its definition of NHL to include chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small-cell lymphocytic lymphoma, two conditions that VA previously contended were unrelated. Under the provisions of 38 CFR § 3.313, Veterans who served in Vietnam, including service in the waters offshore, are now entitled to a presumption of service connection for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The change
in policy was a result of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans
Affairs had receiving questions about the connection between
non-Hodgkins lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and
small-cell lymphocytic lymphoma. Their discussions with medical
professionals at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and
with attorneys at the Office of General Counsel (OGC) led to
the conclusion that these diseases In a USA
Editorial the following opinion was expressed: The GAO's report
describes a dysfunctional security system and identifies 284
sexual assaults at 105 facilities in a three-and-a-half year
span. The victims included men and women, employees and patients.
Some were being treated for mental illness, substance abuse or
post-traumatic stress...people at their most vulnerable. The
only conclusion is that, despite their protestations, Among the GAO's most significant findings: Ø The VA does not systematically monitor and track sexual assault incidents in a central database, making it impossible to pinpoint problem facilities. Ø At five facilities the GAO looked at in depth, security equipment systems were often ineffective or malfunctioning. Ø Some patients at the five facilities had criminal records for sexual offenses, but VA staff, who rely on patients to reveal this information, did not always know about the crimes. Because the VA now serves twice as many women as it did in 2000, some in co-ed residential facilities, it should have anticipated problems. Many solutions are being offered to improve the system: tighter security, better monitoring and a proposed law that mandates a central database for the reports. All helpful. All obvious. But none will be effective if leadership is willfully oblivious. Opposing
view: William C. Schoenhard, deputy undersecretary for Health
for Operations and Management of the Veterans Health Administration,
has a different view on the situation and expressed them to the
USA Today Editorial Staff: He contends that VA continues to improve.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a primary responsibility
to provide safe, quality care to veterans and other beneficiaries.
We take this responsibility seriously. Ø we have a rigorous multilayered security system that includes a dedicated Federal Police Force, alarm systems, security cameras, reporting systems and unambiguous policies. Ø We maintain strong relationships with local law enforcement officials at each of our facilities and are committed to ensuring that those who have violated the law are brought to justice. Ø In 2009, VA established a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Integrated Operations Center that serves as a focal point for any reports of serious incidents, including allegations of criminal behavior at VA facilities. Ø We have a multidisciplinary effort focusing on three key areas: implementing the GAO recommendations, assessing the risks in our facilities, and prescribing specific measures to improve safety and security. I have directed all VA medical centers to conduct a systematic review of physical security, report their findings and immediately address any deficiencies. VA appreciates and accepts the recommendations put forward by GAO as part of our commitment to serve veterans and their families. [Source: USA Today Opinion article
14 Jun 2011 ++] If space
is available, retirees can continue care in a military treatment
facility (MTF) with a primary care manager, through TRICARE Prime.
This requires re-enrolling and paying annual fees of $230 for
an individual and $460 for a family. If beneficiaries choose
to enroll in TRICARE Prime at an MTF, they will receive care
based on the same access-to-care standards as all other Prime
beneficiaries. TRICARE Standard or Extra may In addition to TRICARE retiree health care benefits, certain medical and pharmacy benefits may also be available to retirees from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Go to http://www.va.gov/health/default.asp for more information. The TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) Standard option is available to retirees planning to live outside the United States. They and their family must meet a deductible before cost-sharing begins and generally file their own claims for reimbursement for covered health services. TRICARE also has additional country-specific requirements for care received in the Philippines. Retirees should always remember to update the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) with any new personal information, including a new address. The website
address for DEERS is http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dwp/index.jsp Automatic coverage by TRICARE Standard and
Extra or TOP Standard occurs after retirement as long as DEERS
information is current. TRICARE recommends beneficiaries consider
all available choices before retiring. It is best to plan well
in advance to ensure a smooth transition. Beneficiaries can learn
more about retiree health care options at their According
to the report, Republicans are making a bigger deal out of this
than Democrats. "By any standard, the scope of these problems
is considerable," said Representative Charles Boustany,
a Louisiana Republican and chairman of the House Ways and Means
Oversight subcommittee. "Regardless
of whether a payment occurs because of simple error or outright
fraud, improper payments harm Social Security programs in the
long term, jeopardizing benefits for those who may need them
in the future. They also cost taxpayers billions of dollars each
year." Meanwhile, Social Security wants
a little recognition for its honesty. "We pay nearly 60
million Americans who deserve to receive their benefits timely
and accurately, and we deliver on that responsibility in nearly
all cases, "Carolyn W. Colvin, the agency's deputy commissioner,
said. [Source: National Journal John Hudson
article 15 Jun 2011 ++] Installation [Source: Army Echoes Issue 1 2011
++] [Source: Austin American Statesman
David Dewhurst article 6 Jun 2011 ++] Rank Most expensive Annual average Rank Least expensive Annual average 1 Detroit Mich. $5,948 1 Wapakoneta OH $865 2 New Orleans LA $3,802 2 Fairfield OH $951 3 Philadelphia PA $3,496 3 Portland ME $953 4 Baltimore MD $3,168 4 Roanoke VA $963 5 Miami FL $2,959 5 Lafayette IIN $982 Fortunately, while rates vary wildly from city to city, the ways to save are pretty much the same everywhere. Besides moving to Wapakoneta, heres what you can do to keep your rates down: Ø Raise your deductible. Offering to pay more out of pocket is a quick way to lower your rate, but dont make it more than you can afford. According to the III, going from a $250 deductible to $500 can save 30 percent, and up to $1,000 can save more than 40 percent. Ø Ask about discounts. Although they vary by insurer, common discounts include having anti-theft and safety devices, other policies with the company, low mileage, no accidents for a few years, or an out-of-state student on the policy. Being a long-time customer, taking driving courses, or setting up online auto-pay also sometimes helps. Call your company and ask about these and any other ways to save. Ø Comparison shop. Rates vary from insurer to insurer just like they do from state to state, so get quotes from several. Start with a insurance search tool such as http://www.moneytalksnews.com/insurance Check smaller companies too, but make sure theyre licensed to do business in your state by contacting your states insurance department at http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm which should have a list of authorized providers. To gauge the financial strength of
an insurance company, you can check their ratings at Standard
& Poors Ø Lower coverage for older
cars. Theres a rule of thumb suggesting that if the annual
cost of comprehensive and collision coverage exceeds 10 percent
of your cars value, you might consider dropping this portion
of your policy and become self-insured. For example, if the comprehensive
and collision coverage portion of your policy costs $300 per
year, you might consider dropping this coverage if your car is
worth less than $3,000. IMPORTANT: NEVER drop liability coverage, and make sure you have enough to cover your entire net worth. Liability insurance is no place to scrimp! Ø Keep your credit clean. Fair or not, many insurance companies have come to the conclusion that people who wreck their credit are more likely to wreck their cars. Result? Higher rates for lower credit scores. |Make yours sparkle. Ø Drive cars that cost less to insure. Dont ever buy a car without first checking the insurance rates on it: Some cars cost more to insure than others. Insure.com has a tool that tracks average premiums for different cars at http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/car-insurance-comparison.html Ø Try new programs. Some insurers are experimenting with tools that track your driving habits and set your rates accordingly. So if you drive fewer miles or, in some cases, with a lighter foot you might pay less. Its called a pay-as-you-drive policy. [Source: MoneyTalksNews Brandon Ballenger
article 22 May 2011 ++] Ø Commissary Coupon Card.
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) announced what they are
calling a loyalty card which is expected to be available
in the fall. Unlike typical store loyalty cards, however, it
sounds like this one will not result in automatic savings in
store. Instead it will serve another aspect of civilian loyalty
card programs (like those used at Safeway and Kroger), allowing
shoppers to upload e-coupons available on the Ø Senate Travel Cost. The costs of overseas trips in 2010 taken by Senators and their staffers jumped by about 20 percent, reaching an all-time high of more than $5 million in publicly reported costs, which is still likely less han half the actual total. Ø Cable. According to a recent report ( http://www.nrdc.org/energy/files/settopboxes.pdf ) by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the cable TV boxes in your home may use more electricity than your refrigerator. Ø Military Retiree Divorce.
In the case of Turner v. Rogers, decided on June 20, 2011, the
U.S. Supreme Court held that a civil litigant in a contempt hearing
may be entitled to appointed legal representation (court-appointed
attorney) in some cases when jail time is a possibility. Therefore,
any military retiree being held in contempt for non-payment of
the "spousal share" of retainer pay, alimony, or child
support, should request a Ø SECDEF. In a unanimous vote, 100 to 0, the Senate voted 22 JUN to confirm Leon Panetta as the next Secretary of Defense. Ø Car Building Technology.
The auto industry has come a long way in the past 100 years!!
THIS is the way to buy a car. Ø Never too Late. Now 99, a World War II veteran and retired postal worker from western New York recently married 86-year-old Virginia Hartman, a widow who raised five children. Gilbert never got married because he never met the right woman...until he turned 98. Then he met 86-year-old Virginia, a widow who raised five children, in 2010 in a hall at Monroe Community Hospital, the nursing home where they both live. After that, he started visiting her every day. They wanted to share a room, but the facilitys rules would not allow it unless a couple is married. Virginia asked him if he wanted to tie the knot, he said yes and they were married on 6 JUN with her extended family on hand. Ø DVA Handbook. The 2011 edition of the Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors Benefits book is now available online at http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp For additional information on federal programs and benefits available for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors, refer to the VA Web page at http://www.va.gov [Source: Various 15-30 Jun 2011 ++] Ø Dearborn MI - Muhammad Azeem, 45, was added 14 JUN to a national Most Wanted list of Medicare fraud fugitives. He is charged in an $18 million scam and fled the country after being confronted by authorities about his participation in the scheme. He is believed to be in Pakistan, where he is from, federal authorities said. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General created the Most Wanted list to eliminate a problem that costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion annually. Azeem helped run SUB Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy at 10136 W. Vernor in Dearborn, along with several other metro Detroit clinics from JAN 03 to MAR 07, according to the DHHS. He allegedly paid Medicare recipients for their signatures on forms for services they didnt receive. Then he and others billed Medicare for care never rendered. Azeem concealed the profits by creating several fictitious companies through which he passed money. Three other Michigan fugitives who had been on the list were caught in the last year and returned to the United States to face charges. They are Reynel Betancourt and Clara and Caridad Guilarte, sisters who worked with Betancourt in Dearborn at an infusion clinic that preyed on the poor, the government said. Ø Gary IN - Ebb Greenwood
of Gary and Human Services Transport Provider Inc., have both
pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1 million in a health care
fraud scheme. Greenwood and the business were accused earlier
this year in a federal indictment of billing Indiana Medicaid
for ambulance rides the company had supposedly given to clients.
Those claims were false, however, Greenwood and Human Services
now say in their plea agreements. Greenwood also admits to giving
a list of Indiana Medicaid patients to another private Gary ambulance
company, At Your Service, which the company then also used to
submit fake bills. According to his plea agreement, Ebb admits
he sent an email to At Your Service employees demanding $1,000
for every $5,000 they received from Medicaid. Greenwood admits
in the agreement to stealing from $1 million to $2.5 million;
Ø Los Angeles CA - The manager of a California medical supply firm has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for a $1 million-plus Medicare scheme. Los Angeles prosecutors say 45-year-old Petros Odachyan of North Hollywood used forged medical prescriptions to bill Medicare for unneeded electric wheelchairs, hospital beds and other medical equipment, much of it never provided to patients. Odachyan, the manager of Tujunga-based RL Medical Supply, was sentenced 19 JUN to 51 months in prison. Ø Troy MI - An indictment
was unsealed in federal court today charging a Troy physician
and her husband with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and
money laundering. Surya Nallani, 43, and husband Srinivas Nallani,
46, are accused of conspiring to commit health care fraud in
connection with an approximately $9-million physicians home visit
operation. The indictment charges them of committing fraud from
2005 until last February. The Ø Miami FL - Dr. Rene de los Rios has been sentenced to almost 20 years in prison for his role in a massive Medicare fraud conspiracy. Hewas convicted in April of pocketing more than $1 million for writing fake prescriptions for unnecessary HIV treatments. At his sentencing hearing 27 JUN, U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard rejected his bid for about seven years in prison. Lenard chastised de los Rios for falsifying hundreds of patient records to justify writing phony prescriptions for two clinics that billed Medicare for a total of $46.2 million for HIV therapy between 2003 and 2005. Many patients received kickbacks. De los Rios' attorney argued for a shorter sentence for his client, saying the 72-year-old doctor suffers from a heart condition and diabetes. Ø Chicago IL - Jacinto "John"
Gabriel Jr., 43 who operated two now-defunct home health-care
businesses has been indicted in connection with a $20 million
Medicare fraud scheme in which he submitted millions of dollars
in false claims for reimbursement by Medicare for services that
were never provided, medically unnecessary or substantially price-inflated,
prosecutors said. The businesses were Perpetual Home Health Inc.,
based in Oak They also bribed physicians with gifts and cash and paid kickbacks to others for patient referrals, the indictment charged. Ø Coal Grove OH - Federal and local agents descended on the office of Dr. Peter Tsai and the adjacent Watkins-Tsai Imaging Center, owned by his parents this morning, armed with a federal search warrant. There had been complaints that he may be engaging in Medicare and Medicaid fraud as to billing practices, Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless explained. Employees were interviewed as agents lined up with boxes to haul away records from both the clinic and the imaging center. The raid included officials with the Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Attorney General, the sheriffs office, Coal Grove police, Ohio Medicare Fraud and the Ohio Department of Insurance Fraud. [Source: Fraud News Daily 15-30 Jun
2011 ++] Ø Boston MA - Former pharmacist Aloysius Chukwukere Nsonwu, age 65, has been sentenced to serve four years in jail for defrauding the Massachusetts Medicaid Program of more than $555,000. He fraudulently billed for medications that were never prescribed by a doctor or dispensed from his Egleston Square Pharmacy In 2007, the Attorney Generals Office began an investigation after the matter was referred by MassHealths Provider Compliance unit. Nsonwu was the owner and sole officer of Egleston Square Pharmacy, Inc., located in Roxbury and is an eligible MassHealth provider. Investigators discovered that from DEC 04 through JAN 09, Nsonwu submitted claims for dispensing the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) medications Epivir, Zerit, and Viramune to MassHealth using the identification numbers of 25 different MassHealth patients. Each claim listed a prescribing physician who never treated those patients or prescribed those medications. Based on these false claims, MassHealth reimbursements totaling $555,502.11 were deposited into Nsonwus Egleston Square Pharmacy bank account. On 20 MAY, a Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against Nsonwu. Nsonwu pled guilty to all charges. On 14 JUN Nsonwu was also sentenced on similar charges in Federal Court in a separate case. Ø Odessa TX - Daylan Duwayne Smith, 57, and Roberta Beth Jones, 54, were arrested and bonded out of jail 17 JUN following their indictment on charges they defrauded Medicaid of more than $100,000 during three and a half years They were indicted by a grand jury in the 244th District Court on accusations that between Jan 3, 2006, and July 10, 2009, Smith had Jones bill Medicaid for services not rendered by a provider, adding up to a total that was between $100,000 and $200,000, according to the indictment. The charge is a second-degree felony. Smith, also known as Pop Rock, was president of the Bikers Against Child Abuse and Bikers Against Domestic Abuse. has also offered Stop smoking with hypnosis sessions under his name since DEC 2010, and has a website describing him as a certified clinical hypnotherapist. Jones was listed as having married Smith in 2000, according to Odessa American records. A Robert Beth Jones was referred to as a mental health counselor and psychiatrist in various online listings, which used the same phone number provided by Smith for his hypnotherapy service. Ø Syracuse NY - James Pickard
pleaded guilty in Onondaga County Court 22 JUN to charges that
he defrauded the Medicaid system of $541,671. He committed the
alleged fraud while working as a vendor who made upgrades to
the homes of people with traumatic brain injuries. Over an eight-year
period, Pickard filed false bills with the government and lied
about how much work he was actually doing. The Attorney General
alleges that Pickard Ø Baltimore MD - Tyvernica
Marshall-Adams, 29, of Baltimore entered a plea of guilty to
Medicaid Fraud on 21 JUN before the Circuit Court for Baltimore
City, Maryland. She received a disposition of Probation Before
Judgment and will have to pay $1,079.49 in restitution to the
Maryland Medicaid Program. Marshall-Adams worked as a pharmacy
assistant at a Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Baltimore, Maryland.
Investigators [Source: Fraud News Daily 15 - 30
Jun 2011 ++] Housing Benefits Between January
1942 and August 1945, dozens of American submarines participated
in special operations ranging from destroying enemy mines to
serving as lighthouse beacons in order to guide Allied ships
through uncharted hostile waters. Oftentimes, those special operations
were documented by single-line entries in ships' logs, or mentioned
in passing in the official reports of the supported units. Those
special operations could not have been In World
War II, the submarine's ability to circumvent traditional defenses
was exploited to the fullest to deliver supplies to American-led
guerrilla forces, to rescue pilots (both Allied and enemy) who
had been shot down over the ocean, to land and extract coast
watchers on remote Pacific islands, to evacuate escaped prisoners
of war, to lay mines and to conduct reconnaissance of potential
invasion sites for future Allied actions. Submarines differ from
other warships because they operate in the underwater medium,
and unlike surface ships and most aircraft, they operate best
in isolation relying on the elements of stealth and surprise.
They are designed for the role of hunter in hit-and-run attacks,
in attrition warfare and for single salvo strikes on shore targets.
They are least capable in missions that require prolonged exposure
in a sustained defensive posture. Submarines are different: the
tactics that give them their greatest fighting potential do not
conform to the classical Mahanian naval strategy of defeating
the enemy in a battle of annihilation. Therefore, they are the
most effective means for a Navy to circumvent traditional defenses
and engage in specialized warfare. For a more detailed account
of submarine special operations in World War II and how they
contributed to the Allied was effort refer to this Bulletins
[Source: http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/shadowwarriors.aspx Jun 2011 ++] * Jul 01 1898 - Spanish-American War: The Battle of San Juan Hill is fought in Santiago de Cuba. *
Jul 08 1948 - The United States Air Force accepts its first female
recruits into a program called Women in the * Jul 01 1863 - Civil War: Battle of Gettysburg, Pa; Lee's northward advance halted * Jul 01 1907 - World's 1st air force established (US Army) * Jul 01 1970 Vietnam: 23 day Siege of Fire Base Ripcord began * Jul 02 1926 - US Army Air Corps created; Distinguish Flying Cross authorized * Jul 03 1754 - French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French forces. * Jul 03 1814 - Revolutionary War: Americans capture Fort Erie Canada. * Jul 03 1863 - U.S. Civil War: The final day of the Battle of Gettysburg culminates with Pickett's Charge. * Jul 03 1898 - Spanish American War: U.S. Navy defeats Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor Cuba *
Jul 03 1915 - U.S. Marines landed in Haiti following the assassination
of the Haitian president Vilbrun Guillaume. * Jul 03 1950 - Korean War: 1st time US & North Korean forces clash in Korean War * Jul 03 1988 - USS Vincennes in Strait of Hormoez shoots Iran Airbus A300, kills 290 * Jul 04 1776 - Revolutionary War: Declaration of Independence - U.S. gains independence from Britain * Jul 04 1778 - Revolutionary War: Forces under George Clark capture Kaskaskia during the Illinois campaign. * Jul 04 1802 - At West Point, New York the United States Military Academy opens. *
Jul 04 1863 - Civil War: Siege of Vicksburg - Vicksburg, Mississippi
surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant after 47 * Jul 04 1944 - WWII: 1st Japanese kamikaze attack U.S. fleet near Iwo Jima * Jul 05 1945 - WWII: Liberation of the Philippines declared. * Jul 06 1777 - Revolutionary War: British Gen Burgoyne captures Fort Ticonderoga from Americans * Jul 06 1848 - Mexican-American War: Ended with the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo * Jul 07 1863 - Civil War: 1st military draft by US (exemptions cost $100) * Jul 07 1941 - WWII: U.S. forces land in Iceland to forestall Nazi invasion * Jul 08 1950 - Korean War: Gen Douglas MacArthur named commander-in-chief UN forces in Korea * Jul 09 1944 - WWII: The island of Saipan in the Marianas fell to U.S. troops following their defeat of Japanese defenders. * Jul 09 1944 - WWII: Napalm was used for the first time during the American invasion of Tinian in the Marianas. * Jul 09 1951 WWII: Pres Truman asked Congress to formally end state of war with Germany * Jul 10 1943 - WWII: Operation Husky - U.S. & Britain invade Sicily. * Jul 11 1789 - U.S. Marine Corps created by an act of Congress * Jul 11 1864 - Civil War: Confederate forces led by Gen J Early begin invasion of Wash DC * Jul 12 1812 - War of 1812: U.S. forces led by Gen Hull invade Canada * Jul 13 1945 - WWII: 1st atom bomb explodes in New Mexico * Jul 14 1863 - Civil War: Confederate forces under GEN Robert E. Lee, defeated after three days of fighting at the battle of Gettysburg, began their withdrawal to the South. * Jul 14 1945 - Battleship USS South Dakota is 1st US ship to bombard Japan * Jul 15 1779 - Revolutionary War: U.S. troops under Gen A Wayne conquer Ft Stony Point, NY * Jul 15 1918 - WWII: Beginning of the Second Battle of the Marne between German forces on one side and French, American, British, and Italian troops on the other side. The battle ended on 4 AUG. * Jul 15 1958 - U.S. Marines deployed in Lebanon [Source: Various Jun 2011 ++] 1. In which valley would you find Ap Bia? 2. Who was tasked with capturing Ap Bia? 3. During which operation was the battle for Ap Bia fought? 4. Where did the assault on Ap Bia leave from? 5. How many Firebases supported the operation to take Ap Bia 6. MACV ordered the Operation. What did MACV stand for? 7. Which Firebase supporting the operation to take Ap Bia was almost overrun? 8. What name was given to Dong Ap Bia by the troops? 9. The 29th NVA Regiment were also called? 10. What was the tag line for the 1987 film about the fighting for Dong Ap Bia? Answers 1. 3/187th Airborne Infantry - Lieutenant-Colonel Honeycutt's 3/187th were given Hill 937 (Ap Bia) as their objective. It turned out they had been given the toughest part of Operation Apache Snow. The 3/187th were also known by their nickname the 'Rakkasans'. 2. A Shau - During 1968's Tet Offensive the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) had staged an entire Division and also VC (Viet Cong) forces in the A Shau. In part, the valley was used as the springboard for the 3. Operation Apache Snow - During May 1969 a plan was formed to clear the A Shau valley of North Vietnamese forces. It called for the use of ten infantry battalions and three air-assault battalions. The plan was to find and destroy the enemy wherever they were, and to prevent their escape into Laos. 4. Firebase Blaze - On 10th May 1969, 1,800 troops assembled at Firebase Blaze. The Firebase was situated only twenty kilometres south of Ap Bia. The troopers of 3/187th would be among the first to depart. 5. Five - This would be the Vietnam War's largest air mobile assault. Sixteen hours before the start of Operation Apache Snow saw the placement of ten artillery batteries in five firebases. These were firebases: Bradley, Airborne, Currahee, Berchtesgaden and Cannon. 6. Military Assistance Command Vietnam - During the US involvement in Vietnam the command structure moved through several stages. In September 1950 it was the Military Assistance and Advisory Group, Indochina (MAAG-Indochina). After the French defeat it changed Indochina for Vietnam and became (MAAG-Vietnam). In 1962 it finally became Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). 7. Airborne - On the morning of 13th May 1969 troops of the 6th NVA regiment struck the firebase. Spearheading the attack were sappers of the K12 sapper battalion. In support were infantry of 3 and 4 Companies, 806th battalion. These were in turn backed up by a battery of 82mm mortars. Fierce fighting and the use of gunships and airstrikes saved the firebase. Losses stood at: US - 26 killed, 62 wounded. NVA losses were estimated as higher due to 39 bodies and numerous blood trails being discovered. 8. Hamburger Hill - Many believe that the fall of the A Shau Special Forces camp in March 1966 led finally to the battles for Ap Bia. On March 9th 1966, troops of the NVA's 325th Division launched the fatal assault. Although the small garrison called in airstrikes and gunships the position was untenable and they were forced to pull out. With no allied presence the NVA controlled the A Shau valley. 9. The Pride of Ho Chi Minh - The 29th were defending Ap Bia during the ten day battle. They were said to be one of the best regiments in the North Vietnamese Army. By the end of the fighting the regiment's 7th and 8th battalions had been almost wiped out. 10. War at its worst, fought by men at their best - The film was called Hamburger Hill, the name given it by the troops who fought there. It showed the fighting more from the perspective of the troops involved, and has several thought-provoking scenes. [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz1937671630150.html Jun 2011 ++] Sales Taxes Personal Income Taxes For information on the Military Spouses
Residency Relief Act refer to Property Taxes A homestead exemption is available
for qualifying seniors and the surviving spouse of a senior who
previously qualified. Seniors must be at least age 65. It allows
50% (up to a maximum reduction of $200,000) in actual value of
a primary residence to be exempt. The state pays the tax on the
exempted value. The person must have owned and lived in the home
for at least 10 years. Full-year Colorado residents age 65 or older, disabled, or a surviving spouse age 58 or older, may qualify for the Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate and/or the Property Tax Deferral. Qualified applicants can receive a rebate of up to $600 of the property tax and $192 of their heating expenses paid during the year, either directly or as part of their rent payments. For details go to: * Note...the link
is too long to make on this compoter. Inheritance and Estate Taxes For further information, visit the
Colorado Department of Revenue site [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Jun 2011 ++] To steal information from a person is called plagiarism. To steal information from the enemy is called gathering intelligence. ~~~~~ Soon after being transferred to a
new duty station, a Marine husband called home to tell his wife
he would be late - again. He went on to say that dirty magazines
had been discovered in the platoon's quarters and they had to
police the area. ~~~~~ Q. How many marines does it take
to screw in a light bulb? ~~~~~ Having passed the enlistment physical,
John was asked by the doctor, "Why do you want to join the
Navy, son?" ~~~~~ The U.S. succeeded in building a
computer able to solve any strategic or tactical problem. Military
leaders are assembled in front of the new machine and instructed
to feed a difficult tactical problem into it. They describe a
hypothetical situation to the computer and then ask the pivotal
question: "Attack or retreat?" The computer hums away
for an hour and then comes up with the answer: "Yes."
The generals look at each other, bewildered. House Joint Resolutions: Measures passed by both houses of a bicameral legislature and eligible to become a law if signed by the chief executive or passed over the chief executive's veto. ? Measures passed by both houses of a bicameral legislature and eligible to become a law if signed by the chief executive or passed over the chief executive's veto. H.J.RES. 13 - Flag Protection Constitutional Amendment . Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. Sponsor: Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] (introduced 1/7/2011) Cosponsors (50) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 1/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution. H.J.RES.50 : Personal Income Tax Elimination Constitutional Amendment. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to abolishing personal income, estate, and gift taxes and prohibiting the United States Government from engaging in business in competition with its citizens. Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/15/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. House Concurrent Resolutions: ? Measures passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but are not presented to the President and do not have the force of law. H.CON.RES.12 : Arlington Jewish Chaplains Memorial. Expressing the sense of Congress that an appropriate site on Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery should be provided for a memorial marker to honor the memory of the Jewish chaplains who died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. Sponsor: Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (82) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/12/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into HR 1627. H.CON.RES.45 : Honoring Post 9/11 Vets. Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving in, or have served in, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 4/15/2011) Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/12/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into HR 1627. House Resolutions: ? Measures that express approval or disapproval of something which the House cannot otherwise vote on, due to the matter being handled by another jurisdiction, or being protected by the constitution. H.RES.15 : MILCON/VA Appropriations. Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that general appropriations for military construction and veterans' affairs be considered as stand-alone measures. Sponsor: Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (46) Committees: House Rules Latest Major Action: 1/5/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Rules. H.RES.111 : POW/MIA. Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs. The select committee shall conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War II, Cold War Missions, Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Enduring Freedom, including MIAs and POWs missing and captured. Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 2/28/2011) Cosponsors (70) Committees: House Rules Latest Major Action: 2/28/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Rules. H.RES.288 : MILCON/VA Appropriations. Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2055) making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Webster, Daniel [FL-8] (introduced 6/1/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Rules House Reports: 112-97 Latest Major Action: 6/2/2011 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote. Latest Action: 6/2/2011 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. House Amendments: * Alteration or addition to a bill previously introduced in the House: H.AMDT.178 to H.R.830 Disabled Vets Inclusion in FHA Refinance Program Study. Amendment includes military service members and veterans who have service-connected injuries, as well as survivors and dependents of such individuals, in a study on use of the FHA Refinance program. Sponsor: Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Paulsen amendment (A004) Agreed to by voice vote. H.AMDT.187 to H.R.836 Disabled Vets Inclusion in Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act Study. Amendment adds military servicemembers and veterans who have service-related injuries, as well as survivors and dependents of such individuals, to be included in the study in the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act. Sponsor: Rep Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19] (introduced 3/11/2011) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 3/11/2011 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Neugebauer amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote. H.AMDT.409 to H.R.2055 An amendment to redirect funds for the medical services and general administration divisions of the Veterans Health Administration. Sponsor: Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] (introduced 6/2/2011) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 6/2/2011 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Culberson amendment Agreed to by voice vote. H.AMDT.410 to H.R.2055 Amendment increases funding for Military Construction Authorization by $25 million through transfer. Sponsor: Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 6/13/2011 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Mica amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote. H.AMDT.412 to H.R.2055 Amendment prohibits the use of funds to declare as excess to the needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs of otherwise take any action to exchange, trade, auction, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, or reduce the acerage of, Federal land and improvements at the St. Albans campus. Sponsor: Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 6/13/2011 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Meeks amendment (A004) Agreed to by voice vote. H.AMDT.417 to H.R.2055 An amendment printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds to provide disability compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, to any veteran for post-traumatic stress disorder if the required in-service stressor claimed by the veteran is related to the veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and the places, types and circumstances of the veteran's service did not include a combat zone. Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 6/13/2011 By unanimous consent, the Coffman (CO) amendment was withdrawn. H.AMDT.418 to H.R.2055 Amendment prohibits the use of funds for using procedures that do not give small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans any preference to obtaining the contracts under the Small Business Act. Sponsor: Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 6/13/2011 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Fitzpatrick amendment (A010) Agreed to by voice vote. House Bills: H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (37) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=21643506 H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the United States. Sponsor: Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 1/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011. A bill t amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain abused dependents of veterans with health care. Sponsor: Rep Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: S.1017 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses of certain totally-disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation to Homeless Vets. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans' Affairs H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess Internet Website. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (136) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=21785541&type=CO or TREAs http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=22113586 or TREAs http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=21755506 H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60 Retired Reserves. A bill 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. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/5/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=22113711 H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (38) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=22113641 and/or http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=21507501 H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of the members' disability rating percentage. Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/5/2011) Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Armed Services; House Budget; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=21781506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or TREAs http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=22113501 or TREAs http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=21651506 H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy. Sponsor: Rep Grimm, Michael G. [NY-13] (introduced 1/6/2011) Cosponsors (76) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor Reimbursement. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the reimbursement of mental health counselors under TRICARE, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] (introduced 1/6/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.210 : Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] (introduced 1/6/2011) Cosponsors (31) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B. Sponsor: Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] (introduced 1/7/2011) Cosponsors (10) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 1/7/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=23523796&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA Sole Source Contracts. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to promote jobs for veterans through the use of sole source contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/7/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.248 : Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act. A bill to provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health testing of such members, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] (introduced 1/7/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.284 : Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2011. A bill to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination through the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Green, Al [TX-9] (introduced 1/12/2011) Cosponsors (24) Committees: House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 3/23/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans. Sponsor: Rep Green, Al [TX-9] (introduced 1/12/2011) Cosponsors (40) Committees: House Financial Services; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 3/23/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/18/2011) Cosponsors (59) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=23349501 and/or http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=29334506 H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act. A bill to provide compensation for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. Sponsor: Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] (introduced 1/18/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A bill to require employers to provide veterans with time off on Veterans Day. Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 1/19/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Education and the Workforce Latest Major Action: 2/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] (introduced 1/19/2011) Cosponsors (128) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=23493506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or TREAs http://www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills/?bill=23355556 or TREAs http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=22944561 H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 1/24/2011) Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=31989511&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] H.R.420 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011. A bill to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (144) Related Bill: S.798 Committees: House Judiciary; House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/7/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. H.R.493 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/26/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=25118621 H.R.540 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to honor veterans of the Armed Forces who died after their service in the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct result of their service in the Vietnam War. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/8/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/3/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.544 : Servicemen Mortgage Foreclosure Protection. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently extend the period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage foreclosures, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/8/2011) Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.545 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/8/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related bill H.R.811 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.561 : Veterans Employment Tax Credit Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity tax credit with respect to veterans. Sponsor: Rep Welch, Peter [VT] (introduced 2/8/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/8/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. H.R.575 : HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community health care providers to improve access to health care for veterans in highly rural areas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] (introduced 2/9/2011) Cosponsors (6) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=32026521&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] H.R.595 : National Song of Remembrance. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the musical piece commonly known as "Taps" as the National Song of Remembrance, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Reed, Tom [NY-29] (introduced 2/9/2011) Cosponsors (12) Committees: House Judiciary; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.648 : Pledge of Allegiance Saluting. A bill to amend title 4, United States Code, to authorize members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military salute during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Sponsor: Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] (introduced 2/10/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 2/28/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution. H.R.652 : Tricare Premium Limits. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit the increase of premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health care provided under the TRICARE program. Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 2/10/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/3/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=32098506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] and/or http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=33916536 H.R.743 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard. Sponsor: Rep Jenkins, Lynn [KS-2] (introduced 2/16/2011) Cosponsors (19) Related bill S.367 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/16/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. H.R.776 : Guaranteed 3% COLA for Seniors Act of 2011. A bill to To require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries under such title, for an annual cost-of-living increase which is not less than 3 percent. Sponsor: Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Education and the Workforce Latest Major Action: 2/17/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. H.R.802 : VetStar Award Program. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a VetStar Award Program. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/6/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.803 : Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.804 : Operation New Dawn Vet Care. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.805 : Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights Education. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.806 : End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless veterans under the administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.809 : Post Women Veterans Bill of Rights. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display in each facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women Veterans Bill of Rights. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (7) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.810 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.811 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related bill H.R.545 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.812 : Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011. A bill to To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (21) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=32082506 H.R.813 : Vet Survivor Benefit Eligibility. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.814 : Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011. A bill to To provide Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=40425506 H.R.834 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 2/28/2011) Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 2/28/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. H.R.865 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 3/1/2011) Cosponsors (53) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/16/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.923 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children of veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] (introduced 3/3/2011) Cosponsors (52) Related Bill: S.780 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.924 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans Business Center program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 3/3/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Small Business Latest Major Action: 3/3/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. H.R.930 : PTSD Disability Compensation Evaluation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] (introduced 3/3/2011) Cosponsors (17) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.938 : Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act. To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I and to designate memorials to the service of men and women of the United States in World War I. Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 3/8/2011) Cosponsors (31) Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. H.R.943 : K-9 Companion Corps Act. A bill to establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 3/8/2011) Cosponsors (22) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.948 : Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision of behavioral health services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness and fitness standards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] (introduced 3/8/2011) Cosponsors (17) Related bill S.325 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/officials/congress/?lvl=C&azip=92571&state=CA H.R.961 : Safe Haven for Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to the prohibition on disrupting military funerals, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] (introduced 3/8/2011) Cosponsors (9) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 3/21/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. H.R.1003 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for reserve members, former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving spouses and dependents of such members and former members. Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill: S.542 Latest Major Action: 3/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1014 : Children of Military Service Members Commemorative Lapel Pin Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to recognize the dependent children of members of the Armed Forces who are serving on active duty or who have served on active duty through the presentation of an official lapel button. Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1025 : Reserve Veteran Status. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (46) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mailapp H.R.1092 : Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care. Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 3/15/2011) Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/6/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=35920546&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=36338501 or http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=36153521 H.R.1130 : Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 3/16/2011) Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.1133 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management services associated with certain supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/16/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related bill: S.411 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Financial Services Latest Major Action: 4/4/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity. H.R.1154 : Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property. Sponsor: Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] (introduced 3/17/2011) Cosponsors (60) Related Bill: S.769 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.1169 : National Guard Technician Equity Act. A bill to amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States Code, to eliminate inequities in the treatment of National Guard technicians, to reduce the eligibility age for retirement for non-Regular service, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] (introduced 3/17/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 3/17/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. H.R.1178 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 3/17/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: H.R. 2148 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/17/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. H.R.1245 : Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. To recognize the memorial at the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national memorial of Navy SEALS and their predecessors. Sponsor: Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] (introduced 3/29/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1260 : Support for Survivors Act. A bill to provide for the preservation by the Department of Defense of documentary evidence of the Department of Defense on incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 3/30/2011) Cosponsors (4) Related Bill: S.658 Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1263 : Surviving Spouse Mortgage Protection. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/30/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.1283 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service. Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (22) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1285 : Military Health Care Affordability Act. A bill t o amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care before fiscal year 2014. Sponsor: Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1288 : World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept additional documentation when considering the application for veterans status of an individual who performed service in the merchant marines during World War II, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (52) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.1298 : Veterans' Efficiencies Through Savings Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct cost-benefit analyses for the provision of medical care by the Department of Veterans Affairs in certain geographic areas served by multiple Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.1312 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 4/1/2011) Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.1383 : Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011. A bill to temporarily preserve higher rates for tuition and fees for programs of education at non-public institutions of higher learning pursued by individuals enrolled in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs before the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, and for other purposes Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 4/6/2011) Cosponsors (11) Related Bill S.745 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/24/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/military/issues/alert/?alertid=41246501&type=ML H.R.1392 : Fairness to Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to provide assistance to veterans and veteran-owned businesses with respect to contract opportunities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] (introduced 4/6/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 4/6/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H.R.1407 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to to increase, effective as of December 1, 2011, the rates of 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 by the same percentage as applies to any social Security rate increase. Sponsor: Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] (introduced 4/6/2011) Cosponsors (8) Related bill S.894 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/24/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.1441 : Arlington Gravesite Reservations. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the prohibition against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (3) Related bill: S.698 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1451 : Post 9/11 GI Bill Payment Restoration Act. A bill to repeal a modification of authority to make certain interval payments of educational assistance under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (8) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Appropriations Latest Major Action: 4/29/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.1457 : William Shemin Jewish World War I Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Navy to conduct a review of military service records of Jewish American veterans of World War I, including those previously awarded a military decoration, to determine whether any of the veterans should be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (15) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1460 : Automatic Combat Vet Enrollment. A bill to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Owens, William L. [NY-23] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 4/29/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.1484 : Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish a commission to study judicial review of the determination of veterans' benefits. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 4/12/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs House Reports: 112-83 Latest Major Action: 6/6/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.1497 : Tripoli Libya Vet Remains. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to take whatever steps may be necessary to exhume and transfer the remains of certain deceased members of the Armed Forces buried in Tripoli, Libya, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] (introduced 4/12/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1540 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] (by request) (introduced 4/14/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: S.981 Committees: House Armed Services House Reports: 112-78, 112-78 Part 2 Latest Major Action: 6/6/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. H.R.1591 : Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to guarantee that military funerals are conducted with dignity and respect. Sponsor: Rep Bass, Charles F. [NH-2] (introduced 4/15/2011) Cosponsors (19) Related Bill: S.815 Committees: House Judiciary; House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/18/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1595 : Veterans' Home Loan Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make all veterans eligible for home loans under the veterans mortgage revenue bond program. Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 4/15/2011) Cosponsors (14) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 4/15/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. H.R.1627 : Arlington Monument Placements. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 4/15/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services House Reports: 112-84 Part 1 Latest Major Action: 5/24/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.1647 : Veterans' Choice in Filing Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which certain veterans may submit claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary to any regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] (introduced 4/15/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/3/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held. H.R.1657 : Vet Business Misrepresentation Penalties. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Stutzman, Marlin A. [IN-3] (introduced 4/15/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: S.1184 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs House Reports: 112-85 Latest Major Action: 5/24/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.1671 : Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide specially adapted housing assistance to individuals residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member. Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 5/2/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/5/2011 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . H.R.1775 : Stolen Valor Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a criminal offense relating to fraudulent claims about military service. Sponsor: Rep Heck, Joseph J. [NV-3] (introduced 5/5/2011) Cosponsors (46) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. H.R.1811 : National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 5/10/2011) Cosponsors 9) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.1826 : Unauthorized Vet Fees Penalty. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate criminal penalties for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/1/2011 Referred
to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on
Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Sponsor: Rep Nugent, Richard [FL-5] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. H.R.1854 : Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011. A Bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of outreach for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: S.935 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.1855 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: S.957 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.1863 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Guinta, Frank C. [NH-1] (introduced 5/12/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: S.910 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/27/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. H.R.1871 : Wounded Warrior Tax Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent the extension of the tax collection period merely because the taxpayer is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized as a result of combat zone injuries. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] (introduced 5/12/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: S.993 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 5/12/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. H.R.1898 : Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. A bill 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. Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 5/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/27/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R.1910 : Unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance. A bill to extend for one year the authority of certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits to family members. Sponsor: Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] (introduced 5/13/2011) Cosponsors (13) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/27/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.1911 : Protecting Veterans' Homes Act. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently extend the period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage foreclosures, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 5/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/27/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. H.R.1928 : Women's Fair and Equal Right to Military Service Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the ground combat exclusion policy for female members of the Armed Forces. Sponsor: Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] (introduced 5/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/13/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. H.R.1941 : Hiring Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation, vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Sanford D.[GA-2] (introduced 5/23/2011) Cosponsors (53) Related Bills: S.951 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform Latest Major Action: 5/23/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. H.R.1968 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 5/24/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/24/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. H.R.1979 : Chapter 61 CRDP + SBP/DIC Offset + Reserve Retired Pay: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to include additional chapter 61 disability retirees, to coordinate eligibility for combat-related special compensation and concurrent receipt, to eliminate the reduction of SBP survivor annuities by dependency and indemnity compensation, and to enhance the ability of members of the reserve components who serve on active duty or perform active service to receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay. Sponsor: Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] (introduced 5/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/3/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=48860506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] H.R.2002 : Post 9/11 Educational Assistance Transfer. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to permit disabled or injured members of the Armed Forces to transfer Post 9/11 Educational Assistance benefits after retirement, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2026 : Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act. A bill to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts. Sponsor: Rep Cicilline, David N. [RI-1] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (11) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. H.R.2046 : Vet Discharge Transitional Services. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services. Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (4) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. H.R.2048 : Vet Private Cemetery Headstones. A bill to expand the eligibility for the provision of Government headstones, markers, and medallions for veterans buried at private cemeteries. Sponsor: Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2051 : Veterans Missing in America Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist in the identification of unclaimed and abandoned human remains to determine if any such remains are eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2052 : Fort McClellan Health Registry Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Tonko, Paul [NY-21] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. H.R.2053 : Veterans' Disability Claims Efficiency Act of 2011. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of processing certain claims for disability compensation by veterans. Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2055 : Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012. Sponsor: Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] (introduced 5/31/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.RES.288 Committees: House Appropriations House Reports: 112-94 Latest Major Action: 6/2/2011 House floor actions. Status: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2055 as unfinished business. H.R.2070 : World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to install in the area of the World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia a suitable plaque or an inscription with the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the nation on June 6, 1944, the morning of D-Day. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Bill [OH-6] (introduced 6/1/2011) Cosponsors (40) Committees: House Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 6/9/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. H.R.2074 : Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents that occur at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Buerkle, Ann Marie [NY-25] (introduced 6/1/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/1/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2115 : Filipino Veterans of World War II Family Reunification Act. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas. Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 6/3/2011) Cosponsors (9) Related Bill: H.R.2116 & S.1141 Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/3/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. H.R.2116 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2011. To exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 6/3/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill: H.R.2115 & S.1141 Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/3/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. H.R.2148 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents. Sponsor: Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: H.R.1178 2148 Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/13/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. H.R.2192 : National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act of 2011. A bill to exempt for an additional 4-year period, from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for not less than 90 days. Sponsor: Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] (introduced 6/15/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/15/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. H.R.2203 : Alaska Hero's Card Act of 2011. A bill to establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of Alaska may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department medical facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 6/15/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: S.1146 Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/15/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2232 : AMRA Charter Amendment. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the American Military Retirees Association, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] (introduced 6/16/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/16/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. H.R.2243 : Veterans Employment Promotion Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Labor to publish on an Internet website certain information about the number of veterans who are employed by Federal contractors. Sponsor: Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] (introduced 6/21/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/21/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2274 : Annual Post 9/11 VA EAP Report. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress annual reports on the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 6/22/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/22/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. H.R.2300 : VA Paralympic Team Allowance. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team. Sponsor: Rep Stutzman, Marlin A. [IN-3] (introduced 6/22/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/22/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2301 : Post 9/11 EAP Payments. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make payments to educational institutions under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program at the end of a quarter, semester, or term, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Stutzman, Marlin A. [IN-3] (introduced 6/22/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/22/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2302 : DVA Conference Congressional Notification. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress of conferences sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Stutzman, Marlin A. [IN-3] (introduced 6/22/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/22/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2305 : Reserve Memorial Headstones and Markers. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make memorial headstones and markers available for purchase on behalf of members of reserve components who performed inactive duty training or active duty for training but did not serve on active duty. Sponsor: Rep Hayworth, Nan A. S. [NY-19] (introduced 6/23/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/23/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2318 : MOH Pension Increase. A bill 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 $500. Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 6/23/2011) Cosponsors (19) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/23/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2345 : VA Assistance to Paralympics, Inc. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to United States Paralympics, Inc. Sponsor: Rep Stutzman, Marlin A. [IN-3] (introduced 6/23/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/23/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2349 : BVA Employee Annual Assessments. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to annually assess the skills of certain employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] (introduced 6/24/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2369 : American Legion Charter Amendment. A bill to o amend title 36, United States Code, to provide for an additional power for the American Legion under its Federal charter. Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/24/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Judiciary Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. H.R.2383 : VA Electronic Communications Authorization. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use electronic communication to provide required notice to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Bill [OH-6] (introduced 6/24/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2388 : VA Secretary Congressional Communications. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the submission of information by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Congress. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 6/24/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R.2403 : DOD NG Counseling and Reintegration Services. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance to State National Guards to provide counseling and reintegration services for members of reserve components of the Armed Forces ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation, members returning from such active duty, veterans of the Armed Forces, and their families. Sponsor: Rep Welch, Peter [VT] (introduced 6/24/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/24/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. * * Union Calendar: A separate calendar in the United States House of Representatives that schedules bills involving money issues. It arose from the requirement in Article One of the United States Constitution that all revenue bills originate in the House of Representatives. To meet that requirement, Rule XIII.
S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on behalf of the United States during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance. A bill to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (22) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 2/2/2011) Cosponsors (42) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/2/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=25851506 S.277 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/3/2011) Cosponsors (8) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/29/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 3:00 p.m. S.316 : Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act. A bill to ensure that the victims and victims' families of the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood, Texas, receive the same treatment, benefits, and honors as those Americans who have been killed or wounded in a combat zone overseas and their families. Sponsor: Sen Cornyn, John [TX] (introduced 2/10/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related bill: H.R.625 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/10/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.325 : Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision of behavioral health services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness and fitness standards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 2/10/2011) Cosponsors (7) Related bill H.R.948 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/10/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=34823501 S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 2/14/2011) Cosponsors (20) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/14/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=31190506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] S.367 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Scott P. [MA] (introduced 2/16/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related bill H.R.743 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 2/16/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=37155526 S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/17/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management services associated with certain supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors (17) Related bill: H.R.1133 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.423 : Fully Developed VA Claim Applications. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for retroactive effective date for awards of disability compensation in connection with applications that are fully-developed at submittal, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/1/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.491 : Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of the Armed Forces of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] (introduced 3/4/2011) Cosponsors (11) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=35309501 S.536 : Survivor Educational Assistance Limitations. 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. Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 3/9/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.542 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents. Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (6) Related bill: H.R.1003 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=37008501 S.658 : Support for Survivors Act. A bill to provide for the preservation of the Department of Defense of documentary evidence of the Department of Defense on incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 3/28/2011) Cosponsors (22) Related Bill: H.R.1268 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/28/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.666 : Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to require a report on the establishment of a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or Polytrauma Network Site of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the northern Rockies or Dakotas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 3/29/2011) Cosponsors (4) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.696 : Vet Center Travel Pay. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to treat Vet Centers as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to Department facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.698 : Arlington Gravesite Reservations. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the prohibition against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: H.R.1441 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.728 : NAIV Federal Charter. A bill to grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. Sponsor: Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] (introduced 4/5/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 4/5/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.731 : Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide travel and transportation allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance and certain other travel to inactive duty training. Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 4/5/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/5/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.745 : GI Bill Tuition Guarantee. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to protect certain veterans who would otherwise be subject to a reduction in educational assistance benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 4/6/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bill: H.R.1383 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/29/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 3:00 p.m. S.769 : Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property. Sponsor: Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (6) Related Bill: H.R.1154 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.780 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children of veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill: H.R.923 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.798 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011. A Bill to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 4/12/2011) Cosponsors (7) Related Bill: H.R.420 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 4/12/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.815 : Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to guarantee that military funerals are conducted with dignity and respect. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 4/13/2011) Cosponsors (34) Related Bill: H.R.1591 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.866 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to modify the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 5/2/2011) Cosponsors (17) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/2/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=48379501&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] S.873 : Spina Bifida Children Benefits. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide benefits for children with spina bifida of veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era outside Vietnam, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/3/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.874 : Survivor Month of Death compensation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the provision of compensation and pension to surviving spouses of veterans in the months of the deaths of the veterans, to improve housing loan benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/3/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.894 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2011, in the rates of 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. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/5/2011) Cosponsors (14) Related bill H.R.1407 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/29/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 3:00 p.m. S.910 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 5/9/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: H.R.1863 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.935 : Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of outreach to veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 5/10/2011 Cosponsors (None) Related bill H.R.1854 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.951 : Hiring Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation, vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (26) Related Bills: H.R.1941 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/29/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 3:00 p.m. S.955 : Protect Those Who Serve Act. A bill to provide grants for the renovation, modernization or construction of law enforcement facilities. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/11/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.957 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Boozman, John [AR] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: H.R.1855 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.981 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (by request) (introduced 5/12/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: H.R.1540 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/12/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.993 : Wounded Warrior Tax Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent the extension of the tax collection period merely because the taxpayer is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized as a result of combat zone injuries. Sponsor: Sen Cornyn, John [TX] (introduced 5/12/2011) Cosponsors (3) Related Bills: H.R.1871 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 5/12/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. S.1017 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 5/17/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.117 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.1025 : National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the national defense through empowerment of the National Guard, enhancement of the functions of the National Guard Bureau, and improvement of Federal-State military coordination in domestic emergency response, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] (introduced 5/19/2011) Cosponsors (28) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/19/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=47545511&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] S.1044 : DECA BRAC Pilot Program. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Defense Commissary Agency to conduct a pilot program at military institutions to be closed or subject to an adverse realignment under a base closure law under which a commissary store may sell additional types of merchandise. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 5/23/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/23/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.1060 : Honoring All Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to improve education, employment, independent living services, and health care for veterans, to improve assistance for homeless veterans, and to improve the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Blumenthal, Richard [CT] (introduced 5/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.1080 : PRO-VETS Act of 2011. A bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits, to provide for automatic enrollment for veterans returning from combat zones into the Department of Veterans Affairs medical system, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 5/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.1141 : WWII Filipino Vet Child Immigration Limits. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: H.R.2115 & 2116 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.1146 : Alaska Hero's Card Act of 2011. A bill to establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of Alaska may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department medical facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 6/6/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: H.R.2203 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.1148 : Veterans Programs Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of assistance to homeless veterans, to improve the regulation of fiduciaries who represent individuals for purposes of receiving benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/6/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.1154 : Honoring Promises to Service-Disabled Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to require transparency for Executive departments in meeting the Government-wide goals for contracting with small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 6/7/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Latest Major Action: 6/7/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. S.1172 : VA Appeals Process. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of the appeals process under the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims by improving staff conferences directed by such Court, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] (introduced 6/9/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/9/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. S.1184 : Vet Business Misrepresentation Penalties. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.1657 1184 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/13/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. S.1235 : Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. A bill to recognize the memorial at the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national memorial of Navy SEALS and their predecessors. Sponsor: Sen Rubio, Marco [FL] (introduced 6/20/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 6/20/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. S.1253 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (introduced 6/22/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: S.1254, S.1255, S.1256 Committees: Senate Armed Services Senate Reports: 112-26 Latest Major Action: 6/22/2011 Placed
on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar
No. 80. Senate Resolutions: S.RES.17 : National Military Family Month. A resolution designating the month of November 2011 as "National Military Family Month". Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.RES.55 : Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day .A resolution expressing support for designation of a "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day". Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/16/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/7/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.89 : Last WWI Vet. A resolution relating to the death of Frank W. Buckles, the longest surviving United States veteran of the First World War. Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 3/3/2011) Cosponsors (15) Latest Major Action: 3/3/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.130 : Gold Star Wives Day. A resolution designating April 5, 2011, as "Gold Star Wives Day". Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 4/5/2011) Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 4/5/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.160 : Military Spouse Appreciation Day. A resolution designating May 6, 2011, as "Military Spouse Appreciation Day". Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/3/2011) Cosponsors (2) Latest Major Action: 5/3/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.166 : 66th anniversary of V-E Day. A resolution commemorating May 8, 2011, as the 66th anniversary of V-E Day, the end of World War II in Europe. Sponsor: Sen Johanns, Mike [NE] (introduced 5/5/2011) Cosponsors (2) Latest Major Action: 5/5/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.178 : Silver Star Service Banner Day. A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2011, as "Silver Star Service Banner Day". Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 5/10/2011) Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 5/10/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.202 : National PTSD Awareness Day. A resolution designating June 27, 2011, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day". Sponsor: Sen Conrad, Kent [ND] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Senate Amendments: S.AMDT.388 to S.CON.RES.4 Arlington National Cemetery Advisory Commission. To express the sense of Congress on the establishment of an advisory commission on memorials at Arlington National Cemetery and facilitate evaluation and approval of future monuments and memorials at the cemetery. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 388 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. Senate Concurrent Resolutions: S.RES.17 : National Military Family Month. A resolution designating the month of November 2011 as "National Military Family Month". Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.RES.55 : Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day .A resolution expressing support for designation of a "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day". Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/16/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/7/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.89 : Last WWI Vet. A resolution relating to the death of Frank W. Buckles, the longest surviving United States veteran of the First World War. Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 3/3/2011) Cosponsors (15) Latest Major Action: 3/3/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.130 : Gold Star Wives Day. A resolution designating April 5, 2011, as "Gold Star Wives Day". Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 4/5/2011) Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 4/5/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.160 : Military Spouse Appreciation Day. A resolution designating May 6, 2011, as "Military Spouse Appreciation Day". Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/3/2011) Cosponsors (2) Latest Major Action: 5/3/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.166 : 66th anniversary of V-E Day. A resolution commemorating May 8, 2011, as the 66th anniversary of V-E Day, the end of World War II in Europe. Sponsor: Sen Johanns, Mike [NE] (introduced 5/5/2011) Cosponsors (2) Latest Major Action: 5/5/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.178 : Silver Star Service Banner Day. A resolution expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2011, as "Silver Star Service Banner Day". Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 5/10/2011) Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 5/10/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. S.RES.202 : National PTSD Awareness Day. A resolution designating June 27, 2011, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day". Sponsor: Sen Conrad, Kent [ND] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on behalf of the United States during World War II. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance. A bill to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 1/25/2011) Cosponsors (22) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 2/2/2011) Cosponsors (42) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/2/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=25851506 S.277 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/3/2011) Cosponsors (8) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/29/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 3:00 p.m. S.316 : Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act. A bill to ensure that the victims and victims' families of the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood, Texas, receive the same treatment, benefits, and honors as those Americans who have been killed or wounded in a combat zone overseas and their families. Sponsor: Sen Cornyn, John [TX] (introduced 2/10/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related bill: H.R.625 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/10/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.325 : Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision of behavioral health services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness and fitness standards, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 2/10/2011) Cosponsors (7) Related bill H.R.948 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/10/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=34823501 S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 2/14/2011) Cosponsors (20) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/14/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=31190506&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] S.367 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Scott P. [MA] (introduced 2/16/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related bill H.R.743 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 2/16/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=37155526 S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors (3) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/17/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management services associated with certain supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 2/17/2011) Cosponsors (17) Related bill: H.R.1133 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.423 : Fully Developed VA Claim Applications. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for retroactive effective date for awards of disability compensation in connection with applications that are fully-developed at submittal, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/1/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.491 : Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of the Armed Forces of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] (introduced 3/4/2011) Cosponsors (11) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=35309501 S.536 : Survivor Educational Assistance Limitations. 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. Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 3/9/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.542 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents. Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (6) Related bill: H.R.1003 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=37008501 S.658 : Support for Survivors Act. A bill to provide for the preservation of the Department of Defense of documentary evidence of the Department of Defense on incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 3/28/2011) Cosponsors (22) Related Bill: H.R.1268 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 3/28/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.666 : Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to require a report on the establishment of a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or Polytrauma Network Site of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the northern Rockies or Dakotas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 3/29/2011) Cosponsors (4) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.696 : Vet Center Travel Pay. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to treat Vet Centers as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to Department facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.698 : Arlington Gravesite Reservations. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the prohibition against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] (introduced 3/31/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: H.R.1441 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.728 : NAIV Federal Charter. A bill to grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. Sponsor: Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] (introduced 4/5/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 4/5/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.731 : Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide travel and transportation allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance and certain other travel to inactive duty training. Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 4/5/2011) Cosponsors (5) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 4/5/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.745 : GI Bill Tuition Guarantee. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to protect certain veterans who would otherwise be subject to a reduction in educational assistance benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 4/6/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bill: H.R.1383 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/29/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 3:00 p.m. S.769 : Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property. Sponsor: Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (6) Related Bill: H.R.1154 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.780 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children of veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 4/8/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill: H.R.923 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.798 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011. A Bill to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 4/12/2011) Cosponsors (7) Related Bill: H.R.420 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 4/12/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.815 : Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to guarantee that military funerals are conducted with dignity and respect. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 4/13/2011) Cosponsors (34) Related Bill: H.R.1591 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.866 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to modify the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 5/2/2011) Cosponsors (17) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/2/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=48379501&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] S.873 : Spina Bifida Children Benefits. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide benefits for children with spina bifida of veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era outside Vietnam, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/3/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.874 : Survivor Month of Death compensation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the provision of compensation and pension to surviving spouses of veterans in the months of the deaths of the veterans, to improve housing loan benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/3/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.894 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2011, in the rates of 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. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/5/2011) Cosponsors (14) Related bill H.R.1407 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/29/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 3:00 p.m. S.910 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 5/9/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: H.R.1863 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.935 : Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of outreach to veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 5/10/2011 Cosponsors (None) Related bill H.R.1854 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.951 : Hiring Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation, vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (26) Related Bills: H.R.1941 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/29/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 3:00 p.m. S.955 : Protect Those Who Serve Act. A bill to provide grants for the renovation, modernization or construction of law enforcement facilities. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (2) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/11/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.957 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Boozman, John [AR] (introduced 5/11/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: H.R.1855 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.981 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (by request) (introduced 5/12/2011) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: H.R.1540 Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/12/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.993 : Wounded Warrior Tax Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent the extension of the tax collection period merely because the taxpayer is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized as a result of combat zone injuries. Sponsor: Sen Cornyn, John [TX] (introduced 5/12/2011) Cosponsors (3) Related Bills: H.R.1871 Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 5/12/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. S.1017 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 5/17/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.117 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.1025 : National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the national defense through empowerment of the National Guard, enhancement of the functions of the National Guard Bureau, and improvement of Federal-State military coordination in domestic emergency response, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] (introduced 5/19/2011) Cosponsors (28) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/19/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=47545511&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] S.1044 : DECA BRAC Pilot Program. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the Defense Commissary Agency to conduct a pilot program at military institutions to be closed or subject to an adverse realignment under a base closure law under which a commissary store may sell additional types of merchandise. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 5/23/2011) Cosponsors (1) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/23/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.1060 : Honoring All Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to improve education, employment, independent living services, and health care for veterans, to improve assistance for homeless veterans, and to improve the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Blumenthal, Richard [CT] (introduced 5/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.1080 : PRO-VETS Act of 2011. A bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits, to provide for automatic enrollment for veterans returning from combat zones into the Department of Veterans Affairs medical system, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 5/25/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 5/25/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. S.1141 : WWII Filipino Vet Child Immigration Limits. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/26/2011) Cosponsors (2) Related Bills: H.R.2115 & 2116 Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 5/26/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. S.1146 : Alaska Hero's Card Act of 2011. A bill to establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of Alaska may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department medical facilities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 6/6/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: H.R.2203 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.1148 : Veterans Programs Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of assistance to homeless veterans, to improve the regulation of fiduciaries who represent individuals for purposes of receiving benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/6/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/8/2011 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. S.1154 : Honoring Promises to Service-Disabled Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to require transparency for Executive departments in meeting the Government-wide goals for contracting with small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 6/7/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Latest Major Action: 6/7/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. S.1172 : VA Appeals Process. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency of the appeals process under the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims by improving staff conferences directed by such Court, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] (introduced 6/9/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/9/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. S.1184 : Vet Business Misrepresentation Penalties. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] (introduced 6/13/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill: H.R.1657 1184 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 6/13/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. S.1235 : Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. A bill to recognize the memorial at the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national memorial of Navy SEALS and their predecessors. Sponsor: Sen Rubio, Marco [FL] (introduced 6/20/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Latest Major Action: 6/20/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. S.1253 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (introduced 6/22/2011) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: S.1254, S.1255, S.1256 Committees: Senate Armed Services Senate Reports: 112-26 Latest Major Action: 6/22/2011 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 80. [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 28 Jun 2011 ++] If you wish to use copyrighted material
from this newsletter for purposes of your own that go beyond
'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
Health Care Reform Update 41 (VADM Koenig Talk) Tomb of the Unknowns Update 05 (Cracks Persist) VA Claims Backlog Update 52 (Negative Progress) Airline Baggage Policy Update 01 (Military on Orders) SVAC Update 07 (Vet Bills on the Table) Arrears of Pay Update 02 (VA vs. DoD) Tricare Providers Update 01 (Growing) Cancer Statistics Update 02 (Survivors) PTSD Update 70 (Claim Processing Ambiguity) Airport Security Update 01 (Paralyzed Veterans) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Ft. McClellan Update 01 (H.R.2053) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 21 (S.277) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ C-123 Aircraft (Bird Spray Missions) VA Blue Water Claims Update 15 (Shipboard Distillers) Tricare Overseas Program Update 09 (Pharmacy Benefit) Tricare Foot-Friendly Advice (Care and Treatment) VA Homeless Vets Update 21 (5000 Bed Increase) TRICARE Retired Reserve Update 04 (DS Logon) Vet Jobs Update 29 (Federal Grants) Agent Orange Korea Update 03 (Camp Market) VA Sexual Assaults (H.R.2074) Mobilized Reserve 7 JUN 2011 (5651 Increase) Heart Failure Update 01 (Annual 68,000 Needless Deaths) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 34 (Janell Jenkins-Foster) Debt Collector's Rules Update 02 (Off-Limits Practices) Debt Collector's Rules Update 03 (Federal Trade Commission) TSGLI Update 03 (Retroactive Traumatic Injury Eligibility) VAMC West Los Angeles (Freedom of Speech Issue) VAMC West Los Angeles Update 02 (ACLU lawsuit) Ohio Vet Bonus Update 01 ($172 Million Available) Ohio MIRF (30 JUN Deadline) Sleep Apnea Update 03 (Computer Screening Tool) Sleep Apnea Update 04 (Exercise Impact) VA Cancer Care Update 01 (At Least As Good) Tricare Reserve Select Update 13 (GAO on DoD Policy) VA HISA Grants (Disabled Vet Eligibility) GI Bill Update 98 (Overpayment Policy) VA Stroke Study (Yoga Treatment) Virginia Vet Tax Exemption Update 01 (IU Exclusion) Scam ~ Theft of the Dead (How to Avoid) Vet Cremains Update 06 (PA House Bill 973) Stolen Valor Update 39 (David A. Fabrizio) Stolen Valor Update 40 (Adam Whitten) Tricare Provider Availability Update 03 ** (GAO Report Results) Military Retirement System Update 02 ** (Overhaul Push) Vet Jobs Update 29 ** (Millers 400,000 Goal) TRICARE Philippines Update 01 (Guidelines) DoD Statistical Report 2010 (Retiree Data) Retiree Pay Update 03 (AOP Beneficiary) TRICARE Hurricane Preps (Checklist) VA House Committee Hearings (Jobs/TAP/Claims) Scam ~ Treasury Department (Recovered Lost Funds) National Guard Educational Foundation (New Scholarship) PTSD Update 69 (Heart Disease Link) WRAMC Update 14 (Sep 15 Move Warning) Debit vs. Credit Cards (Debit the Riskiest) TSP Update 20 (May Mixed Returns) Vet Cemetery Illinois Update 02: (Lincoln National Cemetery) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Update 08 (Washing of the Dead) SS Online Service (Statements +) Veteran Statistics Update 02 (Projections) Saving Money (Usage-Based Auto Insurance) Notes of Interest (1-14 Jun 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 69 (1-14 Jun 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 41 (1-14 Jun 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Missouri) Military History (WWII PCE[R]s) Military History Anniversaries (Jun 16-30 Summary) Military Trivia 29 (Korean War Part 2) Tax Burden for California Retirees (As of JUN 2011) Have You Heard? (Did you know 2) Veteran Legislation Status 13 JUN 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times
Copyrighted Material. Anyone who
cannot access or open the website provided either because they
do not have a password or the information has been removed from
their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." This
is racing forward, said Robert Nieweg, director of the National
Trust for Historic Preservations Southern Field Office.
Theyve already failed once. Why would they rush into a
second repair when the experts dont know for certain why
the first one failed? .?.?. If you dont do it right, you
can harm the historic resource. But Army officials who oversee
the cemetery said they were happy to slow the process so that
preservationists can weigh in on the complicated project and
be assured that the monument will be treated with the utmost
care. They also said that because of the recent hot weather,
which would wreak havoc on the grout used to repair the cracks,
the work would not have moved forward this week anyway. We are
committed to being transparent and seeking subject matter expert
advice when it comes to things like this, said Col. Tori Bruzese,
the cemeterys engineer. Were not in a rush to failure. [Source: The Washington Post Christian
Davenport article 8 Jun 2011 ++] If
you are one of these veterans or know one who is, here's what
you need to know about the bulletin and how it can affect your
claim for disability compensation: [Source: Kitsap Washington Sun Tom
Philpott article 28 May 2011 ++] [Source: Tricare Media Center Sharon
Foster article 12 Apr 2011 ++] [Source: ScienceDaily article 6 Jun
2011 ++] The act of the PVAO officials in opening an account with CSB, a non-accredited bank, facilitated the cash manipulations and transfer of funds from one bank account to another, without complying with the requirements of the law, rules and regulations on proper documentation of government expenditures, the Ombudsman said. These were the findings of graft investigator Cherry Chiara Hernando that were approved by former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on September 27, 2010. The charge sheet was only filed on 8 JUN. [Source: ABS-CBN NEWS 8 Jun 2011
++] For example, they may not: [Source: MoneyTalksNews Jim Robinson
article 3 Mar 2010 ++] In
a press release, Rosebrock said, "On this Memorial Day weekend,
it's good to know that the courts are recognizing the right to
free speech that veterans have fought and died to defend. This
land was deeded for the use and care of veterans and is being
stolen away. In his column on veteranstoday.com, Rosebrock urges, We the People must demand that our U.S. Government immediately fulfill its moral and patriotic responsibility of looking out for the best interests of Americas Military Veterans.. The protesting, which began as older veterans holding posters and American flags outside the medical center, went unnoticed by the Veterans Administration until Rosebrock displayed the flag upside down. The incorrectly displayed flag was reported and caught the attention of federal police. Following the incident, Rosebrock was cited six times for unauthorized demonstrations on Veterans Administration property. However, in the court ruling, the judge stated that Rosebrocks First Amendment right was violated when the Veterans Administration cited him and removed the flag. The judge denied a request for a permanent injunction, stating that Rosebrocks perseverance to draw attention to this condition of homeless veterans through negative depictions of America may actually cause more harm to the group he wishes to help. [Source: Canyon News Amy Oppenheim
article 5 Jun 2011 ++] VA
renters include Enterprise Rent-a-Car, a couple entertainment
companies, a private school and a baseball diamond used by the
UCLA Bruins: "Nobody knows how the deals were negotiated,
where the money has gone," Rosenbaum tells the Times. However,
Rachel Feldstein, associate director of New Directions, a service
center on the VA campus with 206 temporary sleep spots for veterans,
says the facility "currently has open beds." (She says
the center gets about half its money from the Department of Veteran
Affairs; the rest is donations.) A Salvation Army "Haven"
also on the campus offers more "emergency" beds and
temporary rehab programs. But nearby residents can attest: A
more permanent solution is needed. About 8,000 homeless vets
roam the streets of Los Angeles...more than any other city in
the nation. And each, argues the ACLU, has a particular set of
war-grown issues that deserve individual attention. [Source: University of Buffalo News
Center release 6 Jun 2011 ++] [Source: U.S. News & World Report
| Health Day article 6 Jun 2011 ++] [Source: Park Rapids Enterprise Gregory
Remus article 4 Jun 2011 ++] [Source: PA House Democratic Communications
Office press release 27 May 2011 ++] Matt
Szudzik, the commandant of the Bett-Toomey Detachment of the
Marine Corps League, said he is thankful that the federal government
prosecuted Fabrizio for wearing honors he didn't earn. "I
don't like the idea of anyone going around wearing honors they
aren't entitled to wear," said Szudzik, "A lot of men
really did serve in combat and got wounded. This kind of thing
is a slap in the face to them." [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article
3 Jun 2011 ] *
That doesnt make any sense. Thats not fair. The
chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee announced
an ambitious goal Wednesday of finding jobs for 400,000 veterans
within two years, a move that would reduce the unemployment rate
for veterans of all generations from 7.7 percent today to about
4.5 percent. To do this, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) said he doesnt
want to create new programs or spend additional money. Instead,
he wants to concentrate on making sure existing public and private
programs are working efficiently. [Source: AirForceTimes Rick Maze
article 1 Jun 2011 ++] To register for an account, click
on the following link: http://www.tricare-overseas.com You can sign up to receive disaster
e-mail updates at http://www.tricare.mil/subscriptions [Source: Chicago Tribune Gregory
Karp article 20 May 2011 ++] [Source: Chicago Tribune Lolly Bowean
article 29 May 2011 ++] [Source: Money Talks News Michael
Koretzky article 2 MAR 2011 ++] Have You Heard? House Joint Resolutions: * Measures passed by both houses of a bicameral legislature and eligible to become a law if signed by the chief executive or passed over the chief executive's veto. H.J.RES. 13 - Flag Protection Constitutional
Amendment . Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical
desecration of the flag of the United States. H.J.RES.50 : Personal Income Tax
Elimination Constitutional Amendment. Proposing an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States relative to abolishing
personal income, estate, and gift taxes and prohibiting the United
States Government from engaging in business in competition with
its citizens. House Concurrent Resolutions: * Measures passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but are not presented to the President and do not have the force of law. H.CON.RES.12 : Arlington Jewish Chaplains
Memorial. Expressing the sense of Congress that an appropriate
site on Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery should
be provided for a memorial marker to honor the memory of the
Jewish chaplains who died while on active duty in the Armed Forces
of the United States. H.CON.RES.45 : Honoring Post 9/11
Vets. Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United
States Armed Forces who are serving in, or have served in, Operation
Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New
Dawn. House Resolutions: * Measures that express approval or disapproval of something which the House cannot otherwise vote on, due to the matter being handled by another jurisdiction, or being protected by the constitution H.RES.15 : MILCON/VA Appropriations.
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require
that general appropriations for military construction and veterans'
affairs be considered as stand-alone measures. H.RES.111 : POW/MIA. Establishing
a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs. The select committee
shall conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters
relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from
the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War II, Cold War
Missions, Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation
Enduring Freedom, including MIAs and POWs missing and captured. H.RES.288 : MILCON/VA Appropriations.
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2055) making appropriations
for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2012, and for other purposes. House Amendments: * Alteration or addition to a bill previously introduced in the House: H.AMDT.178 to H.R.830 Disabled Vets
Inclusion in FHA Refinance Program Study. Amendment includes
military service members and veterans who have service-connected
injuries, as well as survivors and dependents of such individuals,
in a study on use of the FHA Refinance program. H.AMDT.187 to H.R.836 Disabled Vets
Inclusion in Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act
Study. Amendment adds military servicemembers and veterans who
have service-related injuries, as well as survivors and dependents
of such individuals, to be included in the study in the Emergency
Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act. H.AMDT.409 to H.R.2055 An amendment
to redirect funds for the medical services and general administration
divisions of the Veterans Health Administration. House Bills: H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the
Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation
Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in
the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport
Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act
of 2011. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act
to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent
or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child
was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the
Armed Forces of the United States. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011.
A bill t amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain
abused dependents of veterans with health care. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care
under the CHAMPVA program. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving
Spouses Home Loans Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed
by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses
of certain totally-disabled veterans. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation
to Homeless Vets. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income
tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for
other purposes. H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess
Internet Website. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of
the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess
Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses
Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under
the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset
the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60
Retired Reserves. A bill 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. H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and
Reservists Parity for Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed
active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency
operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for
such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of
non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility
for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans'
disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed
services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability,
regardless of the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy
Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry
out a pilot program on dog training therapy. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor
Reimbursement. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to authorize the reimbursement of mental health counselors under
TRICARE, and for other purposes. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health
Care Relief Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees
for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B. H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA
Sole Source Contracts. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to promote jobs for veterans through the use of sole source
contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting
the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans
Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of
2011. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income
veterans. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration
Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under
current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan
Death March Compensation Act. A bill to provide compensation
for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death
March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A
bill to require employers to provide veterans with time off on
Veterans Day. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax
Termination Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment
of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to
eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend
eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees
with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.420 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms
Act of 2011. A bill to provide an amnesty period during which
veterans and their family members can register certain firearms
in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and
for other purposes. H.R.493 : Military Retiree Survivor
Comfort Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay
paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following
their death. H.R.540 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten
Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue
a medal to honor veterans of the Armed Forces who died after
their service in the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct
result of their service in the Vietnam War. H.R.561 : Veterans Employment Tax
Credit Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 to extend the work opportunity tax credit with respect
to veterans. H.R.575 : HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community
health care providers to improve access to health care for veterans
in highly rural areas, and for other purposes. H.R.595 : National Song of Remembrance.
A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the
musical piece commonly known as "Taps" as the National
Song of Remembrance, and for other purposes. H.R.648 : Pledge of Allegiance Saluting.
A bill to amend title 4, United States Code, to authorize members
of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military
salute during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. H.R.652 : Tricare Premium Limits.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit the increase
of premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health
care provided under the TRICARE program. H.R.743 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011.
A bill to To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals
who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard. H.R.776 : Guaranteed 3% COLA for
Seniors Act of 2011. A bill to To require the establishment of
a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living
increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the
Social Security Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries
under such title, for an annual cost-of-living increase which
is not less than 3 percent. H.R.802 : VetStar Award Program.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish
a VetStar Award Program. H.R.804 : Operation New Dawn Vet
Care. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify
the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation
New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home
care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.805 : Injured and Amputee Veterans
Bill of Rights Education. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans
Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee
Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. H.R.806 : End Veteran Homelessness
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless
veterans under the administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. H.R.809 : Post Women Veterans Bill
of Rights. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display
in each facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women
Veterans Bill of Rights. H.R.810 : Fair Access to Veterans
Benefits Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for
appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals,
and for other purposes. H.R.811 : Providing Military Honors
for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details
at the funerals of veterans. H.R.812 : Agent Orange Equity Act
of 2011. A bill to To amend title 38, United States Code, to
clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans
who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam. H.R.813 : Vet Survivor Benefit Eligibility.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of
time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the
veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans
rated totally disabled at time of death. H.R.814 : Medicare VA Reimbursement
Act of 2011. A bill to To provide Medicare payments to Department
of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services
provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected
conditions. H.R.834 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance
Opportunity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans
mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes. H.R.865 : Veteran Employment Transition
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged
veterans. H.R.923 : Veterans Pensions Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft,
loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with
respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children
of veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.924 : Jobs for Veterans Act of
2011. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans
Business Center program, and for other purposes. H.R.930 : PTSD Disability Compensation
Evaluation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic
stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military
sexual trauma, and for other purposes. H.R.938 : Frank Buckles World War
I Memorial Act. To establish a commission to ensure a suitable
observance of the centennial of World War I and to designate
memorials to the service of men and women of the United States
in World War I. H.R.943 : K-9 Companion Corps Act.
A bill to establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance
dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.948 : Embedded Mental Health
Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to require the provision of behavioral health
services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness
and fitness standards, and for other purposes. H.R.961 : Safe Haven for Heroes Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect
to the prohibition on disrupting military funerals, and for other
purposes. H.R.1003 : National Guard, Reserve,
"Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available
Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize
space-available travel on military aircraft for reserve members,
former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving
spouses and dependents of such members and former members. H.R.1014 : Children of Military Service
Members Commemorative Lapel Pin Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to recognize the dependent children of members
of the Armed Forces who are serving on active duty or who have
served on active duty through the presentation of an official
lapel button. H.R.1025 : Reserve Veteran Status.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the
service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring
them with status as veterans under law. H.R.1092 : Military Retirees Health
Care Protection Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health
care. H.R.1130 : Education Assistance to
Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority
for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years
on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance to their dependents. H.R.1133 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements
with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the
provision of case management services associated with certain
supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1154 : Veterans Equal Treatment
for Service Dogs Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting
the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property.
H.R.1169 : National Guard Technician
Equity Act. A bill to amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States
Code, to eliminate inequities in the treatment of National Guard
technicians, to reduce the eligibility age for retirement for
non-Regular service, and for other purposes. H.R.1178 : Disabled Veterans Commissary
and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store
privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability
and to their dependents. H.R.1245 : Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.
To recognize the memorial at the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort
Pierce, Florida, as the official national memorial of Navy SEALS
and their predecessors. H.R.1260 : Support for Survivors
Act. A bill to provide for the preservation by the Department
of Defense of documentary evidence of the Department of Defense
on incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military,
and for other purposes. H.R.1263 : Surviving Spouse Mortgage
Protection. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
to provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating
to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures. H.R.1283 : Reserve Retirement Deployment
Credit Correction Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of
certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum
age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed
services may retire for non-regular service. H.R.1285 : Military Health Care Affordability
Act. A bill t o amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit
certain increases in fees for military health care before fiscal
year 2014. H.R.1288 : World War II Merchant
Mariner Service Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Homeland
Security to accept additional documentation when considering
the application for veterans status of an individual who performed
service in the merchant marines during World War II, and for
other purposes. H.R.1298 : Veterans' Efficiencies
Through Savings Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to conduct cost-benefit analyses for the provision
of medical care by the Department of Veterans Affairs in certain
geographic areas served by multiple Department of Veterans Affairs
medical facilities. H.R.1312 : Jobs for Veterans Act
of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent
veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1383 : Restoring GI Bill Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to temporarily preserve higher rates for
tuition and fees for programs of education at non-public institutions
of higher learning pursued by individuals enrolled in the Post-9/11
Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans
Affairs before the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational
Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, and for other purposes H.R.1392 : Fairness to Veterans Act
of 2011. A bill to provide assistance to veterans and veteran-owned
businesses with respect to contract opportunities, and for other
purposes. H.R.1407 : Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to to increase,
effective as of December 1, 2011, the rates of 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 by the same percentage
as applies to any social Security rate increase. H.R.1441 : Arlington Gravesite Reservations.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the prohibition
against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery,
and for other purposes. H.R.1451 : Post 9/11 GI Bill Payment
Restoration Act. A bill to repeal a modification of authority
to make certain interval payments of educational assistance under
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for
other purposes H.R.1457 : William Shemin Jewish
World War I Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of the
Army and the Secretary of the Navy to conduct a review of military
service records of Jewish American veterans of World War I, including
those previously awarded a military decoration, to determine
whether any of the veterans should be posthumously awarded the
Medal of Honor, and for other purposes. H.R.1460 : Automatic Combat Vet Enrollment.
A bill to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning
from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. H.R.1484 : Veterans Appeals Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs
and to establish a commission to study judicial review of the
determination of veterans' benefits. H.R.1497 : Tripoli Libya Vet Remains.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to take whatever steps
may be necessary to exhume and transfer the remains of certain
deceased members of the Armed Forces buried in Tripoli, Libya,
and for other purposes. H.R.1540 : National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2012. A bill to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department
of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.
H.R.1591 : Sanctity of Eternal Rest
for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to guarantee that military funerals
are conducted with dignity and respect. H.R.1595 : Veterans' Home Loan Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to make all veterans eligible for home loans under the veterans
mortgage revenue bond program. H.R.1627 : Arlington Monument Placements.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for
certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington
National Cemetery, and for other purposes. H.R.1647 : Veterans' Choice in Filing
Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to carry out a pilot program under which certain veterans may
submit claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary
to any regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.1657 : Vet Business Misrepresentation
Penalties. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise
the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business
concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans
or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled
veterans. H.R.1671 : Andrew Connolly Veterans'
Housing Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
provide specially adapted housing assistance to individuals residing
temporarily in housing owned by a family member. H.R.1775 : Stolen Valor Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a
criminal offense relating to fraudulent claims about military
service. H.R.1811 : National Guard Employment
Protection Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain
individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. H.R.1826 : Unauthorized Vet Fees
Penalty. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate
criminal penalties for persons charging veterans unauthorized
fees. H.R.1850 : Army Combat Action Badge
Eligibility Expansion. A bill to expand retroactive eligibility
of the Army Combat Action Badge to include members of the Army
who participated in combat during which they personally engaged,
or were personally engaged by, the enemy at any time on or after
December 7, 1941. H.R.1854 : Veterans Outreach Enhancement
Act of 2011. A Bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to carry out a program of outreach for veterans, and for other
purposes. H.R.1855 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain
Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision
of rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain
injury, and for other purposes. H.R.1863 : Veterans Health Equity
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are
able to receive services in at least one full-service Department
of Veterans Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable
services provided by contract in the State, and for other purposes. H.R.1871 : Wounded Warrior Tax Equity
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to prevent the extension of the tax collection period merely
because the taxpayer is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized
as a result of combat zone injuries. H.R.1898 : Veterans 2nd Amendment
Protection Act. A bill 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. H.R.1910 : Unused Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance. A bill to extend for one year the authority of certain
members of the Armed Forces and veterans to transfer unused Post-9/11
Educational Assistance benefits to family members. H.R.1911 : Protecting Veterans' Homes
Act. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently
extend the period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage
foreclosures, and for other purposes. H.R.1928 : Women's Fair and Equal
Right to Military Service Act. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to repeal the ground combat exclusion policy for
female members of the Armed Forces. H.R.1941 : Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.
A bill to improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation,
vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed
Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1968 : Cold War Service Medal
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
provide for the award of a military service medal to members
of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War,
and for other purposes. H.R.1979 : Chapter 61 CRDP + SBP/DIC
Offset + Reserve Retired Pay: A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of
military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to
include additional chapter 61 disability retirees, to coordinate
eligibility for combat-related special compensation and concurrent
receipt, to eliminate the reduction of SBP survivor annuities
by dependency and indemnity compensation, and to enhance the
ability of members of the reserve components who serve on active
duty or perform active service to receive credit for such service
in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service
retired pay. H.R.2002 : Post 9/11 Educational
Assistance Transfer. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to permit disabled or injured members of the Armed Forces
to transfer Post 9/11 Educational Assistance benefits after retirement,
and for other purposes. H.R.2026 : Services, Education, and
Rehabilitation for Veterans Act. A bill to provide grants to
establish veteran's treatment courts. H.R.2046 : Vet Discharge Transitional
Services. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure
that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from
active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job
training assistance, and other transitional services. H.R.2048 : Vet Private Cemetery Headstones.
A bill to expand the eligibility for the provision of Government
headstones, markers, and medallions for veterans buried at private
cemeteries. H.R.2051 : Veterans Missing in America
Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to assist in the identification of unclaimed and abandoned human
remains to determine if any such remains are eligible for burial
in a national cemetery, and for other purposes. H.R.2052 : Fort McClellan Health
Registry Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed
at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and for other purposes. H.R.2053 : Veterans' Disability Claims
Efficiency Act of 2011. To amend title 38, United States Code,
to improve the efficiency of processing certain claims for disability
compensation by veterans. H.R.2055 : Military Construction
and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2012. H.R.2070 : World War II Memorial
Prayer Act of 2011. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior
to install in the area of the World War II Memorial in the District
of Columbia a suitable plaque or an inscription with the words
that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the nation on
June 6, 1944, the morning of D-Day. H.R.2074 : Veterans Sexual Assault
Prevention Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code,
to require a comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual
assault incidents and other safety incidents that occur at medical
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2115 : Filipino Veterans of World
War II Family Reunification Act. A bill to exempt children of
certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations
on immigrant visas. H.R.2116 : Filipino Veterans Family
Reunification Act of 2011. To exempt children of certain Filipino
World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant
visas and for other purposes. * * Union Calendar: A separate calendar in the United States House of Representatives that schedules bills involving money issues. It arose from the requirement in Article One of the United States Constitution that all revenue bills originate in the House of Representatives. To meet that requirement, Rule XIII. Senate Concurrent Resolutions: S.CON.RES.10 : Last WWI Vet Honors.
A concurrent resolution authorizing the remains of Frank W. Buckles,
the last surviving United States veteran of the First World War,
to lie in honor in the rotunda of the Capitol. S.CON.RES.13 : Honoring Post 9/11
Vets. A concurrent resolution honoring the service and sacrifice
of members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving
in, or have served in, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation
Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Senate Resolutions: S.RES.17 : National Military Family
Month. A resolution designating the month of November 2011 as
"National Military Family Month". S.RES.55 : Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
Day .A resolution expressing support for designation of a "Welcome
Home Vietnam Veterans Day". S.RES.89 : Last WWI Vet. A resolution
relating to the death of Frank W. Buckles, the longest surviving
United States veteran of the First World War. S.RES.130 : Gold Star Wives Day.
A resolution designating April 5, 2011, as "Gold Star Wives
Day". S.RES.160 : Military Spouse Appreciation
Day. A resolution designating May 6, 2011, as "Military
Spouse Appreciation Day". S.RES.166 : 66th anniversary of V-E
Day. A resolution commemorating May 8, 2011, as the 66th anniversary
of V-E Day, the end of World War II in Europe. S.RES.178 : Silver Star Service Banner
Day. A resolution expressing support for the designation of May
1, 2011, as "Silver Star Service Banner Day". S.RES.202 : National PTSD Awareness
Day. A resolution designating June 27, 2011, as "National
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day". House Amendments: S.AMDT.388 to S.CON.RES.4 Arlington
National Cemetery Advisory Commission. To express the sense of
Congress on the establishment of an advisory commission on memorials
at Arlington National Cemetery and facilitate evaluation and
approval of future monuments and memorials at the cemetery. Senate Bills: S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims.
A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the
validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed
military service on behalf of the United States during World
War II. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A
Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the
same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the
Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain
disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense
commissary and exchange stores. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance.
A bill to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial
Day, and for other purposes. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged
veterans. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement
for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit
Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation. S.277 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care
to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina,
while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other
purposes. S.316 : Fort Hood Victims and Families
Benefits Protection Act. A bill to ensure that the victims and
victims' families of the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood,
Texas, receive the same treatment, benefits, and honors as those
Americans who have been killed or wounded in a combat zone overseas
and their families. S.325 : Embedded Mental Health Providers
for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to require the provision of behavioral health services
to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary
to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness and fitness
standards, and for other purposes. S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a
service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation
from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability
and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service
or Combat-Related Special Compensation, and for other purposes.
S.367 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the
work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals
who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard, and for
other purposes. S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide
for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed
Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other
purposes. S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements
with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the
provision of case management services associated with certain
supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes.
S.423 : Fully Developed VA Claim
Applications. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide authority for retroactive effective date for awards of
disability compensation in connection with applications that
are fully-developed at submittal, and for other purposes. S.491 : Honor America's Guard-Reserve
Retirees Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of the
Armed Forces of certain persons by honoring them with status
as veterans under law, and for other purposes. S.536 : Survivor Educational Assistance
Limitations. 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. S.542 : National Guard, Reserve,
"Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available
Travel Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft
for members of the reserve components, a member or former member
of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for
age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents. S.658 : Support for Survivors Act.
A bill to provide for the preservation of the Department of Defense
of documentary evidence of the Department of Defense on incidents
of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military, and
for other purposes. S.666 : Veterans Traumatic Brain
Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011. A bill to require a report
on the establishment of a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or
Polytrauma Network Site of the Department of Veterans Affairs
in the northern Rockies or Dakotas, and for other purposes. S.696 : Vet Center Travel Pay. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to treat Vet Centers
as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of
payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to Department facilities,
and for other purposes. S.698 : Arlington Gravesite Reservations.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the prohibition
against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery,
and for other purposes. S.728 : NAIV Federal Charter. A bill
to grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans,
Incorporated. S.731 : Travel Reimbursement for
Inactive Duty Training Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2011. A bill to
amend title 37, United States Code, to provide travel and transportation
allowances for members of the reserve components for long distance
and certain other travel to inactive duty training. S.745 : GI Bill Tuition Guarantee.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to protect certain
veterans who would otherwise be subject to a reduction in educational
assistance benefits, and for other purposes. S.769 : Veterans Equal Treatment
for Service Dogs Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from
prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans
Affairs property. S.780 : Veterans Pensions Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft,
loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with
respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children
of veterans, and for other purposes. S.798 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms
Act of 2011. A Bill to provide an amnesty period during which
veterans and their family members can register certain firearms
in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and
for other purposes. S.815 : Sanctity of Eternal Rest
for Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to guarantee that military funerals
are conducted with dignity and respect. S.866 : Reserve Retirement Deployment
Credit Correction Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to modify the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain
active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age
at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services
may retire for non-regular service. S.873 : Spina Bifida Children Benefits.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide benefits
for children with spina bifida of veterans exposed to herbicides
while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era outside
Vietnam, and for other purposes. S.894 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2011,
in the rates of 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. S.910 : Veterans Health Equity Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure
that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to
receive services in at least one full-service Department of Veterans
Affairs medical center in the State or receive comparable services
provided by contract in the State, and for other purposes. S.935 : Veterans Outreach Enhancement
Act of 2011. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to carry out a program of outreach to veterans, and for other
purposes. S.951 : Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.
A bill to improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation,
vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed
Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. S.955 : Protect Those Who Serve Act.
A bill to provide grants for the renovation, modernization or
construction of law enforcement facilities. S.957 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain
Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision
of rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain
injury, and for other purposes. S.981 : National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2012. A bill to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department
of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. S.993 : Wounded Warrior Tax Equity
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to prevent the extension of the tax collection period merely
because the taxpayer is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized
as a result of combat zone injuries. S.1017 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver
Housing Assistance Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who
are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member,
and for other purposes. S.1025 : National Guard Empowerment
and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the national defense
through empowerment of the National Guard, enhancement of the
functions of the National Guard Bureau, and improvement of Federal-State
military coordination in domestic emergency response, and for
other purposes. S.1044 : DECA BRAC Pilot Program.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the
Defense Commissary Agency to conduct a pilot program at military
institutions to be closed or subject to an adverse realignment
under a base closure law under which a commissary store may sell
additional types of merchandise. S.1060 : Honoring All Veterans Act
of 2011. A bill to improve education, employment, independent
living services, and health care for veterans, to improve assistance
for homeless veterans, and to improve the administration of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. S.1080 : PRO-VETS Act of 2011. A
bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available
benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits,
to provide for automatic enrollment for veterans returning from
combat zones into the Department of Veterans Affairs medical
system, and for other purposes. S.1141 : WWII Filipino Vet Child
Immigration Limits. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino
World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant
visas and for other purposes. S.1146 : Alaska Hero's Card Act of
2011. A bill to establish a pilot program under which veterans
in the State of Alaska may receive health care benefits from
the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department medical
facilities, and for other purposes. S.1148 : Veterans Programs Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the provision of assistance to homeless veterans, to
improve the regulation of fiduciaries who represent individuals
for purposes of receiving benefits under laws administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. S.1154 : Honoring Promises to Service-Disabled
Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to require transparency for Executive
departments in meeting the Government-wide goals for contracting
with small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled
veterans, and for other purposes. S.1172 : VA Appeals Process. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the efficiency
of the appeals process under the United States Court of Appeals
for Veterans Claims by improving staff conferences directed by
such Court, and for other purposes. Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 13 Jun 2011 ++ |
GI Bill Update 95 (H.R.1383) Agent Orange Okinawa (Insufficient Evidence) POW/MIA Flag (New Idaho Law) VA Fiduciary Program (Effectiveness Questioned) VA Dental Treatment Update 05 (Dayton VAMC Problems) VA Medicare Subvention Update 03 (H.R.814) TAMP (Pentagon Compliance Questioned) VA End of Life Care Update 01 (Hampton VAMC Errs) VA Priority Categories Update 02 (Cost-Saving Initiative) Tricare User Fees Update 64 (H.R.1285) Marine Corps Color Guard (Availability) Marine Corps Musical Units (Overview & Schedule) Government Shutdown Update 02 (Are you Prepared?) VA Third Party Insurers Update 05 (Prescription Billing Changes) VA Sexual Trauma Program Update 03 (Eligibility) Veterans' Court Update 09 (A Second Chance) Atomic Vets Update 06 (Resources) Vet Heart Failure Death Rates (Improving) DoD/VA VLER Update 05 (Joint Common Platform) VA Vet Care Travel Policy (Alaska) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 33 (1-15 APR 2011) Will Update 03 (Do you Have?) Homeowner Aid Fund ** (Funds Running Out) Pentagon (Facts & Tours) VA Antibiotic Use (On the Increase) VA Operation New Dawn Benefits (H.R.804) Reserve Retirement Age Update 24 (H.R.1283) Flag Desecration Update 01 (Constitutional Amendment) Vet Federal Employment Update 07 (VBA Reaches 32%) Stolen Valor Update 32 (Texas Senate Bill 431) VA Mileage Reimbursement Update 09 (Biased Treatment) Tricare Well-Child Benefit (Birth to Age 6) Weeds (Killer Recipes & Tips) Paralympics Vet Allowance (New VA Program) Pets for Patriots (Is an organization that helps a veteran...) Tricare Young Adult Program Update 03 (Save Your Receipts) VA VistA Update 05 (RFP Draft Request) Legislative Process Update 01 (New Rules Changes) VA Funding 2011 Update 01 (South Dakota Cutbacks) World War I Memorial Update 02 (Controversy) VA Diabetes Mellitus Care Update 07 (Amputation Rates) GI Bill Update 94 (VA Outreach GAO Report) IRS Emails (Security Problem) Saving Money (Cost of being Overweight) Notes of Interest (1-15 Apr 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 65: (Raleigh NC, Houston TX, + More) Medicad Fraud Update 36 (Palm Scanning) Medicad Fraud Update 37 (1-15 Apr 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Massachusetts) Military History (Operation Market Garden WWII) Military History Anniversaries (April 16-30 Summary) Military Trivia 26 (Continental Navy) Tax Burden for Alabama Retirees (As of APR 2011) Veteran Legislation Status 12 APR 2011 (Where we stand) Have You Heard? ($50,000 Monkey)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." GI Bill Update 95: Legislation introduced in Congress in on 6 APR
would ensure that students attending college under the new post-9/11
GI Bill will have their full tuition covered, even if the cost
exceeds the $17,500 cap put in place under recent changes to
the program. The measures, overshadowed by the looming government
shutdown, are sponsored by House Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff
Miller, R-Fla., and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. In statements
released Thursday, both said they hope to act on the legislation
before the new changes go into effect, potentially costing some
student veterans thousands of dollars. The bill, H.R.1383 Restoring
GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011, would provide temporary relief
limited to people who were enrolled in a private institution
of higher learning before the Post-9/11 GI Bill Veterans Educational
Assistance Act was signed into law on 4 JAN and created the new
nationwide tuition limit. In December, Congress passed changes
to the new GI Bill rules, including a flat rate of $17,500 per
year for tuition and fees for private and out-of-state public
universities. That move will give most students thousands more
in tuition funding, but for students whose current tuition costs
exceed $17,500, the move could leave them deep in debt. [Source: Stars and Stripes Leo Shane article 8 Apr 2011 ++] Agent Orange Okinawa: In addition to the following statements from
three veterans interviewed for The Japan Times, records from
the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.) contain
hundreds of similar accounts of Agent Orange on Okinawa during
the late 1960s and early '70s, a time when the island was under
U.S. rule and served as a forward base for the American war in
Vietnam. The testimonies reveal that the dioxin-laden herbicide
was not only stored in large quantities on Okinawa before being
transported to the war zone, but also that it was routinely used
to clear weeds on military installations and tested in the northern
Yanbaru jungle. [Source: The Japan Times Jon Mitchell
article 12 Apr 2011 ++] [Source: Idaho Reporter Brad Iverson-Long article 7 Apr 2011 ++] VA Fiduciary Program: The Fiduciary Program oversees VA benefits paid
to beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their funds. Under
the Veterans Benefits Administration supervision, payment of
VA benefits are made to an individual or entity recognized as
responsible for managing the beneficiary's affairs, the fiduciary.
The VBA must have reasonable assurance that VA-derived income
and estates of incompetent beneficiaries are used solely for
their care, support, welfare, and needs. Prior audit reports
and investigations by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) have
provided indications of the vulnerability of incompetent beneficiary
estates to fraud. OIG'es latest report on the program is titled
"Audit of the Fiduciary Programes Effectiveness in Addressing
Potential Misuse of Beneficiary Funds". 09-01999-120 dated
31 MAR 2010. It is available for review online at http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2010/VAOIG-09-01999-120.pdf [Source: New York Times John Schwartz article 7 Apr 2011 ++] VA Dental Treatment Update
05: [Ohio] lawmakers on 7 APR pressed
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to form a regional task
force to investigate issues surrounding misconduct at the Dayton
VA Medical Center as part of a statewide review of VA operations.
TAMP:
For more than five years, thousands of wounded and injured military
reservists and National Guard troops nationwide might have lost
medical benefits because of a Pentagon mistake, according to
an investigation by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). In a letter sent on
6 APR to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the Wyden said that
many wounded troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq who ended
up in Warrior Transition Units at military bases or in community-based
programs near their homes lost up to six months of medical coverage
that's provided to them under a 2005 law. The Transition Assistance
Management Program, or TAMP, was supposed to help personnel returning
from active duty get the medical care they needed before their
civilian coverage kicked in. The problem was that the Pentagon
began counting the 180 days of coverage the moment the troops
returned to the United States, not once they left active duty.
Those who needed extensive care in the Warrior Transition Units
often exhausted their six months of benefits before they went
home, according to Wyden. Pentagon paperwork leaked last year
to the Tribune-Review showed that the typical reservist or Guard
member will spend about a year in the special medical units,
or longer if they're in a community-based program. VA End of Life Care Update 01: The Hampton VA Medical Center inappropriately discharged a terminally ill veteran from its emergency room and failed to provide him hospice care requested by his wife, a federal investigation has found. Investigators from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General
found that staff members at the Hampton center were unaware of
a VA policy requiring that end-of-life care be provided when
veterans and their families ask for it. The investigators' report,
issued 6 APR, came in response to a confidential complaint about
the treatment of the veteran, a man in his 50s, who came to the
center in August ill with lung cancer that had spread to the
brain. Over three successive visits to the emergency room, the
man's condition steadily deteriorated. VA Priority Categories
Update 02: The Hampton VA Medical
Center inappropriately discharged a terminally ill veteran from
its emergency room and failed to provide him hospice care requested
by his wife, a federal investigation has found. Investigators
from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector
General found that staff members at the Hampton center were unaware
of a VA policy requiring that end-of-life care be provided when
veterans and their families ask for it. The investigators' report,
issued 6 APR, came in response to a confidential complaint about
the treatment of the veteran, a man in his 50s, who came to the
center in August ill with lung cancer that had spread to the
brain. Over three successive visits to the emergency room, the
man's condition steadily deteriorated. VA
Priority Categories Update 02: The House Budget Committee, chaired
by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI.), has told a veterans' group it is studying
a plan to save $6 billion annually in VA health care costs by
cancelling enrollment of any veteran who doesn't have a service-related
medical condition and is not poor. Committee Republicans, searching
for ways to curb federal deficits and rein in galloping VA costs,
are targeting 1.3 million veterans who claim priority group 7
or 8 status and have access to VA care. Priority group 8 veterans
have no service-connected disabilities and annual incomes, or
net worth, that exceed VA means-test thresholds and VA "geographic
income" thresholds, which are set by family size. Priority
Group 7 veterans also have no service-connected disabilities
and their incomes are above the means-test thresholds. But their
incomes or net worth fall below the geographic index. In other
words, because of where they live, in high cost areas, they likely
struggle financially. [Source: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,229352,00.html 8 Apr 2011 ++] Marine Corps Color Guard:
Each year, the Marine Corps Color
Guard supports approximately 300 events. The Color Guard is a
four-person formation of Marines in military uniform that post
and retire the flag and render to it the proper customs and courtesies.
During ceremonies, the Color Guard presents the flags of the
United States and that of the Marine Corps, the flags are flanked
by two rifle-bearers. A salute is rendered by dipping the Marine
Corps flag while holding the National Ensign high. Events supported
by the Marine Corps Color Guard include but are not limited to
sporting, military appreciation, and patriotic events. If you
are interested in requesting the Marine Corps Color Guard, visit
the Community Relations section of http://www.marines.mil and
fill out a standard Department of Defense form 2536. Marine Corps Musical Units:
Marine Corps musical units perform
at ceremonies, parades, festivals, professional sporting events,
concerts, and other public events. Marine Corps musicians sustain
the Corps rich military culture and present inspiring public
programs that entertain audiences and instill a sense of national
pride and patriotism. Twelve Marine Corps bands perform six types
of ensembles: Government Shutdown Update
02: With just over an hour left
before the government would have shut down, congressional leaders
and the White House announced an agreement to fund the government
for the rest of the year and a deal to keep the government functioning
beyond the 8 APR midnight deadline. The Senate passed a short-term
continuing resolution [the seventh of its kind] to keep the government
operating until 15 APR with spending cuts of $3 billion. This
measure will keep all government functions operating while legislation
is drafted wrapping up all spending matters for the 2011 fiscal
year. Congress' seemingly inability to get a handle on government
spending and the national debt prevents this issue from going
away. Below is what veteran associations and media were told
by various sources would have occurred if the government had
shutdown 8 APR. Thus, it could be used as a blueprint for future
shutdowns. Veterans are encouraged to make contingency plans
to deal with those areas that might affect them if a future shutdown
occurs: [Source: Various 12 Apr 2011 ++] VA Sexual Trauma Program
Update 03: About one in five women
and one in a hundred men seen in VA medical facilities report
that they experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST); that is,
sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that
occurred during military service. MST can affect veterans' physical
and mental health many years afterwards. VA offers a variety
of services designed to assist veterans who have experienced
MST. For example, treatment for physical and mental health conditions
related to MST is available atevery VA facility and is provided
to veterans free of charge, regardless of service-connection
status. Veterans may be able to receive this free MST-related
care even if they are not eligible for other VA care. Every VA
facility has an MST Coordinator who serves as a point of contact
for veterans and staff. It's important to remember that every
VA employee has the power to help veterans recover from MST by
responding sensitively to inquiries about MST, remaining knowledgeable
about VA's MST-related services, and ensuring that information
about veterans' MST status is kept confidential. For more information,
contact your facility's MST Coordinator or visit the MST Resource
homepage at http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.asp Atomic Vets Update 06:
The U.S. stopped testing nuclear
weapons above ground in 1962, and many Veterans today known as
Gould expressed confidence that a
joint system will work for both the Defense Department and VA.
?And the reasoning is pretty sound,? he said. [Source: Donna Miles article 5 Apr 2011 ++] VA Vet Care Travel Policy:
Sen. Lisa Murkowski has moved to
expand access to local health services for Alaska veterans. It
remains to be seen whether federal officials will change their
ways, but her efforts raised public consciousness of an issue
that drastically affects the lives of some Alaska veterans. Many
local vets have to travel to Seattle or elsewhere for medical
treatments, despite the availability of those treatments within
the state at private facilities. This is due to current Veterans
Administration practices that route patients to a VA medical
center. Proximity is the key problem for Alaskas vets.
The agency does not subscribe to the *shop local* angle,
even if that sends someone traversing the length of Canada when
a cab ride across town would get that patient to similar care.
The senator got a promise the VA would look closely at why they
would send an Alaska vet 2,000 miles south for a treatment or
specialty medical consultation if the same services could be
purchased at a civilian hospital. The promise alone is progress,
and she had good luck with a similar promise last year. [Source: Juneau Empire article 5 Apr 2011 ++] VA Fraud Waste & Abuse
Update 33: [Source: Rockford Register Star article
7 Apr 2011] [Source: http://www.plan.gs/Article.do?articleId=272&orgId=971 Apr 2011 ++] [Source: ArmyTimes Karen Jowers article 11 Apr 2011 ++] Pentagon: Headquarters of the Department of Defense, the
Pentagon is one of the world's largest office buildings. It is
twice the size of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, and has three
times the floor space of the Empire State Building in New York.
The National Capitol could fit into any one of the five wedge-shaped
sections. There are very few people throughout the United States
who do not have some knowledge of the Pentagon. Many have followed
news stories emanating from the defense establishment housed
in this building. However, relatively few people have had the
opportunity to visit. The Pentagon is virtually a city in itself.
Approximately 23,000 employees, both military and civilian, contribute
to the planning and execution of the defense of our country.
These people arrive daily from Washington, D.C. and its suburbs
over approximately 30 miles of access highways, including express
bus lanes and one of the newest subway systems in our country.
They ride past 200 acres of lawn to park approximately 8,770
cars in 16 parking lots; climb 131 stairways or ride 19 escalators
to reach offices that occupy 3,705,793 square feet. While in
the building, they tell time by 4,200 clocks, drink from 691
water fountains, utilize 284 rest rooms, consume 4, 500 cups
of coffee, 1,700 pints of milk and 6,800 soft drinks prepared
or served by a restaurant staff of 230 persons and dispensed
in 1 dining room, 2 cafeterias, 6 snack bars, and an outdoor
snack bar. The restaurant service is a privately run civilian
operation under contract to the Pentagon. [Source: http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil/index.html Apr 2011 ++] Pentagon Hall of Heroes & City Mall VA Antibiotic Use: Researchers examining antibiotic use at Veterans
Health Administration hospitals and care facilities have found
strong evidence of a sharp rise in the prescribing of carbapenems,
powerful antibiotics. The large study raises concerns that overuse
of carbapenems could lead to a rise in bacteria with resistance
to these antibiotics. Carbapenems are often considered the treatment
of last resort for severe infections with multi-drug resistant
pathogens. The study looked at antibiotics administered in 110
VA facilities between 2005 and 2009. The researchers observed
a gradual increase in overall antibiotic use, but a sharp rise...102%...in
the use of carbapenems. "Use of these antibiotics helps
the patient receiving the treatment, but has future consequences
for innocent bystanders," said Makoto Jones, one of the
researchers involved in the study. "The more these drugs
are used, the more resistance we see." "Antibiotic
use studies in the U.S. are critical to understanding the basic
science of how and why resistance is on the rise," said
Steven Gordon, president of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology
of America. "Dr. Jones' study is a clarion call for a need
for better diagnostic tools to identify pathogens and For a video explaining how certain
bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics refer to http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119189574.html VA Operation New Dawn Benefits:
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) has reintroduced
a bill that will guarantee military members who serve in Operation
New Dawn in Iraq will be entitled to the same health-related
benefits as those who were part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. If
passed, the bill would amend title 38, United States Code, to
clarify the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support
of Operation New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and
nursing home care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In a statement released by the lawmakers office, Filner
says H.R. 804 is identical to the bill he introduced in September
during the last Congress. It would provide New Dawn veterans
with the same veterans hospital care, home nursing access
and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs
as veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Filners concern
is that language of the law currently providing benefits to Operation
Iraqi Freedom veterans may inadvertently deny the benefits to
those who serve in the current operation. Flag Desecration Update 01: Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO-08) has introduced H.J. Res. 13 an amendment to the Constitution allowing Congress to pass legislation to prohibit desecration of the flag of the United States. Many brave men and women who serve and have served in the Armed Services feel deeply about the honor and dignity of "Old Glory," and the physical desecration of this symbol of democracy and freedom is an affront to them and the memory of those who died in the service of this Nation. Readers who would like to support this amendment sare encouraged to contact their legislators and request they support this resolution. One way to do this is to use the FRA action center at http://www.capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=22343541 to ask your US representative to co-sponsor this constitutional amendment that would grant Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag. [Source: FRA Action alert 5 Apr 2011 ++] Vet Federal Employment
Update 07: The Department of Veterans'
Affairs (VA) recently reached a major milestone on the number
of veterans who make up its workforce. The VA now has more than Last
year, a federal judge in San Antonio sentenced Culp to nine months
in jail for violating probation. Culp was prosecuted under the
federal Stolen Valor Act that last year was declared unconstitutional,
with judges ruling that the law making it illegal to lie about
being a military hero violates free speech. * There's
not even a threat. He drafted a proposal that Houston-area Republican
state Sen. Mike Jackson shaped into Senate Bill 431. [Source: San Antonio Express-News
Veronica Flores article 2 Apr 2011 ++] VA Mileage Reimbursement
Update 09: If one of Montanas
108,000 veterans travels to a Veterans Affairs health care clinic,
they are reimbursed at 41.5 cents per mile. If they travel to
one of the states four Vet Centers that focus on mental
health care and readjustment counseling, they receive no reimbursement.
Weeds: Pulling
weeds by hand is not always easy or practical, theyre pesky
and determined to pop back up and spread in no time. If youre
looking for more natural ways to control weeds that dont
include harsh chemicals and are safer for children and pets.
Here is a list of homemade weed killer recipes and solutions: [Source: http://tipnut.com/weed-killers Apr 2011 ++] Paralympics Vet Allowance:
Some Veterans in training for the
Paralympics will be able to qualify for a monthly subsistence
allowance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), under
a new program to help disabled Veterans more easily take part
in competitive sports. "Our disabled Veterans are models
of courage, resilience and determination," said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "This new allowance
will enable our disabled athletes to further their recovery by
taking part in world-class adaptive sports." VA officials
caution that not all disabled Veterans will qualify for the subsistence
allowance, which will actually be administered by the U.S. Paralympics.
Pets for Patriots: Pets for Patriots is an organization that helps a veteran or active, reserve, retired service member to adopt a mature dog or cat from one of many high-risk shelters around the country. The organization provides the veteran with a gift card for the purchase of food, supplies, toys and other basics for the new pet plus discounts on veterinary fees. In order to receive their assistance you must first apply and receive a confirmation of membership from them. They will determine eligibility upon receiving both your proof of service and the application available at http://www.petsforpatriots.org/ForPatriots/BecomeamemberPatriot.aspx For more information, visit the Pets for Patriots website http://www.petsforpatriots.org [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Apr 2011 ++] Tricare Young Adult Program
Update 03: Qualified Tricare dependents
up to age 26 can soon purchase Tricare coverage on a month-to-month
basis. To qualify to purchase Tricare Young Adult (TYA) coverage,
dependents must be under 26, unmarried and not eligible for their
own employer-sponsor health coverage. TYA will initially offer
a premium-based Tricare Standard benefit with a premium-based
Tricare Prime benefit phased in later this year. Eligible family
members who receive health care services between Jan. 1, 2011
and when the program is implemented can purchase TYA coverage
retroactively to Jan. 1, 2011. Beneficiaries should save their
receipts. Premium costs will be announced prior to start of enrollment
later this spring. Once premiums are determined, TYA-eligible
beneficiaries should explore all of their health care coverage
options to choose a plan that makes sense for them. For more
information about TYA visit http://www.tricare.mil/tya Legislative Process Update
01: The House of Representatives
approved a number of new rules at the start of the new Congress
that could significantly affect the process of considering defense
and other legislation. World War I Memorial Update
02: It all started when Edwin Fountain
jogged past a small but oddly moving structure hidden by trees
on the south side of the Mall, not far from the Tidal Basin.
The Arlington lawyer discovered that the domed marble temple
was a memorial honoring the 499 D.C. residents killed in World
War I. Edwin thinks the memorial, dedicated in 1931, should honor
more than just those 499 people. He is the founding director
of the World War I Memorial Foundation, which has as its aim
rededicating the monument as a national World War I memorial.
No less a figure than Frank Buckles, the last surviving U.S.
World War I veteran, lent his name to the effort. Joe Grano,
president of the Rhodes Tavern-D.C. Heritage Society says he
has a better idea. Make a national World War I memorial out of
Pershing Park at 15th and Pennsylvania NW. After all, Gen. John
J. Pershing was the head of U.S. expeditionary forces in Europe.
Add a doughboy statue (modeled, perhaps, on Buckles), maybe a
Navy sailor statue and some signage, and youd have a dandy
World War I monument. As
Grano wrote in a letter to the foundation: The D.C. memorial
now represents to District of Columbia citizens not only what
we have given to our beloved country, but also what our country
has not given to us.? As Grano put it: [Source: The Washington Posts
John Kelly article 31 Mar 2011 ++] VA Diabetes Mellitus Care
Update 07: Rates of foot and leg
amputations in people with diabetes may have decreased in recent
years, according to a new study of patients at Veterans Affairs
(VA) clinics. Total rates of amputation, taking into account
the age and gender of patients, were about 7 for every 1,000
patients in 2000 and between 4 and 5 for every 1,000 in 2004.
The findings could mean "that we are getting better at screening
patients ... and getting them the proper levels of care,"
Dr. James Wrobel, the head of the Center for Lower Extremity
Ambulatory Research in North Chicago, Illinois, who was not involved
in the study, told Reuters Health.Close to 26 million Americans
have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
The National Institutes of Health reports that more than 65,000
people with diabetes had leg foot amputations in 2006, the most
recent year with available data. GI Bill Update 94: The Veterans Affairs Department generally does
a good job informing service members of their education benefits,
but could improve its outreach to disabled vets, according to
a new report from the Government Accountability Office. Awareness
of the tuition benefits available to the military, particularly
those under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, is high among service members
and veterans in the general population, GAO found through interviews.
But the watchdog recommended VA develop performance measures
to better track the actual [Source: GOVExec.com Kellie Lunney
article 31 Mar 2011 ++] [Source: Money Talks News article
5 Apr 2011 ++] Medicare Fraud Update 65:
Medicad Fraud Update 37:
Military History: Operation Market Garden (1725 September 1944) was an Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time. The operation plan's strategic context required the seizure of bridges across the Maas (Meuse River) and two arms of the Rhine (the Waal and the Lower Rhine) as well as several smaller canals and tributaries. Crossing the Lower Rhine would allow the Allies to outflank the Siegfried Line and encircle the Ruhr, Germany's industrial heartland. It made large-scale use of airborne forces, whose tactical objectives were to secure a series of bridges over the main rivers of the German-occupied Netherlands and allow a rapid advance by armored units into Northern Germany. Initially, the operation was marginally successful and several bridges between Eindhoven and Nijmegen were captured. However, Gen. Horrocks XXX Corps ground force's advance was delayed by the demolition of a bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal, as well as an extremely overstretched supply line, at Son, delaying the capture of the main road bridge over the Meuse until 20 September. At Arnhem, the British 1st Airborne Division encountered far stronger resistance than anticipated. In the ensuing battle, only a small force managed to hold one end of the Arnhem road bridge and after the ground forces failed to relieve them, they were overrun on 21 September. The rest of the division, trapped in a small pocket west of the bridge, had to be evacuated on 25 September. The Allies had failed to cross the Rhine in sufficient force and the river remained a barrier to their advance until the offensives at Remagen, Oppenheim, Rees and Wesel in March 1945. The failure of Market Garden ended Allied expectations of finishing the war in 1944. To read more about this operation refer to this Bulletins Operation Market Garden attachment. [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Garden#Garden Apr 2011 ++] Military History Anniversaries:
Significant 16-30 April events in
U.S. Military History are: Tax Burden for Alabama
Retirees: Many people planning to
retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a
litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation
since higher sales Veteran Legislation Status
12 APR 2011: Congress will be in
recess from April 15th thru May 2nd. For a listing of Congressional
bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the
112th Congress refer to the Bulletines \House & Senate Veteran
Legislation. attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship
by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move
through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law.
A good indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors
who have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor
a bill in the House or Senate. VETERAN LEGISLATION 29 March 2011 Of the 1210 House and 652 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 112th Congress as of 29 MAR, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. A good indication on the likelihood of a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov/ you can review a copy of each bill's text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html. To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html House: United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the
Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation
Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in
the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport
Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act
of 2011. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act
to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent
or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child
was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the
Armed Forces of the United States. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011.
A bill t amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain
abused dependents of veterans with health care. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care
under the CHAMPVA program. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving
Spouses Home Loans Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed
by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses
of certain totally-disabled veterans. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation
to Homeless Vets. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income
tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for
other purposes. H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess
Internet Website. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of
the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess
Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses
Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under
the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset
the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60
Retired Reserves. A bill 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. H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and
Reservists Parity for Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed
active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency
operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for
such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of
non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility
for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans'
disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed
services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability,
regardless of the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy
Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry
out a pilot program on dog training therapy. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor
Reimbursement. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to authorize the reimbursement of mental health counselors under
TRICARE, and for other purposes. H.R.210 : Filipino Veterans Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
deem certain service in the organized military forces of the
Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine
Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under
programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health
Care Relief Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees
for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B. H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA
Sole Source Contracts. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to promote jobs for veterans through the use of sole source
contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting
the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans
Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.284 : Veterans, Women, Families
with Children, and Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination
through the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for
the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, and for other purposes. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of
2011. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income
veterans. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration
Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under
current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan
Death March Compensation Act. A bill to provide compensation
for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death
March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A
bill to require employers to provide veterans with time off on
Veterans Day. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax
Termination Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment
of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to
eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend
eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees
with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.420 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms
Act of 2011. A bill to provide an amnesty period during which
veterans and their family members can register certain firearms
in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and
for other purposes. H.R.493 : Military Retiree Survivor
Comfort Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay
paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following
their death. H.R.540 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten
Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue
a medal to honor veterans of the Armed Forces who died after
their service in the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct
result of their service in the Vietnam War. H.R.544 : Servicemen Mortgage Foreclosure
Protection. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
to permanently extend the period of protections for servicemembers
against mortgage foreclosures, and for other purposes. H.R.545 : Providing Military Honors
for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details
at the funerals of veterans. H.R.561 : Veterans Employment Tax
Credit Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 to extend the work opportunity tax credit with respect
to veterans. H.R.575 : HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community
health care providers to improve access to health care for veterans
in highly rural areas, and for other purposes. H.R.595 : National Song of Remembrance.
A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the
musical piece commonly known as "Taps" as the National
Song of Remembrance, and for other purposes. H.R.648 : Pledge of Allegiance Saluting.
A bill to amend title 4, United States Code, to authorize members
of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military
salute during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. H.R.652 : Tricare Premium Limits.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit the increase
of premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health
care provided under the TRICARE program. H.R.743 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011.
A bill to To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals
who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard. H.R.776 : Guaranteed 3% COLA for
Seniors Act of 2011. A bill to To require the establishment of
a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living
increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the
Social Security Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries
under such title, for an annual cost-of-living increase which
is not less than 3 percent. H.R.802 : VetStar Award Program.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish
a VetStar Award Program. H.R.803 : Equity for Injured Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance,
and for other purposes. H.R.804 : Operation New Dawn Vet
Care. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify
the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation
New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home
care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.805 : Injured and Amputee Veterans
Bill of Rights Education. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans
Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee
Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. H.R.806 : End Veteran Homelessness
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless
veterans under the administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. H.R.809 : Post Women Veterans Bill
of Rights. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display
in each facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women
Veterans Bill of Rights. H.R.810 : Fair Access to Veterans
Benefits Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for
appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals,
and for other purposes. H.R.811 : Providing Military Honors
for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details
at the funerals of veterans. H.R.812 : Agent Orange Equity Act
of 2011. A bill to To amend title 38, United States Code, to
clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans
who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam. H.R.813 : Vet Survivor Benefit Eligibility.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of
time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the
veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans
rated totally disabled at time of death. H.R.814 : Medicare VA Reimbursement
Act of 2011. A bill to To provide Medicare payments to Department
of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services
provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected
conditions. H.R.834 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance
Opportunity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans
mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes. H.R.865 : Veteran Employment Transition
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged
veterans. H.R.923 : Veterans Pensions Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft,
loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with
respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children
of veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.924 : Jobs for Veterans Act of
2011. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans
Business Center program, and for other purposes. H.R.930 : PTSD Disability Compensation
Evaluation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic
stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military
sexual trauma, and for other purposes. H.R.938 : Frank Buckles World War
I Memorial Act. To establish a commission to ensure a suitable
observance of the centennial of World War I and to designate
memorials to the service of men and women of the United States
in World War I. H.R.943 : K-9 Companion Corps Act.
A bill to establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance
dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.948 : Embedded Mental Health
Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to require the provision of behavioral health
services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness
and fitness standards, and for other purposes. H.R.961 : Safe Haven for Heroes Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect
to the prohibition on disrupting military funerals, and for other
purposes. H.R.1003 : National Guard, Reserve,
"Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available
Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize
space-available travel on military aircraft for reserve members,
former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving
spouses and dependents of such members and former members. H.R.1014 : Children of Military Service
Members Commemorative Lapel Pin Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to recognize the dependent children of members
of the Armed Forces who are serving on active duty or who have
served on active duty through the presentation of an official
lapel button. H.R.1025 : Reserve Veteran Status.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the
service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring
them with status as veterans under law. H.R.1092 : Military Retirees Health
Care Protection Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health
care. H.R.1130 : Education Assistance to
Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority
for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years
on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance to their dependents. H.R.1133 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements
with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the
provision of case management services associated with certain
supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1154 : Veterans Equal Treatment
for Service Dogs Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting
the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property.
H.R.1169 : National Guard Technician
Equity Act. A bill to amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States
Code, to eliminate inequities in the treatment of National Guard
technicians, to reduce the eligibility age for retirement for
non-Regular service, and for other purposes. H.R.1178 : Disabled Veterans Commissary
and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store
privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability
and to their dependents. Senate: United States Senate website: http://www.senate.gov/
S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims. A bill to require the
Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims
of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on
behalf of the United States during World War II. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A Travel. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members
of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated
as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and
to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are
entitled to travel on such aircraft. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former
prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and
exchange stores. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance. A bill to restore
the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day, and for other
purposes. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work
opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor
annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency
and indemnity compensation. S.277 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital
care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who
were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water
was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes. S.325 : Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require
the provision of behavioral health services to members of the
reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment
and post-deployment readiness and fitness standards, and for
other purposes. S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired
members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation, and for other purposes. S.367 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to
small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the
Ready Reserve or National Guard, and for other purposes. S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military
service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably
during the Cold War, and for other purposes. S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and
nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case
management services associated with certain supported housing
programs for veterans, and for other purposes. S.423 : Fully Developed VA Claim Applications. A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for
retroactive effective date for awards of disability compensation
in connection with applications that are fully-developed at submittal,
and for other purposes. S.491 : Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the
service in the reserve components of the Armed Forces of certain
persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law, and
for other purposes. S.536 : Survivor Educational Assistance Limitations. 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. S.542 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area"
Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for members
of the reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve
component who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows
and widowers of retired members, and dependents. [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 29 Mar 2011 ++] |
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Update 02 (Tribute) Vet Cemetery California Update 11 (Anthony J. Principi) CRKP (Antibiotic-Resistant Superbug) Radioactive Substances (Health Impact) Stop-loss Pay Update 10 (Deadline Now 8 APR) Stolen Valor Update 31 (Court Refuses Hearing Appeal) VAntage Point Blog Update 01 (Background) Bank Fees Update 01 (More increases) California Vet Home Update 09 (Tax Donations) Kentucky Vet Legislation Update 01 (9 Bills Enacted) DoD/VA VLER Update 04 (Open Source Approach) VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 32 (16 - 31 Mar 2011) Purple Heart Update 01 (Battlefield Concussions) Virginia Vet Tax Exemption (Adopted) Arlington National Cemetery Update 23 (Reservation Policy) VA Employee Political Activity Policy (Hatch Act Violation) Revolutionary War Memorial (Foundation Disbanded) Indiana Vet Tax Benefits (Deductions) Military Health Care Reform (New Czar Controversy) Veterans Home Buyer Tax Credit (Ending 30 Apr) DoD PDBR Update 09 (How to Apply) Reserve Retirement Age (DoD Law Interpretation) Louisiana Vet Honor (Mail Option) Bank Fees ($0.12 Battle) WW1 Vet Search Update 10 (Arlington Burial) Postal Rates Update 03 (Forever Stamps) Tricare User Fees Update 62 (TFL Targeted) Tricare User Fees Update 63 (H.R.1092) Advance Medical Directives 01 (Polst) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Ft. Detrick 05 (Investigation Results) VA Benefits in Jail Update 02 (Minimal) VA Benefits in Jail Update 03 (Post-Incarceration Health Care) VA Suicide Prevention Update 10 (81,740 Vets Called in 2009) VA Caregiver Program Update 06 (TBI Coverage) VA Hospitals Update 07 (Transparency Progress) VA Hospitals Update 08 (Data Spurs Change) VA Home Loan Update 25 (27M Vets are Eligible) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Ft. McClellan (Agent Orange) Saving Money (Roof Repair/Replacement) Notes of Interest (16-31 Mar 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 64 (16-31 Mar 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 35 (16-31 Mar 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Maryland) Military History (Los Baños Raid) Military History Anniversaries (April 1-15 Summary) Military Trivia 25 (WWII Rationing) Tax Burden for Wyoming Retirees (2010) Have You Heard? (Underway) Veteran Legislation Status 29 MAR 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Update 02: The U.S. Senate declared March 30th Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. On March 30, 1973, U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, introduced the legislation saying, "Our soldiers served honorably and bravely in Vietnam. Unfortunately, they arrived home to a country in political turmoil, and never received the recognition they deserve. By setting March 30th aside as a day to focus on our Vietnam veterans, we can show our unified gratitude for their service and the sacrifices that these veterans made on our behalf." This is a long-overdue tribute to honor the men and women who served bravely during the Vietnam War. The US Armed Forces began serving in an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961, and in 1965, ground combat troops were sent into Vietnam. More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives and more than 300,000 were wounded in Vietnam. This is the second consecutive year of the resolution. Vet Cemetery California
Update 11: The former head of the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will lead the nonprofit foundation
that supports two national cemeteries in San Diego. Anthony J.
Principi, a Navy Vietnam veteran and a former San Diego attorney,
will become chairman of the volunteer board of the Fort Rosecrans
& Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation in June. He
succeeds retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert L. Cardenas, who
in 2002 helped form the group that has worked to win federal
approval for the new Miramar National Cemetery. Principi, 66,
is a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served as VA
secretary from 2001 to 2005. He maintains residences in San Diego
and in Washington, D.C., according to a news release. The foundation
promotes veterans commemorative events, coordinates installation
of patriotic memorials, and provides fund-raising assistance
for Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemeteries. Radioactive Substances:
Countries around the world have
either banned or stepped up tests on imports from quake-stricken
Japan after radioactive substances were found in its food and
water following blasts at a nuclear plant. Exposure to large
amounts of radioactivity can cause nausea, vomiting, hair loss,
diarrhea, hemorrhage, destruction of the intestinal lining, central
nervous system damage, and death. It also causes DNA damage and
raises the risk of cancer, particularly in young children and
fetuses. [Source: Veterans Today Dr. Ashraf Ezzat article 29 Mar 2011 ++] Stop-loss Pay Update 10: With the enactment of the latest Continuing
Resolution the deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop-Loss Special
Pay (RSLSP) has again been extended until 8 APR 2011. The 2009
War Supplemental Appropriations Act established RSLSP, providing
$500 for each month/partial month served in stop loss status.
Service members, veterans, and beneficiaries of service members
whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between
Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, are eligible for RSLSP. Veterans
and current service members involuntarily retained in the military
during this timeframe should apply for special pay before the
8 APR deadline. Information on the special pay and links to the
application can be found at http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/ VAntage Point Blog Update 01: Alex Horton started his blog, Army of Dude, as a young enlisted infantryman in Iraq from 2006 to 2007. It was one soldiers view of war, graphic and often critical, penned at first for friends and family. Over time, his audience grew, drawn by his especially literate and personal descriptions. After leaving the Army, he kept writing, in between community college classes and a part-time job wrangling grocery carts at Costco. So, when the government erroneously stalled his GI Bill benefits in 2009, and after officials struck him as indifferent, Horton did what seemed natural. He published a pair of thousand-word Internet rants about the Department of Veteran Affairs. One VA employee displayed the same level of care you would expect from a Tijuana back alley vasectomy, Horton wrote. Other employees probably bought salt in bulk, as they seemed eager to pour it into veterans wounds. With the advice of my VA counselor, Horton wrote, I bet it all on the Post-9/11 GI Bill. And I lost. At least three things happened as a result of those blog posts. * First, Horton got in touch with Brandon Friedman, who had just started as the VAs first director of new media, and who put him in touch with the top VA official working on educational benefits. * Second, the government cleared up his GI Bill issue. * Third, Horton got a job offer...from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Eighteen months after writing his heated words, Horton is now a professional blogger for the VA, working with Friedman and a small group of colleagues on the ninth floor of the agencys Washington headquarters. Their
mission is to revolutionize how the VA interacts with veterans
on the Internet, so that veterans can get information, and people
with complaints like Horton had can get answers. Its a
difficult job. Two years ago, the VA had no official presence
on any Internet social networks. The departments website
was unappealing and cumbersome. Agency employees werent even allowed to look
at sites like Facebook or Twitter
from their work computers. As a result, they were officially
disconnected from the ongoing, online dialogue about their work.
That situation struck Tammy Duckworth, the assistant secretary
for public and intergovernmental affairs, as untenable. I
had always been really frustrated with VAs web page before
I got my appointment, and it was one of the things where, if
I had any role in VA after the president was elected, I was going
to do something, explained Duckworth. It drove me
crazy, as somebody who was trying to work through the system
myself. So, Duckworth hired Friedman, a blogger, author
and Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, to turn things around.
With a limited budget, Friedman borrowed the work of an employee
in the VAs chief technology office, Lauren Bailey, and
eventually recruited Horton, whom he'd first met in 2008. More
recently, two other Iraq vets have joined the team. Kate Hoit,
is a former Army photojournalist who wrote a personal blog about
her transition from soldier to civilian under the name GI
Kate, started work at the end of January. Josh Tuscher,
a former National Guard infantryman who had designed the VAs
new blog in 2010 as a contractor, came on as an employee this
month. The new media team launched VAs official blog, VAntage
Point, in November, and the group spends its days now writing
posts, and updating the new Facebook and Twitter feeds. Their
focus is on topics like the GI Bill, military history, homelessness,
veteran suicides, and the VAs disability claims backlog.
Some discussions have garnered hundreds of comments...praise
and pillory, alike...and everything runs uncensored. Bank Fees Update 01: ATM fees are on the rise at some of the country's
biggest banks. Chase, for example, is testing out $5 fees for
non-customers. That means if you stumble upon a Chase on your
way to dinner and decide to take out 20 bucks, you'll pay a 25%
fee. And that doesn't even include what your own bank charges
you for going out of network, which is typically around $3. JP
Morgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500) is currently testing the $5 ATM
fee in Illinois and a $4 ATM fee in Texas...both for non-customers
who use its ATMs...to see if they bring in enough revenue to
introduce nationwide, according to sources familiar with the
tests. A Chase spokesman declined to comment. Out of the bank's
network of 16,000 ATMs, more than 20%...or about 3,600...are
located in these two states. Chase spent an estimated $400 million
to build the entire network and pays $200 million a year to run
it. So the bank is making non-customers pay a significant amount
for the convenience of using this large network. Meanwhile, HSBC
Bank USA (HBC) this month started charging all non-customers
a $3 fee for using its ATMs, saying that this pricing is more
competitive. Previously, about 60% of its ATMs charged a $3 fee
for non-customers, while the remaining 40% charged either $1.75
or $2.50. While other megabanks like Wells Fargo (WFC, Fortune
500), * PNC
Bank (PNC, Fortune 500), for example, is keeping its free checking
account. But starting in September, it will stop reimbursing
ATM fees for free-checking customers who use non-PNC ATMs and
charge them $2 a pop. Starting Sept. 12, customers who want to
avoid the ATM fees must open a Performance Checking account and
carry a balance of $1,500 or pay a $10 monthly fee, a PNC spokesman
said. "We changed our policy for basically two reasons...in part because of competition in the industry and regulatory environment, but also because when we had this policy we had a smaller network," a TD spokeswoman said. "Now that we have invested in thousands of ATMs and mobile banking, people can get access to money when and how they want it, and it's a fee people can avoid if they want to." The changes in ATM fees come on the heels of a proposed rule that would cap the fees banks charge retailers each time customers swipe their debit cards to make purchases. CardHub expects the proposed Durbin amendment to cost banks an average of $27 per card per year...adding up to a loss of more than $13 billion a year for the industry. So along with adding fees for non-customers or eliminating rebates for out-of-network ATMs fees, banks may even start making their own customers pay to use their ATMs. More banks may also begin offering prepaid cards, said Papadimitriou. Since they wouldn't be regulated by the Durbin amendment, banks would still be able to collect the same "swipe fees" as they do now. "They need to maintain a certain profitability for the services they provide, so they're going to get the money one way or another," he said. "They will be experimenting with a whole gamut of things, and ATM fees are just one way of getting the money back that the Durbin Amendment is taking away from them." Bottom line, if you want to minimize banking fees you need to take advantage of your local military credit union's services. [Source: CNN.Money.com Blake Ellis article 17 Mar 2011 ++] USS Texas BB-35: Once touted as the most powerful weapon on the planet, the nearly century-old battlewagon has endured some 60 years as an historic relic moored in the brackish Houston Ship Channel, corrosion from water outside and inside munching at its steel and patchwork repairs. Our boats been sitting in the water and rusting away, so we get it out of the water, says Andy Smith, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments manager of the battleship site east of Houston. Thats the goal as work finally is beginning to permanently remove the Texas from water by constructing a unique dry berth for the 573-foot-long, 34,000-ton vessel. Its the most complex project ever for the parks agency and isnt likely to be complete until late this decade. Texas voters three years ago approved a bond package that included $25 million to save the ship moored since 1948 at the equally historic San Jacinto Battleground. The project also is being designed to not repeat the cycle of past repairs that cost millions of dollars but failed to ensure the long-term future of the ship launched in 1912. Its not going to be done again to this vessel, Neil Thomas, project manager for the agencys infrastructure division, says of the overhaul. Weve got one shot, and weve got to do it right. The Navy has no battleships in its fleet. Eight remain afloat. They are: * Texas,
commissioned March 1914. Transferred to the state of Texas in
1948 as a permanent memorial on the Houston Ship Channel.
North Carolina, commissioned April 1941. Dedicated as memorial
in 1962 at Wilmington, N.C. [Source: Associated Press Michael
Graczyk article 28 Nov 2010 ++] Kentucky Vet Legislation Update 01: Governor Steve Beshear today signed into law nine bills that will help and honor Kentucky veterans. From helping military families with deployment costs to providing a preference for veterans in state hiring, my administration is committed to honoring all who sacrifice and serve our great state and our great nation, said Gov. Beshear. With these new laws, we continue our efforts to assist military service members and veterans with their education, health care and job-seeking efforts, make it easier for disabled veterans to receive the homestead exemption on property tax, and provide new ways for Kentuckians to show them recognition they so mightily deserve. At a public bill signing ceremony 22 MAR at the Frankfort VFW Post 4075, Gov. Beshear was joined by legislators and Kentucky Veterans as he signed the following bills in law: ? HB 425 allows Kentucky public universities
to charge in-state tuition to veterans who are non-Kentucky residents
if that veteran qualifies under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. ? HB 202
helps veterans obtain commercial driving licenses by waiving
the driving skills test for applicants with recent military service
who are experienced in operating commercial-sized motor vehicles.
[Source: Louisville Public Policy Examiner Thomas McAdam article 22 Mar 2011 ++] DoD/VA VLER Update 04:
The Virtual Lifetime Electronic
Record (VLER) now under development by the Veterans Affairs and
Defense departments hit a speed bump when five members of the
Wisconsin congressional delegation asked the Veterans Affairs
and Defense departments to consider using a single commercial
system for their new electronic health records. The move could
benefit one of the state's largest employers, software company
Epic Systems Corp. VA said it plans to stick with the open source
approach it announced last month, but experts say the lawmakers'
query could potentially delay the new system. In a 7 FEB letter,
the lawmakers asked top executives of the two departments if
the benefits of a commercial system had received "appropriate
consideration" in the modernization and integration of their
electronic health records. "Some experts believe that commercial
EHRs show significant potential to provide a state-of-the-art
replacement quickly and at a reasonable cost," wrote Wisconsin's
two senators, Democrat Herb Kohl and Republican Ron Johnson,
Republican representative Paul Ryan and Democratic representatives
Ron Kind and Tammy Baldwin, whose district includes Verona, where
Epic has its headquarters. VA Fraud Waste & Abuse
Update 32: [Source: Washington Examiner AP article
26 Mar 2011 ++] Virginia Vet Tax Exemption:
Legislation passed a final hurdle
this winter to exempt from state real estate taxation those veterans
rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as 100 percent
disabled. The General Assembly sent the matter to the public
in a referendum that appeared on ballots on Election Day last
November. The voters approved the exemption. Then a different
General Assembly had to adopt it, said Smyth County Commissioner
of the Revenue Jeff Richardson, and it did. To be eligible for
the exemption, Richardson said, a veteran must have permanent,
service-connected and 100 percent disability. Having 100 percent
disability benefit is not a qualifier for the exemption, he said.
The enabling legislation also exempts from the tax the surviving
spouse of a veteran who was eligible for the exemption so
long as the death of the veteran occurs on or after Jan. 1, 2011,
the surviving spouse does not remarry, and the surviving spouse
continues to occupy the real property as his principal place
of residence. The devil is in the details,
Richardson said. We are going to administer it as the law
of the state.But there is relief from the detail devil,
according to Richardson. Veterans will not need to make the case
of their eligibility. The Department of Veterans Affairs will
send letters to those who qualify to present to Richardsons
office, he said. That also satisfies a requirement in the enabling
legislation that the veteran provide documentation of the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs...indicating that the veteran
has a 100 percent, service-connected, permanent and total disability.
Richardson said he is willing to talk to any organization that
would like more information. To schedule a presentation or learn
more, call 276-782-4040. [Source: The Washington Post Christian Davenport article 20 Mar 2011 ++] VA Employee Political Activity
Policy: A doctor at the Veteran's
Administration hospital in Phoenix is losing his job because
he forwarded to co-workers an email from a staffer for Sen. John
McCain that violated a federal law on political activity on the
job. Dr. John "Jack" Bagdade's firing after a hearing
before a federal civil service board became final this week after
he decided against pursuing an appeal. His last day is 1 APR.
[Source: Associated Press article
20 Mar 2011 ++] [Source: Washington Times articles
20 Mar 2011 ++] * A $12,480 deduction is available to veterans who: (1) served at least 90 days of honorable service and are totally disabled (not necessarily service-connected but the disability must be evidenced by a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pension certificate), or (2) are at least 62 years old and 10 percent service-connected disabled. This deduction is not available if the assessed value of the real property owned by the veteran is in excess of $143,160. * A $24,960 tax deduction is available for veterans who served honorably in the Armed Forces during any period of wartime and are at least 10 percent service-connected disabled. * A $37,440 tax deduction is available for any veteran who served honorably during any period of war and is 100 percent service-connected disabled or is at least 62 years of age with at least a 10 percent service connected disability. The VA also notes that: * A statutory disability rating for pulmonary tuberculosis is not eligible; * Active
duty for training with the National Guard or Reserves is eligible
only if the disability occurs from an event during the period
of active duty and that duty was performed during wartime; and
Current members of the active branches of service, National Guard and Reserves are eligible to receive an exemption of $5,000 on their state income tax return. Veterans who are military retirees and over age 60 are eligible for the same extension. If you have questions concerning the above mentioned veterans benefits please contact your county veterans service officer so that you can obtain the proper form that the auditor in your county will need. The authorization for these deductions
can be found at http://www.in.gov/dlgf/files/090923_-_Stanley_Memo_-_Veterans_Deduction.pdf Vet Toxic Exposure ~ McMurdo
Update 01: The Disabled American
Veterans (DAV) is supporting a request from Sen. Sherrod Brown
(D-OH) that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs evaluate
the probability of radiation exposure from a leaking nuclear
reactor at McMurdo Station that may have caused cancer in veterans
serving there from 1964 to 1973 during Operation Deep Freeze.
Thousands of service members may have been exposed to radioactive
contamination in the air, their water and their food, said
DAV National Commander Wallace E. Tyson. The experimental,
one-of-a-kind nuclear reactor used at McMurdo Station suffered
hundreds of reported malfunctions over its lifetime. The same
reactor was used to melt snow and desalinate seawater used by
the service members stationed there for as long as 13 months
at a time. In his letter to Defense Secretary Robert M.
Gates, Sen. Brown said that veterans stationed at McMurdo have
made numerous disability claims to the VA for cancers they suffered,
only to be denied. Many died before their cases could be fully
decided. According to the United States Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (USNRC), cancers that may develop as a result of radiation
exposure are indistinguishable from those that occur naturally
or as a result of exposure to other carcinogens, said Brown.
We owe it to our veterans to err on the side of caution
and support the claims of those whose cancer we cannot legitimately
determine was not caused by radiation exposure at McMurdo Station.
Our veterans deserve to know if the radiation exposures at McMurdo
Stations nuclear power plant are the source of their cancers.
Unless proven conclusively that they are not, the VA should award
service connections to veterans suffering from cancer that may
have been caused by extended periods of exposure to radiation,
said Commander Tyson. Veterans also need to know how many
of our McMurdo veterans have already died from cancer linked
to radiation exposure. We encourage the Departments of Defense
and Veterans Affairs to give priority to the studies in hopes
that no more veterans will die without proper review of their
disability claims, he said. Justice delayed, in this
case as much as any others, is justice denied. Military Health Care Reform:
Earlier this month, the Secretary
of Defense appointed John Baldacci, the former Democratic governor
of Maine, to head up work within the Department on military health
care reform. The announcement of the newly created $165,300 salaried
political appointment for the former governor met with an immediate
call for elimination of the position. Chairman of the House Subcommittee
on Military Personnel, Rep. Joe Wilson, called the position unnecessary
saying it diverts scarce resources from the military health care
system and duplicates the job taxpayers already pay Under Secretary
of Personnel Clifford L. Stanley and Assistant Secretary for
Health Affairs Jonathan Woodson for oversight of health. The
appointment to head up military health-care reform also brought
growing concern about additional, radical change in store for
TRICARE...the most important non-cash benefit earned in a 20
or more year career in uniformed service. Baldacci, a four-term
U.S. Congressman and former two term governor, did not serve
in the military nor did he serve on the Armed Services Committee
while in Congress. In his run for reelection in 2006, Baldacci
won with 38 percent of the vote in a four person race. As governor,
he established a statewide comprehensive health reform system,
which has received intense criticism within the State. Reserve Retirement Age:
A key portion of the 2008 National
Defense Authorization Act reduced the age that retired Guard
or Reserve members can become eligible to receive full military
retirement benefits. However, a glitch in the law's language,
which authorizes three months' retirement-age credit for each
90 days served on active duty "in any fiscal year,"
is being interpreted by DoD to mean that each 90-day period must
fall entirely within a single fiscal year. This would mean that
a Guard or Reserve member would have to start an active duty
tour on the first day of a given quarter to ensure all 90 days
would count. Many Guard and Reserve retirees are not likely to
notice this accounting glitch until their early retirement check
doesn't arrive when they expect it. NAUS is working with numerous
other military and veterans organizations to try and have DoDs
interpretation changed to meet the intent of the law. Louisiana Vet Honor Medals:
Military veterans will be able to
have their state honor medals mailed to them if they don't want
to wait for Gov. Bobby Jindal to hand them out at a formal ceremony,
under a bill that has been filed for the 25 APR legislative session.
Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, said 16 MAR that his House Bill
28 is designed to keep in place what state veterans affairs officials
are now doing by giving the veterans the option of how they want
to receive their medal, which are awarded to any Louisiana resident
who has served in the military and been honorably discharged.
Edwards and other lawmakers have complained in recent months
that the medal ceremonies are being scheduled around Jindal's
availability, and some veterans are forced to wait a long time
to get them. "The veterans sign up for the medal and months
and months and months go by without them hearing anything,"
Edwards said. "Then, they get a postcard" telling them
where to be and when so Jindal can hand out the awards."
Edwards' bill allows the veterans to check on the medal application
form if they want the award presented at a ceremony with the
governor, want the medals mailed out or delivered to the state
Department of Veterans Affairs parish service office where the
veteran lives. The bill requires the delivery of the medals within
45 days unless the recipient wants to attend a formal presentation
ceremony. "A veteran should be allowed to state a preference,"
Edwards said. State Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary
Lane Carson said that the mail-out option has been available
since 1 FEB. "The bill is unnecessary because we do it,"
Carson said. Edwards said he will push the bill to make certain
the state agency doesn't renege on the options. He said the mail-out
option has only been in place for a little more than a month
after meetings with Carson. "We have given out about 25,000
medals at 80 ceremonies and have mailed thousands more,"
Carson said. "We have delivered some to the service centers
and have even gone to their homes and churches (to present the
medals). We will accommodate the veterans any way they want."
Legislative critics of the governor have complained for at least
a year that the ceremonies are media opportunities for the governor,
a claim the governor's office has denied. Edwards said he expects
the bill to pass. "I don't expect opposition to this bill,"
he said. Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said the administration
supports Edwards' bill.Information on the medals can be obtained
by calling 1.877.GEAUXVA or from the department's Web site http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/medals Bank Fees: The banking industry and the Federal Reserve
are about to do battle. And they're squaring off over 12 cents.
Twelve cents that add up to billions of dollars per year on debit
card. Right now, every time you pay for something with your debit
card, your bank makes an average of 1.14% of the purchase, or
44 cents per transaction. That adds up to about $16 billion per
year. But the Federal Reserve wants to limit this so-called interchange
fee to just 12 cents per swipe. That could cost the industry
upwards of $13 billion, according to CardHub.com. Banks, naturally,
are not happy about the huge potential losses. Take a $1,000
purchase, for example. Today, banks could make more than $10,
which is paid to them by the retailer. But under the Fed's proposed
rules, they would get just 12 cents. And that, they say, is not
enough to cover their costs. Retailers, on the other hand, are
cheering the cap, saying they will be able to pass along billions
of dollars of savings to consumers. [Source: CNN.Money.com Blake Ellis
article 11 Mar 2011 ++] [Source: Associated Press article 15 MR 2011 ++] Postal Rates Update 03: New first-class stamps will no longer have a denomination on their face. That means the new stamps you buy next year can be used to mail a letter or pay a bill no matter how many times the first-class rate goes up. Every first-class stamp will be a "Forever" stamp...those denomination-free stamps that first appeared in APR 07. The change is expected to debut with a new stamp issued on 22 JAN. We can see several pluses in this: * You
won't have to mess with 1 or 2-cent stamps whenever rates go
up so you can use up your non-Forever first-class stamps. Tricare User Fees Update
62:
If military retirees think the Pentagon plan to raise TRICARE
fees does not include them, they better think again. In a statement
17 MAR, a DoD spokeswoman revealed the true target of the Departments
TRICARE attack...TRICARE for Life. In response to National Association
for Uniformed Services (NAUS) testimony asking Congress to hold
the line against fee increases, DoD spokeswoman Cynthia
O. Smith pulled back the curtain on the Departments plan
to assert that TRICARE for Life was one of the biggest factors
contributing to growing costs for military health care. DoD was
responding to NAUS testimony that accused the Department of manipulating
military health care data in order to blame military retirees
for the rising costs of the military health program. In the DoD
statement following NAUS testimony, the spokeswoman said the
problem is introduction of the TRICARE for Life benefit for elderly
retirees. She also asserted that a second large factor for increasing
expenses is the fact that working age military retirees
actually use the benefit they earned as a result of a 20-year
career in the uniformed service. Advance Medical Directives
01: Advance directives, which allow
people to plan ahead for end-of-life care, can be too vague to
cover many medical situations. Now, a growing number of states
are promoting another program to help guide physicians with a
patient's specific instructions. The programs are known as Physician
Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or Polst. They are meant
to complement advance directives, sometimes known as living wills,
in which people state in broad terms how much medical intervention
they will want when their condition no longer allows them to
communicate. A Polst, which is signed by both the patient and
the doctor, spells out such choices as whether a patient wants
to be on a mechanical breathing machine or feeding tube and receive
antibiotics. Polst programs are currently in use in 14 states
and regions, including California, Oregon and New York. [Source: WSJ Laura Landro article
15 Mar 2011 ++] VA Benefits in Jail Update
02: VA Benefits are restricted if
a veteran, surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent is convicted
of a felony and imprisoned for more than 60 days as follows:
1 Disability Compensation. Veterans benefit is limited to the
10% disability rate. For a surviving spouse, child, dependent
parent or veteran whose disability rating is 10%, the payment
is at the 5% rate. Any amounts not paid may be apportioned to
eligible dependents on the basis of individual need. In determining
individual need, consideration shall be given to such factors
as the claimants income and living expenses, the amount
of compensation available to be apportioned, the needs and living
expenses of other claimants as well as any special needs, if
any, of all claimants. Payments are not reduced for recipients
participating in work release programs, residing in halfway houses,
or under community control. Overpayments for failure to notify
VA of a veteran's incarceration result in the loss of financial
benefits until the overpayment is recovered. 2 Pension. The veteran
may not receive any VA pension benefits. However, the veterans
dependents may receive a portion of such benefits.3 Burial Benefits.
Persons convicted of a federal or state crime and sentence to
death or life imprisonment without parole are barred by law from
burial or memorialization in a VA national cemetery or in Arlington
National Cemetery, or from receiving a government furnished headstone
or marker, burial flag, or Presidential Memorial Certificate.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) will inform a veteran
whose benefits are subject to reduction of the right of the veterans
dependents to an apportionment while the veteran is incarcerated,
and the conditions under which payments to the veteran may be
resumed upon release from incarceration. VA will also notify
the dependents of their right to an apportionment if the VA is
aware of their existence and can obtain their addresses. No apportionment
may be made to or on behalf of any person who is incarcerated
in a federal, state, or local penal institution for conviction
of a felony. An apportionment of an incarcerated veterans
V.A. benefits is not granted automatically to the veterans
dependents. Post-Incarceration Health Care VA Benefits in Jail Update 03: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will extend health care to eligible Veterans in halfway houses and other temporary, post-incarceration housing under a new program aimed at cutting back on repeat offenses. "There's hard evidence that lack of access to health care, including mental health care, for newly released inmates is a factor in people becoming homeless or returning to prison and jail," said Jim McGuire, director of VA's Veterans Justice Outreach Programs. "These are Veterans who otherwise qualify for VA health care." A long-standing rule has barred VA from providing health care to Veterans for whom another federal, state or local government has an obligation to provide health care. Frequently, that means inmates of prisons and jails. Under the changed rule, that prohibition would be amended and VA would be allowed to provide health care to Veterans in halfway houses and other temporary, post-incarceration housing. An Urban Institute study in 2008 found that good health care in the first months of community reentry played a key role in easing readjustment and reducing recidivism. About 29,000-56,000 Veterans are released annually from state and federal prisons, and at least 90,000 Veterans are released each year from city and county jails, according to Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics. [Source: VA Press Release 30 Mar 2011 ++] VA Suicide Prevention Update
10: So far, more than 379,000 people
have called the hotline, and more than 200,000 of these callers
have identified themselves as Veterans, family members or friends
of Veterans. The hotline has led to more than 13,000 rescues
of actively suicidal Veterans. "What we don't really know
is the relationship between the people who are really going to
kill themselves and the population who calls," said Dr.
Dean Krahn, chief of the mental health service line at the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs center in Madison, Wis. The Department
of Defense and Veterans Affairs annual Suicide Prevention Conference
was scheduled for the week of 13 MAR. Registration had to close,
according to online notices, because of the number of people
who signed up for the conference. The lifeline was established
in 2004, and the VA partnered with the lifeline in 2007 to provide
those services for veterans. By dialing "1" after calling
(800) 273-TALK (8255), veterans are routed to a lifeline that
caters to their specific needs. The hotline also operates an
online Veterans Chat program, which provides Veterans, their
families and friends with the ability to communicate anonymously
online in real-time with a trained VA mental health professional.
[Source: Medill News Service Bernard
A. Lubell article 13 Mar 2011 ++] [Source: Stars & Stripes Leo Shane article 11 Mar 2011 ++] VA Hospitals Update 07:
Veterans, their family members and
their healthcare providers can now go online to compare the performance
of their local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital against
other VA hospitals. 1. Outcomes and Process Measures:
Similar to other hospital comparison sites, the VA compiles data
on three types of medical conditions that the VA claims give
a good snapshot of the quality of care that hospitals give.
Pathologists and clinical laboratory managers will recognize
that some of these medical conditions require extensive use of
medical laboratory tests to properly treat the patient and deliver
an improved outcome. The VAs website includes data on Congestive
Heart Failure, Heart Attack, and Pneumonia. The data is then
broken out by three additional parameters: Process of Care Measures,
Readmission Rates, and Mortality Rates. The user simply selects
the state and medical condition to be researched and the Hospital
Compare website displays the data for all VA hospitals in that
state. 2. Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP). SCIPs focus is on reducing preventable surgical complications due to Infection, Blood clots, Cardiac, and Respiratory problems. Data is categorized as percentages of patients who received specific treatments. All of the data on the VAs Hospital Compare is calculated using the records of patients discharged from 2008 to 2009. In its survey of this website, Dark Daily believes it could use some tweaking to make it more user friendly. However, as promised by the VA leaders, all the data is there. This data enables veterans and their families to make more informed healthcare decisions. That is the end goal of transparency. None of the government health programs have yet to create some type of informational database on clinical laboratories. But that day grows ever nearer. Alert pathologists will note that, once the VA put up its first hospital performance data in 2008, it took less than 24 months for the VA to create a more accessible website for patients. This could be considered an important sign that there is a commitment among the leaders of different federal health programs to be better and faster at making useful provider outcomes data available to patients via a website that is easy for consumers to navigate. [Source: DARK Dailey Michael McBride
article 14 Mar 2011 ++] [Source: Wall Street Journal Thomas M. Burton article 29 Mar 2011 ++] VA Home Loan Update 25:
VA loan is also known as Veterans
Administration loan or VA Home Loan. It is established for the
veterans of the United States of America who provide services
to the nation in military. This loan is designed by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs and handled by them. Besides
providing various other facilities to the veterans of this country,
this loan helps them and their families to have the ownership
of a house. VA loan is a type of mortgage loan, however it is
less complication and far better than other types of mortgage
loans. To obtain this loan, a person does not have to contact
the Department of VA because it does not grant loans directly.
The person has to contact the lenders and banks that approve
the VA loans. There are so many veterans who are unaware of this
opportunity provided to them to own a house. Twenty-seven million
veterans can apply for this loan. VA loan cannot be just used
to purchase a house; it can also be used for various other reasons.
For example; 100% refinancing option is available, this loan
can be used to expand or improve an existing loan, it can be
used to purchase other mortgages etc. In other words, a VA loan
is not available only for the first time home buyers. However,
people cannot buy investment properties through this loan and
the amount of money that can be borrowed on this loan is up to
$417,000. In some states of America this amount may vary. In
the VA loan program the borrower does not make any down payment
instead the VA department makes a deal with the lender that if
the borrowers goes default then the department will cover quarter
or half of the loan. The lenders then feel protected because
they are convinced that rather than receiving heavy fees they
have a guarantee from the government. Moreover, the interest
charged on these loans is also very low as compare to the other
mortgage loans leading to lower amounts of payment each month.
This way the veteran can save thousands of dollars every year
in their accounts. The duration of payment of this loan is between
15 to 30 months. Retired and discharged personnel of military
can also apply for this loan. However, the discharged person
must not have been released from service due to dishonesty and
must have served the military for a minimum three months. To
get more information on the VA loans you must consult a VA loan
specialist who will tell you whether you are eligible for this
loan for not. Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Ft. McClellan: Many Veterans of the Vietnam War are now applying for benefits for presumption of service connected diseases related to their service being exposed to agent orange. This is due to the VA announcing on 3/9/2010 a aggressive initiative to solicit private sector input on a proposed fast track for Veterans claims for illnesses due to agent orange. At the time they expected 200,000 claims and a average of 90 days to process the claim. Presently there are complaints that it is taking longer. This is due to more claims being submitted than they had envisioned and their staff limitations. Veterans applying who in the past were refused acceptance into the VA dollars per month disability which is non-taxable. You can apply online at http://www.va.gov/ where there is also information of the diseases that are presumed service related. This list is growing as we veterans are aging. Many people do not realize that PCB is a principal component of agent orange. Or that Monsanto was the company manufacturing PCB and helping the Military make agent orange. It is due to this relationship that Anniston, Alabama is the site of one of the worst cases of chemical poisoning. They had Monsanto dumping tons of PCBs into the town and Fort McClellan nearby where the Army had their only stateside factory producing live agents of agent orange. Fort McClellan was the army training fort for the WAC basic training. The population on the fort was 10,000 and many lived in Anniston where they were doubly exposed with PCBs. The Army Engineers stored their canisters of agent orange near the barracks of the WACs in basic training. There is a saying in applying for benefits that there is a 1 boot rule. Which means if you stepped even 1 foot into Viet Nam or Thailand you have agent orange poisoning. However, this rule does not seem to apply to the WACs who lived there and their boots stepped all over the Fort in the footsteps of the engineers in the factory. As well as the smoke that was breathed from their factory. Fort McClellan Fort McClellan was officially closed in 1999 and is now operated by the Alabama National Guard. For much of its history, Fort McClellan was one of the principal chemical and biological training centers for the Defense Department. The Chemical Defense Training Facility at McClellan was the only facility in the country where live chemical agents were used in training. All military personnel who work with chemical weapons were required to train in the sealed chamber at this location, where they face live agents in full protective gear. Over 28,000 personnel have been through the facility. McClellan had other facilities and training programs for the disposal and detection of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons. The post was also a major military police training center. The Fort covers 45,680 acres, much of which is training range that is still in use, administered by the National Guard, and as a support facility for operations at Anniston Army Depot, a major chemical weapons storage site nearby. During the 2nd session of the 11th Congress H.R.6238, The Fort McClellan Health Registry Act was introduced which if passed would have directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at Fort McClellan. Unfortunately, this bill dies with the close of the 111th Congress and has not been reintroduced. [Source: Veterans Today Rebecca H. Fass article 14 Mar 2011 ++] Saving Money: Many of us fool ourselves into thinking that
we own a home. In reality, its usually the other way around.
Homes require a large dose of tender loving care, and ongoing
maintenance is one of the realities that homeowners have to live
with. But houses dont talk, and as homeowners, we often
find ourselves playing doctor to a patient who wont tell
us how bad his disease really is. When it comes to roof maintenance,
there are times when we know something needs to be done
but were not sure exactly what it is. Does the roof just
need to be repaired? Or is a completely new roof the way to go?
Roof damage is usually gradual but often inescapable. There are
several factors that can contribute to it
To
give you an idea, here are the expected shelf lives of some common
types of roofing materials: If
you are not sure what kind of treatment your roof needs, enlist
the help of an experienced roofer. After a thorough inspection,
he may recommend an overlay, where only the upper layer of shingles
is replaced. On the other hand, he could determine that a completely
new roof is needed. The short-term cost may look high, but in
the long term you might be saving yourself not only a lot of
future grief but also a lot of future money. Whatever you do,
dont wait for your house to start shouting at you. Treat
the problem early by making your roof a priority. [Source: http://www.roofery.com/ & Money Talks News Herbert Norton article
25 Mar 2011 ++] Medicare Fraud Update 64:
[Source: Fraud News Daily 16-31 Mar 2011 ++] State Veteran's Benefits:
The state of Maryland provides several
benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information
on these refer to the Veteran State Benefits MD attachment
to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits listed below.
Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state.
For a more detailed explanation of each click on Learn
more about
wording highlighted in blue on the attachment. Military History Anniversaries:
Significant April events in U.S.
Military History are: [Source: Various Mar 2011 ++] [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/History/US-World-War-II-Rationing-334867.html Mar 2011 ++] Tax Burden for Wyoming Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect
to pay if you retire in Wyoming: The state
has a Tax Rebate to Elderly and Disabled Program that is available
to those age 65 and older who meet certain income requirements.
They can receive a refund from the Wyoming Department of Health
on property tax, utilities, and sales/use tax up to $700 (single)
and $800 (married). [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com/ Mar 2011 ++] Have You Heard?: Underway a young ensign had nearly completed his first overseas tour of sea duty when he was given an opportunity to display his ability at getting the ship under way. With a stream of crisp commands, he had the decks buzzing with men and soon, the ship had left port and was streaming out of the channel. The ensign's efficiency has been remarkable. In fact, the deck was abuzz with talk that he had set a new record for getting a destroyer under way. The ensign glowed at his accomplishment and was not all surprised when another seaman approached him with a message from the captain. He was, however, a bit surprised to find that it was a radio message, and he was even more surprised when he read, "My personal congratulations upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. In your haste, however, you have overlooked one of the unwritten rules...make sure the captain is aboard before getting under way." "When you get to the end of
your rope, tie a knot and hang on." --- Franklin D. Roosevelt
(January 30, 1882 April 12, 1945) VETERAN LEGISLATION 29 March 2011 Of the 1210 House and 652 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 112th Congress as of 29 MAR, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. A good indication on the likelihood of a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov/ you can review a copy of each bill's text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html. To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html House: United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the
Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation
Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in
the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport
Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act
of 2011. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act
to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent
or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child
was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the
Armed Forces of the United States. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011.
A bill t amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain
abused dependents of veterans with health care. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care
under the CHAMPVA program. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving
Spouses Home Loans Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed
by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses
of certain totally-disabled veterans. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation
to Homeless Vets. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income
tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for
other purposes. H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess
Internet Website. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of
the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess
Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses
Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under
the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset
the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60
Retired Reserves. A bill 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. H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and
Reservists Parity for Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed
active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency
operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for
such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of
non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility
for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans'
disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed
services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability,
regardless of the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy
Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry
out a pilot program on dog training therapy. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor
Reimbursement. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to authorize the reimbursement of mental health counselors under
TRICARE, and for other purposes. H.R.210 : Filipino Veterans Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
deem certain service in the organized military forces of the
Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine
Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under
programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health
Care Relief Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees
for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B. H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA
Sole Source Contracts. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to promote jobs for veterans through the use of sole source
contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting
the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans
Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.284 : Veterans, Women, Families
with Children, and Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination
through the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for
the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, and for other purposes. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of
2011. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income
veterans. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration
Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under
current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan
Death March Compensation Act. A bill to provide compensation
for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death
March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A
bill to require employers to provide veterans with time off on
Veterans Day. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax
Termination Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment
of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to
eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend
eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees
with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.420 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms
Act of 2011. A bill to provide an amnesty period during which
veterans and their family members can register certain firearms
in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and
for other purposes. H.R.493 : Military Retiree Survivor
Comfort Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay
paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following
their death. H.R.540 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten
Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue
a medal to honor veterans of the Armed Forces who died after
their service in the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct
result of their service in the Vietnam War. H.R.544 : Servicemen Mortgage Foreclosure
Protection. A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
to permanently extend the period of protections for servicemembers
against mortgage foreclosures, and for other purposes. H.R.545 : Providing Military Honors
for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details
at the funerals of veterans. H.R.561 : Veterans Employment Tax
Credit Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 to extend the work opportunity tax credit with respect
to veterans. H.R.575 : HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with community
health care providers to improve access to health care for veterans
in highly rural areas, and for other purposes. H.R.595 : National Song of Remembrance.
A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the
musical piece commonly known as "Taps" as the National
Song of Remembrance, and for other purposes. H.R.648 : Pledge of Allegiance Saluting.
A bill to amend title 4, United States Code, to authorize members
of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military
salute during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. H.R.652 : Tricare Premium Limits.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit the increase
of premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health
care provided under the TRICARE program. H.R.743 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011.
A bill to To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals
who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard. H.R.776 : Guaranteed 3% COLA for
Seniors Act of 2011. A bill to To require the establishment of
a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living
increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the
Social Security Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries
under such title, for an annual cost-of-living increase which
is not less than 3 percent. H.R.802 : VetStar Award Program.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish
a VetStar Award Program. H.R.803 : Equity for Injured Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance,
and for other purposes. H.R.804 : Operation New Dawn Vet
Care. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify
the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation
New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home
care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.805 : Injured and Amputee Veterans
Bill of Rights Education. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans
Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee
Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. H.R.806 : End Veteran Homelessness
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless
veterans under the administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. H.R.809 : Post Women Veterans Bill
of Rights. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display
in each facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women
Veterans Bill of Rights. H.R.810 : Fair Access to Veterans
Benefits Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for
appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals,
and for other purposes. H.R.811 : Providing Military Honors
for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details
at the funerals of veterans. H.R.812 : Agent Orange Equity Act
of 2011. A bill to To amend title 38, United States Code, to
clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans
who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam. H.R.813 : Vet Survivor Benefit Eligibility.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of
time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the
veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans
rated totally disabled at time of death. H.R.814 : Medicare VA Reimbursement
Act of 2011. A bill to To provide Medicare payments to Department
of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services
provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected
conditions. H.R.834 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance
Opportunity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans
mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes. H.R.865 : Veteran Employment Transition
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged
veterans. H.R.923 : Veterans Pensions Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft,
loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with
respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children
of veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.924 : Jobs for Veterans Act of
2011. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans
Business Center program, and for other purposes. H.R.930 : PTSD Disability Compensation
Evaluation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic
stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military
sexual trauma, and for other purposes. H.R.938 : Frank Buckles World War
I Memorial Act. To establish a commission to ensure a suitable
observance of the centennial of World War I and to designate
memorials to the service of men and women of the United States
in World War I. H.R.943 : K-9 Companion Corps Act.
A bill to establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance
dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.948 : Embedded Mental Health
Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to require the provision of behavioral health
services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness
and fitness standards, and for other purposes. H.R.961 : Safe Haven for Heroes Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect
to the prohibition on disrupting military funerals, and for other
purposes. H.R.1003 : National Guard, Reserve,
"Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available
Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize
space-available travel on military aircraft for reserve members,
former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving
spouses and dependents of such members and former members. H.R.1014 : Children of Military Service
Members Commemorative Lapel Pin Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to recognize the dependent children of members
of the Armed Forces who are serving on active duty or who have
served on active duty through the presentation of an official
lapel button. H.R.1025 : Reserve Veteran Status.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the
service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring
them with status as veterans under law. H.R.1092 : Military Retirees Health
Care Protection Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health
care. H.R.1130 : Education Assistance to
Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority
for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years
on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance to their dependents. H.R.1133 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements
with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the
provision of case management services associated with certain
supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.1154 : Veterans Equal Treatment
for Service Dogs Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting
the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property.
H.R.1169 : National Guard Technician
Equity Act. A bill to amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States
Code, to eliminate inequities in the treatment of National Guard
technicians, to reduce the eligibility age for retirement for
non-Regular service, and for other purposes. H.R.1178 : Disabled Veterans Commissary
and Exchange Store Benefits Act. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store
privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability
and to their dependents. Senate: United States Senate website: http://www.senate.gov/
S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims. A bill to require the
Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims
of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on
behalf of the United States during World War II. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A Travel. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members
of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated
as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and
to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are
entitled to travel on such aircraft. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former
prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and
exchange stores. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance. A bill to restore
the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day, and for other
purposes. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work
opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor
annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency
and indemnity compensation. S.277 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital
care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who
were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water
was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes. S.325 : Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require
the provision of behavioral health services to members of the
reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment
and post-deployment readiness and fitness standards, and for
other purposes. S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired
members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation, and for other purposes. S.367 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to
small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the
Ready Reserve or National Guard, and for other purposes. S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military
service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably
during the Cold War, and for other purposes. S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and
nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case
management services associated with certain supported housing
programs for veterans, and for other purposes. S.423 : Fully Developed VA Claim Applications. A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for
retroactive effective date for awards of disability compensation
in connection with applications that are fully-developed at submittal,
and for other purposes. S.491 : Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the
service in the reserve components of the Armed Forces of certain
persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law, and
for other purposes. S.536 : Survivor Educational Assistance Limitations. 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. S.542 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area"
Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for members
of the reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve
component who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows
and widowers of retired members, and dependents. [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 29 Mar 2011 ++] |
Utah Veterans Homes Update 03 (2 New Projects) Debt Reduction Commission Update 06 (Moment of Truth Project) VA GAO Findings Update 02 (Audit Projections) Tax Tips 2010 Update 02 (Debt Settlements) VA Health Research (U.S. - Australia Joint Effort) Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Update 01 (30 March) Legal-fee Aid Cut (Vet Collateral Damage!) Veteran Status (S.491) Arlington National Cemetery Update 22 (Multiple 'Unknowns') Vet Toxic Exposure ~ McMurdo (Nuclear Power Plant) Tricare Cancer Screenings (Colorectal) Tricare User Fees Update 61 (CAP Report) Military Senior Leadership (Upcoming Turnover) Supreme Court Vet Decisions (Appeal Deadlines/USERRA) VA Caregiver Program Update 05 (Interim Final Rule) WW1 Vet Search Update 09 (Burial Controversy) VA Disability Compensation System Update 03 (Connecticut) Veteran Affairs Services (VAS) (Warning to Veterans) VA Women Advisory Committee (New Members) VA Appeals Update Update 08 (120-day deadline) Military Funeral Disorderly Conduct Update 19 (Court Ruling) Tricare Referrals & Authorizations (Applicability) Tricare Standard vs. Extra (Advantages) Tricare Provider Availability Update 02 (20082009 Survey) VA Minority Veterans Panel Update 01 (2011 Members) VA Vet Contaminant Exposure Update 08 (Colonoscopy Lawsuit) Florida Veterans Homes Update 04 (Independent Study) Veteran Charities Update 17 (U.S. Navy Veterans Association) Government Shutdown Update 01 (Military Community Impact) Stolen Valor Update 30 (Robert L. Deppe) GI Bill Update 93 (Tuition Shortfalls for Some) VA Claims Backlog Update 50 ** (Submission Bonus) Vet Scam (Service Fees) Veterans' Court Update 08 (Pennsylvania Expansion Continues) VA Caregiver Program Update 04 (REACH VA) VA Caregiver Program Update 05 (Interim Final Rule) Saving Money (Gasoline) Notes of Interest (1-15 Mar 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 63 (1-15 Mar 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 34 (1-15 Mar 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Maine) Military History (Bombing of Libya) Military History Anniversaries (March 16-31 Summary) Military Trivia 23 (Dien Bien Phu) Tax Burden for Wisconsin Retirees (2010) Have You Heard? (Navy Navigation) Veteran Legislation Status 13 MAR 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Utah Veterans Homes Update
03: Utah legislators on 10 MAR allocated
$6.5 million for each of two senior care centers that will be
build in Washington and Utah counties. Later in the day, state
Department of Veterans Affairs officials said that the southern
Utah facility would be built in the small town of Ivins, a few
miles north of St. George. Department director Terry Schow said
that a location in Spanish Fork is being considered for the Utah
County facility, but that decision has not been finalized. Rep.
Don Ipsom, R-St. George, sponsored the bills to provide the seed
money for the projects, which are expected to begin construction
in a matter of months. He said the difference between the years-long
process for securing funding for the home built in Ogden in 2009
and the speedy funding for the new homes was that, this time
around, Utah had a better understanding of how much the federal
government would be contributing to the project...and when. The
total cost of the two projects is estimated to be around $40
million. Most of the tab will be picked up by the feds. Schow
said that nearly every bed in the existing homes in Ogden and
Salt Lake City is currently filled. The two new centers will
have approximately 110 beds each, more than doubling the space
specifically dedicated for aging and infirm veterans. About 10,000
veterans live in Washington County and nearly 20,000 veterans
live in Utah County. Schow said the Utah County facility would
also likely draw from Salt Lake Countys population of 65,000
veterans. The Salt Lake facility has a waiting list that is more
than 100 names long, he said. Needless to say, we want
to work on this at warp speed, he said. Im
hoping to break ground in two or three months. * Nursing Salt Lake Veteran's Home, 700 S. Foothill Drive SLC, UT, 84113-1104 Tel: 801-584-1900/1960 Fax * George E Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home, 1102 North 1200 West, Ogden, UT 84404Tel: ( 801 ) 334-4300/4309 Fax [Source: The Salt Lake Tribune Matthew D. LaPlante article 12 Mar 2011 ++] Debt Reduction Commission
Update 06: The Presidents
Bipartisan National Commission of Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
(better known as the Fiscal Commission) has revived itself as
The Moment of Truth Project. They are following the 9/11 Commissions
example of creating an organization to keep a government Commissions
recommendations before the public. This could be very influential.
Both co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson were on the Hill
for the roll-out. Also speaking were Senators Durbin, Warner,
Coburn, Crapo and David Gergin, David Wessel, Jeffrey B. Liebman
and Donald Marron. The participants spoke about the need to have
everything on the table. This means Social Security,
Medicare, Medicaid and Defense along with domestic discretionary
spending. But only one named program was directly attacked for
excessive spending. Former Senator Alan Simpson said that there
was one program that all military retirees had. Not just active
duty retirees but National Guard and Reserve retirees as well!!!!
Both those retirees who had served in combat and those who had
not!! It was TRICARE and it cost retirees only $470 a year to
medically cover themselves and their families! (What he meant
was TRICARE Prime for military retirees between the ages of 38
and 64 and it is $460 a year. But what can you do?!) He said
that when he asked Secretary of Defense Gates why he did not
raise it to $5000 a year with a $500 co-pay the SecDef said that
the Veteran Service Organizations would tear us to shreds. [Source:
TREA Washington Update 11 Mar 2011 ++] Tax Tips 2010 Update 02: If you negotiated a debt settlement in 2010 on the balance of your credit card account, you may owe taxes on the forgiven debt. The IRS views forgiven debt greater than $600 as taxable income and expects you to pay taxes on that amount. If you have forgiven debt, your lender will send you a 1099-C form that shows the amount of the settled debt. This form is typically mailed in January. Be sure to contact your lender if you have not received this form. Your creditor files a 1099-C forms with the IRS, so the government already knows the amount of your settlement. If you arent looking for a tax form, it can be easy to miss or toss out. It is a common mistake, but the consequences can be IRS fines, audits, and penalties. A missing form or I didnt know will not exempt you from the tax. Most people dont pay attention to the tax consequences when they are settling their debt, says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of The Credit Card Guidebook. They are just trying to figure out how to survive. The additional tax bill is usually an unwelcomed surprise.Filing forgiven debt can get complicated. It is a good idea to get help from a tax adviser when filing your taxes. To make filing easier, keep all paperwork and details of the conversations with the lender. Tips for settling credit. Assistance available. [Source: MoneyTalksNews Stacy Johnson article 10 Mar 2011 ++] VA Caregiver Program Update
05: VA has submitted to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to
speed the federal rulemaking process to implement certain provisions
of Public Law 111-163, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act of 2010 that was signed by President Obama on May
5, 2010. It is tentatively scheduled for publication 1 May. The
Law directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide
an extensive range of new support services and benefits to caregivers
of eligible Veterans and Service members seriously injured in
the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001 (Post 9/11).
These benefits and services are in addition to those currently
available at VA to all enrolled Veterans and their caregivers.
As part of the legal process, VA must issue regulations in order
to implement these new authorities. Following OMB review and
approval, the IFR will be effective immediately upon its publication
in the Federal Register with an opportunity for public comment
after its issuance. With this accelerated procedure, these unprecedented
new direct-to-caregiver benefits can be fully in place as early
as this summer. Written comments may be submitted by email through
http://www.regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to Director,
Regulations Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs,
810 Vermont Avenue., N.W., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or
by fax to (202) 273-9026. Comments should indicate that they
are submitted in response to RIN 2900-AN94, Caregivers
Program. While this rulemaking process is necessary for
certain unprecedented direct-to-caregiver benefits (including
stipend and health care coverage benefits), other benefits are
currently available to caregivers of enrolled Veterans of all
eras. These benefits provide all caregivers with enhanced support
services such a toll-free Caregiver Support Line, education and
training, access to online information and resources, counseling
and support groups, respite care, and referrals to other VA and
community resources. [Source: TREA Washington Update 4 Mar 2011
++] VA Disability Compensation
System Update 03: Connecticut lags
behind most of the country in the number of veterans receiving
federal disability payments, leaving thousands of potential recipients
relying on state resources instead, according to veterans advocates.
Advocates say that the state's failure to reach out to eligible
veterans is the reason Connecticut has one of the lowest percentages
of veterans getting compensation. More than 20,200 Connecticut
veterans are receiving disability compensation for injuries and
illnesses connected to their military duty, according to data
obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "It's
very vital, especially in these troubled economic times, that
veterans know what benefits they're entitled to," said Linda
Schwartz, the state's veterans affairs commissioner, who said
she has been pushing for more outreach staffing to help veterans
file disability claims. "People need help filling out the
applications, and we need the people to help them. It's at the
top of my list of priorities to get these outreach offices fully
staffed." Only about 8 percent of the estimated 253,000
veterans in Connecticut are receiving disability compensation,
a tax-free benefit for disabilities that are a result of, or
made worse by, injuries or diseases that happened while on active
duty or during training. That percentage has put Connecticut
in the bottom third of states, some of which have 12 to 14 percent
of their veterans receiving compensation. Connecticut's 8 percent
compensation rate is the lowest of the six New England states,
with Maine topping the list at nearly double Connecticut's rate
- 15.9 percent - and Rhode Island and Massachusetts both above
12 percent as of 2009, according to a recent VA compensation
report. Those percentages could increase, as New England states
have seen thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans returning
home in the last 18 months. The reasons why disability rates
vary from state to state, and county to county, depend on other
factors besides outreach efforts, including the frequency and
era of wartime service. Connecticut has a relatively large population
of Vietnam War veterans...more than 84,000...with another 35,700
Gulf War veterans. State veterans of the Gulf War and Vietnam
had the highest average number of service-connected disabilities,
according to a 2005 report by the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs Office of Inspector General. Officials in the state veterans
department Office of Advocacy and Assistance say the bulk of
Connecticut's disability cases are veterans of the Vietnam War
with cancer or other illnesses related to Agent Orange, as well
as a large number of Korean War veterans. They said claims by
Iraq and Afghanistan veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder,
traumatic brain injury and other disabilities have begun to mushroom
in the last 18 months as troops return home. Massachusetts does
more outreach to veterans than most other states, with a Veterans
Service Officer available in every city and town charged with
advising veterans of their rights and assisting them in applying
for benefits. Veteran Affairs Services (VAS): An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans. This organization is not affiliated with VA in anyway. Websites with the name "vaservices" immediately after the "www" ARE NOT part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Government agency. Do not go to them or if approached or called, do not offer them any information concerning yourself or data on other veterans. Keep in mind that the real VA website ends in .gov Be aware that the Department of Veterans Affairs does not randomly call veterans, nor does it ask veterans for information which it does not already have...like Social Security Numbers. In particular, if you have not dealt with the VA previously...and in person...and all of a sudden, you receive a call from someone saying they are with the VA or something similar sounding, hang up the phone. Also, do not respond to emails which suggest that they are from the VA. The VA never conducts official business nor asks for personal information by email. VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services. In addition, GC requests that if you have any examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please pass any additional information to Michael G. Daugherty, Staff Attorney, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel (022G2)810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20420. [Source: Office of the Secretary
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VSO Liaison Kevin Secor
msg. 23 Feb 2011 ++] Legal-fee Aid Cut: Taking aim at environmentalists last week, House
Republicans dropped a round instead on low-income veterans and
Social Security recipients, making it harder for them to retain
counsel when taking on the government. Adopted by 232-197, the
budget amendment imposes a seven-month moratorium on all legal
fees paid under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), a Reagan-era
law designed to help the little guy battle Washington by making
it easier for him to afford an attorney. Conservatives from Reagans
own West were the driving force, accusing environmentalists of
turning EAJA into a taxpayer-financed, money-machine for lawsuits
harassing ranchers. But thousands of veterans and elderly found
themselves swept under in the process, losing their ability to
retain counsel in disputes with government agencies. Its
not on the level of 1981 when the House briefly cut off minimum
Social Security benefits for thousands of elderly Roman Catholic
nuns. But with U.S. troops fighting overseas, taking away lawyers
from low-income veterans can get pretty close. Robert Chisholm,
a Rhode Island attorney prominent in veterans law, told
POLITICO: Were in the middle of two wars right now
and to make it harder for a veteran...fighting for his benefits...to
have an attorney is a horrible thing. Thats not what this
country is about. [Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/50075.html David Rogers article 23 Feb 2011 ++] Veteran Status: Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) is taking another shot at better defining who can legally call themselves a veteran. An attempt at this during the previous Congress died when one senator blocked action. Pryor introduced a bill 4 MAR that has the full support of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS). Current law requires someone to have served a certain period on federal status to qualify for full standing as a veteran. Someone who served 20 years in the National Guard or Reserve without that qualifying period is a military retiree, but not a veteran. Pryors bill, Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011 (S.491), has been referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs. The text of the bill reads, "Any person who is entitled under chapter 1223 of title 10 to retired pay for nonregular service or, but for age, would be entitled under such chapter to retired pay for nonregular service shall be honored as a veteran but shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of this section." Although it will not add any benefits and, therefore, has no cost to the government, the bill would allow someone who serves honorably for 20 years in the Guard or Reserve the simple privilege of legally being a veteran. Technically, a person who is not a legal veteran is not supposed to wear medals on Veterans Day, for example, or salute the playing of the national anthem, although this happens frequently, of course. [Source: NGAUS Washington Report 8 Mar 2011 ++] Arlington National Cemetery Update
22: When the remains of a Vietnam War soldier buried in the Tomb
of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery were identified
in 1998 using DNA, Pentagon officials proudly said that the days
of interring service members as "Unknown" could well
be over. But now, for the first time in decades, the cemetery
has multiple "unknowns" to bury - and it has itself
to blame. Criminal investigators looking into how eight sets
of cremated remains ended up crowding a single grave have concluded
that three of them are unidentifiable - not because of the brutality
of combat, but because of actions at the cemetery. The discovery
of the mass grave in October came on the heels of a report by
the Army Inspector General last summer that revealed widespread
problems at the nation's premier military burial ground: unmarked
and mismarked graves, millions of dollars wasted in botched contracts
to computerize its paper records, and at least four urns found
in a pile of excess dirt. The scandal lead to the ouster of the
cemetery's top two leaders and prompted legislation from Congress
requiring the cemetery to account for every single one of the
more than 320,000 remains entombed at the nearly 150-year-old
cemetery. [Source: Washington PostChristian Davenport article 7 Mar 2011 ++] Vet Toxic Exposure ~ McMurdo:
A small nuclear power plant operated
by the United States at Antarcticas McMurdo Sound has been
implicated in dozens of cases of an unusual cancer in personnel
who worked at or near the station between the years 1964 and
1973, US and New Zealand media have indicated. Newspapers and
television stations from San Diego, Ohio, Florida, Idaho and
other states have charged that former naval personnel who worked
on an Antarctic military action called Operation Deep Freeze
contracted their cancers from working at or near the station
during its short nine-year operational period. The reactor,
a PM-3A 1.75 Megawatt installation that also provided heating
and water desalinization, was used to power the McMurdo US Naval
Station. The PM-3A reactor operated on uranium-235 fuel of 93
percent enrichment, according to official US Navy documents.
Those interviewed by ABC news also indicated that the reactor
at McMurdo Antarctic base was known among staff as nukey
poo for the frequency and volume of its leaks. A US naval
report issued upon its decommissioning http://www.bellona.org/filearchive/fil_wews_mcmurdo-final-operating-report.pdf indicated the reactor experienced 438 malfunctions...nearly
56 a year...in its operational lifetime, including leaking water
surrounding the reactor and hairline cracks in the reactor lining.
The emissions of low level waste water where in direct contravention
of the Antarctic Treaty, which bans military operations as well
as radioactive waste in Antarctica. In one of the more egregious
PM-3A incidents, in 1963, the reactor was shut down due to a
lack of coolant in the reactor core. The plant was finally decommissioned
in connection with "possible stress corrosion cracking,"
the US Navy said. "The cause of the increased malfunctions
is attributable to the fact that the initial control rod drive
mechanism system was a complex experimental system which was
continually modified in efforts for improvement." * Jim
Landy of Pensacola is fighting stomach, liver and brain cancer
that he links to McMurdo. "I believe it was a greater risk
than we all assumed," Landy told ABC-TV. [Source: http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2011/McMurdo_leaks Charles Digges article 7 Mar 2011 ++] Tricare User Fees Update 61: According to a report released 28 FEB by the Center for American Progress (CAP), the cost of military health care will exceed $52B in 2012, if left unchecked. Thats a 300 percent increase over the last decade. The report, titled Doing What Works, also points out that by 2015, health care will account for 10 percent of Pentagon spending. Like previous deficit-busting reports, the Center for American Progresss recommendations would not change health care services provided to active duty troops, but suggests changes that specifically target working-age retirees who choose Tricare Prime over the more expensive employer provided commercial coverage option. While the facts and figures presented in the report may be accurate, the report insinuates that military retirees, especially those with second careers, are hurting the country by taking advantage of the benefits they have earned. Unlike previous reports, the CAP report also calls for implementing fees for retirees over 65 who use Tricare for Life; the supplemental policy for veterans enrolled in Medicare. Under
the proposal TFL enrollees would pay a $120 annual enrollment
fee, see an increase in cost-sharing with Medicare and would
lose coverage for the first $500 in expenses. The CAP report
specifically recommends the following steps: Congress and the Defense Department should gradually increase Tricare enrollment fees paid by working-age retirees. The fees should be tiered based on retirement pay. Additionally, Tricare for Life enrollees should pay a $120 per person annual enrollment fee, as recommended by the Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care. The report claims this would mean a savings of $6 billion a year. 2. Increase cost sharing to encourage responsible use of Tricare for Life benefits- Tricare for Life should not cover the first $500 of an enrollees out-of-pocket expenses, and should be limited to 50 percent of the next $5,000 in Medicare cost sharing, as recom¬mended by the presidents fiscal commission. The report claims this would mean a savings of $4 billion a year. 3. Limit double coverage for high-income
retirees and peg Tricare premiums to Medicare Part B costs...Tricare
coverage should be limited to working-age military retirees below
certain income limits, or those who dont otherwise have
access to insurance through a spouse or civilian employer. Additionally,
to ensure that Tricare fees continue to be adjusted in the future,
Tricare premium levels should be pegged to Medicare Part B premiums.
The report estimates a $5 billion a year savings. Note: The last
recommendation, Tricare coverage should be limited to working-age
military retirees below certain income limits. The fact is that the current cost of Tricare is unsustainable, and many retirees are open to the idea of modest increases in Tricare Prime enrollment fees. In fact, the Military Officers Association of America is advocating the idea of limiting Tricare annual fee increases to the annual cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for military retirees. Although, past attempts to raise Tricare fees for retirees have failed, the current deficit situation has made Tricare a prime target from virtually all sides. [Source: Mil.com Terry Howell article
28 Feb 2011 ++] [Source: GQ Weekly John M. Donnelly
article 7 Mar 2011 ++] VA Caregiver Program Update
05: VA has submitted to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to
speed the federal rulemaking process to implement certain provisions
of Public Law 111-163, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act of 2010 that was signed by President Obama on May
5, 2010. It is tentatively scheduled for publication 1 May. The
Law directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide
an extensive range of new support services and benefits to caregivers
of eligible Veterans and Service members seriously injured in
the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001 (Post 9/11).
These benefits and services are in addition to those currently
available at VA to all enrolled Veterans and their caregivers.
As part of the legal process, VA must issue regulations in order
to implement these new authorities. Following OMB review and
approval, the IFR will be effective immediately upon its publication
in the Federal Register with an opportunity for public comment
after its issuance. With this accelerated procedure, these unprecedented
new direct-to-caregiver benefits can be fully in place as early
as this summer. Written comments may be submitted by email through
http://www.regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to Director,
Regulations Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs,
810 Vermont Avenue., N.W., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or
by fax to (202) 273-9026. Comments should indicate that they
are submitted in response to RIN 2900-AN94, Caregivers
Program. While this rulemaking process is necessary for
certain unprecedented direct-to-caregiver benefits (including
stipend and health care coverage benefits), other benefits are
currently available to caregivers of enrolled Veterans of all
eras. These benefits provide all caregivers with enhanced support
services such a toll-free Caregiver Support Line, education and
training, access to online information and resources, counseling
and support groups, respite care, and referrals to other VA and
community resources. [Source: TREA Washington Update 4 Mar 2011
++] Veteran Affairs Services (VAS): An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans. This organization is not affiliated with VA in anyway. Websites with the name "vaservices" immediately after the "www" ARE NOT part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Government agency. Do not go to them or if approached or called, do not offer them any information concerning yourself or data on other veterans. Keep in mind that the real VA website ends in .gov Be aware that the Department of Veterans Affairs does not randomly call veterans, nor does it ask veterans for information which it does not already have...like Social Security Numbers. In particular, if you have not dealt with the VA previously...and in person...and all of a sudden, you receive a call from someone saying they are with the VA or something similar sounding, hang up the phone. Also, do not respond to emails which suggest that they are from the VA. The VA never conducts official business nor asks for personal information by email. VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services. In addition, GC requests that if you have any examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please pass any additional information to Michael G. Daugherty, Staff Attorney, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel (022G2)810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20420. [Source: Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VSO Liaison Kevin Secor msg. 23 Feb 2011 ++] VA Women Advisory Committee: Four new members have been appointed to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, an expert panel that advises VA on issues and programs affecting women Veterans. "The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans' work is very important inguiding VA's efforts to address the ever changing needs of women Veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "VA welcomes the newest members." Established in 1983, the advisory committee makes recommendations to the Secretary for administrative and legislative changes. The committee members are appointed to two-year terms. The new committee members are: Jack Phillip Carter, Jr., Bradenton, Fla.; Nancy A. Glowacki, Silver Spring, Md.; Nancy Kaczor, Franklin, Wis.; and Terry F. Moore, Stetson, Maine. "Throughout history women have played essential roles in the military," Shinseki added. "It is VA's responsibility to anticipate and prepare for the evolving needs of women Veterans, their families and survivors." Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veterans population. There are 23.4 million Veterans; approximately 1.8 million are women Veterans. They comprise nearly 8 percent of the total Veterans population and nearly 5 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates that by 2020 women Veterans will comprise 10 percent of the Veteran population. VA has women Veterans program managers at VA medical centers and women Veterans coordinators at VA regional offices to assist women Veterans with health and benefits issues. following are additional details on the four new members * Jack
Phillip Carter, Jr., Bradenton, Fla. A retired Marine Corps lieutenant
colonel, decorated for valor during the Persian Gulf War; currently
serves as lead detective of the economic crimes section for the
Sarasota police department. They will join the existing Committee
members who include: [Source: VA News Release & http://www.va.gov/womenvet/ACWV.asp 4 MAR 2011 ++] VA Appeals Update Update
08: The Supreme Court is allowing
the wife of a military veteran who missed a court deadline because
of his mental illness to move forward with an appeal after he
was denied benefits. The high court on 1 MAR decided to let Doretha
H. Henderson, wife of the late David Henderson, continue his
appeal. Hendersons husband was discharged from the armed
forces in 1952 after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
He asked the Veterans Affairs Department for home care in 2001
and was denied. He missed a 120-day deadline for appeal by 15
days, blaming it on his illness. Two lower courts refused to
let him appeal. Henderson died Oct. 24, and his wife has taken
up his case. The high court said Mrs. Henderson could appeal
the lower courts decision. American Legion National Commander
Jimmie Foster praised the Supreme Courts recent ruling
that the 120-day requirement to file an appeal with the Court
of Appeals for Veterans Claims is not concrete - an individual
may take longer if circumstances warrant. The courts
ruling will certainly make a difference in the outcomes of many
veterans appeals, Foster said. [Source: AP
article 1 Mar 2011 ++] Tricare Referrals &
Authorizations: Referrals are used
when a primary care manager (PCM) or provider identifies a need
for specialty care or services. As a Tricare Standard beneficiary,
you can visit the Tricare-authorized provider of your choice
whenever you need care thus referrals are not required. Prime
users do not have the option of using the provider of their choice
and must rely on referrals if additional care is needed. Their
PCM decides what type of provider you should see, for how long
and for what services. Some services require prior authorization
from your regional contractor. A prior authorization is a review
of the requested service to determine if it is medically necessary
at the requested level of care. If you have questions about authorization
requirements, visit http://www.tricare.mil. Services that always
require prior authorization are as follows: Tricare Standard vs. Extra: Tricare Standard
and Tricare Extra allow you to manage your own health care and
give you the freedom to seek care from any Tricare-authorized
provider you choose. Tricare-authorized providers meet Tricare
licensing and certification requirements and are certified by
Tricare to provide care to Tricare beneficiaries. If you see
a provider who is not Tricare-authorized, you are responsible
for the full cost of care. The key difference between Tricare
Standard and Tricare Extra is in your choice of providers. With
Tricare Standard, you choose Tricare-authorized providers outside
of the Tricare network and pay higher cost-shares. With Tricare
Extra, you choose providers within the Tricare network, where
available, and receive discounted cost-shares. Tricare Standard.
Non-network providers are Tricare-authorized civilian providers
who have not established a contractual relationship with your
regional contractor. Non-network providers may determine whether
they are participating with Tricare or nonparticipating
on a claim-by-claim basis. Tricare Provider Availability
Update 02: About seven out of 10
doctors who are accepting new patients...and six out of 10 providers
overall...accept new Tricare Standard patients, according to
the results of a combined 20082009 provider survey. These
statistics are encouraging to Tricare Standard beneficiaries
looking for new providers. [Source: VA News Release 2 Mar 2011 ++] Medicare Fraud Update 62:
[Source: Fraud News Daily 15-28 Jan 2011 ++] Medicad Fraud Update 33:
? Brooklyn Park MN - Anita Gayle
Soledolu, 39, owner of Sole Provider Nursing Services, and her
husband, Stephen Adewale Soledolu, 32, are accused of overbilling
the state's Personal Care Assistance program (PCA) by allegedly
submitting false claims for home care and nursing services between
2006 and 2008. The charges against Sole Provider also says the
agency submitted bills showing care aides working more than 24
hours in a single day and, in one case, 42 hours a day for a
week straight. In all, it alleges overbilling of $975,295. State Veteran's Benefits:
The state of Louisiana provides
several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information
on these refer to the Veteran State Benefits LA attachment
to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits listed below.
Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state.
For a more detailed explanation of each click on Learn
more about
wording highlighted in blue on the attachment. Clearly
the best strategy for the British at this point would have been
to seal off the Charlestown Peninsula by taking control of the
Neck. That move, accompanied by a naval blockade, would have
starved out the American force in short order. The British commanders,
however, felt a strong need for aggressive action. At about 3
p.m. General William Howe led a force of 3,000 soldiers ashore
near Moultons Hill south of Breeds Hill. After a
short march to the foot of the American position, the redcoats
launched two uphill assaults against the entrenched colonists.
Colonel Prescott reputedly cautioned his men not to fire until
they saw the whites of their opponents eyes. Both assaults
were repulsed and resulted in very heavy losses for the British.
Action ceased for an hour while Howe counseled with his subordinates
and awaited the arrival of 400 additional soldiers. A third charge
found the Americans running low on powder and unable to resist
the fixed bayonets of the British. Prescott grasped the hopelessness
of the situation and gave the order to retreat. American soldiers
fled down the north slope of Breeds Hill and sought escape
across the Neck. Many were shot in the back during this retreat.
[Source: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h666.html Feb 2011 ++] Military History Anniversaries:
Significant March events in U.S.
Military History are: [Source: Various Feb 2011 ++] [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/ Feb 2011++] Tax Burden for West Virginia Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in West Virginia: Sales TaxesState Sales Tax: 6% (prescription drugs exempt). Food taxed at 3%. Seniors age 60 and older are eligible for the Golden Mountaineer Discount Card that can be used for pharmaceutical discounts, retail and professional discounts. To apply or obtain more information, call 304-558-3317 or 877-987-3646.Gasoline Tax: 32.2 cents/gallonDiesel Fuel Tax: 32.1 cents/gallonCigarette Tax: $0.55/pack of 20 Personal Income TaxesTax Rate Range: Low - 3%; High - 6.5%Income Brackets: Five: Lowest - $10,000; Highest - $60,000. For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.Personal Exemptions: Single - $2,000; Married - $4,000; Dependents - $2,000Standard Deduction: NoneMedical/Dental Deduction: For tax year 2007, if you had no employer and were not self-employed, you may claim as a subtraction from income 33.4% of the amount you paid for medical care insurance. If you had an employer or were self-employed, you may be able to claim a subtraction from income for the amount you paid for medical insurance. It does not include long-term care insurance. Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: The beginning
point for West Virginia taxation is federal adjusted gross income.
Therefore, any amount of the IRA distribution or pension income
that is taxable and included in federal adjusted gross income
is taxable on the West Virginia income tax return. $2,000 of
civil, and state pensions are exempt. Social Security income
is taxable only to the extent that the income is includable in
your federal adjusted gross income. For more information on county taxes, refer to http://www.wva.state.wv.us/taxqna/b_answers.asp?s_Tax_type=Property+Tax&ID_Q=208 Senior
citizens eligible for the Homestead Exemption Program may be
entitled to a Senior Citizen Tax credit. The credit is based
on the amount of property taxes paid on the first $10,000 or
portion thereof, of the taxable assessed value over the $20,000
Homestead Exemption. The credit is based on the amount of property
taxes paid on the first $20,000, or portion thereof, of the taxable
assess value over the $20,000 Homestead Exemption. Taxpayers
who pay the federal alternative minimum tax cannot claim this
credit. Seniors who are 65 or older and who experience a property
tax increase of at least $300 on their owner-occupied West Virginia
home over the past year may qualify for the Senior Citizen property
Tax Deferment if their income was no more than $35,000. The credit
must be approved by your county assessor's office.The state's
homestead Excess Property Tax Credit is a refundable personal
income tax credit for real property taxes paid in excess of your
income. The maximum refundable tax credit is $1,000. For more
information on the above, refer to http://www.state.wv.us/taxrev/tsdPublications/tsd411.pdf and http://www.wva.state.wv.us/wvtax/seniorCitizens.aspx For further information, visit the West Virginia State Tax Department site http://www.wva.state.wv.us/wvtax/default.aspx or call 304-558-3333 or 800-982-8297. Also visit the West Virginia Department of Revenue http://www.revenue.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Feb 2011 ++] Have You Heard?: Why Grandmas Are Smart. I was out walking with my grandson. He picked up something off of the ground and started to put it in his mouth. I took the item away from him and I asked him not to do that. "Why" my grandson asked. "Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs," I replied. At this point, my grandson looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Grandma, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart." I was thinking quickly and said to him. "All grandmas know stuff. It's on the Grandma Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a grandma." We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but he was evidently pondering this new information. "Oh....I get it! He beamed, So if you don't pass the test you have to be the grandpa." "Exactly," I replied with a big smile on my face. "I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself. "...Ronald Reagan [Joke at the Gridiron Club annual dinner 1984.] VETERAN LEGISLATION 13 March 2011 Of the 1055 House and 564 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 112th Congress as of 13 MAR, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. A good indication on the likelihood of a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill's text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html House: United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the
Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation
Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in
the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport
Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act
of 2011. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act
to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent
or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child
was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the
Armed Forces of the United States. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011.
A bill t amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain
abused dependents of veterans with health care. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care
under the CHAMPVA program. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving
Spouses Home Loans Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed
by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses
of certain totally-disabled veterans. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation
to Homeless Vets. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income
tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for
other purposes. H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess
Internet Website. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of
the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess
Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses
Equity Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under
the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset
the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60
Retired Reserves. A bill 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. H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and
Reservists Parity for Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed
active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency
operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for
such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of
non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility
for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans'
disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed
services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability,
regardless of the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy
Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry
out a pilot program on dog training therapy. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor
Reimbursement. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to authorize the reimbursement of mental health counselors under
TRICARE, and for other purposes. H.R.210 : Filipino Veterans Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
deem certain service in the organized military forces of the
Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine
Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under
programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health
Care Relief Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees
for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B. H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA
Sole Source Contracts. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to promote jobs for veterans through the use of sole source
contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting
the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans
Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.284 : Veterans, Women, Families
with Children, and Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness
Act of 2011. A bill to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination
through the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for
the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, and for other purposes. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of
2011. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income
veterans. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration
Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under
current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan
Death March Compensation Act. A bill to provide compensation
for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death
March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A
bill to require employers to provide veterans with time off on
Veterans Day. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax
Termination Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code,
to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment
of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to
eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend
eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees
with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries
make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.420 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms
Act of 2011. A bill to provide an amnesty period during which
veterans and their family members can register certain firearms
in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and
for other purposes. H.R.493 : Military Retiree Survivor
Comfort Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay
paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following
their death. H.R.540 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten
Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue
a medal to honor veterans of the Armed Forces who died after
their service in the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct
result of their service in the Vietnam War. H.R.648 : Pledge of Allegiance Saluting.
A bill to amend title 4, United States Code, to authorize members
of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military
salute during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. H.R.652 : Tricare Premium Limits.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit the increase
of premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health
care provided under the TRICARE program. H.R.743 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011.
A bill to To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals
who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard. H.R.776 : Guaranteed 3% COLA for
Seniors Act of 2011. A bill to To require the establishment of
a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living
increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the
Social Security Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries
under such title, for an annual cost-of-living increase which
is not less than 3 percent. H.R.802 : VetStar Award Program.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish
a VetStar Award Program. H.R.803 : Equity for Injured Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance,
and for other purposes. H.R.804 : Operation New Dawn Vet
Care. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify
the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation
New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home
care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.805 : Injured and Amputee Veterans
Bill of Rights Education. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans
Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee
Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. H.R.806 : End Veteran Homelessness
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless
veterans under the administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. H.R.809 : Post Women Veterans Bill
of Rights. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display
in each facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women
Veterans Bill of Rights. H.R.810 : Fair Access to Veterans
Benefits Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for
appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals,
and for other purposes. H.R.811 : Providing Military Honors
for our Nation's Heroes Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details
at the funerals of veterans. H.R.812 : Agent Orange Equity Act
of 2011. A bill to To amend title 38, United States Code, to
clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans
who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam. H.R.813 : Vet Survivor Benefit Eligibility.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of
time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the
veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans
rated totally disabled at time of death. H.R.814 : Medicare VA Reimbursement
Act of 2011. A bill to To provide Medicare payments to Department
of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services
provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected
conditions. H.R.834 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance
Opportunity Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans
mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes. H.R.865 : Veteran Employment Transition
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged
veterans. H.R.923 : Veterans Pensions Protection
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft,
loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with
respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children
of veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.924 : Jobs for Veterans Act of
2011. A bill to amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans
Business Center program, and for other purposes. H.R.930 : PTSD Disability Compensation
Evaluation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic
stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military
sexual trauma, and for other purposes. H.R.938 : WWI Centennial Commission.
To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of
the centennial of World War I and to designate memorials to the
service of men and women of the United States in World War I. H.R.943 : K-9 Companion Corps Act.
A bill to establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance
dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.948 : Embedded Mental Health
Providers for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to require the provision of behavioral health
services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness
and fitness standards, and for other purposes. H.R.961 : Safe Haven for Heroes Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect
to the prohibition on disrupting military funerals, and for other
purposes. H.R.1014 : Children's Lapel Button
for Parent's Service. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to recognize the dependent children of members of the Armed
Forces who are serving on active duty or who have served on active
duty through the presentation of an official lapel button. H.R.1025 : Reserve Veteran Status.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the
service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring
them with status as veterans under law. Senate: United States Senate website: http://www.senate.gov/
S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims.
A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the
validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed
military service on behalf of the United States during World
War II. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space "A"
Travel. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected
disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the
same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the
Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain
disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense
commissary and exchange stores. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance.
A bill to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial
Day, and for other purposes. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition
Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged
veterans. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement
for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit
Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation. S.277 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care
to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina,
while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other
purposes. S.325 : Embedded Mental Health Providers
for Reserves Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to require the provision of behavioral health services
to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary
to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness and fitness
standards, and for other purposes. S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a
service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation
from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability
and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service
or Combat-Related Special Compensation, and for other purposes.
S.367 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the
work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals
who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard, and for
other purposes. S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act
of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide
for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed
Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other
purposes. S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans
Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements
with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the
provision of case management services associated with certain
supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes.
S.423 : Fully Developed VA Claim
Applications. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide authority for retroactive effective date for awards of
disability compensation in connection with applications that
are fully-developed at submittal, and for other purposes. S.536 : Survivor Educational Assistance
Limitations. 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. S.542 : National Guard, Reserve,
"Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available
Travel Equity Act of 2011. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft
for members of the reserve components, a member or former member
of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for
age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents. [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 13 Mar 2011 ++] |
WW1 Vet Search Update 08 (Last WWI Vet Dies) Military Funeral Disorderly Conduct Update 18 (Nebraska LB284) Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day (S.RES.55) Veteran Charities Update 16 (Veterans Support Organization) Vet Cemetery Florida Update 08 (Cremation Trend) Vet Legal Website (Statesidelegal.org) Bathtub/Shower Safety (Tips) IRS/SSA Name Change (Steps to Take) USFSPA & Divorce Update 17 (Oklahoma SB528 & SB917) Tricare User Fees Update 59 (DoD 2012 Budget Request) Tricare User Fees Update 60 (Military Groups Divided) DoD/VA VLER Update 03 (2012 Budget Comments) Vet Housing Update 01 (JP Morgan Chase Loans) Veteran Charities Update 15 (OWVA Suit) DoD Veteran Rape Lawsuit (Class-Action Suit) Indiana Vet Education Benefits (Children) VA Caregiver Program Update 03 (Cash Assistance Deadline Missed) Vet Cemetery Pennsylvania Update 05 (WA Crossing Burials) VA Blue Water Claims Update 14 (AO Exposure List Updated) VA Budget 2012 (Proposed) VA Budget 2012 Update 01 (4% Increase) Credit Report Update 04 (FICO +) Military Discounts Update 07 (199 Stores) Saving Money (Checking Account Alternatives) Notes of Interest (15-28 Feb 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 62 (15-28 Feb 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 33 (15-28 Feb 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Louisiana) Military History (Bunker Hill) Military History Anniversaries (March 1-15 Summary) Military Trivia 23 (U.S. Battle Locations ) Tax Burden for West Virginia Retirees (2010) Have You Heard? (Why Grandmas Are Smart) Veteran Legislation Status 26 FEB 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." WW1 Vet Search Update 08:
Frank Buckles. the last surviving
U.S. veteran of World War I, died of natural causes Sunday at
his home in Charles Town WV at age 110. He was repeatedly rejected
by military recruiters and got into uniform at 16 after lying
about his age. He also survived being a civilian POW in the Philippines
in World War II, Buckles had been advocating for a national memorial
honoring veterans of the Great War in the nation's capital. Military Funeral Disorderly
Conduct Update 18: Funeral protesters
would have to stay farther away from those services under a bill
Nebraska lawmakers advanced Thursday from the first of three
rounds of debate. Omaha Sen. Bob Krist designated the measure
as his priority bill this session. It would require funeral protesters
to stand 500 feet away from a service...200 feet more than the
300 feet state law now requires. Krists bill and the current
law passed in 2006 target anti-gay protests held by members of
a Kansas church at military burials and others across the country.
The Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church contends U.S. soldiers
are being struck down by God for defending a nation that tolerates
homosexuality. The group has protested at dozens of funerals
in Nebraska. The measure must advance through two more rounds
of consideration in the Legislature and be signed by the governor
to be enacted into law. I believe there is a compelling
state interest to protect family privacy and prevent emotional
distress at funerals or memorial services, Krist said 24
FEB as he outlined his bill. My primary concern in trying
to make a good law better is to have enforceable legislation
which meets constitutional muster, in the event of a court challenge.
Currently, 20 states have funeral protest distance laws that
require picketers to stay at least 500 feet from services, Krist
said. Of those, Maine, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota
and Texas require protesters to stay 1,000 feet from services.
Montana keeps funeral protesters 1,500 feet away. Nebraskas
bill found no opposition, advancing 45-0. Even staunch defenders
of constitutional free speech rights lauded the measure. I
would venture to say the First Amendment is designed to protect
the speech we dislike most...more so than the speech we like,
Sen. Greg Adams of York said Thursday on the legislative floor.
However, Adams said, the sanctity of funerals must be honored.
Veteran Charities Update
16: You may have seen people dressed
in camouflage fatigues outside your local mall or grocery store.
They are part of a group called VSO...Veterans Support Organization...that
collects money for veterans. However, where the money actually
goes raises questions about their creditability. Refer to http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/wtvf/PDF/2009%20VSO%20FS.pdf for a copy of the report. So where did the VSO get the 65 percent figure? According to the VSO, they count the money they spend on uniforms for their fundraisers, rent, and auto expenses. They also count the money they pay their solicitors, even though some of these men are not veterans. Todd Kelley from the state's Charitable Solicitations Division said of that practice, "I think that's creative accounting." Kelley also admitted that he was surprised to see that last year the VSO spent nearly $800,000 to pay the salaries of its fundraisers. "So almost twice as much money went to the people who were raising the money than actually went to the programs that they say they're supporting," Kelley remarked. "I think if I were giving my money to that organization that would give me great pause," he replied. Another concern of the state is that when the VSO registered to solicit money in Tennessee, the VSO maintained that it did not have an office or chapter there. The group now has both, but has never informed the state that they do. The group has now put out a statement saying it uses people with PTSD and other mental health problems as fundraisers and that we should not have relied on the information they were giving out. The state though says charities are responsible for what their employees say. For information on VSO refer to http://www.theveteranssupport.org/ [Source: NewsChannel5.com Jennifer Kraus story 11 Mar 2010 & MYFOXNY.COM 3 Feb 2011 ++] Vet Cemetery Florida Update
08: Three out of every four veterans
buried in Florida are cremated, about double the national percentage
for civilians. The trend emerged in the multi-million dollar
expansion plans for the Sarasota National Cemetery, which will
create more space for cremated remains than traditional burial
sites. The expanding cemetery...just two years old...is getting
an infusion of $15.9 million and when the work is finished in
the summer of 2012, there will be 9,000 in-ground burial spaces
for cremated remains and 7,000 above-ground niches for urns.
Graves for casket burials will increase by 11,500. The expansion
is part of a nationwide effort to create more spaces in the national
cemeteries. It's the most ambitious push since the Civil War,
Veterans Affairs officials say. Bathtub/Shower Safety:
A warm bath can soothe the spirit
as well as aching joints and muscles, but make sure you practice
bathtub safety. The National Safety Council reports that each
year, more than 400 people drown in bath tubs. And that doesn't
include many hundreds more who slip or fall and injure themselves
while getting into or out of a tub. In general, falling injuries
are on the rise, especially for older adults. These bathtub safety
tips suggested by Dynamic Living will help you improve bathtub
safety in your home: If you can stand, but need additional help
standing up or sitting in the tub, or getting out of the tub: Tips for Everyone If you enjoy baths, there's no reason to avoid them. With a few simple precautions and bathtub safety tools, you can enjoy the restorative properties of a warm bath in your home or even while traveling. [Source: About.com Guide Sharon O'Brien article 22 Feb 2011 ++] IRS/SSA Name Change: If you changed your name as a result of a recent marriage or divorce you'll want to take the necessary steps to ensure the name on your tax return matches the name registered with the Social Security Administration. A mismatch between the name shown on your tax return and the SSA records can cause problems in the processing of your return and may even delay your refund. Here are five tips from the IRS for recently married or divorced taxpayers who have a name change. *
If you took your spouse's last name or if both spouses hyphenate
their last names, you may run into complications if you don't
notify the SSA. When newlyweds file a tax return using their
new last names, IRS computers can't match the new name with their
Social Security Number. Tricare User Fees Update 59: In the rollout of their fiscal year 2012 budget submission, the Department of Defense on 12 FEB announced plans to offset huge Tricare medical program expenses by increasing the annual enrollment fees paid by working-age military retirees. The new plan entails no changes for TRICARE Standard or TRICARE For Life, and no means-testing of fees. It proposes modest, gradual changes in TRICARE Prime enrollment fees, and would exempt military disability (chapter 61) retirees and survivors from those changes. It also proposes changes to all beneficiaries pharmacy benefits. Specifically, the plan calls for: *
Raising the 2012 Prime enrollment fees by 13%...from $230 single/$460
family per year to $260/$520 (survivor and chapter 61 retiree
fees would remain at current rates) The
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is against both plans. VFW
National Commander Richard L. Eubank, a retired Marine and Vietnam
combat veteran from Eugene, Ore., believes tying future increases
to medical inflation is an escalator clause that will raise Tricare
premiums so high that retirees will disenroll and look elsewhere
for coverage. "Asking someone to voluntarily give up 20
or more years of their youth on the simple promise of a pension
and lifelong medical care for themselves and their spouses is
a cost this nation and our government should be more than willing
to bear," he said. "Any changes to how military retirees
are treated will send an ominous signal to hundreds of thousands
of servicemen and women who may be contemplating military careers."
DoD/VA VLER Update 03:
Monetary Impact of DoD-Proposed
Fee Adjustment MethodologyYear Cap at Retired Pay COLA *
Mortgage rate reductions: Beginning April 1, Chase Home Lending,
the bank's mortgage business, will implement a rebate or similar
program for military personnel protected by pricing caps under
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Eligible borrowers may have
their mortgage rate reduced to 4 percent while on active duty,
and for a year afterward. That maximum rate is 2 percentage points
lower than the 6 percent rate current required under the act. [Source: Yahoo News AP Article 15
Feb 2011 ++] DoD Veteran Rape Lawsuit:
More than a dozen U.S. veterans
who say they were raped or assaulted by comrades filed a class-action
suit in federal court Tuesday attempting to force the Pentagon
to change how it handles such cases. The current and former service
members...15 women and two men...describe circumstances in which
servicemen allegedly got away with rape and other sexual abuse
while their victims were ordered to continue to serve with them.
[Source: NPR AP article 15 Feb 2011++]
[Source: Washington Post Scott Wilson article 14 Feb 2011 +] Vet Cemetery Pennsylvania Update 05: Legislation to grant formal burials to veterans buried at Washington Crossing National Cemetery won unanimous approval in the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee on 15 FEB. State law does not provide for honor guard burial details at Washington Crossing National Cemetery as it does at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County and National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Washington County. State House Bill 345 expands the authority of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to arrange for formal military burials at Washington Crossing, enabling veterans interned there to receive paid military honors. Under present law, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs contracts with veterans service organizations to perform honor guard burial details at Fort Indiantown Gap and National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, said State Rep. Scott Petri, who proposed the bill. For these services, DMVA pays the veterans groups $150 per day. My bill will rightfully extend this honor and burial allowance to veterans interned at Washington Crossing. Petri sponsored the same legislation last legislative session and managed to get it passed in the House last October. However, the session ended before the bill could make its way through rough the Senate. H.B.345 will now go to the full House for consideration. [Source: http://buckslocalnews.com/ 14 Feb 2011 ++] VA Blue Water Claims Update 14: The VA updated their list of Navy and Coast Guard ships and vessels presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. The list is intended to provide VA regional offices with a resource for determining whether a particular US Navy or Coast Guard veteran of the Vietnam era is eligible for the presumption of Agent Orange herbicide exposure based on operations of the veteran's ship. According to 38 CPR § 3.307(a)(6)(iii), the presumption of herbicide exposure requires that the veteran's service involved duty or visitation in the Republic of Vietnam. For those veterans who served aboard ships operating primarily or temporarily on the inland waterways of Vietnam, their service involved duty in Vietnam. In such cases, the evidence must show that the ship was on the inland waterways and the veteran was aboard at that time. For those veterans who served aboard ships that docked and the veteran went ashore or served aboard ships that did not dock but the veteran went ashore, their service involved "visitation" in Vietnam. In cases involving docking, the evidence must show that the veteran was aboard at the time of docking and the veteran must provide a statement of personally going ashore. In cases where shore docking did not occur, the evidence must show that the ship operated in Vietnams close coastal waters for extended periods, that members of the crew went ashore, or that smaller vessels from the ship went ashore regularly with supplies or personnel. In these cases, the Veteran must also provide a statement of personally going ashore. VA's updated list is shown in this Bulletin's attachment titled AO Exposed Ship list Jan 2011. This list is not complete. Therefore, the presumption of herbicide exposure should not be denied solely because the veteran's ship is not on this list. Additionally, when regional office personnel obtain evidence showing that a ship fits into any of these categories. The evidence should be forwarded to the Compensation and Pension Service Agent Orange Mailbox VAVBAWAS/CO/211/AGENTORANGE so that the ship can be added to the listing. [Source: Various Jan 2011 ++] VA Budget 2012: In announcing the proposed budget for the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) during the next fiscal year, Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki emphasized making
every dollar count in the $132 billion budget proposal
for VA. In the current constrained fiscal environment,
every dollar counts. We will continue to wisely use the funds
that Congress appropriates for us to further improve the quality
of life for Veterans and their families through the efficiency
of our operations, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric
K. Shinseki. The budget request for the fiscal year that begins
1 OCT 2012 must be approved by Congress before taking effect.
an overview of what the request covers follows. Health Care - The budget request
seeks nearly $51 billion for medical care. It would provide care
to more than 6.2 million patients, including nearly 540,000 Veterans
of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also includes
almost $1 billion for a contingency fund and $1.2 billion of
operational improvements to manage the appropriated funds in
a fiscally responsible manner. Major health care provisions include:
Primary
care providers will put more emphasis upon disease prevention
and healthy living. New technology...securing e-mails, social
networking and telehealth...will be harnessed to meet the evolving
needs of patients. For example, in 2010, a daily average of more
than 31,000 patients took advantage of VAs telehome health
care. The budget proposal will allow more than 50,000 people
daily to use this innovative, at-home care. Among the departments
operational improvements is a provision that calls for VA to
implement Medicares standard payment rates, a measure that
will free $315 million for other health care needs. [Source: Business Wire 14 Feb 2011
++] Credit Report Update 04: While its definitely a good idea to monitor your credit history and score at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp dont believe for a second those are the only sources your bank has for checking up on you. They could be trying to figure out what you make, whether your house is worth less than you paid for it, and whether you were recently laid off, among other things. While all this snooping around may seem unsettling, it obviously offers benefits to those properly playing the credit game. And those not so lucky are finding that the information age is making it harder to hide. Check out the following for a few clever and paranoia-inducing ways your bank might be scoping you out. 1. Checking your checking. ChexSystems is a clearing house for bad banking behavior. Or, to use their corporate-speak, The Chex Systems, Inc. network is comprised of member Financial Institutions that regularly contribute information on mishandled checking and savings accounts to a central location. If you want to see what ChexSystems might have on you, you can order a once-a-year free report here. Even if youve never bounced a check, getting a free annual report is a good way to make sure nobody else has opened an account with your Social Security number. Go to https://www.consumerdebit.com/consumerinfo/us/en/chexsystems/report/index.htm 2. Giving you a behavior score. Abehavior score looks at the money going into and out of your account. Behavior scores are another product of Fair Isaac, the company that invented credit scoring. While your credit score is all about credit, your bank-deposit behavior score is all about cash...its used by your bank to track your deposits and withdrawals. If you are accumulating a big balance maybe its time the bank contacted you for some financial planning advice. If your direct deposit recently stopped it could be a sign you just got laid off. 3. Seeing how much your home is worth and what you owe. While the nations ongoing housing slump has forced many Americans to stop regarding their houses as piggy banks, your lender still might. If youve checked home prices in your neighborhood lately, you know how easy it is to use sites like Zillow http://www.zillow.com to find out what theyre worth. And mortgages are public record. So its not hard for your bank to find out if youre among the millions of homeowners who owe more than their house is worth. If so, red flag. If you own your home outright? Credit offers. 4. Checking your income. Theres nothing in your credit history or score that in any way references your income. But that doesnt mean a computer program cant try to figure it out. Information already in the hands of credit bureaus...like how much credit you have, how big your mortgage is, and how well youve done paying your debts...can be used to estimate your income. And the Federal Reserve recently started to allow credit bureaus to furnish these estimates to banks in order to satisfy new requirements that credit card issuers show their applicants have the ability to shoulder the payments. Low income estimates might impact your ability to get a credit card, while high estimates may result in more offers for one. 5. Receiving reports on changes in your financial status. If you have an account in collection, a bank or collection agency can get information as often as daily from credit bureaus. If your situation is changing for the better...say, your debt levels are dropping...expect more calls from the collection agency. 6. Finding out how rich you are. Like your income, theres nothing in your credit history that indicates how much money you have. But also like your income, thats no reason credit bureaus cant use computer modeling to try to figure it out. Paying more than the minimum on your mortgage or other debts? Paying off big loans with lump sums of cash? You must have some money somewhere. And if youve ever gotten a friendly check-in call from your banks investment department, you already know theyre keeping an eye on your savings balances. 7. Seeing if you pay your rent on time. RentBureau at http://www.experian.com/rentbureau/rental-payment.html is a company that collects and distributes payment information from property management companies for use in screening potential tenants. Credit bureau Experian recently purchased the company and is starting to include that history in credit files. A poor rent history could damage your file and your credit history. [Source: MoneyTalksNews Stacy Johnson
article 2 Feb 2011 ++] Saving Money: Millions of low-income Americans who don't have bank accounts are finding an alternative to check-cashing stores at an unusual place: their local big-box retailer. Kmart has begun testing check cashing, money transfers and prepaid cards in stores in Illinois, California and Puerto Rico, with plans to roll out the services nationally later this year. Best Buy has installed kiosks in its stores for shoppers to pay utility, cable and phone bills. Wal-Mart has opened roughly 1,500 MoneyCenters that process as many as 5 million transactions each week. The retailers are mainstreaming a $320 billion industry of alternative financial services that has long operated in the shadow of the formal banking system and under the radar of federal regulators. The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was established in part to plug the gaps in oversight, but it remains unclear how much authority it will have over stores. One
thing, however, does seem certain: Demand for alternative services
is only expected to grow as strict new rules force banks to charge
higher fees for checking accounts, placing them out of reach
of many financially strapped households. According to a recent
government survey, nearly 30 million households either do not
have a bank account or use one sparingly. Nearly 70% of families
considered "unbanked" earn less than $30,000 a year
and many say they will never do business at a bank. These households
have traditionally relied on a patchwork of services to manage
their money, and retailers have begun to realize that those same
consumers are shopping in their stores. [Source: The Washington Post Ylan
Q. Mui article 31 Jan 2011 ++] Medicare Fraud Update 62:
[Source: Fraud News Daily 15-28 Jan 2011 ++] Medicad Fraud Update 33:
? Brooklyn Park MN - Anita Gayle
Soledolu, 39, owner of Sole Provider Nursing Services, and her
husband, Stephen Adewale Soledolu, 32, are accused of overbilling
the state's Personal Care Assistance program (PCA) by allegedly
submitting false claims for home care and nursing services between
2006 and 2008. The charges against Sole Provider also says the
agency submitted bills showing care aides working more than 24
hours in a single day and, in one case, 42 hours a day for a
week straight. In all, it alleges overbilling of $975,295. State Veteran's Benefits:
The state of Louisiana provides
several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information
on these refer to the Veteran State Benefits LA attachment
to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits listed below.
Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state.
For a more detailed explanation of each click on Learn
more about
wording highlighted in blue on the attachment. Clearly
the best strategy for the British at this point would have been
to seal off the Charlestown Peninsula by taking control of the
Neck. That move, accompanied by a naval blockade, would have
starved out the American force in short order. The British commanders,
however, felt a strong need for aggressive action. At about 3
p.m. General William Howe led a force of 3,000 soldiers ashore
near Moultons Hill south of Breeds Hill. After a
short march to the foot of the American position, the redcoats
launched two uphill assaults against the entrenched colonists.
Colonel Prescott reputedly cautioned his men not to fire until
they saw the whites of their opponents eyes. Both assaults
were repulsed and resulted in very heavy losses for the British.
Action ceased for an hour while Howe counseled with his subordinates
and awaited the arrival of 400 additional soldiers. A third charge
found the Americans running low on powder and unable to resist
the fixed bayonets of the British. Prescott grasped the hopelessness
of the situation and gave the order to retreat. American soldiers
fled down the north slope of Breeds Hill and sought escape
across the Neck. Many were shot in the back during this retreat.
[Source: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h666.html Feb 2011 ++] Military History Anniversaries:
Significant March events in U.S.
Military History are: [Source: Various Feb 2011 ++] [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/ Feb 2011++] Tax Burden for West Virginia Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in West Virginia: Sales TaxesState Sales Tax: 6% (prescription drugs exempt). Food taxed at 3%. Seniors age 60 and older are eligible for the Golden Mountaineer Discount Card that can be used for pharmaceutical discounts, retail and professional discounts. To apply or obtain more information, call 304-558-3317 or 877-987-3646.Gasoline Tax: 32.2 cents/gallonDiesel Fuel Tax: 32.1 cents/gallonCigarette Tax: $0.55/pack of 20 Personal Income TaxesTax Rate Range: Low - 3%; High - 6.5%Income Brackets: Five: Lowest - $10,000; Highest - $60,000. For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.Personal Exemptions: Single - $2,000; Married - $4,000; Dependents - $2,000Standard Deduction: NoneMedical/Dental Deduction: For tax year 2007, if you had no employer and were not self-employed, you may claim as a subtraction from income 33.4% of the amount you paid for medical care insurance. If you had an employer or were self-employed, you may be able to claim a subtraction from income for the amount you paid for medical insurance. It does not include long-term care insurance. Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: The beginning
point for West Virginia taxation is federal adjusted gross income.
Therefore, any amount of the IRA distribution or pension income
that is taxable and included in federal adjusted gross income
is taxable on the West Virginia income tax return. $2,000 of
civil, and state pensions are exempt. Social Security income
is taxable only to the extent that the income is includable in
your federal adjusted gross income. For more information on county taxes, refer to http://www.wva.state.wv.us/taxqna/b_answers.asp?s_Tax_type=Property+Tax&ID_Q=208 Senior
citizens eligible for the Homestead Exemption Program may be
entitled to a Senior Citizen Tax credit. The credit is based
on the amount of property taxes paid on the first $10,000 or
portion thereof, of the taxable assessed value over the $20,000
Homestead Exemption. The credit is based on the amount of property
taxes paid on the first $20,000, or portion thereof, of the taxable
assess value over the $20,000 Homestead Exemption. Taxpayers
who pay the federal alternative minimum tax cannot claim this
credit. Seniors who are 65 or older and who experience a property
tax increase of at least $300 on their owner-occupied West Virginia
home over the past year may qualify for the Senior Citizen property
Tax Deferment if their income was no more than $35,000. The credit
must be approved by your county assessor's office.The state's
homestead Excess Property Tax Credit is a refundable personal
income tax credit for real property taxes paid in excess of your
income. The maximum refundable tax credit is $1,000. For more
information on the above, refer to http://www.state.wv.us/taxrev/tsdPublications/tsd411.pdf and http://www.wva.state.wv.us/wvtax/seniorCitizens.aspx For further information, visit the West Virginia State Tax Department site http://www.wva.state.wv.us/wvtax/default.aspx or call 304-558-3333 or 800-982-8297. Also visit the West Virginia Department of Revenue http://www.revenue.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Feb 2011 ++] Have You Heard?: Why Grandmas Are Smart. I was out walking with my grandson. He picked up something off of the ground and started to put it in his mouth. I took the item away from him and I asked him not to do that. "Why" my grandson asked. "Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs," I replied. At this point, my grandson looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Grandma, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart." I was thinking quickly and said to him. "All grandmas know stuff. It's on the Grandma Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a grandma." We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but he was evidently pondering this new information. "Oh....I get it! He beamed, So if you don't pass the test you have to be the grandpa." "Exactly," I replied with a big smile on my face. "I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself. "...Ronald Reagan [Joke at the Gridiron Club annual dinner 1984.] Veteran Legislation Status
26 FEB 2011: For a listing of Congressional
bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the
112th Congress refer to the Bulletins House &
Senate Veteran Legislation attachment. Support of these
bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical
if they are ever going to move through the legislative process
for a floor vote to become law. A good indication on that likelihood
is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. Any
number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate.
At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills
content, determine its current status, the committee it has been
assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor
of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative
has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. House: United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach
activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2011. A bill to amend
the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant
status for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a
United States citizen child if the child was born abroad and
is the child of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the
United States. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011. A bill t amend title
38, United States Code, to provide certain abused dependents
of veterans with health care. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum
age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA
program. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed by the Department
of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses of certain totally-disabled
veterans. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation to Homeless Vets.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers
to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide
assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for
certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic
stress disorder. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A
bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess Internet Website. A bill
to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the
main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans
Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to
publicize such Internet website. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement
for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit
Plan for military surviving spouses to offset the receipt of
veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60 Retired Reserves. A
bill 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. H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for
Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
who have served on active duty or performed active service since
September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or
in other emergency situations receive credit for such service
in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service
retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent
receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation
to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired
under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of
the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act. A bill to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on dog training therapy. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor Reimbursement.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the
reimbursement of mental health counselors under TRICARE, and
for other purposes. H.R.210 : Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service
in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth
of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active
service for purposes of benefits under programs administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2011.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a
refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for
coverage under Medicare Part B. H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA Sole Source Contracts.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to promote jobs
for veterans through the use of sole source contracts by Department
of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting the contracting goals
and preferences of the Department of Veterans Affairs for small
business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.284 : Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and
Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2011. A bill
to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination through
the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for the Fair
Housing Initiatives Program, and for other purposes. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to provide
housing assistance for very low-income veterans. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members
of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to
receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans
Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason
of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special
Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current
law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation
Act. A bill to provide compensation for certain World War II
veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as
prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A bill to require employers
to provide veterans with time off on Veterans Day. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act. A
bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired
members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability
rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both
retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate
the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility
for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with
less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for
certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic
stress disorder. H.R.420 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011. A bill
to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their
family members can register certain firearms in the National
Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. H.R.493 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness
of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired
members of the Armed Forces following their death. H.R.540 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act. A
bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to honor
veterans of the Armed Forces who died after their service in
the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct result of their
service in the Vietnam War. H.R.544 : Servicemen Mortgage Foreclosure Protection. A
bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently
extend the period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage
foreclosures, and for other purposes. H.R.545 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers
who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans.
H.R.561 : Veterans Employment Tax Credit Act of 2011. A
bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the
work opportunity tax credit with respect to veterans. H.R.575 : HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to enter into contracts with community health care providers
to improve access to health care for veterans in highly rural
areas, and for other purposes. H.R.595 : National Song of Remembrance. A bill to amend
title 36, United States Code, to designate the musical piece
commonly known as "Taps" as the National Song of Remembrance,
and for other purposes. H.R.648 : Pledge of Allegiance Saluting. A bill to amend
title 4, United States Code, to authorize members of the Armed
Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military salute
during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. H.R.652 : Tricare Premium Limits. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to limit the increase of premiums, deductibles,
copayments, or other charges for health care provided under the
TRICARE program. H.R.743 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to To amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit
to small businesses which hire individuals who are members of
the Ready Reserve or National Guard. H.R.776 : Guaranteed 3% COLA for Seniors Act of 2011. A
bill to To require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index
for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for
Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security
Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries under
such title, for an annual cost-of-living increase which is not
less than 3 percent. H.R.802 : VetStar Award Program. A bill to direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to establish a VetStar Award Program. H.R.803 : Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase vocational
rehabilitation and employment assistance, and for other purposes.
H.R.804 : Operation New Dawn Vet Care. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of certain
veterans who serve in support of Operation New Dawn for hospital
care, medical services, and nursing home care provided by the
Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.805 : Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights Education.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate
certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform
veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights,
and for other purposes. H.R.806 : End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements
in the services provided for homeless veterans under the administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.809 : Post Women Veterans Bill of Rights. To direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display in each facility
of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women Veterans Bill of
Rights. H.R.810 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2011.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for
the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions
of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and for other purposes. H.R.811 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers
who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans.
H.R.812 : Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011. A bill to To
amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating
to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity
of the Republic of Vietnam. H.R.813 : Vet Survivor Benefit Eligibility. To amend title
38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which
a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's survivors
are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled
at time of death. H.R.814 : Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011. A bill
to To provide Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs
medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible
veterans for non-service-connected conditions. Senate: United States Senate website: http://www.senate.gov/
Of the 415 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 112th Congress as of 26 FEB, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. A good indication on the likelihood of a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims. A bill to require the
Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims
of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on
behalf of the United States during World War II. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A Travel. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members
of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated
as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and
to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are
entitled to travel on such aircraft. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former
prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and
exchange stores. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance. A bill to restore
the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day, and for other
purposes. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work
opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor
annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency
and indemnity compensation. S.277 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital
care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who
were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water
was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes. S.344 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired
members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related
Special Compensation, and for other purposes. S.367 : Hire A Hero Act of 2011. A bill to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to
small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the
Ready Reserve or National Guard, and for other purposes. S.402 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military
service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably
during the Cold War, and for other purposes. S.411 : Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and
nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case
management services associated with certain supported housing
programs for veterans, and for other purposes. [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 13 Jan 2011 ++] |
Vet Cemetery North Carolina (Wilmington) Retiree Pay Update 02 (Higher Tax Withholding) Commissary Update 04 (Commissary/MWR Threat) VA Homeless Vets Update 20 (First-Ever Report) Taxpayer Advocate Service (Help for Problem Situations) Mobilized Reserve 8 FEB 2011 (14 Decrease) Congress Retirement Benefits (Pensions Total $26M) Dont Ask, Don't Tell Update 01 (Disharge Appeals) Tricare Uniform Formulary Update 36 (BAP JAN Comments) Government Shutdown (Vet Impact) Nocturia (Frequent Nightly Urination) Tax Changes for 2010 (Deductions) Eye Health Foods (Top 10) VA Caregiver Program Update 01 (Support Line) VA Caregiver Program Update 02 (Support Services) SBP DIC Offset Update 28 (S.260) SBP DIC Offset Update 29 (Perplexed Widows) Vet Jobs Update 25 (New DHS Website) Legislation of Interest Update 14 (5 More Bills) Health Care Fraud Penalties (Increases Sought) Arlington National Cemetery Update 21 (NVTC Report) PTSD Update 62 (Crohns Disease Link) PTSD Update 63 (VA's Diagnostic Trap) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 15 (Booklet Dispute) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 16 (Lawsuit Goes Forward) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 17 (Booklet Controversy) Vet Jobs Update 24 (IHireVeterans.com) Military & Veteran Associations (Directory) PTSD Update 61 (New Website) Honor and Remember Campaign (Controversy) USS Forrest Sherman (Proposed Museum) Health Care Reform Update 40 (Ruling Raises Questions) VA Budget 2011 Update 04 (HVAC/SVAC Chairs Disagree) VA Budget 2011 Update 05 (Vet Health Care Funding Freeze) WW1 Vet Search Update 07 (Pershing's Last Patriot) Disability Insurance (Questions to Ask) GI Bill Update 92 (Automated Educational Benefits) VA Tribal Relations (New Office) Saving Money (Wireless Plans) Notes of Interest (1-14 Feb 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 60 (Benefit Card Fingerprint Proposal) Medicare Fraud Update 61 (1-14 Feb 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 32 (1-14 Feb 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Kentucky) Military History (Midnight Ride of Paul Revere) Military History Anniversaries (February 15-28 Summary) Military Trivia 22 (The Great Escape) Tax Burden for Washington Retirees (2010) Have You Heard? (How to start a fight) Veteran Legislation Status 13 FEB 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Vet Cemetery North Carolina: Sometime this spring, a new state highway historical marker (monument) will be planted near the entrance to the North Carolina Wilmington National Cemetery. The metal plaque will be the result of a campaign by a local Civil War re-enactor Fred Johnson who serves in a U.S. Colored Troops unit. Thousands of Union dead from Fort Fisher and the Wilmington campaign were reburied there when the cemetery opened in 1867. Some 3,300 African-American soldiers in two brigades served in this area. During the assault on Fort Fisher, they held a line at Kure Beach to prevent Confederate forces from relieving the fort. Later, they formed the vanguard on the east bank of the Cape Fear River as Gen. Alfred Terry's Union forces advanced on Wilmington. Many of these Colored Troops were North Carolinians and ex-slaves. The troops served as occupation forces in this area after the war, and many of the soldiers stayed on after their discharges. Many of these resident veterans were buried at the National Cemetery, well into the 1900s. Records identified 92 U.S. Colored Troops buried at Wilmington National Cemetery. However, further research indicated that many more bodies were moved to the cemetery between 1867 and 1882 perhaps as many as 500 in all. An order for the new marker will be formally placed later this month and delivery is expected two months after that. The finished marker will be placed somewhere along Market Street near the National Cemetery gate. The state's historic highway marker
program celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. A total of
1,548 markers line North Carolina's streets and roads. The wording
of the new marker, numbered D-111, and an essay about its background,
may be found at http://www.ncmarkers.com/Home.aspx Retiree Pay Update 02: In FEB retirees DFAS statements started showing increased taxes withheld and reduced monthly payments of Military Retired Pay. This is because on 29 JAN the 2011 Tax Tables were implemented with an effective date of 1 FEB 2011. This new tax table affected over 1.56 million retirees and in most instances raised the amount of Federal Income Tax withheld from their retired pay on a monthly basis in the $30.00 to $40.00 range. These net pay decreases have already been posted in MyPay and Retiree Account statements along with a copy of a tax related retiree newsletter. A copy will be mailed on a staggered basis commencing 3 FEB 2011. DFAS has issued the following explanation with a basic Q&A regarding the change: Q: Why did the amount of taxes taken
from my retired pay increase? Q: Information circulated in the
media indicated that taxpayers would pay less tax in 2011. Why
doesnt this apply to military
retirees and SBP recipients? Q: In 2010 there was no Federal Income
Tax withheld from my retired pay. My amount of income did not
increase in 2011. Why does the statement I just received indicate
that Federal Income Tax will now be withheld from my military
retired pay? In
the DFAS explanation, the reduction seen in retiree checks is
a result of a change in law, devised at the close of the last
Congress, which increases the amount of taxes withheld. The actual
tax rate remains the same, but the government now requires more
withheld. The FITW increase could mean a higher return after
your taxes are paid for some individuals. The senior subcommittee Democrat, Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), echoed the chairman's concerns. Davis said some don't appreciate the value of commissaries, exchanges, and other facilities and suggest, 'Let them go to Wal-Mart.' She pledged to stand with Wilson in fighting any proposed cuts in the belief that these programs are important to retaining military families. Commissary, exchange and MWR programs are certainly no strangers to budget threats. Commissary funding was regularly attacked in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, and previous budget cuts already have closed or curtailed services at many base libraries and recreation facilities. In NOV 2010, the co-chairs of the President's Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform proposed consolidating commissaries and exchanges and raising prices to save money. [Source: MOAA Lrg Up 11 Feb 2011 ++] VA Homeless Vets Update
20: For the first time, the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban
Development published on 10 FEB the most authoritative analysis
of the extent and nature of homelessness among Veterans. According
to HUD and VA's assessment, nearly 76,000 Veterans were homeless
on a given night in 2009 while roughly 136,000 Veterans spent
at least one night in a shelter during that year. This unprecedented
assessment is based on an annual report HUD provides to Congress
and explores in greater depth the demographics of Veterans who
are homeless, how the number of Veterans compare to others who
are homeless, and how Veterans access and use the nation's homeless
response system. HUD's report, Veteran Homelessness: A Supplement
to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2009AHARVeteransReport.pdf , examines the data in the department's annual
report to Congress in-depth. "With our federal, state and
community partners working together, more Veterans are moving
into safe housing," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric
K. Shinseki. "But we're not done yet. Providing assistance
in mental health, substance abuse treatment, education and employment
goes hand-in-hand with preventive steps and permanent supportive
housing. We continue to work towards our goal of finding every
Veteran safe housing and access to needed services." Last
June, President Obama announced the nation's first comprehensive
strategy to prevent and end homelessness, including a focus on
homeless Veterans. The report, Opening Doors: Federal Strategic
Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, puts the country on a path
to end Veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015; and to ending
homelessness among children, family, and youth by 2020. To read
more about the Administration's strategic plan to prevent and
end homelessness in America refer to http://www.usich.gov/PDF/OpeningDoorsOverview.pdf Taxpayer Advocate Service: The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers who are experiencing economic harm, who are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, or who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should. For example, if you are experiencing financial problems and will be evicted if you don't pay the rent, the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to assist you in obtaining your refund expeditiously. The Taxpayer Advocate Service also may be able to assist you if you have experienced a delay of more than 30 days to resolve a tax-related problem or have not received a response or resolution to the problem by the date that was promised by the IRS. The service is free, confidential, tailored to meet your needs, and available for businesses as well as individuals. While the Taxpayer Advocate Service cannot change the law or make a technical tax decision, it can clear up problems that resulted from previous contacts and ensure that your case is given a complete and impartial review. You can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service by calling 877-777-4778, or TTY/TTD 800-829-4059 to see if you are eligible for assistance. You can also call or write to your Local Taxpayer Advocate, whose address and phone number are listed in your local telephone directory and in Publication 1546 (PDF), Taxpayer Advocate Service - Your Voice at the IRS. If you write, be sure to include your social security number or employer identification number, your return address and a phone number where you can be reached during the day. Include with your letter, copies of any correspondence you have received from the IRS. In addition, please describe your problem, the tax years involved and any previous attempts to solve the problem (including any offices you contacted). You can also file Form 911, Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance (And Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order), or ask an IRS employee to complete it on your behalf. To learn more about the Taxpayer Advocate Service, refer to http://www.irs.gov/advocate The
Taxpayer Advocate Panel (TAP) is a group of concerned citizen
volunteers who work closely with TAS to improve IRS services
with the public. Congress Retirement Benefits: Taxpayers are likely to foot the bill for at least $26 million in pensions for former Members of Congress this year, even as Congress embraces austerity by curbing its annual pay raises and voting to slash office budgets. That estimate, drawn from data published by the Congressional Research Service, is based on payments to 455 former Members as of OCT 09 and doesnt include potential payouts to dozens of newly retired lawmakers who are eligible to draw their pensions. While Members have taken aim at Congress internal spending habits in recent months...lawmakers voted against an automatic pay raise in the current fiscal year and the House voted last month to cut its office budgets by 5%...the Congressional pension program is rarely mentioned on Capitol Hill. Along with the franking privilege, pensions represent a valuable perk to both political parties that lawmakers dont want to touch, National Taxpayers Union spokesman Pete Sepp said. Aside from passing a measure in 2007 to strip Members convicted of certain felonies while in office of their Congressional pensions, neither the House nor Senate has pursued major changes to their retirement program since the mid-1990s. Rep. Howard Coble, among the leaders of a 1995 effort to overhaul the pension program, acknowledged that he eventually abandoned his legislative effort, although he continues to oppose the retirement plan. It was tilting at windmills. Nothing was going to happen, the North Carolina Republican said 8 FEB. I think it would have been perceived to be showboating, to go to the well of the House two or three times a year. Coble said he does not anticipate reviving his legislation to end the pension in the new Congress: In order for it not to be an exercise in futility, youd have to have some reasonable chance of passage, and the media at large would have to weigh in. While both freshman Reps. Bobby Schilling (R-IL) and Joe Walsh (R-IL) have publicly announced they will not participate in the pension program, neither has introduced legislation proposing changes to the retirement plan for their colleagues. It also remains unclear whether Schilling and Walsh will actually be able to decline the retirement benefits. Congress last reformed its pension program in the mid-1980s. Members elected after 1984, like other federal employees, are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System, which comprises Social Security payments, a monthly pension based on tenure and pay history, and the Thrift Savings Plan, which is similar to private 401(k) accounts. Members were able to decline to participate in the program until 2003, according to the CRS, when Congress prohibited lawmakers from opting out. Coble said he believes he is the only Member to decline both the pension benefit and the TSP. Those were not my most brilliant financial decisions, I might admit, Coble said, stating that the decision to decline a pension will prevent him from being able to continue his health care coverage when he retires. But I felt like the taxpayers are paying my salary, and I dont know that they need to contribute to the pension. Under the FERS...which covers all federal employees...Congress, as the employer, and Members each contribute funds to the pension plan. According to the CRS, in 2011, Members covered by the FERS will contribute 1.3% of their salaries to the pension program, and Congress will pay another 17.9% of salary costs. Members also pay another 6.2% of their earnings to Social Security. Members may also contribute up to $16,500 in pre-tax dollars to their TSP accounts in 2011, and they may receive up to 5% in matching funds from their employer. Each Member receives 1% in matching contributions from Congress, regardless of whether they contribute. Members elected before 1984 may participate in a different pension plan: the Civil Service Retirement System. Each retirement plan requires Members to remain in Congress for five years before they are eligible to receive benefit at retirement age. Both plans allow Members to take full retirement at 62, but ex-lawmakers may qualify for a full or reduced pension as young as 50 depending on their length of service. As
of October 2009, of the 455 former Members drawing federal pensions,
275 retired under the CSRS and received an average income of
$69,000, while another 180 retired under both programs or the
FERS alone and received an average pension of $40,000, according
to the CRS. A Roll Call review of Members who left Congress during
or after the 111th Congress found more than three dozen lawmakers
who could immediately begin to draw their full pensions and more
than a dozen others who could potentially draw a reduced pension
at an earlier age. [Source: C-Span Washington Journal Jennifer Yachnin article 9 Feb 2011 ++] Dont Ask, Don't Tell Update 01: A group of House Democrats want troops previously dismissed under the dont ask, dont tell law to be able to apply for honorable discharge status, opening the door for them to receive veterans benefits. In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates last month, House Armed Services Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) and two colleagues asked Pentagon officials to look into the possibility of allowing those troops to petition the boards of correction to upgrade their status to an honorable discharge, if they received a lesser distinction. Under Department of Veterans Affairs rules, only troops who receive a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge are completely barred from receiving veterans benefits. But troops with other-than-honorable dismissals do see some restrictions on their eligibility. Troops with other-than-honorable dismissals can apply for health care related to service-connected injuries, but the department can deny treatment for health issues that develop later in life. They are not eligible for GI Bill benefits, and may be refused veterans home loans. Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of pro-repeal Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said the other-than honorable dismissals also carry with them a negative stigma when troops apply for civilian jobs. For local law enforcement, defense contractor posts, jobs like those, its almost an automatic exclusion, he said. It can really create problems in terms of future employment. Sarvis said the majority of the dont ask, dont tell dismissals have been honorable discharges, but his group has handled a number of cases where troops were given lesser status simply because of a commanders negative views on homosexuality. More than 14,000 troops have been dismissed from the military under the controversial dont ask, dont tell law since 1993, although none have been kicked out since NOV 2010. In December, Congress passed legislation to repeal the law in the near future, after the Defense Department finalizes a plan to make the change without disrupting current combat operations. In January, a report from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office calculated that between 2004 and 2009 alone, the Department of Defense spent $193 million to recruit and train service members to replace those dismissed under Dont Ask Dont Tell. Last week, Pentagon officials offered an overview of that plan, including new diversity and respect training for all troops. They also announced that troops dismissed under the law will be allowed to reapply for admission to the service once the repeal is finalized, provided they still meet enlistment criteria. However, in a memo to the service chiefs, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley wrote that the Department will not authorize compensation of any type, including retroactive separation pay, for those previously separated under the law. Sarvis said his group is working on a proposal to allow all of the troops dismissed under dont ask, dont tell to appeal their status to the Pentagon. Even troops with honorable status have homosexual conduct stamped on their discharge paperwork, which creates privacy headaches when civilian employers ask for evidence of their military experience. We need to process these on a uniform and expeditious basis, because were looking at a situation where well probably have more than 14,000 people looking to have their records changed, he said. [Source: Stars & Stripes Leo
Shane article 3 Feb 2011 ++] Drugs reviewed and moved to non-formulary
status were: The BAP recommended that other medications
reviewed should be placed or kept on formulary status. [Source: Military Family Topics for 8 Feb 2011 ++] Government Shutdown: The chairwoman of the Senate Veterans
Affairs Committee recalled last week how a government shutdown
in 1995 affected veterans. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) was speaking
as the possibility of another closing of government services
inches toward reality as lawmakers differ on how to fund federal
agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs. More
than 400,000 veterans saw their disability benefits and pension
claims delayed, she said, according to a report in Army
Times. Money that they were counting on didnt come
to them. Payment of GI Bill education checks were delayed for
hundreds of thousands of our veterans. Telephone calls from our
veterans to veterans benefits offices went unanswered.
Mail from veterans to our VA offices wasnt opened. It wasnt
answered. If another shutdown takes place, it will happen
at midnight 4 MAR, the newspaper reported. If both sides agree
on funding before then, the worst will be averted. But the problem
is in how much money is required to keep agencies operating.
Republicans have used the possibility of a government shutdown
as a way to force Democrats to accept more cuts to the federal
budget. Unaffected by any shutdown would be the Defense Department,
federal law enforcement and other essential workers. [Source:
NGAUS Washington Report 8 Feb 2011 ++] Her team's findings...based on a government health study of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults...give a clearer picture of just how common nocturia is among men. The researchers found that among 5,300 U.S. men age 20 and up, 21% said that in the past month, they had gotten up at least twice per night to urinate. Nocturia was more common among African-American men (30%) than those of other races and ethnicities (20%). Not surprisingly, it also increased with age: Just 8% of men ages 20 to 34 reported it, compared with 56% of men age 75 or older. The higher rate among African Americans is one of the more interesting findings from the study, said Markland, of the Birmingham VA Medical Center and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The extra risk was not explained by higher rates of medical conditions among black men, or racial disparities in education or income. Future studies, Markland said, should try to uncover the reasons for the higher rate of nocturia among African-American men. Other factors linked to an increased risk of nocturia included prostate enlargement, a history of prostate cancer, high blood pressure and depression. It's not entirely clear if all of those problems cause, or result from, nocturia. With depression, for example, Markland said that poor sleep caused by nocturia could contribute to depression symptoms. On the other hand, men with depression may have sleep problems and be more apt to get up to use the bathroom; in that case, it would not necessarily be a full bladder triggering the trip to the bathroom. Nocturia can also be a side effect of some medications, such as diuretics used to treat high blood pressure. This study did not have information on men's medication use. The bottom line for men is that bothersome nocturia is something they should bring up to their doctor, according to Markland. "I think that someone who is having their sleep disrupted with two or more episodes at night should have it addressed," she said. If an underlying medical cause, like diabetes, is to blame, then it's important to have that problem treated. In other cases, Markland said, lifestyle changes may do the trick. "Avoiding caffeine and a large fluid intake at night may help," she noted, as may other lifestyle tactics, like adjusting your sleep habits. One recent study of 56 older adults with nocturia found that lifestyle changes -- including fluid restriction, limiting any excess hours in bed, moderate daily exercise, and keeping warm while sleeping -- helped more than half of the patients significantly cut down their overnight trips to the bathroom. There are also medications available specifically for overactive bladder and nocturia. Those include a synthetic version of a hormone that keeps the body from making urine at night, a drug that blocks the ability of the bladder muscles to contract, and antidepressants that make it harder to urinate by increasing tension at the bladder neck. Several of Markland's colleagues on the study have a financial relationship with companies that market those drugs, including Astellas Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Pfizer Inc. [SOURCE: Reuters Amy Norton article 2 Feb & Journal of Urology 19 Jan 2011 ++] Tax Changes for 2010: Heres a quick, concise, but complete look at changes for the 2010 tax year 1. Homeowners. Tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers, $6,500 for existing homeowners. If you bought a home in 2010, you could qualify for a tax credit. Rules and exclusions, however, abound. If you think you might qualify, check out http://www.irs.gov/publications/p530/ar02.html#en_US_2010_publink1000241725 2. Payroll. Last year you got a credit of 6.2 percent of your pay (the amount you pay into Social Security), capped at $400 for single filers and $800 for joint filers. Note that you already received this money in the form of lower tax withholding in 2010's paychecks. 3. Higher standard and itemized deductions. The standard deduction if youre married and filing a joint 2010 tax return is $11,400, same as last year. If youre single, however, your standard deduction increased by $250 to $5,700. Also, itemized deductions didnt phase out as your income increased. If its deductible, you get to deduct it, no matter how much you made last year. 4. Free parking. If your company paid for your parking or transit costs last year, you dont have to pay taxes on that benefit, providing it wasnt more than $230 a month. 5. College tuition. For tax years 2010 through 2012, the Hope Credit has been replaced by the American Opportunity Tax Credit. If your adjusted gross income was less than $80,000 single, $160,000 joint, you get a credit of up to $2,500 per student, as long as the money was spent on tuition or books. If you had higher income than the limits noted, the credit starts phasing out. 6. Earned income tax credit. For families with three or more kids the maximum Earned Income Tax Credit goes up by $628.50 for 2010. 7. Deductible IRAs. If your modified adjusted gross income is less than $66,000 single or $109,000 joint, you can fully deduct money you contributed to an IRA, even if youre covered by a retirement plan at work. Even if your income was higher than that, you might get a partial deduction. 8. Roth IRA conversions. In 2010, you could convert your regular IRA to a Roth, no matter how much you made. (In prior years, if you made too much, you couldnt.) While you still have to pay taxes to do it, you can spread them over two years. 9. Estate tax. If you died last year, your estate owes no taxes, no matter how rich you were. But then again, if you died last year, youre probably not reading this. 10. Gift tax. You could have given anyone up to $13,000 last year without owing any gift tax. 11. Energy-saving home improvements. If you made any qualified energy-saving home improvements last year, you get a credit of 30 percent of the price, up to $1,500. 12. Educators deduction. You can deduct up to $250 per person in other words, up to $500 for a couple of married educators filing jointly... of money you spent on books, supplies, computer equipment, and other stuff that you used in class unless it was reimbursed or you worked less than 900 hours during the school year. 13. Tuition and fees deduction. You
can deduct up to $4,000 of college tuition and fees. 1. Spinach - "Spinach is the king of the green leafies," says Pratt. But other good greens include kale and Swiss chard, plus turnip, mustard and collard greens. These leafy greens are excellent for the eye because they're rich in lutein, a carotenoid compound that is found in colorful fruits and vegetables and that protect cells from damage. A diet rich in spinach helps shield your macula...the center of the retina...from cell damage that can cause both age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Certainly, if you have macular degeneration already, you want a lot of spinach in your diet...and if you have a family history of the disease, you should be loading up on that vegetable. 2. Salmon - Cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel and albacore tuna are the best fish to eat for the health of the back of the eye. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is the primary omega-3 fatty acid found in these fish. It's a nutrient that concentrates in the retina and may prevent plaque...which causes macular degeneration...from forming there. Boosting your DHA by eating four 3.5 to 4 ounce servings of cold-water fish weekly is a wonderful way to help prevent eye disease, Pratt says. Indeed, a Johns Hopkins study published in the journal Ophthalmology in December reported that eating fish and shellfish that are rich in omega-3 seems to protect against advanced-age-related macular degeneration, even in those who smoked or were overweight...both risk factors for the disease. Cold-water fish also may help prevent retinopathy...damage to the retina...including blindness caused by complications from diabetes 3. Walnuts - Walnuts are the best nut source of omega-3s. Pistachios are a close second. In small amounts they can be converted to EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), another omega-3 fatty acid used by the eye, along with DHA. They are full of antioxidants and vitamin E, which work to combat inflammation and preserve cardiovascular health. What's more, walnuts help to lower C-reactive protein, a marker that signals there is inflammation in the body. Having a handful of walnuts a day can cut your risk of a cardiac event by as much as 50 percent, according to several large research projects, including the ongoing Nurses Health Study. (Other types of nuts, including almonds, hazelnuts, pecans and peanuts, can also provide the same heart benefit, according to the Food and Drug Administration.) 4. Berries - Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, mulberries, cherries and even grapes are outstanding foods for protecting cardiovascular health, which makes them stars for eye health, too. They're great for lowering both inflammation and blood pressure. And high blood pressure is a risk factor for macular degeneration. Blueberries and blackberries also contain anthocyanins, which have the dark purple pigments that fight inflammation and improve blood flow. They also help prevent blockages to the arteries that feed oxygen to the retina, says Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and author of Doctor's Detox Diet: The Ultimate Weight Loss Prescription. 5. Orange bell peppers - These peppers are the best dietary source of zeaxanthin, the other carotenoid that concentrates in the back of the eye. The higher the level of carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, the lower the risk for cataracts and macular degeneration. Orange bell peppers have a lot of vitamin C and more zeaxanthin per mouthful than any food on the planet, Pratt says. Other orange foods...including gogi berries, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes and carrots...may have similar benefits. These orange-colored choices also are chock-full of vitamin A, which boosts night vision. And they contain a carotene that helps lower the risk of cataracts. 6. Broccoli - Broccoli activates anti-inflammatory enzymes in the body and acts to encourage detoxification. Other vegetables like Brussels sprouts and cabbage rev up these enzymes. Broccoli also triggers anti-inflammatory systems that help decrease inflammation in the back of the eye. 7. Tea - Green tea, black tea and oolong tea are best for preventing cataracts. Teas may help prevent macular degeneration, too, by preventing the growth of new blood vessels in the back of the eye, Pratt says. When too many new blood vessels grow beneath the retina, they leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes permanent damage and results in blind spots and serious loss of vision from "wet" macular degeneration. 8. Soy - New research shows that soy...especially soy milk, soy sauce, miso and tempeh...are rich in isoflavones, compounds with powerful antioxidant properties that protect against cataract formation in animals. Isoflavones also may help restore tear production that's been reduced by dry eye syndrome, according to a 2010 study. 9. Eggs - Eggs contain the omega-3 fatty acid DHA and are the most readily available source of lutein and zeaxanthin. An egg per day for most people, unless you have diabetes, is excellent eye food. Diabetics need to ask their doctor whether eggs can be a part of their diet. 10. Avocados - Avocados are one the
most nutrient-rich fruits we eat, so it's no wonder they're great
for eyes. They contain lutein and help prevent macular degeneration
and cataracts. "They're also a great source of other important
eye nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and
vitamin E," Gerbstadt says. Those vitamins place avocados
among the top-10 eye foods. VA Caregiver Program Update
02: The Veterans Affairs Department
is launching the first of a series of new and enhanced services
supporting family caregivers of seriously ill and injured veterans.
President Barack Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus
Health Services Act of 2010 legislation in May, authorizing VA
to establish a wide range of new services to support certain
caregivers of eligible post-9/11 veterans. Some
of the new benefits of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act are restricted by law to the caregivers of the most
seriously ill and injured post-9/11 veterans. Those additional
benefits include: VA
will report to Congress in the future on the feasibility of expanding
the enhanced services to family caregivers of veterans of all
eras, officials said. While some of these enhanced benefits are
available now, many of the other significant newly enacted benefits
will require the issuance of regulations. These additional benefits
include monthly stipends, pay for travel costs, medical coverage,
training, counseling and respite care designed to prevent institutionalization
of veterans whenever possible. The law requires detailed regulations
for determining eligibility, designating and approving caregivers,
and providing stipends and health care coverage to primary family
caregivers. The complex process required to implement these regulations
will provide veterans, caregivers and the public the opportunity
to provide comments before those regulations are finalized. "VA
has supported caregivers of veterans of all eras for almost eight
decades," said Deborah Amdur of VA's Care Management and
Social Work Service, "and we know from our experience and
research that veterans are best served when they can live their
lives as independently as possible surrounded by caring family
and friends." Each VA medical center has designated caregiver
support coordinators who will assist eligible veterans and caregivers
in understanding and applying for the new benefits. VA also has
a caregiver support website, http://www.caregiver.va.gov which will provide general information once
final regulations are published, officials said. And there's yet another wrinkle that leaves even some of those who benefit from the system - women 57 and over who have found love a second time and remarried - not completely happy. For war widows who were denied the full benefits of their military insurance, the government sought to help by giving them back the premiums their spouses had paid for the policies. But if a widow then remarries at 57 or older, becoming eligible for the benefit, she can only get it by repaying the insurance premiums the government had refunded to her. Freda Schroeppel Green, 74, whose late husband served in Vietnam and died of a service-connected disability after 30 years in the Air Force, said she was surprised after remarrying last year to receive a bill from the government to repay more than $41,000 in insurance premiums. Those premiums had been refunded to her after his 2003 death because at that time she wasn't able to receive the full benefit of the annuity. "It doesn't make any sense to me," said Green, of Brooksville, Fla. "Why did they send the premiums that he paid and now they want it back?" It also doesn't make sense to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL and 10 other senators who last week filed legislation to help the widows. "This has always been an issue of the military doing the right thing and living up to its promises," Nelson said in a statement. "These policies were bought by servicemen and women to make sure their loved ones would be taken care of following their deaths. Not only is it a promise the government hasn't kept, but now it's sending bills to survivors. That's just outrageous." Among the widows, Green and the approximately 700 others who have remarried after age 57 are considered the lucky ones because at least they no longer have one benefit subtracted from the other. Other surviving spouses...most of whom lose about $1,000 a month because of the current setup...have fought for years on Capitol Hill. The Gold Star Wives of America, a congressionally chartered group of military widows, supports legislation backed by the senators and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) that would eliminate the offset and not require widows to pay back premiums previously refunded. They argue the survivors have spent years living without the benefit of the annuity and it is cheaper for the government to forgo the premiums than manually calculate what's owed. The main hurdle to eliminating the benefit offset is cash. It would cost the government about $6.7 billion over a decade to let the widows collect both benefits. The Defense Department has long said there was never an expectation that both programs would be provided at the same time. Clifford Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel, told Congress last year that eliminating the offset would create inequities in its benefits programs. The widows disagree. Most of the affected survivors' spouses paid on average 6.5% of their retirement pay - or about $100 a month or more - for the annuity. The service members died thinking their spouses would benefit from it, the widows say, just as if they had bought a private life insurance policy. The idea that insurance benefits would be reduced if the husband died from a service-related cause and the widow was receiving survivor benefits was never explained to them, they say. "Nobody could see the train wrecking," said Vivianne Wersel, chairwoman of government relations at Gold Star Wives, whose husband died in 2005, days after returning from a second tour in Iraq. "They had no idea. It wasn't until a death they realized they weren't getting what their husbands thought they'd be getting." For the past several years, a measure to eliminate the offset has passed in the Senate, only to be dropped when House and Senate negotiators got together in private to hash out defense spending. Instead, Congress in recent years has given the surviving spouses small legislative victories that in retrospect only seem to have created new inequities, said Steve Strobridge, a retired Air Force colonel who is the director of government relations at the Military Officers Association of America. One of those victories was the 57-and-older remarriage rule, which at first the Defense Department did not recognize. Three of the widows later successfully sued, and in 2009 the Defense Department issued new guidance saying surviving spouses 57 and older who remarry wouldn't be subjected to the offset. At the time of the court ruling in the widows' favor, even the federal appellate judge who sided with them questioned what Congress was thinking in only helping such a small subset of the widows. Noting that the service member paid for one benefit with premiums and the other with his life, Judge George W. Miller wrote, "Perhaps it was recognition that the political process is the art of the possible, and that prudence counseled against making the perfect the enemy of the good." Another small win on Capitol Hill gave the widows affected by the offset a taxable $50 a month starting in 2010. Instead of making the widows happy many felt Congress was acknowledging that they'd been wronged but wasn't ponying up the money to fix the problem properly. "What am I supposed to do with this except for put it in my gas tank and drive down to your office to complain?" said Suzanne Gerstner, 43, of Brandon, Fla., a mother of three whose husband died in 2005 of cancer linked to his 20 years of Air Force service. "Every little bit helps. Don't get me wrong, but that's kind of insulting." [Source: Washington Post Kimberly Hefling article 10 Feb 2011 ++] Vet Jobs Update 24: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been working hard to hire more veterans and open up additional contract opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). To date, DHS employs 48,130 veterans, a number that is well on track to meet Secretary Napolitanos employment objective of 50,000 veterans by the end of 2012. Another target is to award $1 billion in contracts annually to veteran-owned small businesses. DHS actually awarded $1.1 billion last year, plus they exceeded the 3% contract set-aside goal for SDVOSB firms by awarding 3.2%. For more information about job or contracting opportunities, visit the new DHS website at http://www.dhs.gov/xcitizens/veterans.shtm [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 4 Feb 2011 ++] Military & Veteran Associations: Members of the military community - veterans, active-duty, reserve, National Guard, or their family members - have the opportunity to join or otherwise benefit from several types of associations and organizations. Ranging from fraternal to charity these military specific organizations can provide advocacy, help you network to access job opportunities, tap into benefits, lobby congress, or find support. In addition, the Air Force (Civil Air Patrol) and Coast Guard (CG Auxiliary) which offer civilians the chance to volunteer and contribute to our nations defense, this also includes several official State Defense Forces or Civilian Militias which are also listed here. For a directory of military/veterans associations and organizations listed by type and service affiliation refer to the Military and Veteran Associations attachment to this Bulletin. [Source: Military.com article 24 Jan 2011 ++] PTSD Update 61: The Department of Defense has launched a website,
"Virtual PTSD Experience", that will allow users to
explore the causes and symptoms of post-traumatic stress in an
anonymous setting on the Second Life virtual world platform.
Second Life provides T2 a limitless space on the Internet where
servicemembers can learn more about PTSD causes, symptoms and
resources for information and care. Visitors enter the Virtual
PTSD Experience space through the Second Life website, which
can be accessed for free. For more information, visit the Virtual
PTSD Experience website http://www.t2health.org/ [Source: Military.com article 31 Jan 2011 ++] Lutz
says the campaign helps him mourn his son, Pfc. George Anthony
"Tony" Lutz II, killed at age 25. "It's a great
idea," said Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) who has sponsored bills
in Congress requiring the "Honor and Remember" flag
to be flown under the national flag and POW/MIA flag at federal
buildings on federal holidays. "There was no flag that was
separate and apart to honor those who had given their lives in
the defense and honor of the country," Forbes said. But
many oppose the new banner's display alongside Old Glory. In
Colorado, state senators in late JAN rejected a second attempt
to have the "Honor and Remember" flag flown over the
state Capitol on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The decision
literally brought tears to the eyes of some on the Senate State
Veterans and Military Affairs Committee after hours of emotional
testimony from veterans. Dozens in the standing-room-only crowd
dabbed their eyes. Comments included: But others argue that the American flag is too multifaceted to simply honor those killed in war. They point out that while the nation observes the POW/MIA flag, fallen veterans don't have a flag of their own. "I know there are some veterans that are adamantly opposed to it, and I respect that," said Molly Morel of Martin, Tenn., whose son, Marine Capt. Brent Morel, died in Afghanistan. Molly Morel is president of the nation's largest organization for mothers who have lost children in battle, American Gold Star Mothers, created after World War I. She's a passionate supporter of the "Honor and Remember" flag and has one embroidered with her son's name. Morel says she doesn't understand why some veterans chafe at including the flag on official displays. "Does America have too many reminders about the sacrifices? I don't think so," Morel said. Prominent
military historians are skeptical about the new banner. Andrew
Wiest, a historian at the University of Southern Mississippi
who specializes in the Vietnam War, says the POW/MIA flag was
adopted in "a fit of national conscience and remorse"
over how Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned home.
"The national flag is supposed to represent everything,
the sacrifice of all veterans," Wiest said. The debate is
giving public officials an uncomfortable choice between veterans'
groups and grieving relatives. The national American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Wars groups haven't taken positions on the
banner, though many state chapters oppose its inclusion. "This
is gut-wrenching," said Colorado Sen. Rollie Heath, a Boulder
Democrat who cast the deciding vote not to fly the "Honor
and Remember" flag above the state Capitol in Denver. "I
happen to believe the American flag is the flag we ought to fly,"
he said. "Do I feel good about it? No. This has caused a
rift in the veterans' community. And that's something that pains
all of us." [Source: AP Kristen Wyatt article 31 Jan 2011 ++] USS Forrest Sherman: The USS Forrest Sherman DD-931 Foundation Inc.
hopes to use the USS Forrest Sherman destroyer as a museum and
display ship, an overnight camping venue for youth, an educational
tool and a fishing platform for fishermen. While the ship, currently
docked in Philadelphia, would not relocate until after the new
Indian River Inlet Bridge is constructed, Foundation President
Kurt Wagemann said the group is exploring the possibility of
a move. "It's a great location for the ship," he said.
"It has access to a great number of people, especially in
the summer, being halfway between Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach."
The economic benefits for the beach towns are plentiful, Wagemann
said. Local contractors would be hired to restore and renovate
the ship, and the vessel would draw people to the area. In addition,
the ship would provide at least 20 new jobs. "More than
10 million people a year go to historic ships throughout the
country," he said. "A vast majority of those people
wouldn't come to the area if it weren't for the ship." Gary
Wray, president of the Fort Miles Historic Association -- a nonprofit
group that aims to preserve local history -- thinks bringing
the vessel to Sussex is a great idea. "It's exciting,"
he said. "Fort Miles is a World War II fort. It'll bring
more attention to what the association is all about." Before
the Indian River Inlet was considered, the foundation was looking
at possible homes in Wilmington and Delaware City, Wagemann said.
The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In
his 78-page ruling, Vinson, an appointee of President Ronald
Reagan, said the government cannot force Americans to buy health
insurance, using a favorite analogy of the increasingly influential
tea party movement. It is difficult to imagine that a nation
which began, at least in part, as the result of opposition to
a British mandate giving the East India Company a monopoly and
imposing a nominal tax on all tea sold in America, would have
set out to create a government with the power to force people
to buy tea in the first place, Vinson wrote. In part, Vinson's
decision said: Robert Alt, an analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said Vinson essentially granted to the 26 states declaratory relief they could use to get out of the Medicaid expansion, which has brought strong objections from state capitals burdened by the economic downturn. Because the entire act was struck down, the future requirements to expand Medicaid programs will be suspended, at least as to these 26 states, and these states will be relieved of their obligation to make plans for such expansion in the immediate future, Alt said. At a time when many states face insolvency, the removal of this burden is welcome news. He said the Obama administration should allow all 50 states to hold off on their Medicaid expansions until the case is resolved. The Medicaid question, though, is further complicated because Vinson in his ruling specifically rejected the states argument that the expansion is unconstitutional because they are coerced into accepting it. Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, whose state is a plaintiff in the suit, praised the decision in a statement but said nothing about implementation or Medicaid. Judge Vinson has confirmed the conclusion I reached when this law was enacted, Van Hollen said. Congress is free to reform health care, but it must do so in a constitutional manner. It simply does not have the authority to require people to either purchase health insurance or pay a fine. In
a conference call with reporters, White House officials characterized
Vinsons decision as odd and unconventional
and out of the mainstream of judicial thought. It will be appealed
to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, they said.
They also compared it to district court decisions that initially
struck down the law enacting Social Security. Supporters emphasized
that doing away with the law would mean doing away with popular
consumer protections. The health care reform law is already
helping middle-class families, seniors and small businesses with
savings and providing Americans more control over their health
care choices, said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA).But congressional
opponents of the measure who are pushing for repeal said their
hand was strengthened by the ruling. Wyoming Sen. Michael B.
Enzi, the top Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions Committee said, Judge Vinsons decision moves
us one step closer to allowing Americans to keep the plans they
have and preventing the higher insurance premiums that will result
from this deeply flawed law. VA Budget 2011 Update 04:
The House and Senate Veterans' Affairs
committees have jurisdiction over the Veterans Affairs Department,
one of the largest federal agencies with a $114 billion budget
and 300,000 employees. It provides benefits checks and medical
services to the nation's 22 million veterans, including the thousands
coming home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with mental
and physical wounds. The GOP chairman of the House Veterans'
Affairs Committee, Rep. Jeff Miller, promised on 27 JAN a thorough
review of spending for veterans' programs. His newly appointed
counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Patty Murray, said she will be
watching Republicans "like a hawk" to ensure veterans
get their financial due. Both Miller and Murray said a top priority
is tackling the disability claims backlog that leaves veterans
waiting months or even years to get a claim processed. Murray
takes over the committee from Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, who
was named chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee. House
Veterans' Affairs Chairman Miller, a conservative from the Florida
Panhandle, said the VA has had record budget increases in the
last decade with little oversight by either party over how the
money was spent. "As we move forward, all areas will have
to be reviewed, and that includes looking at the Defense Department,
looking at Homeland Security and looking at Veterans Affairs,"
Miller said. Miller said he's concerned about the billions spent
within the VA on contracting, but it's unclear where the review
of veterans' spending will lead. He said veterans should receive
the benefits they've earned, but he also thinks veterans understand
why fiscal responsibility is necessary. "I think it's fair
to say the veterans in this country have sacrificed in their
service to our nation, but they are willing to do what's necessary
to help get this country's fiscal house in order," said
Miller, a former real estate broker and deputy sheriff who has
a large air base in his district. [Source: http://www.boston.com Kimberly Hefling article 27 Jan 2011 ++] * Disabled American Veterans called Bachmann's ideas ill-advised, nothing short of heartless and wrong-headed. It is unconscionable that while our nation is at war, someone would even think of forcing our wounded warriors to sacrifice even more than they already have," said David Gorman of the DAV. "Their injuries and disabilities were the result of their service to the nation, and our nation must not shirk its responsibilities toward them. How do you tell a veteran who has lost a limb that he or she has not sacrificed enough? Yet Rep. Bachmann wants to do just that." Bachmann's proposal would result in a reduction of up to $2,224 a month in veterans' disability compensation for a veteran who also receives Social Security Disability Income, known as SSDI. Additionally, it would freeze veterans' health care funding at current levels. DAV's Gorman said capping veterans' health care funding will not only freeze out sick and disabled veterans seeking care, it will also end up costing the federal government even more money. "With the number of veterans seeking health care rising, the effect of a freeze would be to either block enrollment of veterans, many of them just returning from battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, or to ration care to currently enrolled veterans, including disabled veterans who have relied on VA dating back to World War II," Gorman said. * Veterans of Foreign Wars said she was "totally out of step with America's commitment to our veterans." Richard Eubank, VFW national commander, said his organization will work to stop the proposal. "No way, no how, will we let this proposal get any traction in Congress," he said. "There are certain things you do not do when our nation is at war, and at the top of that list is not caring for our wounded and disabled servicemen and women when they return home," Eubank said. "The day this nation can't afford to take care of her veterans is the day this nation should quit creating them." * Veterans for Common Sense said they were "outraged" that her proposal "would leave veterans twisting in the wind." Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, who first spotted the proposal on Bachmann's official congressional website, said 10,000 new veterans a month are seeking treatment from VA. "In the middle of this dramatically increasing need at VA to care for our veterans, comes Rep. Michele Bachmann," he said, calling her efforts to cut veterans funding just as combat operations appear to be winding down in Iraq is similar to cuts after the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War that left VA struggling to care for veterans. The Obama administration is prepared to cut federal spending, but not like this, said White House spokesman Shin Inouye. "While we need to make tough choices across the federal government to get our deficits under control to be competitive in the global economy, we should do so in a way that upholds the sacred trust our nation has with its veterans, troops and military families," Inouye said. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) posted a statement on her congressional website 4 FEB that she has removed from consideration her suggestion that would have affected payments made to disabled veterans. The congresswoman's statement is
available at http://bachmann.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=223583 [Source: FederalTimes.com Rick Maze article 30 Jan 2011 ++] WW1 Vet Search Update 07: Frank Woodruff Buckles doesn't get out as much as he used to, and he doesn't have particularly big plans for his birthday tomorrow. But then, he is turning 110. He's the last known American veteran from World War I, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and one of only three survivors worldwide recognized for direct service during the war. The others, as British subjects, served in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. "He's an unbelievable person," said David DeJonge, a Michigan photographer and president of the World War I Memorial Foundation who is making a documentary of Buckles' life and has become his spokesman. Buckles lives on his West Virginia farm, near Charles Town, with his daughter, Susannah Buckles Flanagan, and round-the-clock caregivers. As you might expect, he is at almost 110 not in a condition to do cartwheels or make long speeches, but DeJonge reports that Buckles "continues to have great daily discussions with his daughter and caregivers." He occasionally wrestles with illness but is "a fighter and continues to pull through," DeJonge said. "His daughter reports he's in great spirits and looking forward to his 115th," DeJonge said with a laugh. One of his favorite people, Gen. John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, was leader of the U.S. forces in Europe in World War I. When they met, Buckles was still a kid; he'd grown up on a farm in Missouri and fibbed about his age so he could enlist in the Army at 16 and head off to war. Pershing noted Buckles' Missouri dialect and asked where he was born. Buckles told him. Pershing's reply: "Thirty-three miles, as the crow flies, from where I was born." "I had great respect for Pershing," Buckles said. "He was real tough. He didn't have a smile on his face, but that was all right with me." Seeking the quickest route to the western front, Buckles joined the ambulance service and shipped to England in late 1917. He arrived in France a few months before the shooting stopped in November 1918. After the war, he escorted prisoners of war back to Germany. World War II was a more painful experience, though he was no longer in the military. He was working as a civilian in the steamship business in the Philippines when he was captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner at Los Baños for more than three years. Through fate and good health, Buckles has become the modern face of The Great War, and he has lent his voice to the call to restore and rededicate the World War I Memorial in Washington. DeJonge met Buckles four years ago as he began work on a documentary about the last U.S. survivors of the war. Within a matter of months, Buckles was the last one, and DeJonge began spending considerable time with him, conducting interviews on camera "to get every ounce of memory out of him," DeJonge said. DeJonge has several hundred hours of interviews and other footage he hopes to transform into a documentary, "Pershing's Last Patriot." Actor Richard Thomas, of "The Waltons" and "All Quiet on the Western Front," has agreed to provide the narration, said DeJonge, who is trying to piece together the funding for the documentary, as well as a proposed larger-than-life bronze statue that has been designed by Pennsylvania sculptor Gregory Marra. The planned statue depicts Buckles with Pershing's riderless horse, and, depending on available financing, could be placed near Buckles' home in West Virginia. DeJonge has had the privilege of accompanying Buckles to such places as Pershing's home in Missouri, the Pentagon and the White House for a visit with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office. [Source: Richmond-Times Dispatch Bill Lohmann article 31 Jan 2011 ++] Disability Insurance: Without disability insurance, disability can be a financial disaster for you and your family. If you become disabled during your working life, you lose your earning power, but you continue to have the same living expenses along with mounting medical costs. If you decide to purchase disability insurance, ask the following questions to make sure you get the coverage you need. If you ever become disabled, the right disability insurance policy can help you avoid financial ruin while you recover your health. * How does the disability insurance plan define disability? Some disability insurance policies consider you disabled only if you are unable to perform the duties of any job, which means you may not be eligible for disability benefits if you can still manage a low-skill, low-wage job. Better disability insurance plans pay benefits if you are unable to perform the duties and fulfill the responsibilities of your usual occupation. * When do disability insurance benefits begin? Most plans have a waiting period after an illness and before payments begin. Find out how long you will have to wait before you start receiving benefits if you are disabled by an illness or accident, and make sure you always have enough money in savings to cover your living expenses for at least that long. * How long do the disability insurance benefits last? After the waiting period is over and you start to receive disability benefits, most disability insurance policies continue to pay until you reach age 65, although shorter and longer terms are also available. * How much money does the disability insurance policy promise? Can your disability insurance benefits be reduced by Social Security disability and workers compensation payments? Are the disability insurance benefits adjusted for inflation? Will the disability insurance provider continue making contributions to your pension plan so you have retirement benefits when your disability coverage ends? For more information about disability insurance, visit the Insurance Information Institute http://www.iii.org or the America's Health Insurance Plans http://www.ahip.org websites. [Source: About.com | Senior Living Sharon O'Brien article 1 Feb 2011 ++] GI Bill Update 92: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
successfully deployed a new automated system that is delivering
faster, more accurate payments to Veterans attending school under
the Post-9/11 GI Bill. "VA is relying upon the latest technology
to provide a high-tech solution for administering the most generous
educational benefits since the original GI Bill in 1944,"
said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. The technology
relies upon information from Veterans and specialized rules-based
software to streamline the process for calculating Veterans'
benefits."The new GI Bill is the first example of VA's use
of an agile approach to software development," said Roger
W. Baker, VA's assistant secretary for information and technology.
"Our success on this project is already being leveraged
to ensure the success of other large software projects within
VA." Saving Money: AT&T and Verizon are quietly changing their
wireless plans in ways that may be expensive to subscribers.
Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports,
says they should do a better job of informing their customers.
Consumers Union, sent a letter to AT&T, Verizon and the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) suggesting that the companies
should be doing a better job of alerting consumers to changes
in their wireless plans. * AT&T
Wireless has dramatically changed its options for messaging plans.
AT&T customers once had the option of purchasing a monthly
messaging plan for $5 for 200 text messages. However, this option
is now being eliminated, and minimal users of text messages now
only have an option for the new plan at 1000 messages for twice
the amount. AT&T Wireless also eliminated its 1500 message
plan for $15 and is offering instead an unlimited plan for individuals
for $20. The overage charges for the former plans were 10 cents
per message for the 200 message plan and 5 cents per message
for the 1500 message plan. Now, the 1000 message plan has overage
charges of 10 cents per message. Despite these considerable changes,
it is unclear whether AT&T Wireless will allow current consumers
with the 200 or 1500 plans to continue on those plans, or if
those consumers will need to change to either 1000 messages or
unlimited messages when their contract is up for renewal. The FCC is currently examining cell phone bill shock...fees and overage charges that can occur when consumers inadvertently go over plan limits for calls and/or data usage. Consumers Union is urging the FCC to include guidelines so that all carriers would be required to appropriately notify consumers of rates, terms of service, overage charges and other relevant information. Steps to take to avoid Cell Phone Bill Shock are: 1. Understand your calling
pattern and ask your carrier for a plan that would be best
for your kind of use. Medicare Fraud Update 60: In an effort to stop Medicaid fraud, Georgia state Senate Republicans want to put recipients fingerprints and photographs on benefit cards. The cards could save taxpayers as much as $100 million in fraud that could be prevented, according to one Senate leader. Sen. William Ligon, R-Brunswick, said the legislation he is cosponsoring with Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, was still being drafted. Introduction and assignment of a bill number and committee will come in mid-FEB. We want to make sure that the person using the card is in fact the Medicaid recipient, Ligon said. So it stops the transfer of cards. When patients visit doctors or hospitals for treatment, theyll place a finger in a reading machine the state will supply. That is not only for identification but also to keep track of the time a patient is in the office, like clocking in for work. State monitors would know something is wrong if a provider bills the state for a medical procedure that couldnt be performed in the time the patient was in the office. A company in Blackshear, Ga., sells the technology to other states, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams, R-Lyons. Company executives convinced Williams that it has worked in other states, and Williams asked the two freshmen senators to sponsor the bill. Ligon and Albers came up with an incentive for the medical providers to win their acceptance. The providers would be limited in the amount of pain-and-suffering damages a Medicaid patient could sue them for in the case of malpractice, and that limitation would likely save the doctors and hospitals money on their professional liability insurance premiums. In recent years, Republicans pushed to have digital records of fingerprints removed from drivers licenses to protect the privacy of motorists. But later, they led efforts to require a photo-ID when voting. Ligon said he doesnt expect any objections to a smart card version of a Medicaid benefit card as there was on drivers licenses. The drivers license is much more common and affects the public as a whole. This is for a limited group difference is, were providing state benefits, he said. [Source: The Augusta Chronicle Walter Jones article 3 Feb 2011 ++] Medicare Fraud Update 61: * Livona
MI - A patient recruiter Melvin Young, 57, was sentenced 26 JAN
to 40 months in prison, three years of supervised release following
his prison term and to pay restitution, joint and several with
co-defendants, in the amount of $533,643 for his role in a conspiracy
to defraud the Medicare program Beginning in SEP 07, Young and
a co-conspirator began recruiting and transporting patients to
a clinic called Ritecare LLC. Ritecare was owned and operated
by co-conspirators and had locations in Detroit and Livonia.
Young admitted that he and this co-conspirator, Emma King, paid
kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries whom they recruited and transported
to Ritecare. The owners and operators of Ritecare were the source
of the funds used by Young to pay the Medicare beneficiaries
he recruited. Young admitted that he would keep part of these
funds as a kickback. Typically, the owners of Ritecare would
provide $100-$150 per patient Young recruited, with Young retaining
$50-$75 of that amount. The patients Young recruited had to subject
themselves to medically unnecessary tests to receive the money.
Per instructions from the owners and operators of Ritecare, Young
admitted that he instructed the patients to claim they had certain
symptoms to trigger medically unnecessary tests. Consequently,
the patients' medical records contained false symptoms allowing
Ritecare to deceive Medicare as to the legitimacy and medical
necessity of the tests it performed. He admitted that King and
he were responsible for recruiting at least 269 patients to Ritecare.
Through his recruitment efforts, Young caused the submission
of approximately $940,760 in false or fraudulent billings by
Ritecare. Medicare paid approximately $533,643 on those claims.
King pleaded guilty in April 2010 to one count of conspiracy
to commit health care fraud and was sentenced 14 DEC to eight
months in prison. Medicad Fraud Update 32:
State Veteran's Benefits:
The state of Kentucky provides several
benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information
on these refer to the Veteran State Benefits KY
attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits
listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents
of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each click on
Learn more about
wording highlighted in blue
on the attachment. Revere agreed to arrange for the placement of signal lanterns in the belfry of Old North Church where they could have been easily seen across the Charles River. If one lantern were displayed, the British would be advancing by land over the Boston Neck, then north and west to Concord. If two lanterns were hung, the redcoats would have chosen to cross the Charles by boat to Cambridge, then west to their target. The former route was unlikely because the soldiers would be clearly visible marching down the Neck, eliminating any element of surprise. The latter plan offered opportunities for concealing movement under cover of darkness and was five miles shorter than the alternative. Revere resumed his activities in Boston, but in the early evening of April 18, he received word from a stable boy that the British were preparing boats for crossing the Charles. In short order, two other sources confirmed the initial report. At about 10 p.m., Warren decided that warning had to be given to Sam Adams and John Hancock, who were wanted by British authorities and were likely candidates for the gallows. A young shoemaker, William Dawes, was sent by the land route through Roxbury, Brookline, and Cambridge. As insurance against Dawes capture or detention, Revere took the water route out of Boston, but his effort almost failed at its inception. Revere had forgotten cloth rags to muffle the sound of the oars for the passage across the Charles. Any noise created the risk of alerting the crew of the Somerset, a man-of-war at anchor on the river. Legend says the crossing was accomplished when a resourceful boatman acquired a petticoat from his girlfriend and used that garment to wrap the oars. On arriving in Charlestown and gaining his mount, Revere narrowly escaped capture by two British soldiers and had to alter his route to the north. He pressed on to Lexington where he found Hancock and Adams at the home of Jonas Clark. Revere was joined by Dawes, who had successfully slipped past the guards on Boston Neck, and a third man, Dr. Samuel Prescott, a resident of Concord. Before the trio could cover the five miles between Lexington and Concord, they encountered a roadblock manned by redcoats. Responding to the urgency of the moment, they proceeded to break through. Prescott used his intimate knowledge of the countryside to his advantage and successfully eluded capture...he was the only one of the three to complete the journey and deliver the alarm to Concord. Dawes initially appeared to have escaped his pursuers, but was thrown from his horse and captured. Revere was taken prisoner and during his interrogation deliberately provided greatly inflated numbers of militiamen awaiting the British at Concord. During the ride back to Lexington, Revere and his captors heard shots fire and church bells ring throughout the area...events that gave some credence to Reveres report of colonial preparations. Fearing for their safety, the British released Revere, but took the precaution of giving him a tired horse to slow his return to Lexington. Revere later joined Hancock and Adams on their retreat into the countryside, but made a frantic return to a Lexington tavern where Hancock had inadvertently left some valuable papers. As dawn broke, Revere departed from the town with the valuable documents in hand and rode past militiamen in the process of assembling. A short time later he could hear shots and see smoke in the distance, the opening round in the struggle for independence [Source: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1261.html Feb 2011 ++] Military Trivia 22: Most everybody has seen the movie The Great Escape but how authentic was it? Following shows how close it came: 1. The stalag where the actual great escape took place was Stalag Luft III. The camp was near Sagan in Lower Silesia. 2. The actual commandant of the camp was Colonel von Lindeiner, a professional officer in the prewar Luftwaffe. His treatment of the captured flyers was extremely fair. This was later to be his undoing after the escape. 3. The Luftwaffe guards were called 'goons'. The guards were unfamiliar with the term and were told it stood for, German Officer Or Noncom. 4. The location Stalag was the major reason the Germans considered the camp escape proof. The other reasons were factors as well but the primary reason was location. 5. The guards who specialized in preventing escapes were called ferrets. They could enter a compound without notice and were skilled in tunnel detection. Some spoke very good English. 6. The most active and dangerous ferret was Corporal Greise known as 'Rubberneck'. He had a fondness for peering around corners and listening to conversations and showing up unexpectedly. He was nothing like the ferret in the movie who was compromised. 7. The three escape tunnels were
clled Tom, Dick and Harry. This is consistent with the movie. 9. Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, known as 'Big X', threatened to have anyone court marshaled who dared mention the word tunnel even in jest. 10. The majority of the vital intelligence obtained prior to the escape was supplied by bribing the guards. This information included train schedules, time tables, and even civilian clothing. The Luftwaffe sentries were not front duty types. 11. On the night of the escape, the escape tunnel trap door was frozen shut. The actual escape took place in March, not in warm weather as seen in the movie. This cost the escapers valuable time trying to open it. 12. Two hundred and fifty men were attempting to escape that night which is consistent with the movie. Seventy six flyers actually escaped from the camp that night. The 77th man was caught because one of the guards tripped over him as he was climbing out of the tunnel. 13. The last 50 POWs who were to attempt the escape had to draw lots. These final fifty were given the the minimum supplies needed for the escape and none spoke any German. Their chances of success were considered slim. 14. When Hitler was informed of the
extent of the escape, he wanted everyone killed. That included
the camp commandant and his entire command as well as the recaptured
POWs. When he finally calmed down, he ordered that 50 of the
escapees should be shot and the Colonel von Lindeiner relieved
of his command and court martialed for his lenient treatment
of the POWs. The murder of the fifty recaptured POWs was treated
as a major issue and featured prominently at the Nuremberg Tribunal. Tax Burden for Washington Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Washington: Sales Taxes Personal Income Taxes Retirement Income: Not taxed. Property Taxes The state offers a property tax exemption program for those whose household income does not exceed $35,000. If your income is between $35,000 and $40,000, you may qualify for the tax deferral program. If your annual income for the application year does not exceed $35,000 your home will be exempt from all excess and special levies approved by voters. If your household income is between $25,001 and $30,000, you are exempt from regular levies on $50,000 or 35% of the assessed value, whichever is greater (but not more than 70,000 of the assessed value. For more information, call 360-570-5867.
For additional info refer to http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FindTaxesAndRates/PropertyTax/IncentivePrograms.aspx The
state's tax deferral program works in conjunction with the exemption
program. A senior citizen or disabled person may defer property
taxes or special assessments on their residence if they meet
certain age, disability, ownership, occupancy and income requirements.
The state pays the taxes on behalf of the claimant and files
a lien on the property to indicate the state has an interest
in the property. The deferred taxes must be repaid to the state
plus 5% interest when the owner dies, sells or moves from the
home, or doesn't have sufficient equity in the property. Qualified
people may participate in both or one of these programs. Inheritance and Estate Taxes For further information, visit the
Washington Department of Revenue site http://dor.wa.gov/Content/Home/Default.aspx or call 800-647-7706. Have You Heard?: How to start a fight. One year, I decided to buy my mother-in-law
a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift... "Some people spend an entire
lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Veteran Legislation Status
13 FEB 2011: Of the 683 House and
326 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 112th Congress
as of 13 FEB, the following are of interest to the non-active
duty veteran community. A good indication on the likelihood of
a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage
and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the
number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate
way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to
another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to
iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At
http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills text,
determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned
to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing
address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter
of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor
of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative
has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html To review a numerical list of all bills introduced
refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html House: United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach
activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2011. A bill to amend
the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant
status for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a
United States citizen child if the child was born abroad and
is the child of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the
United States. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011. A bill t amend title
38, United States Code, to provide certain abused dependents
of veterans with health care. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum
age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA
program. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed by the Department
of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses of certain totally-disabled
veterans. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation to Homeless Vets.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers
to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide
assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for
certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic
stress disorder. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A
bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess Internet Website. A bill
to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the
main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans
Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to
publicize such Internet website. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement
for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit
Plan for military surviving spouses to offset the receipt of
veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60 Retired Reserves. A
bill 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. H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for
Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
who have served on active duty or performed active service since
September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or
in other emergency situations receive credit for such service
in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service
retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent
receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation
to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired
under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of
the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act. A bill to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on dog training therapy. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor Reimbursement.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the
reimbursement of mental health counselors under TRICARE, and
for other purposes. H.R.210 : Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service
in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth
of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active
service for purposes of benefits under programs administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2011.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a
refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for
coverage under Medicare Part B. H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA Sole Source Contracts.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to promote jobs
for veterans through the use of sole source contracts by Department
of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting the contracting goals
and preferences of the Department of Veterans Affairs for small
business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.284 : Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and
Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2011. A bill
to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination through
the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for the Fair
Housing Initiatives Program, and for other purposes. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to provide
housing assistance for very low-income veterans. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members
of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to
receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans
Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason
of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special
Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current
law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation
Act. A bill to provide compensation for certain World War II
veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as
prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A bill to require employers
to provide veterans with time off on Veterans Day. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act. A
bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired
members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability
rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both
retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate
the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility
for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with
less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for
certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic
stress disorder. H.R.420 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011. A bill
to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their
family members can register certain firearms in the National
Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. H.R.493 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness
of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired
members of the Armed Forces following their death. H.R.540 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act. A
bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to honor
veterans of the Armed Forces who died after their service in
the Vietnam War, but whose deaths were a direct result of their
service in the Vietnam War. H.R.544 : Servicemen Mortgage Foreclosure Protection. A
bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently
extend the period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage
foreclosures, and for other purposes. H.R.545 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers
who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans.
H.R.561 : Veterans Employment Tax Credit Act of 2011. A
bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the
work opportunity tax credit with respect to veterans. H.R.575 : HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to enter into contracts with community health care providers
to improve access to health care for veterans in highly rural
areas, and for other purposes. H.R.595 : National Song of Remembrance. A bill to amend
title 36, United States Code, to designate the musical piece
commonly known as "Taps" as the National Song of Remembrance,
and for other purposes. H.R.648 : Pledge of Allegiance Saluting. A bill to amend
title 4, United States Code, to authorize members of the Armed
Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military salute
during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. H.R.652 : Tricare Premium Limits. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to limit the increase of premiums, deductibles,
copayments, or other charges for health care provided under the
TRICARE program. Senate: United States Senate website: http://www.senate.gov/
S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims. A bill to require the
Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims
of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on
behalf of the United States during World War II. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A Travel. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members
of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated
as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and
to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are
entitled to travel on such aircraft. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former
prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and
exchange stores. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance. A bill to restore
the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day, and for other
purposes. S.146 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011. A bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work
opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. S.260 : SBP DIC Offset. A bill to amend title 10, United
States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor
annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency
and indemnity compensation. |
Veterans History Project (WWII Vet Inputs Sought) Vet Housing (Program Shift Legislation) Vet Abuse Update 01 (El Cajon CA) Four Chaplains Day (3 FEB 2011) Marine Corps War Memorial (Titivating Needed) VA Budget 2011 Update 03 (Bachmann Plan) SVAC Update 06 (New Chairman) Vet Foreclosure Relocation Assistance ($1500) Medicare Database (Lawsuit) VA CAVC (Shinseki to Pay Vet Fees) Military Funeral Disorderly Conduct Update 17 (Penalties Sought) Heart Disease Update 01 (Projected Cost) Mobilized Reserve 25 JAN 2011 (1572 Decrease) SBP for Reservist Update 02 (Premium Change Explanation) DFAS 1099-R Update 01 (Requesting a Duplicate) VA Cemeteries Update 04 (ACSI survey) Agent Orange Korea Update 02 (Exposure Presumption Change) Medal of Honor Update 03 (Oldest Living Recipient Dies) VA Disability Eval System Update 01 (Determination Errors) Arlington National Cemetery Update 20 (Urn Auction on Hold) Japan-U.S. Support Agreement (Five Year $10.1B Plan) CA Vet Services Update 01 (1 JUL $10M Budget Cut) Vet Websites (Info Source List) Family Care Giving Update 01 (Compensation) Medicare Part B Premiums Update 06 (H.R.238) IRS Refund Update 0 (Debit Card Pilot Program) VA OPCC&CT (New VA Office) Medicare Home Health Care Update 01 (Home Visit Copay) Pentagon FCU Data Breach (One Million Exposed) Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Update 01 (H.R.290 Introduced) DoD Retiree Pay Offset Update 02 (H.R.333 Reintroduced) Congress ~ 112th Update 01 (Important Dates) Congress ~ 112th Update 02 (PAYGO/CUTGO) Virginia Vet Legislation Update 01 (2011) VFW Operation Uplink (Troop Support) Combat Veteran Health Care Update 07 (Q&A) Vietnam War Commemoration Update 01 (DoD Preps) Arlington West Memorial (Changes) Voluntary Separation Incentive Update 04 (Concurrent Receipt) National Parks (Waived Admission Fee Schedule) National Park Pass Program (Access Pass) Veteran Email Scam (New Twist) Manila VARO Update 02 (Moved) VA Claim Tips Update 02 (Overcoming Your concerns) VA Tinnitus Care Update 02 (Possible Cure Found) Fluoridation (Community Drinking Water) Tricare Dental Program Update 03 (New Dental Contract) Saving Money (More on Checking Accounts) Notes of Interest (15-31 Jan 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 58 ($4B Recovered FY-2010) Medicare Fraud Update 59 (15-31 Jan 2011) Medicad Fraud Update 31 (15-31 Jan 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Kansas) Military History (Capture of U-505) Military History Anniversaries (February 1-14 Summary) Military Trivia 21 (Michael J. Blassie) Burden for Vermont Retirees (2010) Have You Heard? (Seniors Stickers/Perks) Veteran Legislation Status 28 JAN 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Veterans History Project:
A major film production company
is asking friends of the Library of Congress Veterans History
Project (http://www.loc.gov/vets) for assistance in locating
WWII veterans from the Western European campaign who currently
live in Florida and have interesting remembrances to share. The
production company is creating a 6-part television documentary
series called "The Last Great Heroes", which follows
the Allied Forces from the D-Day landings to Berlin. They plan
to interview British, American and Canadian veterans to get a
complete picture of the Allied efforts in Western Europe. The
program will air on HISTORY (formerly the History Channel) in
North America and Channel 4 in Britain. The producer hopes to
speak briefly with veterans by phone first and then, toward the
end of February, interview several in person. This film is anticipated
to reach a wide audience and possibly be incorporated into classroom
curricula and public programs. The deadline for this effort is
tight. If you're able to help contact the veteran(s) you have
in mind for participation, gauge their interest in being interviewed
and if they're amenable, send their contact information to Jessica
Souva, Library of Congress Tel: (202) 486-1840 / (888) 371-5848
or email jessica@jsouva.com . Vet Housing: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Federal
Reserve Transparency Act of 2011 (2.202) this week that would
cut $500 billion in government spending by the end of 2011, and
one of the many casualties is the Department of Housing and Urban
Development. According to the language in the bill, once ratified,
all accounts and programs for HUD would be immediately defunded.
It would also transfer all housing programs for veterans away
from HUD and into the Department of Veteran's Affairs. HUD's
fiscal year 2010 budget totaled $43.7 billion, a 9% increase
from 2009. "By removing programs that are beyond the constitutional
role of the federal government, such as education and housing,
we are cutting nearly 40% of our projected deficit and removing
the big-government bureaucrats who stand in the way of efficiency
in our federal government," Paul said in a statement released
25 JAN. The bill is the latest in a Republican surge against
spending on housing policy and Wall Street reform. Days after
the new Congress convened, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) introduced
a bill that would repeal the Dodd-Frank Act. But housing alone
is not the only cut in the bill. Paul proposes reductions in
costs from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department
of Agriculture, the Departments of Energy and Education, and
even defense. The bill cuts $14 billion in payments made to military
personnel among other operations. Paul said the bill rolls back
government spending to 2008 levels. He said 85% of government
funding would remain intact. "I am proud to introduce my
own solution to the mounting debt our spendthrift, oversized
government has accrued," Paul said. The bill has two cosponsors
and has been referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs. Four Chaplains Day: On Feb. 3, 1943, the United States Army Transport Dorchester was bound for an American base in Greenland as it pushed through the frigid North Atlantic waters with 902 servicemen aboard. But the ship did not arrive at its destination a German U-boat fired a torpedo that struck the Dorchesters starboard side and exploded in the boiler room. Within 20 minutes the ship sank and 668 men perished, along with four chaplains of different faiths: Reverend George Fox (Methodist), Jewish Rabbi Alexander Goode, Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed) and Father John Washington (Roman Catholic). The four chaplains put the lives of others before their own by directing frightened servicemembers to lifeboats, distributing life jackets, and putting their own life jackets on young soldiers. In all, 230 of the 904 men aboard the ship were rescued. Life jackets offered little protection from hypothermia, which killed most men in the water. The water temperature was 34 °F (1 °C) and the air temperature was 36 °F (2 °C). By the time additional rescue ships arrived, "...hundreds of dead bodies were seen floating on the water, kept up by their life jackets. On December 19, 1944, all four chaplains were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross. The Four Chaplains' Medal was established by act of Congress on July 14, 1960, and was presented posthumously to their next of kin by Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker at Ft. Myer, Virginia on January 18, 1961. The chaplains were also honored with a stamp, issued in 1948, and by an act of Congress designating February 3 as "Four Chaplains Day." Because of their bravery, every year, American Legion posts nationwide remember Four Chaplains Day with memorial services. Services this year will be held on Sunday, Feb. 6. To request information on how to conduct a Four Chaplains Memorial Service, contact Michael Novak (mnovak@legion.org) of the Americanism and Children & Youth Division at (317) 630-1212. The inspiring chaplains are remembered in many places in stained glass portraits and memorials. In Bottineau North Dakota they are memorialized in a small, four-columned cement arch, shading an upright cement slab to which is bolted a bronze plaque depicting the Dorchester going down. Above the doomed ship, in the cloud of steam and smoke exploding out of it, the giant faces of the chaplains can be seen, looking stern and saintly. Above their heads are the words: "For God And Country." [Source: American Legion Online Update 27 Jan 2011 ++] Marine Corps War Memorial:
The Marine Corps War Memorial, often
referred to as the Iwo Jima Memorial, is dedicated to all personnel
of the United States Marine Corps who have died in the defense
of their country since 1775. The memorial, located in Arlington,
Virginia, features the Marines and Sailor who raised the second
flag on Mount Suribachi over Iwo Jima in 1945: Sgt Michael Strank,
Cpl Harlon Block, PFC Franklin Sousley, PFC Rene Gagnon, PFC
Ira Hayes, PM2 John Bradley. The larger than life-sized bronze
statue consisting of 32 foot figures and a 60 foot flagpole is
based on a photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal and is almost 60
years old. According to a Marine Corps news release, it is in
need of a little sprucing up. The statue's original finish is
faded. "The bronze should not be brown," James Donovan,
the Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation's executive director,
said in the release. "This bronze is supposed to be a Marine
Corps green." Also, some of the granite panels are coming
loose, and there are cracks and water accumulations in the structure.
The National Park Service, however, says that just one of the
approximately 30 panels around the base of the memorial has subsided
about an inch. National Park Service spokesman Bill Line said
the memorial is in very good condition. "Back in 2005, the
National Park Service conducted and completed a more than $3.5
million renovation project at the Marine Corps Memorial. That
included renovation of all the panels which I recognize are in
question here," Line said. "That included full cultural
and historic analysis of the condition of the entire memorial.
The memorial's condition is in very, very good condition."
According the Marine Times, the Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation
wants to partner with the National Park Service to repair the
monument. However, Line said no agreement has been reached. "There
is nothing in writing," he said. "There is nothing
in place other than just talk, verbal conversations about them
wanting to be a partner organization." The foundation said
it also hopes to improve the experience of visiting the memorial.
There are plans for improvements to restroom facilities and eventually
a reception center staffed with volunteers. Line questions the
need of those enhancements. "We would want to see why there
is a need for that, and why government money and taxpayers' dollars
in a tight economy would have to be spent on that sort of stuff,"
Line said. "Having and wanting stuff is great, but having
to pay for it is another matter." The Marine Times explained
that the memorial is special to tourists as well as veterans.
On the granite base, the names and dates of every major Marine
Corps engagement since November 10, 1775, are engraved. Sunset
Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial. [Source: WCHS6 Portland
ME Mark Gould article 26 Jan 2011 ++] SVAC Update 06: On 27 JAN, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after she was announced as the new Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Senator Murray, who has been a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee since 1995, is a widely recognized and outspoken advocate for Americas veterans. She has been honored for her work for veterans by the Vietnam Veterans of America, American Ex-POWs, the VFW, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Among other things, Senator Murray has fought to give veterans access to quality care and benefits, has pushed Republican and Democratic administrations to provide the VA with responsible budgets, and has worked to ensure the VA is preparing for the influx of new veterans. Senator Murray has also worked to expand access to care for Washington state veterans by saving three state VA facilities from closure and by pressuring the VA to open community based health care clinics. This is a great honor, but an even bigger responsibility. As Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, I have a tremendous duty to the 22 million veterans across the country who have stepped up to serve our nation and who deserve the highest quality care, benefits, and treatment in return. I am humbled by this Chairmanship not only because of the great veterans Ill serve, but also because of the man whose shoes Ill be working to fill. Senator Akaka has been, and always will be, a champion for his fellow veterans. I know that in the coming years he will continue to be a leader on this Committee, someone who I will rely on heavily, and someone wholl never stop fighting for the veterans of his home state and our nation. I plan to work each day to ensure that the VA is working for our veterans, not against them. Our service members should never have to come home from fighting a war only to fight to get the benefits and care that they deserve. I know the VA has some of the most dedicated employees in the world and provides tremendous services to many of our veterans. But I also know there are a great many challenges to be met. Today, too many veterans are waiting far too long to get the benefits theyve earned. Too many veterans are struggling to get access to mental health care, worker training, and other resources to help them transition from the battlefield to the civilian world. And still, far too many veterans are sleeping on the streets after serving their country. These are among the many issues I plan to take an active and aggressive approach to helping find solutions for. It has been one of the great privileges of my Senate career to fight for veterans like my father - a World War II veteran, or the Vietnam veterans I met interning at the VA in college, or the countless Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who I have spoken to about returning home with the visible and invisible wounds of war. These men and women, and all American veterans, will always be who I fight for, who I listen to first, and who I answer to. Their needs, their struggles, and their stories will be the ones I bring to the VA to help deliver change and meet the many challenges we face.[Source: VVA News Flash 27 Jan 2011 ++] Vet Foreclosure Relocation
Assistance: Veterans who lose their
homes to a short sale (i.e. a sale of real estate in which the
sale proceeds fall short of the balance owed on the property's
loan) or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure can receive up to $1,500
in relocation assistance. A Deed in lieu of foreclosure is a
deed instrument in which a mortgagor (i.e. the borrower) conveys
all interest in a real property to the mortgagee (i.e. the lender)
to satisfy a loan that is in default and avoid foreclosure proceedings.
The VA has for years encouraged mortgage servicers to work with
veterans on the edge of default. Now, the agency has directed
its approved servicers to provide that cash advance to borrowers
who use a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or who complete a VA compromise
claim to unload their short sale. The directive went into effect
on 6 JAN. Borrowers can use the money to cover moving expenses
or to simply pay for lodging while they deal with the pending
loss of their home. VA has a longstanding policy of encouraging
servicers to work with veteran borrowers to explore all reasonable
options to help them retain their homes or, when that is not
feasible, to mitigate losses by pursuing alternatives to foreclosure,
according to the two-page VA circular released on the subject.
These options generally provide a substantially better
outcome than a foreclosure sale for borrowers, investors, and
communities. Under the VAs Compromise Sale Program,
the agency can pay a compromise claim for the difference
between the sale price and the borrowers loan balance.
That allows the veteran to complete a private sale to a borrower
who either assumes the loan or who has secured separate financing.
These arent exactly everyday transactions. But the Compromise
Sale Program is another of the VAs tools that can help
keep service members out of credit and fiscal calamity. Given
the unique nature of this program, there are a host of requirements
and criteria for all stakeholders. [Source: http://www.ourbroker.com Chris Birk articles 3 Nov 2010 & 19 Jan
2011 ++] VA CAVC: On
25 JAN, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims (CAVC) ordered Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary
Eric Shinseki to pay a veteran's attorney fees to the tune of
$19,594.80. In Harvey v. Shinseki, Docket No. 10-1284, Judges
Lawrence B. Hagel, Alan G. Lance, Sr., and Mary J. Schoelen found
Secretary Shinseki to have failed to expeditiously handle a remand
order, as required under federal law. Secretary Shinseki, a former
Army general, began leading the VA in 2009. Cleveland Harvey
sought to recover compensation in lieu of retirement pay and,
in 2006, the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) denied him an earlier
effective date for compensation benefits. In 2008, the CAVC concluded
that the effective date should have been September 17, 1998,
and reversed the BVA decision. The CAVC remanded the case in
order to have benefits calculated in accordance with the court
decision. What followed was nothing less than, in the panel's
written opinion, a "parade of administrative miseries,"
that included, among a list of other problems: [Source: The Associated Press 23 Jan 2011 ++] Heart Disease Update 01:
The costs of treating heart disease
are expected to triple by the year 2030, creating an enormous
financial burden for millions of Americans, the American
Heart Association says in a new policy statement. The tab for
treating heart disease will rise to $545 billion over the next
20 years, in large part because of the aging of the baby boom
population, the oldest of which will be in their mid-80s by then.
The policy statement is published in Circulation: Journal of
the American Heart Association. Paul Heidenreich, MD, chair of
the AHAs panel that issued the statement, says in a news
release that despite great strides made in reducing heart disease
and understanding its causes in the past 50 years, even
if we just maintain our current rates, we will have an enormous
financial burden on top of the disease itself. Cost estimates
for 2030 "dont assume that we will continue to make
new discoveries to reduce heart disease," says Heidenreich,
associate professor of medicine at the Veterans Affairs Palo
Alto Health Care System, who is also associated with Stanford
University. Future costs were estimated based on current rates
of heart disease, and information from the U.S. Census Bureau
was used to project population shifts in age and race. The analysis
did not take into account any changes in outcome for various
heart disorders in the future, and assumed a continued acceleration
of health care spending on heart disease based upon historical
trends. Unless new ways are found to treat or perhaps slow down
the increase in heart disease prevalence, costs will triple by
2020 simply through demographic changes, Heidenreich says. Heart
disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting
for 17% of overall health costs, and thus effective prevention
strategies are badly needed, according the panel. Unhealthy
behaviors and unhealthy environments have contributed to a tidal
wave of risk factors among Americans, Nancy Brown, CEO
of the AHA, says in the news release. Early intervention
and evidence-based public policies are absolute musts to significantly
reduce alarming rates of obesity, hypertension, tobacco use,
and cholesterol levels, all causes of cardiovascular problems.
The new policy statement says DFAS 1099-R Update 01:
Military retirees and annuitants'
1099R tax statements were available on myPay starting Dec. 14,
2010 and were mailed to retirees by Jan. 15, 2011. If you did
not receive a copy of your 1099R, it may be because DFAS does
not have your correct address on file. Before requesting a duplicate
1099R, verify your address using myPay, or by calling 800-321-1080.
To obtain a duplicate use one of the following three methods:
myPay - You can view, print or save a copy using your myPay account
by following the below steps If you have trouble accessing myPay,
call 866-671-5031. Customer support is available M-F 07-1830
EST. You can also view videos that explain how to use myPay at
http://www.dfas.mil/rapay.html : [Note: If you have exhausted the
above options or prefer to speak to a customer service representative,
call Tue-Fri between 07-1900 EST and select option 0. [Source: DFAS December 2010 Retiree
Newsletter ++] Citing VA's consistently record-setting ASCI scores, the independent Federal Consulting Group saluted VA's "commitment to outstanding customer service to . . . Veterans' next of kin, as demonstrated by achieving an extraordinarily high ASCI score." More than 100 federal agencies have used ACSI to gauge consumer satisfaction with more than 200 services and programs. The Index was founded at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and the survey is produced by ACSI, LLC. VA's National Cemetery Administration participates in the ACSI every three years, previously in 2001, 2004 and 2007. This is the fourth time it participated and the fourth consecutive time it received the top rating in the nation. For
2010, the National Cemetery Administration achieved a customer
satisfaction index of 94. Its score is nearly 29 points above
the average for federal government agencies, which was 65 in
the study. The ACSI survey polled the next-of-kin or other people
who had arranged for the interment of a loved one in a VA national
cemetery within the previous six months to one year. More than
1,900 people received the survey and 444 responded, a high response
rate for a mail survey. Using methodologies developed at the
National Quality Research Center of the University of Michigan
Business School, the National Cemetery Administration received
ratings in the categories of "customer service" and
"user trust" of 96 out of a possible 100 points, indicating
respondents are exceptionally pleased with their experience at
national cemeteries and willing to recommend their services to
others. Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other
than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children
can be buried in a VA national cemetery. [Source: VA News Release 25 Jan 2011
++] The
new regulation is available on the Office of the Federal Register
website at http://www.ofr.gov/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Medal of Honor Update 03:
The nation's oldest living recipient
of the Medal of Honor, Barney Hajiro, died 21 JAN at Maunalani
Hospital in Honolulu. He was 94. Hajiro had been awarded three
Distinguished Service Crosses by the Army while serving with
a rifle company in the 442 Regimental Combat Team during World
War II in Europe. [Source: Honolulu Advertiser article 25 Jan 2011 ++] VA Disability Eval System Update 01: The OIG conducted an audit to determine whether Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) correctly assigned 100 percent disability evaluations as either permanent or temporary and effectively monitored and adjusted temporary 100 percent disability evaluations. It was determined that the staff at the VA Regional Offices (VARO) are not correctly evaluating and monitoring 100 percent disability evaluations. Approximately 239,000 veterans were identified who had at least one service-connected condition rated 100 percent disabling as of SEP 09. Approximately 58,000 veterans were eliminated from the review with conditions that indicated no likelihood of improvement, such as double amputees. It is projected that of the remaining 181,000 veterans, VARO staff did not correctly process evaluations for about 27,500 (15 percent). It is further projected that since January 1993, VBA paid veterans a net amount of about $943 million without adequate medical evidence. If VBA does not take timely corrective action, it will overpay veterans a projected $1.1 billion over the next 5 years. It was recommended the Acting Under Secretary for Benefits increase oversight by ensuring future exam dates are included in the electronic records and providing VARO staff the necessary training. VBA also needs to ensure claims folders with temporary evaluations are kept at the VARO and each temporary evaluation has a future exam date entered in the electronic record. The Acting Under Secretary for Benefits did not agree with the findings, particularly as they relate to the projected overpayment amounts, but agreed to implement the recommendations and provided responsive implementation plans. OIG maintains that the primary message in their report is VBA paid veterans without adequate medical evidence and that their projection is a reasonable and conservative estimate of overpayments based upon our review of compensation records available. To review the report go to http://www.utvet.com/VAoigAudit.pdf [Source: Belinda J. Finn, Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations 24 Jan 2011 ++] Arlington National Cemetery Update 20: The Army is investigating how 9-foot-tall, decorative marble urns that once flanked the stage of Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Amphitheater ended up on a private auction block. An Alexandria auction house is planning to sell 14 decorative urns that once stood in the amphitheater next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial visited by presidents for 90 years. The urns were apparently removed from the cemetery during a 1990s renovation. Since 1997 they have been at a Maryland antiques shop, but the shop owner is closing the store and auctioning its inventory. He says he bought the urns from the company that renovated the amphitheater, replaced the urns and took away the originals. After learning of the sale from The Washington Post, the Army on 21 JAN asked The Potomack Company to halt the urns' auction. [Source: AP article 22 Jan 2011 ++]
[Source: Stars and Stripes Hana Kusomoto 21 Jan 2011 ++] CA Vet Services Update
01: Military veterans are upset
with Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to end state support for local
veterans service offices, which connect California veterans with
millions of dollars in federal benefits. It's an insult
to the veterans, really, said Bud Simmons of Santa Rosa,
northern-area commander of AMVETS, a national organization representing
180,000 veterans. Advocates for veterans services say they are
a jackpot that brings in more than $100 in federal benefits funding
for every $1 spent to get them. Appeals http://www.benefits.va.gov/WARMS/M21_1MR1.asp [Source: Various Jan 2011 ++] Family Care Giving Update
01: Growing numbers of families
are compensating relatives who serve as caregivers to elders.
But to avoid exacerbating tensions, it is important to disclose
such arrangements to the entire family. According to a report
by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, 43.5 million
Americans looked after a friend or relative age 50 or older in
2009, 28% more than in 2004. In a survey conducted for Home Instead
Senior Care, a home-care franchiser, nearly 7% of respondents
said they receive compensation for providing care to a relative.
A number of factors are feeding the trend: the high unemployment
rate, the rising cost of nursing-home care, an aging population
and a 2006 change in Medicaid law that makes it harder for people
who wish to qualify to give away assets. Some 37% of caregivers
surveyed by the NAC in 2007 said they had quit a job or reduced
their hours to accommodate their responsibilities. There are
several ways to compensate a family caregiver: (i) pay an hourly
wage; (ii) annual gifts; or (iii) a lump-sum payment designed
to cover services over an extended period. When making a determination,
families must consider tax consequences and Medicaid law. In
situations where a care recipient may eventually need to rely
on Medicaid it is important to draft a written agreement ("personal
care contract") that documents the caregiver's responsibilities
and hours and sets a rate of pay in line with that of local service
providers. The payments can help deplete savings and allow the
care recipient to qualify for Medicaid. Without an employment
contract, Medicaid can consider all of the payments a gift made
to hide assets and subject the care recipient to delays in coverage.
IRS Refund Update 01: Timed for tax season, the U.S. Department of
the Treasury launched a pilot today to offer taxpayers a safe,
convenient and low-cost financial account for the electronic
delivery of their federal tax refunds. The new account card option
provides everyday money-saving conveniences and consumer protection
features for Americans with limited or no access to traditional
banking services. This pilot program will provide low-
and moderate-income Americans with a low-cost option for faster
delivery of their federal tax refund, said Deputy Secretary
of the Treasury Neal Wolin. This innovative card can be
used for everyday financial transactions, such as receiving wages
by direct deposit, withdrawing cash, making purchases, paying
bills and building savings safely and conveniently, giving users
more control over their financial futures. As the next
step in this pilot, originally announced in September, Treasury
will mail letters to 600,000 low and moderate income individuals
nationwide. The letters will invite these taxpayers to consider
activating a MyAccountCard Visa Prepaid Debit Card in time to
have their 2010 federal tax refund direct deposited to the card.
Compared to paper checks, direct deposit provides a safer, faster
and more convenient way to receive a federal tax refund as well
as other regular income. [Source: U.S. Treasury Dept Press Center article 13 Jan 2011 ++] VA OPCC&CT: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is creating
a new office to develop personal, patient-centered models of
care for Veterans who receive health care services at VA's more
than 1,000 points of care across the Nation. "VA has become
one of the Nation's leaders in quality health care and is increasingly
cited as the standard to emulate," said VA Under Secretary
for Health Dr. Robert A. Petzel. "However, we must always
continue to find ways to deliver more with our systems to the
incredible patients we are honored to serve. We need to be data-driven,
providing the treatments and therapies with the best clinical
evidence, and we need to be patient-centered, never losing sight
that we have been given the noble mission to care for our Nation's
Veterans, families and survivors." The new VA Office of
Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation (OPCC&CT)
began operations on 17 JAN and is based in Arlington, Va. The
office's director, Dr. Tracy Williams Gaudet, comes to VA from
Duke University Medical Center where she has served as the executive
director of Duke Integrated Medicine since 2001. Dr. Gaudet received
her Bachelor of Arts and medical degrees from Duke University.
Medicare Home Health Care
Update 01: Medicare recipients could
see a sizable new outofpocket charge for home health
visits if Congress follows through on a recommendation issued
13 JAN by its own advisory panel. Until now, home health visits
from nurses and other providers have been free of charge to patients.
But the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission says a copayment
is needed to discourage overuse of a service whose cost to taxpayers
is nearing $20 billion a year amid concerns that fraudsters are
also taking advantage. The panel did not prescribe an amount,
but its staff has suggested the charge be $150 for a series of
related visits. Medicare requires copays for many other services,
so home health has been the exception, not the rule. Defying
opposition by AARP, the seniors' lobby, the congressionally appointed
commission voted 131 to recommend that lawmakers impose
the new charge. Two commissioners abstained and one was absent.
"At the extreme, this benefit can turn into a longterm
care social support system," said commission chairman Glenn
Hackbarth. "A modest copayment is one tool to help deal
with that problem." [Source: TMC World News AP article
16 Jan 2011 ++] Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial
Update 01: A group of California
lawmakers are pushing for congressional protection for religious
symbols included at U.S. war memorials after the latest court
challenge to a San Diego veterans monument that features a 43-foot
high cross. Earlier this month, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
ruled that the Mount Soledad cross -- which has been at the center
of legal fights for more than two decades -- amounts to an unconstitutional
display of government favoring a specific religion, and must
be changed. Supporters of the memorial have vowed to continue
fighting the case to the Supreme Court. But California Republican
Rep. Duncan D. Hunter hopes his latest legislative bid might
settle the fight before that, by allowing religious symbols to
be included in any federal military memorial by law. The measure
could circumvent the courts' interpretation of the Establishment
Clause, which prohibits the U.S. government from showing preference
for one religious group over another. "The War Memorial
Protection Act (H.R.290) is just as much about Mount Soledad
as it is every other war memorial across the country," Hunter
said in a statement. "In cases where religious elements
are present, the fact that these monuments stand as symbols of
military service and sacrifice does not change." But opponents
of the cross say its presence replaces the military focus of
the memorial with a Christian one. Supporters say a defeat in
California could have widespread changes for memorials throughout
the country, including Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia,
where religious symbols are engraved in the headstones of thousands
of fallen servicemembers. So far two other California congressmen...Republicans
Brian Bilbray and Darrell Issa...have also signed onto the legislation,
but no similar proposals have been floated in the Senate. Congress ~ 112th Update
01: Following is an estimated timeline
of when important actions will occur in the first year of the
112th Congress: Congress ~ 112th Update
02: Republicans in control of the
House and Democrats in control of the Senate have approved dramatically
different budget rules for the 112th Congress that would appear
to make it difficult for them to reach agreements on almost any
major budget changes without major compromises by one or the
other or both. The most important change in the House was to
replace the "pay-as-you-go" (PAYGO) spending rule with
the "cut-as-you-go" (cut-go) policy. Under the PAYGO
rule still used by the Senate, any increases in so-called "entitlement"
spending must be offset either by cuts in other entitlement spending
programs or increases in revenue. Entitlement spending (also
known as mandatory spending) involves any program that is subject
to automatic adjustment mechanisms (e.g., COLAs) and doesn't
require annual appropriations. It includes such programs as Social
Security, Medicare, military and federal civilian retirement
and survivor programs, TRICARE For Life, VA disability payments,
and more. PAYGO rules also require offsetting the cost of any
proposed tax cuts with equivalent spending cuts. The new House
"Cut-Go" rule requires that any new increase in mandatory
spending can be offset only by other mandatory spending cuts,
and not by tax increases. It also exempts tax cuts from any offset
requirements. Virginia Vet Legislation:
Governor Bob McDonnell announced
14 JAN his legislation to continue his effort to make Virginia
the most veteran-friendly state in America. The legislation focuses
on the continued need to streamline services that help Virginia's
military, and incr ease the access to and efficiency of these
services. It includes waiving the one-year residency requirement
needed to qualify for in-state tuition for veterans; allowing
the Department of Human Resource Management to offer voluntary
TRICARE supplement health coverage for state employees who are
veterans of the armed forces; providing to a veteran, free of
charge, one copy of vital record if that record is to be used
to determine the eligibility for state or federal veteran benefits;
and, renaming the existing Office of Commonwealth Preparedness
to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security. Speaking
about the legislation, Governor McDonnell remarked, "Virginia
is home to over 820,000 veterans and almost 200,000 active duty
military. These men and women have served our country; it is
essential that we continue to work to better serve them."
Delegate Chris Stolle (R-Virginia Beach) also noted, "Last
year, with Governor McDonnell's leadership, we passed 24 pieces
of legislation to help our veterans and active duty military.
But there is more to be done to ensure that this is the most
veteran friendly state in the nation. This year we are going
to provide more veterans access to a quality higher education
once they leave the military by granting in state tuition to
any veteran who wants to make Virginia home. We're also going
to ensure that families don't lose in state tuition rights if
the parents move due to a change in assignment. This is a great
service we can provide to our veterans and active duty military
to ensure that they remain in the Commonwealth or choose to return
after their service." At present the following 2011 veteran
legislation has been introduced: [Source: Times Virginian article 14 Jan 2011 ++] VFW Operation Uplink: As of 16 JAN VFW's Operation Uplink Free
Call Day (FCD) surpassed 5 million connections made from
deployed military personnel to their loved ones. Operation Uplink
initially provided calling cards to deployed and hospitalized
troops, but on Mother's Day 2006, due to the growing popularity
of the program and thanks to the generosity of corporate donors
like Sport Clips and Harleysville Insurance, the program began
hosting "Free Call Days." Operation Uplink hosts a
Free Call Day for service members serving in Iraq, Afghanistan,
Kuwait, and hospitalized veterans, giving them the opportunity
to call their loved ones in the States at no cost. Free Call
Days are available at more than 700 MWR internet cafes using
SPAWAR. Soldiers use their regular SPAWAR prepaid PIN number
and use regular dialing procedures, if they dont have a
PIN, on the day of the FCD, the café manager can issue
them one. A sponsor message greets them before the call is placed
to inform them that the call is at no charge and they are free
to talk for as long as they are able. The program is the only
one of its kind and provides two designated days each month where
deployed service members making calls from their Morale, Welfare
& Recreation (MWR) center to the U.S., and Germany and Italy
land lines are greeted by a recording which states their call
will be free courtesy of Operation Uplink. Members of the VFW
and Ladies Auxiliary VFW Posts, as well as other caring citizens
generously support the program. The VFW is proud of Operation
Uplink because it provides an easy way for individuals and organizations
to make an immediate difference in the lives of active-duty military
personnel. 1. I am a Veteran but dont
know if this impacted me? Where can I go to find out more information?
You can visit http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility, call 1-877 222-VETS (8387), or visit/call
your local VA facilitys Enrollment Coordinator. A list
of VA medical facilities can be found at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1 [Source: VA Enhanced Enrollment Window
FAQ 5 Jan 2011 ++] Arlington West Memorial:
Arlington West refers to two closely
related projects, both of which are intended to draw public attention
to, and to open a discourse on the subject of both military and
civilian deaths during the invasion and occupation of Iraq of
the early 21st century. There is also the similar, but differently
named Lafayette Hillside Memorial in Lafayette, in the San Francisco
Bay Area of California. Arlington West refers to the "temporary
cemetery" itself, as well as Veterans for Peace's project
of installing the temporary memorial. The second Arlington West memorial, Santa Monica Beach, California. Veterans For Peace, an official non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1985 includes men and women veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and other conflicts, as well as peacetime veterans. The group has published a 'how-to' for organizing, planning and constructing and erecting Arlington West. Several other Memorials have been erected by chapters of Veterans for Peace and other groups. In the spring and summer of 2005, a similar Arlington West display was taken on a U.S. tour, being installed at places such as Ohio's Kent State University (for the 35th commemoration of the tragedy of 4 MAY 70), as well as at "Camp Casey," the site of anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan's vigil outside the ranch of President George W. Bush near Crawford, Texas. In August of 2010, the members of the Santa Barbara chapter of Veterans for Peace decided to replace the traditional Arlington West memorial with one which focuses on the War in Afghanistan. The 3000+ crosses for the casualties in Iraq were removed and replaced with 1200+ plastic tombstones representing the fatalities in Afghanistan, ending the memorial dedicated specifically to the Iraq war. [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_West Jan 2011 ++] Voluntary Separation Incentive
Update 04: Voluntary Separation
Incentive (VSI) veterans are another group of disabled veterans
on the DOD payroll that are totally excluded from the benefits
of the restoration of concurrent receipt. VSI veterans are those
who separated from service under provision of title 10 US Code
Sec 1175 - Voluntary Separation Incentive that was used in conjunction
with Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA, PL 102-484 Sec
4403(f)) to reduce the size of the military establishment during
1992 through 2001. Beginning 31 DEC 92, VSI was offered to service
members having at least 6 but less than 20 years of service.
They receive an annual amount funded by the DoD that equals the
multiplication product of four factors: National Parks: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced
that National Park Service officials will waive admission fees
on 17 selected dates throughout 2011 to encourage all Americans
to visit a national park this year. With 394 national parks throughout
the country, most Americans live within a few hours of a park,
making them places for easy and affordable vacations any time
of the year. Many national park concessions also will offer discounts
on fee-free days, saving visitors money on food, lodging, tours
and souvenirs. National Park Pass Program:
The National Park Service is an
important participant in the new Interagency Pass Program which
was created by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and
authorized by Congress in DEC 04. Participating agencies include
the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest
Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management
and Bureau of Reclamation. The Access Pass offered under the
program is the replacement for the Golden Access Passport as
of JAN 07. Golden Access Passports remain valid and do not have
to be replaced with the Access Pass. It is a lifetime pass for
U.S. citizens or permanent residents, regardless of age, with
permanent disabilities. A permanent disability is a permanent
physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits
one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself,
performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking,
breathing, learning, and working. Documentation is required to
obtain the pass and it must be obtained in person by the applicant.
The pass provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity. It is not valid at state parks or local recreation areas. Photo identification may be requested to verify pass ownership. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). The pass can only be obtained in person at the park. The Access Pass provides a 50% discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services. In some cases where Expanded Amenity Fees are charged, only the pass holder will be given the 50% price reduction. The pass is non-transferable and generally does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires. [Source: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/access/access_pass.htm Jan 2011 ++] Veteran Email Scam: An old e-mail scam has reappeared and is targeting
veterans. Recently forwarded throughout the Army community and
titled "Warning To Veterans," the current version of
the e-mail advises against using the services of an organization
called Veterans Affairs Services. An earlier version of this
e-mail, purportedly from Michael G. Daugherty, staff attorney
with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel,
contains a Facebook link that may be an attempt to upload a virus
according to Better Business Bureau (BBB) Military Line officials.
The BBB advises anyone receiving this e-mail not click on the
link. Also, the VA advises veterans seeking assistance to use
a VA-recognized service organization in order to submit a claim
for benefits. Manila VARO Update 02:
After five years of planning and
construction, on 31 JAN the new VA Manila facility opened - located
on the U.S. Embassy Seafront Compound . The new VA facility will
provide enhanced services by establishing a "one stop shop"
for all VA needs. The new facility doubles the number of clinical
exam rooms, provides new diagnostic equipment in a number of
clinical areas and offers greater and more convenient access
to all VA services in a modern, secure and state-of-the-art facility.
The Manila VA Regional Office opened for business in their new
location 24 JAN 2011. New location, telephone numbers, hours
of operation regarding the new facility are:. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 1501 Roxas Boulevard 1302 Pasay City, PhilippinesBusiness
Hours: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday) Appointment Hours:
8:00 am - 3:30 pm (Mon. to Fri.)Call Center Hours: 8:00 am -
4:00 pm (Mon. to Fri.) VA Claim Tips Update 02:
Filing a first claim for disability
compensation can be a stressful experience. To
overcome your concerns VAs Deputy Under Secretary for Disability
Assistance responsible for oversight of Compensation Service,
Pension Service, Benefits Assistance Service, Fiduciary Service,
and Insurance Service in the Veterans Benefits Administration
and Vietnam veteran of the 101st Airborne Division advises the
following to demystify the process and empower you with information
you need and what you can expect. Recommendations Dealing with
large organizations can be frustrating. Some things that appear
clear and certain to you may not be to others. Additionally,
legal requirements can sometimes be confusing and time consuming.
As
I said earlier, one of our goals is to get our quality level
to 95 percent by 2015. Currently our quality level is 84 percent.
While a significant portion our quality problems reflect process
errors rather than errors in the final decision with respect
to the granting or denying of benefits, rates paid and effective
dates of payment, we do make mistakes. How You Can Help Yourself
and VA The claims process doesnt need to be a hassle. Here
is what you can do to help yourself and VA: VA Tinnitus Care Update 02: Scientists from the University of Texas announced in the scientific journal Nature that they have found a way to treat chronic tinnitus. Tinnitus, a chronic ringing in the ears is the most common service connected disability for enlisted Air Force retirees and veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan The VA pays approximately one billion dollars ($1 billion) a year for service connected disability payments for tinnitus. Doctors believe that over 23 million Americans suffer from some degree of this condition including 10% of seniors and a whopping 40% of veterans. The scientists believe that it is caused by the brain failing to adjust to nerve damage caused to exposure to loud or continual noise. Michael Kilgard, the co-author of the study said: Brain changes in response to nerve damage or cochlear trauma cause irregular neural activity believed to be responsible for many types of chronic pain and tinnitus. We believe the part of the brain that processes sounds- the auditory cortex-delegates too many neurons to some frequencies and things begin to go awry. The treatment (so far successful in rats) electronically stimulates the Vagus nerve (which runs from the brain to the abdomen) while playing a high pitched tone. Human clinical trials are expected to start in the next several months. This technique called VNS is already used to treat approximately 50,000 people with epilepsy or depression. If the trials are successful this would be the first treatment that would eliminate rather than just mask tinnitus. [Source: TREA Washington Update 14 Jan 2011 ++] Fluoridation: The Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) is seeking public comment on proposed new guidance that
will update and replace the 1962 U.S. Public Health Service Drinking
Water Standards for fluoride concentrations in community drinking
water. Comments are preferred electronically and may be addressed to cwfcomments@cdc.gov Written responses should be addressed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CWF Comments, Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS F10, Atlanta, `GA 303413717. [Source: Consumer Health Digest #11-02 13 Jan 2011 ++] Tricare Dental Program
Update 03: DoD has awarded the new
Tricare Dental Program (TDP) contract to Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company, Inc. The contract provides worldwide coverage for enrolled
family members of active duty personnel and to members of the
Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve and their eligible
family members. Approximately 1.9 million beneficiaries are currently
enrolled in the premium-based TDP worldwide. Dental care under
the new contract will begin 1 FEB 2012, following a 12-month
transition period. New features of the TDP contract include:
An increase in the annual maximum from $1,200 to $1,300 Saving Money: President Obama signed the CARD Act in 2009
to end the days of unfair rate hikes and hidden fees,
but many financial experts surmised the banks would just dream
up new fees that found some loophole. [Source: MoneyTalksNews Karla Bowsher article 25 Jan 2010 ++] Notes of Interest: [Source: Various 1-15 Dec 2010 ++] Medicare Fraud Update 58:
On 24 JAN Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Associate
Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli announced a new report showing
that the governments health care fraud prevention and enforcement
efforts recovered more than $4 billion in taxpayer dollars in
Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. This is the highest annual amount ever
recovered from people who attempted to defraud seniors and taxpayers.
Additionally, HHS announced new rules authorized by the Affordable
Care Act which will help stop health care fraud. The provisions
of Act implemented through this final rule include new provider
screening and enforcement measures to help keep bad actors out
of Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP. The final rule also contains
important authority to suspend payments when a credible allegation
of fraud is being investigated. Thanks to the new law,
CMS now has additional resources to help detect fraud and stop
criminals from getting into the system in the first place,"
CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D. said. The Affordable
Care Acts new authorities allow us to develop sophisticated,
new systems of monitoring and oversight to not only help us crack
down on fraudulent activity scamming these programs, but also
help us to prevent the loss of taxpayer dollars across the board
for millions of American health care consumers. Specifically,
the final rule: A copy
of the regulation is on display today at the Federal Register
and may be downloaded from the following link: Several
days after the regulation is published, that link will be deactivated
and the published version of the regulation will be available
on the National Archives website at http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/news.html CMS will continue to take public comments on
limited areas of this final rule for 60 days. More information
can be found at http://www.HealthCare.gov, a web portal made
available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[Source: HHS.gov News Release 24 Jan 2011 ++] Medicare Fraud Update 59:
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Jan 2011 ++] Medicad Fraud Update 31:
State Veteran's Benefits:
The state of Kansas provides several
benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information
on these refer to the Veteran State Benefits KS
attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits
listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents
of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each click on
Learn more about
wording highlighted in blue
on the attachment. Military History: On 4 June 1944, a hunter-killer group of the
United States Navy captured the German submarine U-505. [Source: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq91-1.htm Jan 2011 ++] [Source: Various Jan 2011 ++] Among others in attendance were Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, other government and military dignitaries, and the love he left behind, Lou Adams Pennebaker. There are still over 2,000 American soldiers unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery still holds unknown soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War who have not yet been returned home. Hopefully, with DNA and modern scientific technology, there will never have to be another, "Unknown Soldier". [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/submitquiz.cfm?quiz=254720 Jan 2011++] Burden for Vermont Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Vermont: Sales TaxesState Sales Tax: 6% (medical items, food, equipment and fuel, residential fuel and electricity, clothing and shoes with a purchase price of $110 or less, prescription and non-prescription drugs are exempt); Local jurisdictions may add an additional 1%. Tax is 9% of prepared foods and restaurant meals and lodging. 10% on alcoholic beverages served in restaurants.Gasoline Tax: 24.5 cents/gallonDiesel Fuel Tax: 29 cents/gallonCigarette Tax: $2.24/pack of 20 Personal Income TaxesTax Rate Range: Low - 3.55%; High - 8.95% (Tax year 2010). For details refer to http://www.state.vt.us/tax/individual.shtmlIncome Property Taxes Perks: "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."--- Ronald Reagan [1981 Inaugural Address] Veteran Legislation Status
28 JAN 2011: The Senate convened
25 JAN as scheduled but the House has has now recessed until
8 FEB. For or a listing of Congressional bills of interest to
the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer
to the Bulletins House & Senate Veteran Legislation
attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other
legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through
the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good
indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who
have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor
a bill in the House or Senate. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills content,
determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned
to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To
determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored,
cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective
way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion.
Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office;
sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal
visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to
suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship
on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting
legislators know of veterans feelings on issues. You can
reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct
at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express
your views. Otherwise, you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislators phone number, mailing
address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter
of your own making. 28 January 2011 Of
the 518 House and 223 Senate pieces of legislation introduced
in the 112th Congress to date, the following are of interest
to the non-active duty veteran community. A good indication on
the likelihood of a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate
for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President
is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An
alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum
to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to
iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At
http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills text,
determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned
to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing
address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter
of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor
of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative
has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html To review a numerical list of all bills introduced
refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html House: United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
H.R.28 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach
activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. H.R.46 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2011. A bill to amend
the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant
status for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a
United States citizen child if the child was born abroad and
is the child of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the
United States. H.R.79 : Dependent Care Act of 2011. A bill t amend title
38, United States Code, to provide certain abused dependents
of veterans with health care. H.R.115 : CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum
age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA
program. H.R.117 : HELP Veterans Act of 2011. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. H.R.120 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed by the Department
of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses of certain totally-disabled
veterans. H.R.136 : Taxpayer Payment Designation to Homeless Vets.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers
to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide
assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.159 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for
certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic
stress disorder. H.R.168 : VA Care for Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A
bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169 : Publicize VA VetSuccess Internet Website. A bill
to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the
main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans
Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to
publicize such Internet website. H.R.178 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement
for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit
Plan for military surviving spouses to offset the receipt of
veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179 : Health Care for Under 60 Retired Reserves. A
bill 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. H.R.181 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for
Patriots Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
who have served on active duty or performed active service since
September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or
in other emergency situations receive credit for such service
in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service
retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.186 : Chapter 61 CRDP Eligibility. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent
receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation
to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired
under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of
the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.198 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act. A bill to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on dog training therapy. H.R.208 : Tricare Mental Health Counselor Reimbursement.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the
reimbursement of mental health counselors under TRICARE, and
for other purposes. H.R.210 : Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service
in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth
of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active
service for purposes of benefits under programs administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.238 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2011.
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a
refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for
coverage under Medicare Part B. H.R.240 : Promote Vet Jobs with DVA Sole Source Contracts.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to promote jobs
for veterans through the use of sole source contracts by Department
of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting the contracting goals
and preferences of the Department of Veterans Affairs for small
business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.284 : Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and
Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2011. A bill
to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination through
the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for the Fair
Housing Initiatives Program, and for other purposes. H.R.287 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2011. A bill to provide
housing assistance for very low-income veterans. H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act. A bill to amend
title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members
of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to
receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans
Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason
of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special
Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current
law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation
Act. A bill to provide compensation for certain World War II
veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as
prisoners of war by the Japanese. H.R.319 : Veterans Day Off Act. A bill to require employers
to provide veterans with time off on Veterans Day. H.R.333 : The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act. A
bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired
members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability
rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both
retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate
the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility
for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with
less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. H.R.396 : TBI Treatment Act. A bill to direct the Secretary
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for
certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic
stress disorder. H.R.420 : Vet Firearms Registration Amnesty. A bill to
provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family
members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms
Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. H.R.493 : Deceased Military Retiree Overpayment Forgiveness.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for
forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased
retired members of the Armed Forces following their death. Senate: United States Senate website: http://www.senate.gov/
S.63 : WWII Filipino Vet Claims. A bill to require the
Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims
of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on
behalf of the United States during World War II. S.67 : Disabled Vet Space A Travel. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members
of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated
as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and
to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are
entitled to travel on such aircraft. S.68 : POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former
prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and
exchange stores. S.70 : Restore Memorial Day Observance. A bill to restore
the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day, and for other
purposes. S.146 : Vet Work Opportunity Credit. A bill to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity
credit to certain recently discharged veterans. [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 13 Jan 2011 ++] |
Tricare Young Adult Program Update 02 (DoD Announcement) VAMC Marion IL Update 01 (Full Accreditation) Mobilized Reserve 11 JAN 2011 (242 Increase) Doolittle's Raiders Last Surviving Pilot (Died 10 JAN) CA Vet Services (State Budget Cut Impact) DoD Office of the Actuary (Data Source) Tricare Retired Reserve Update 02 (Sign-up Options Expanded) Combat Veteran Health Care Update 06 (Enrollment Deadline) What to Ask Your Doctor (Become Fully Informed) Traffic Fines (Sign of the times) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Asbestos (Mesothelioma) Fisher House Expansion Update 06 (Now 53) Fisher House Update 02 (Mission & Amenities) VA Quality of Care Update 01 (Better than Private Sector) SBP DIC Offset Update 27 (Repeal Legislation Reintroduced) Counterfeit Check Scams (How to Avoid) HASC Update 06 (Reintroduced Bills) GI Bill Update 90 (New Law Winners & Losers) GI Bill Update 91 (New Law Change Schedule) Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial (Cross Unconstitutional) Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Ft. Detrick Update 04 (Deeper Probe) Tax Tips 2010 Update 01 (Tax year 2010) SBA Vet Issues Update 13 (New Verification Requirement VA Service Dogs Update 02 ** (Disabled Troops,/Vets Misled) TSP Update 18 (Strong 2010 Finish) Vet Cremains Update 04 (New York) Vet Unclaimed Money (Where to Look) Federal Holidays (2011) Tricare Retired Reserve Update 03 (Online Sign Up) CRDP/CRSC Option Update 03 (2011 Open Season) Saving Money (Checking Accounts) Notes of Interest (1-14 Jan 2011) Medicare Fraud Update 56 (Biometric Palm Vein Scanner) Medicare Fraud Update 57 (1-14 Jan 2011) Medicaid Fraud Update 29 (Detecting Upcoding) Medicad Fraud Update 30 (1-14 Jan 2011) State Veteran's Benefits (Iowa) Military History (Battle of Belleau Wood) Military History Anniversaries (January 16-31 Summary) Military Trivia 20 (Vietnam Era Lingo ++) Tax Burden for Utah Retirees (2010) Veteran Legislation Status 13 JAN 2011 (Where we stand)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email." Tricare Young Adult Program Update 02: The Department of Defense announced 13 JAN its introduction of the premium-based Tricare Young Adult Program (TYAP) which extends medical coverage to eligible military family members to the age of 26. The program had previously been referred to as "Tricare 26". Expected to be in place later this spring, TYAP implements the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of fiscal 2011. Premium costs are not yet finalized, but the NDAA specifies rates must cover the full cost of the program. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 required civilian health plans to offer coverage to adult children until age 26. Tricare previously met or exceeded key tenets of national health reform, including restrictions on annual limits, lifetime maximums, "high user" cancellations, or denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions...but did not include this expanded coverage for adult children. Dependent eligibility for Tricare previously ended at age 21 or age 23 for full-time college students. The fiscal 2011 NDAA now gives the DoD the authority to offer similar benefits to young adults under Tricare. "We've been working hard to make sure we could put Tricare Young Adult on a fast track," said Tricare Deputy Director, Rear. Adm. Christine Hunter. "Fortunately for our beneficiaries concerned about health care coverage for their adult children, the law signed by the President includes opportunities for military families to elect this new premium-based plan retroactive to 1 JAN." Beginning later this spring, qualified, unmarried dependents up to age 26 will be able to purchase Tricare coverage on a month-to-month basis...as long as they are not eligible for their own employer-sponsored health coverage. "This program has the potential to extend Tricare coverage to several hundred thousand additional beneficiaries," said Hunter. "The premium allows us to provide this excellent benefit to our military families while responsibly addressing the impact of health care costs on the DoD budget." Initially, the benefit offered will be a premium-based Tricare standard benefit. Eligible family members who receive health care between now and the date the program is fully implemented may want to purchase TYAP retroactively and should save their receipts. Premiums will have to be paid back to 1 JAN 2011, in order to obtain reimbursement. Adults who are no longer eligible for Tricare, but need health insurance coverage, may wish to explore the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP). CHCBP is a premium-based program offering temporary transitional health coverage for 18-36 months. Coverage must be purchased within 60 days of loss of Tricare eligibility. For more information on TYAP and CHCBP refer to http://www.tricare.mil/ [Source: DoD News No. 035-11 13 Jan 2011 ++] VAMC Marion IL Update 01:
An independent organization that
monitors health care standards has fully accredited the once-troubled
Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Hospital officials announced
the full accreditation by the Joint Commission 12 JAN. It follows
an October facility visit. The accreditation covers the hospital,
behavioral care, home care, long-term care programs and surgeries.
Hospital director Paul Bockelman says the accreditation demonstrates
the hospital's commitment to safety and quality care for veterans.
The news is a change from several years ago. The facility had
been under intense scrutiny since AUG 07, when a surgeon Veizaga-Mendez
resigned after a patient bled to death following gallbladder
surgery. All inpatient surgeries were suspended within a month.
Investigators later found at least nine deaths between OCT 06
and MAR 07 resulted from substandard care. A report filed by
the Veterans Affairs Administrative Investigation Board (AIB)
indicated the hospital administration ignored warnings about
Veizaga-Mendezs credentials. The AIB is responsible for
making decisions on future employment of the Marion VAs
former administrators, many of whom have been replaced. [Source:
Chicago Tribune AP article 12 Jan 2011 ++] Doolittle's Raiders Last
Surviving Pilot: Col. William Marsh
"Bill" Bower, the last surviving pilot of "Doolittle's
Raiders" who bombed Japan in 1942, died 10 JAN at his home
in south Boulder. He was 93 and "lived a completely full
life," said his son Jim Bower. "My dad was a hell of
a guy," he said. "He was a brave soul, a warrior. He
was everybody's friend. He did all kinds of volunteer work. He
was an exceptional human being." Bill Bower was hailed as
a hero for his role in the United States' first air attack on
Japan following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
He volunteered and was chosen for the mission, which was planned
and led by Lt. Col. James "Jimmy" Doolittle. On April
18, 1942, 16 B25B Mitchell medium bombers took off from the decks
of the U.S.S. Hornet in the western Pacific Ocean. Because landing
planes of that size on the Hornet was impossible, the pilots
continued toward China after bombing their targets in Japan.
All but one of the aircraft, which landed in the Soviet Union,
crashed in China or were ditched at sea. Of the 80 crew members,
11 were either captured or killed; the rest returned to the United
States. CA Vet Services: Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to slash $12.5 billion
from California's budget could slam the door on the state's fledgling
Operation Welcome Home program for troops returning from Afghanistan
and Iraq, and drastically reduce the services provided by county
veterans offices. The governor's proposed budget, unveiled 10
JAN, would trim nearly $10 million from the California Department
of Veterans Affairs by eliminating general fund support specifically
for the two programs. The department operates veterans homes,
and provides medical care and a variety of other services under
its current annual budget of about $420 million. About $229 million
of that money comes from the state's general fund. "I absolutely
know we can find $10 million in this budget to support those
efforts, said state Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Carlsbad. Wyland, a member
of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said closing programs
that help veterans during wartime is wrong. "Because of
what veterans have given to this country and the importance of
them knowing what services are available, it is nearly unconscionable
to cut that budget," he said. [Source: North County Times Mark
Walker article 11 Jan 2011 ++] Tricare Retired Reserve
Update 02: Gray-area retirees from
the National Guard and Reserves who want to purchase TRICARE
health care coverage now have a new way to get a DoD Self-service
Logon (DS Logon). Most will need a DS Logon to qualify for and
purchase TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) health coverage. Since
1 SEP 2010, members of the Retired Reserve who arent 60,
the so-called gray area retirees, have been able
to purchase TRR to provide health coverage for themselves and
their eligible family members. To make purchasing TRR easier,
gray area retirees can now get a DS Logon by contacting the Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System/Defense Manpower Data
Center Support Office (DSO) and remotely verify their identity.
Gray area retirees can use the DS Logon to access the Web-based
Reserve Component Purchased TRICARE Application (RCPTA) to qualify
for and purchase TRR. If a gray area retiree doesnt have
a DS Logon, but has a retired military ID card, he or she can
call the DSO at 1-800-538-9552 (1-866-363-2883 for the hearing
impaired) to request remote proofing documentation. [Source: Tricare Press Release No. 11-04 dtd 11 JAN 2011 ++] Combat Veteran Health Care
Update 06: Certain combat Veterans
who were discharged from active duty service before 28 JAN 03
have until 27 JAN 2011 to take advantage of their enhanced health
care enrollment opportunity through the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). "While there is no time limit for Veterans
to apply for the VA health care they earned with their service,
I highly encourage this group of combat Veterans to take advantage
of the enhanced enrollment window to use their health care benefits
through this simplified process," said Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "VA has health care eligibility
specialists online and at every medical center eager to help
Veterans take advantage of this opportunity." The enhanced
enrollment window was provided for in Public Law 110-181, the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. That
law gave combat Veterans who served after 11 NOV 98 but separated
from service before 28 JAN 03, and did not enroll before 28 JAN
08, three years, beginning on Jan. 28, 2008, to apply for the
enhanced enrollment opportunity. These Veterans will still be
able to apply for health benefits with VA after 27 JAN, but will
have their status for receiving VA health care determined under
normal VA procedures that base health care priority status on
the severity of a service-connected disability or other eligibility
factors. This would mean some Veterans could face income or asset-based
restrictions, as well as delays in establishing their VA health
care eligibility while their disability status is determined.
Since the inception of the enhanced enrollment opportunity, VA
has sent more than 750,000 personal l letters to eligible Veterans
and hosted thousands of outreach efforts through OIF/OEF and
enrollment coordinators stationed at every VA medical center.
Since JUN 2010, VA sent another 194,000 personal letters to give
every eligible Veteran a chance to take advantage of this opportunity,
but to date only 13,000 of these Veterans have enrolled. The
law does continue to provide the enhanced health care enrollment
window to combat Veterans who were discharged or released from
active service on or after 28 JAN 03. For these Veterans, the
five-year enrollment period begins on the discharge or separation
date of the service member from active duty military service,
or in the case of multiple call-ups, the most recent discharge
date. Veterans can apply for enrollment online at https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/
by contacting VA at 1-877-222-8387 or with
the help of a VA health care eligibility specialist at any VA
medical center. Go to http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isflash=1 for locations. For more information regarding
enrollment, visit VA's eligibility site at http://www.va.gov/ [Source: VA News Release 10 Jan 2011 ++] Traffic Fines: If you havent received a ticket in a while for a traffic violation make sure you continue to comply with your states traffic laws. States in need of funds to balance their budgets have been raising the maximum limits for fines. As an example, the California Vehicle Code (VC) for 2010 reflects the following maximum fines: * VC
12814.6 Failure to obey license provisions $214 [Source: Mr. Ticket http://www.4mrticket.com/california-traffic-tickets-fines-2010.html Jan 2011] Fisher House Expansion
Update 06: The Fisher House Foundation
isn't basking in past achievements as it prepares to commemorate
the 20th anniversary of the opening of its first home on the
grounds of the National Naval Medical Center here. As the first
military families move this week into one of three new Fisher
Houses just across the street from the original, the foundation
is moving full steam ahead on nine more being built nationwide,
many to be completed by the year's end. The Fisher House program
started as a relatively modest endeavor, with Zachary and Elizabeth
Fisher donating a home to provide free temporary lodging for
military families while their loved ones received care at the
Navy's flagship medical center. That original Fisher House, perched
on a hillside overlooking the towering hospital, opened its doors
24 JUN 91. Soon the Fishers presented the second Fisher House,
which opened a month later on the grounds of the Army's Walter
Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. Within a few short months,
the third opened at the Air Force's Wilford Hall Medical Center
in San Antonio. Three Fisher Houses led to five, then 10. By
the time of Zachary Fisher's death in 1999, he and his wife had
personally financed more than 20 Fisher Houses. SBP DIC Offset Update 27:
Following on the legacy of former
Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC), who retired last year from Congress,
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced legislation to eliminate the
Survivor Benefit Plan/Dependency Indemnity Compensation (SBP/DIC)
offset. Wilson is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Personnel
Subcommittee, the congressional panel with key jurisdiction over
uniformed services quality of life issues. Wilsons bill,
H.R.178, called the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act,
is identical to the previous bill. It repeals the dollar-for-dollar
reduction of SBP, fully restoring eligibility for all survivors;
it eliminates recoupment of repayments of SBP premiums
on remarriage of the survivor; and, it allows restoration of
eligibility to survivors who passed the benefit to dependent
children. Passage of Wilsons legislation is even
more critical this year as DFAS now demands repayment, with interest,
of refunded premiums from the survivors who have chosen to remarry
after age 57. Last year, remarried widows won a suit against
the Government to restore both full SBP and DIC after age 57
marriage. In response, DFAS now demands a full repayment of the
refunded SBP Premium money. Moreover, DFAS requires payment with
6% interest, despite the fact that the original payment to survivors
was paid without interest and despite the fact that survivors
paid taxes on the payment, too. Present law makes it a penalty
if the survivor remarries prior to the age of 57, by denying
full payment of SBP and DIC. The new DFAS policy makes it a penalty
now if a survivor remarries after age 57. Its become a
penalty for remarriage both before age 57 and after age 57. This
is the sixth year in a row that legislation has been introduced
to eliminate this widows tax. Those who would like to see
it happen this year are encouraged to contact their legislators
and request they take action. An easy way to do this is to refer
to http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=21785541&type=CO and send them the editable preformatted message
shown. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 7 Jan 2011 ++] Heres how to avoid a counterfeit check scam: * Throw
away any offer that asks you to pay for a prize or a gift. If
its free or a gift, you shouldnt have to pay for
it. Free is free. If you think youve been targeted
by a counterfeit check scam, report it to the following agencies:
[Source: FTC Consumer Protection
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre40.shtm Dec 2010 ++] HASC Update 06: House champions of the military and veterans'
communities have wasted no time in reintroducing several 111th
session bills in the new 112th session of Congress - including
a number offered by the new Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman
Joe Wilson (R-SC). [Source: MOAA Leg Up 7 Jan 2011 ++] Tricare User Fees Update
58: On 6 JAN Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates outlined an ambitious plan of cuts and efficiencies
to squeeze more than $78 billion in savings from the defense
budget over five years. The proposal included a wide range of
changes that would affect all facets of defense spending including
civilian and uniformed personnel, command structures, weapons
systems, intelligence, and benefits. As he has done repeatedly
in recent months, Gates told reporters that health costs are
"eating the Department alive", in part because working-age
retirees who have access to civilian health coverage are foregoing
that coverage to use TRICARE. Gates said the FY2012 defense budget
will propose "modest" increases in fees for retirees
under 65 and propose adjusting those fees every year at the rate
of medical inflation. Gates also noted that military retirees
pay significantly lower fees than federal civilians do for their
health care. It is to be seen what is meant by "modest fees".
But back in 2007 and 2008, he proposed increasing fees by $1,000
to $2,000 per year. Final details on the FY2012 budget proposals
may not be known until the President formally submits the FY2012
budget to Congress on 14 FEB. GI Bill Update 90: President Obama has signed the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act (GI Bill 2.0) into law. The reforms are being praised for making the GI Bill simpler to administer...mainly by doing away with the state-by-state tuition and fee rates. However, the law also adds some complicating factors, like an annual cap which only applies to private schools and new housing stipend limits based on the number of classes a student takes each term. For details of the upcoming changes. refer to http://military-education.military.com/2011/01/va-offers-more-details-on-gi-bill-changes/ Most
of these changes go into effect in August and October of this
year. While no one would argue the need for change, the bill
comes with several trade-offs that some vets, and veterans program
administrators, find hard to accept. Like most legislation there
is always unintended consequences...both winners and losers.
Some would argue that the trade-offs are necessary to cover the
cost of expanding the benefits. But this is of little comfort
to those who will find themselves on the losing end of these
compromises. White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, told
reporters that the administration will work with Congress to
continue improving this important program this coming year. * National
Guard members, who didnt qualify under the old rules, can
now use both AGR and title 32 time to count toward their Post-9/11
GI Bill eligibility. The Losers: * Veterans
who must rely on the housing stipend to cover their living expenses
during mandatory school break periods will find the payments
end during such breaks. Hopefully this wont mean increased
back logs and payment errors next fall when this new law goes
into effect. Effective August 1, 2009, but not
payable until October 1, 2011. [Source: Military.com | Education Terry Howell article 5 Jan 2011 ++] Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial:
A federal appeals court ruled 4
JAN in a two decade old case that a war memorial cross located
at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial, 6905 La Jolla Scenic
Drive South, La Jolla, CA 92037 is unconstitutional because it
conveys a message of government endorsement of religion, . A
three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued
the unanimous decision in the dispute over the present cross,
which was dedicated in 1954 in honor of Korean War veterans.
The court said modifications could be made to make it constitutional,
but it didn't specify what those changes would be. "In no
way is this decision meant to undermine the importance of honoring
our veterans," the three judges said in their ruling. "Indeed,
there are countless ways that we can and should honor them, but
without the imprimatur of state-endorsed religion." [Source: Associated Press Julie Watson
article 4 Jan 2011 ++] Tax Tips 2010 Update 01:
The following applies to income
earned in tax year 2010: Those who need to wait include: 4. Requirement to File a Tax Return.
You must file a federal income tax return if your income is above
a certain level; which varies depending on your filing status,
age and the type of income you receive. Check the Individuals
section of the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/ or consult the instructions for Form 1040,
1040A, or 1040EZ for specific details that may help you determine
if you need to file a tax return with the IRS this year. You
can also use the Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) available on
the IRS website to determine if you need to file a tax return.
The ITA tool is a tax law resource that takes you through a series
of questions and provides you with responses to tax law questions.
There are some instances when you may want to file a tax return
even though you are not required to do so. Even if you don't
have to file, here are seven reasons why you may want to: To
qualify for the credit, taxpayers must have bought - or entered
into a binding contract to buy - a principal residence located
in the United States on or before April 30, 2010. If you entered
into a binding contract by April 30, 2010, you must have closed
on the home on or before September 30, 2010. If you bought a
home as your principle residence in 2010, you may be able to
qualify and claim the credit even if you already owned a home.
In this case, the maximum credit for long-time residents is $6,500,
or $3,250 if your filing status is married filing separately.
5. Withholding. Your employer withholds an amount based on your expected annual earnings as required by IRS Pub 15. Those withholdings are sent to the US Treasury and held in an account not unlike your mortgage escrow account for later distribution for payment of your taxes owed and return of any excess to you. You controlmuch of the amount withheld by the use of your W-4 form filed with your employer. The IRS wants you to estimate the amount that will be owed and adjust your W-4 such that your "escrow" account has enough, but noexcess next year at tax time. 6. Mileage Rates for 2011. Beginning
1 Jan 2011, the standard mileage rates for use of a car, van,
pickup, or panel truck will be: 7. Taxpayer Advocacy. The IRS has
an office dedicated to taxpayer advocacy to assist when you have
made every other effort to resolve your problems with the IRS?
The Taxpayer Advocacy Service (TAS) will assist cases that have
reached an impasse with IRS customer service representatives
-- they are not there to take complaints about taxes. The IRS
sponsors several outreach programs to assist the public via citizen
volunteers. One most recognized is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) program which helps folks prepare routine (mostly low
income and basic returns), the Low Income Taxpayer Committee
(LITC), and the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP). TAP solicits comments
from the public as to how the IRS might improve its interface
with the taxpayers (ex., clarify language on forms and pubs,
change telephonic procedures, etc). The mission of TAP is "to
listen to taxpayers, identify taxpayer issues, and makes recommendations
to the IRS for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction."
There is at least one citizen volunteer in each state who serves
for three years on several TAP committees and subcommittees.
TAP has counterparts in TAS and other IRS offices for directly
communicating issues brought forward; and a report is prepared
by TAS each year for Congressional presentation. Your comments about the tax code should be referred to your Congressional representative...the IRS can only administer what your representatives have legislated. 8. Documentation retention. The Internal
Revenue Code and Income Tax Regulations require that every person
liable for any tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code keep
books and records available at all times for inspection by IRS.
As all military know, the "school solution as to how long
is, 'it depends'". This is not a cop-out answer...NORMALLY,
the answer would be three years after filing a return; BUT there
are many exceptionsrequiring nearly a lifetime or even generational
requirements for documentation. 9. Military Taxes. There are many
differences for military related expenses -- moves, uniforms,
combat exclusions, etc. Check IRS Pub 3. [Source: Herbert Hayes, Huntsville,
Alabama Special Tips msg 6 Jan 2011 ++] VA Service Dogs Update
02 **: Some service members and
veterans are being misled and possibly harmed by well-meaning
charities promising to provide a trained service dog to help
with medical needs, according to representatives of AMVETS, a
major veterans service organization. What often happens is that
disabled veterans who might benefit from a dog trained to do
certain tasks may end up with an animal that a charity group
has rescued from a pound, has been taught no special skills and
might not be a true service dog for legal purposes.... Military
times copyrighted material. Refer to http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/12/military-disabled-troops-veterans-misled-on-service-dogs-123010w/ to read entire article. [Source: ArmyTimes Rick Maze article 30 Dec 2010 ++] TSP Update 18: The investment options in the federal employee
retirement savings plan performed well in DEC 2010, following
a volatile November: Vet Cremains Update 04:
This past Veterans Day, New
York State announced the passing of a new law regarding the interment
of veterans remains. Under this law, if a funeral home
is in possession of the unclaimed remains of a veteran for which
theyve received no direction regarding delivery or burial
of the remains, they may now be relinquished to a veterans
service organization so that they may be appropriately interred
as befits their service to our country. To support this new law,
Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana has announced that the
county will provide proper interment of the unclaimed remains
of any Orange County veteran transferred to the countys
veterans cemetery by a local funeral home. There will be
no cost to the funeral home or the family, if any is known. The
funeral home must provide appropriate paperwork identifying that
the remains are that of a veteran from Orange County. Funeral
homes in possession of unclaimed remains that have the appropriate
documentation identifying them as veterans from Orange County
should contact Tony Zippo, director of Orange County Veterans
Services, to make arrangements for the transfer of the remains.
He can be reached at 291-2464 or by email at azippo@orangecountygov.com [Source: The Chronicle Goshen article 2 Jan
2011 ++] Federal Holidays: Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the
following public holidays for federal employees. Note that most
federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. For
these employees, when a holiday falls on a non-workday...Saturday
or Sunday... the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the
holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday).
[Source: http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/786.cfm Jan 2011 ++] CRDP/CRSC Option Update 03: Retired service members who are eligible for both Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) can select which payment they prefer to receive during the CRDP/CRSC open season that runs for the entire month of January, 2011. According to federal law, retirees can receive either CRDP or CRSC, but not both. All eligible retirees should have received a CRDP/CRSC Open Season Election Form in the mail, which includes a comparison of the CRDP and CRSC entitlement amounts and information about tax implications. Retirees should return the form only if they wish to make a change from CRDP to CRSC or vice versa. If a retiree prefers to keep things the way they are, no action is needed and the current payment will continue uninterrupted. Forms must be postmarked no later than 31 JAN 2011, for the changes to be implemented. Typical processing time is 30 days and most changes will take effect on the first business day of February 2011. All elections remain in effect unless changed in a subsequent annual open season. To determine which program might be better for you, review the CRSC/CRDP comparison table below. CRSC CRDPQualified Injury combat-linked disabilities service-connected disabilitiesClassification Special Compensation (not subject to rules and regulations governing military retired pay) Military retired pay (subject to rules and regulations governing military retired pay)Full Concurrent Receipt? Yes - Retirees can receive either partial or full concurrent receipt of their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation No - Restoration of pay is phased in over 10 years (from 2004 to 2014)Claim Process Application required (Click here for instructions) AutomaticEligibility Eligible claimants:
* See
Section 641 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA),
signed into law in 2008, which expanded the CRSC eligibility
defininton Eligible claimants: * See
Section 642 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA),
signed into law in 2008, which expanded the CRDP eligibility
definition Retroactive Entitlement Beginning June 1, 2003, for
any month in which all eligibility requirements *are
satisfied*.
For more information, call 1-877-327-4457. This phone number is exclusively for CRDP and CRSC related questions. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET). Questions concerning disability ratings or payments due from the VA should be directed to the Department of Veterans' Affairs at 1-800-827-1000. For additional information, visit [Source: JAN Veteran Eagle & http://www.dfas.mil Jan 2011 ++] Saving Money: Pay attention to the notices and fine print
from your bank and it may save you more than $100 in 2011. Fees
are rising with many major banks, and there may be more you have
to do to get or keep a free checking account. When Congress passed
regulations on the financial industry, banks warned the restrictions
would cause them to raise rates and fees to recover the lost
revenue. Free checking was a nice gift that banks used to attract customers, hoping it would lead to a deeper banking relationship with loans, mortgages, credit card, and mutual funds. But free checking is not sacred. Some banks started adding new checking account fees last year and a number of banks have followed. [Editors Note - I found out the hard way on my January statements that I was being charged $30 a month on our 3 checking accounts at Chase and Provident banks. I immediately closed the accounts and will now only use my NFCU checking account. Credit Unions should be the last, if at all, to implement fees on checking accounts]. Stand by for the following changes
and more: [Source: Money Talks News Stacy Johnson article 12 Jan 2011 ++] Notes of Interest: Signs of the times: According to the editors
at Merriam-Webster.com, the words most searched on the popular
dictionary website were: 2010: Austerity, enforced or extreme
economy.2009: Admonish, "to indicate duties or obligations
to."2008: Bailout, "a rescue from financial distress."
? Correction. In the 1 JAN RAO Bulletin
under Military Trivia it stated, "General Patton was killed
in a traffic accident while in occupied Luxembourg on the 21st
of December 1945." It should have said, "He was injured
in a traffic accident on 9 DEC in occupied Germany while traveling
along the road near Bad Nauheim, to a pheasant shoot at Mannheim.
His limo hit a truck almost head-on. The driver and his friend
General Gay were unhurt, but Patton was in a heap on the floor,
perfectly conscious, he had been thrown against the front seat,
and had felt his neck snap...it was broken. Twelve days later
(Dec 21, 1945), Patton died of an embolism. He was originally
buried among the soldiers who died in the Battle of the Bulge
in The American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. However, so many
people came to view his grave each year that all the fine grass
on his and nearby graves was killed by the heavy foot traffic.
The problem was solved by moving his grave to the area between
the flagpoles and paving in front of it with stone. [Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Jan 2011 ++] Medicaid Fraud Update 29: A recent study revealed that Medicaids chief problem that was uncovered by auditors was clinics overcharging for their services. Upcoding is one of the most common types of health care fraud, but the amount of money that can be recovered from any single provider is small, says an attorney who helps states pursue fraud claims in court. And its difficult to prove, which is why states tend to focus more on investigating fraud with potential for bigger payback. Upcoding is when a provider exaggerates the level of service performed then that is referred to as upcoding. For instance, if a patient sees a doctor for ten minutes on a simple matter such as a cold and the doctor then submits a bill for an hour-long complex visit, that doctor has upcoded. It is improper for a doctor to falsely upcode the level of service from a short, simple visit to one of greater length designed for analyzing a much more complicated medical matter, when that is not what happened.The difficulty of assessing possible upcoding is illustrated by the 10 providers flagged by the Utah legislative auditor general for submitting high numbers of high-dollar claims in 2009. These providers submitted a level-five charge of $89, for basic office visits, the highest amount allowed, 37 to 125 times more frequently than the state average, the probe showed. Auditors examined individual claims at only two of the clinics; none of the 10 is accused of fraud. Due to the fact that most of the cases are small, many dont even get noticed. The automatic, timed nature of the way the system operates prevents many scammers from even being noticed. In fact, statistics show that more than 50% of the time a scammer can get away with it. And then once caught, many keep on scamming the system until their license is legally removed. [Source: AOMID News Ben Adder article 1 Jan 2011 ++] Medicad Fraud Update 30:
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Jan 2011 ++] State Veteran's Benefits:
The state of Indiana provides several
benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information
on these refer to the Veteran State Benefits IA
attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits
listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents
of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each click on
Learn more about
wording highlighted in blue
on the attachment. Military History: During WWI, the German government in early 1918,
freed from fighting a two-front war by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk,
chose to launch a massive offensive on the Western Front. This
decision was largely motivated by a desire to end the war before
the full strength of the United States could be brought into
the conflict. [Source: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwari/p/BelleauWood.htm Jan 2011 ++] [Source: Various Jan 2011 ++] [Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/World/US-Military-Lingo-232516.html Jan 2011++] Tax Burden for Utah Retirees:
Many people planning to retire use
the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test
for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation
since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the
lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt
necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the
taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Utah: Note: New
in 2010 You
can also see previous year interest rates in Publication 58.
Sales TaxesState Sales Tax: 4.70% (prescription drugs exempt);
1.75% on residential utilities; 2.75% on food and food ingredients;
local option taxes may raise the total tax to 7.55%. Gasoline
Tax: 24.5 cents/gallon Diesel Fuel Tax: 24.5 cents/gallon Cigarette
Tax: 69.5 cents/pack of 20 There
is also a veteran's exemption. This exemption is up to $228,931
taxable value of a residence, based on the percentage of disability
incurred in the line of duty. The exemption can also be applied
toward tangible personal property, such as motor vehicles. No
exemption is allowed for any disability below 10%. Inheritance
and Estate Taxes: There is no inheritance and the estate tax
is limited and related to federal estate tax collection. [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com/ Jan 2011 ++] Veteran Legislation Status
13 JAN 2011: The 112th Congress
convened 3 JAN with the election of new Speaker of the House
John Boehner (R-OH), and the installation of newly elected members
of both the House and Senate. The House remains in session but
the Senate, upon completion of its preliminary business, recessed
until 25 JAN. As is with any new congressional cycle, any unfinished
or pending legislation from the previous has now expired and
will have to be reintroduced. January is an organizational month
with many committee assignments still being made and offices
continuing to be moved into. A Continuing Resolution was passed
before the holiday break to fund the government until 4 MAR.
The bill extends most department and agency funding at 2010 levels.
VA was given an additional $460 million to help reduce the backlog
of claims. The president signed the 2011 National Defense Authorization
bill on 7 JAN. For or a listing of Congressional bills of interest
to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer
to the Bulletins House & Senate Veteran Legislation
attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other
legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through
the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good
indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who
have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor
a bill in the House or Senate. House: United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of
World War II Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code,
to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the
Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits
to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant
marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport
Service) during World War II. H.R.32 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend
title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Companion Bill S.315 H.R.33 : Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009 to amend
title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month
waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and to
eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial
benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the
record on such decisions. H.R.43 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act
of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal
the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. H.R.82 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to expand
retroactive eligibility of the Army Combat Action Badge to include
members of the Army who participated in combat during which they
personally engaged, or were personally engaged by, the enemy
at any time on or after December 7, 1941. H.R.84 : Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act to amend
title 38, United States Code, to establish standards of access
to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.108 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store
Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend
military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans
with a compensable service-connected disability and to their
dependents. H.R.114 : Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business
Benefit Act to allow veterans to elect to use, with the approval
of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, certain financial educational
assistance to establish and operate certain business, and for
other purposes. H.R.147 : Designate a Portion of Tax Payment for Homeless
Vets. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers
to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide
assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.161 : Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993
increase in taxes on Social Security benefits. H.R.162 : Senior Citizens' Tax Elimination Act to amend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in
gross income of Social Security benefits. H.R.174 : Colorado Vet Cemetery. To direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans
in the southern Colorado region. H.R.177 : Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act to
provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed
during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health
testing of such members, and for other purposes. H.R.190 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009 to amend title
38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the
48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least
one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration
in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract
in the State. Companion Bill S.239. H.R.198 : Health Care Tax Deduction Act of 2009 to amend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for amounts
paid for health insurance and prescription drug costs of individuals. H.R.208 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for
Patriots Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure
that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who
have served on active duty or performed active service since
September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or
in other emergency situations receive credit for such service
in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service
retired pay, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.644. H.R.210 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition
Study. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct
a study on the acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort
National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina. H.R.217 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition
Purchase. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acquire
a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort,
South Carolina. H.R.228 : Visual Impairment VA Scholarship Program to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship
program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas
of visual impairment and orientation and mobility. H.R.236 : Social Security Protection Act to amend the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 to protect Social Security beneficiaries against
any reduction in benefits. H.R.237 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2009
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable
credit to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under
Medicare Part B. H.R.247 : Protect Our Veterans Memorials Act of 2009 to
amend section 1369 of title 18, United States Code, to extend
Federal jurisdiction over destruction of veterans' memorials
on State or local government property. H.R.270 : TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard
and Reserve Families Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States
Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage
for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill S.731. H.R.293 : Homeless Women Veteran and Homeless Veterans
with Children Reintegration Grant Program Act of 2009 to amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Labor
to carry out a grant program to provide reintegration services
through programs and facilities that emphasize services for homeless
women veterans and homeless veterans with children. H.R.294 : Veteran Owned Small Business Promotion Act of
2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the
reauthorization of the Department of Veterans Affairs small business
loan program, and for other purposes. H.R.295 : More Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to authorize
appropriations for the veterans' workforce investment programs. H.R.296 : Armed Forces Disability Retirement Enhancement
Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to revise
the process by which a member of the Armed Forces is retired
for disability and becomes eligible for retirement pay, and for
other purposes. H.R.297 : Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title
38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount
of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation
programs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.514 H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10,
United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the
Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive
both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans
Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason
of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special
Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current
law with respect to such concurrent receipt. H.R.309 : American Heroes' Homeownership Assistance Act
of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain
current and former service members to receive a refundable credit
for the purchase of a principal residence. H.R.333 : Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act to amend
title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the
Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less
than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired
pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in
period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent
receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years
of service, and for other purposes. H.R.347 : Congressional Gold Medal Award. To grant the
congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry
Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States
Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World
War II. H.R.379 : State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Expansion
Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that
all taxpayers have the ability to deduct State and local general
sales taxes. Companion Bill S.35. H.R.394 : Medal of Honor Pension. 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. H.R.403 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009 to provide housing
assistance for very low-income veterans. H.R.423 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation
Act to provide compensation for certain World War II veterans
who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as prisoners
of war by the Japanese. H.R.433 : Ready Employers Willing to Assist Reservists'
Deployment (REWARD) Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax equal
to 50 percent of the compensation paid to employees while they
are performing active duty service as members of the Ready Reserve
or the National Guard and of the compensation paid to temporary
replacement employees. H.R.442 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2009 to provide
an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members
can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration
and Transfer Record, and for other purposes. H.R.449 : Health Care for America's Heroes Act to amend
title 38, United States Code, to expand the availability of health
care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by adjusting
the income level for certain priority veterans. H.R.456 : Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion
Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act to make service-disabled
veterans eligible under the 8(a) business development program. H.R.466 : Wounded Veteran Job Security Act to amend title
38, United States Code, to prohibit discrimination and acts of
reprisal against persons who receive treatment for illnesses,
injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service
in the uniformed services. H.R.482 : Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act to authorize
the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as
a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor
the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I. H.R.484 : Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries
Act to require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement
a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits
for certain new beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program. H.R.531 : Social Security Number Fraudulent Use Notification
Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to require
that the Commissioner of Social Security notify individuals of
improper use of their Social Security account numbers. H.R.568 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality
of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs
medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to
serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and
for other purposes. H.R.593 : CRSC for DoD Disability Severances Pay. To amend
title 10, United States Code, to expand the authorized concurrent
receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense
and compensation for the same disability under any law administered
by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all veterans who
have a combat-related disability, as defined under section 1413a
of such title. H.R.612 : Disabled Veterans Insurance Act of 2009 to amend
section 1922A of title 38, United States Code, to increase the
amount of supplemental insurance available for totally disabled
veterans. H.R.613 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act to amend
title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain
overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members
of the Armed Forces following their death. H.R.620 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit
with respect to recent veterans. H.R.627 : Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009
to amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent
practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end
consumer credit plan, and for other purposes. H.R.656 : Unemployed Early Retirement Plan Withdrawal without
Penalty. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
certain individuals who have attained age 50 and who are unemployed
to receive distributions from qualified retirement plans without
incurring a 10 percent additional tax. H.R.667 : Heroes at Home Act of 2009 to improve the diagnosis
and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former
members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth
and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.668 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009
to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility
in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining
whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital
under the Medicare Program and to exempt from the critical access
hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided
for certain veterans. Companion Bill S.307 H.R.671 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act to
direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to certain veterans
who died after their service in the Vietnam War as a direct result
of that service. H.R.731 : Jenny's Law to amend title 38, United States
Code, to exclude individuals who have been convicted of committing
certain sex offenses from receiving certain burial-related benefits
and funeral honors which are otherwise available to certain veterans,
members of the Armed Forces, and related individuals, and for
other purposes. H.R.746 : Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act
of 2009 to provide for economic recovery payments to recipients
of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability
benefits. H.R.761 : Parental Burial in National Cemeteries (Corey
Shea Act). To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for
interment in national cemeteries. H.R.775 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act to repeal
the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the
Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency
and indemnity compensation. H.R.784 : VA Reports to Congress. To amend title 38, United
States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit
to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional
positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. H.R.785 : VA Outreach Training. 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.
Companion Bill S.543 H.R.806 : TRICARE Mail-Order Pharmacy Pilot Program Act
to establish a mail-order pharmacy pilot program for TRICARE
beneficiaries. H.R.809 : Widow Remarriage Age Decrease for DIC. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to reduce 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. H.R.811 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10,
United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the
uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to
receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans
Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason
of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special
Compensation. Companion Bill S.546 H.R.816 : Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act
to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases
in fees for military health care. H.R.819 : POW DIC Eligibility Date. To amend title 38,
United States Code, to provide for the payment of dependency
and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners
of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same
eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and
indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of
war who die after that date. H.R.870 : Medicare Medically Necessary Dental Care Act
of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide
for coverage under part B for medically necessary dental procedures. H.R.879 : Affordable Health Care Expansion Act of 2009
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals
a refundable credit against income tax for the purchase of private
health insurance. H.R.883 : Social Security 1993 Tax Increase Repeal. To
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase
in income taxes on Social Security benefits. H.R.917 : Combat-Related Injury Death Dependent Health
Benefits. To increase the health benefits of dependents of members
of the Armed Forces who die because of a combat-related injury. H.R.919 : Veterans' Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance
the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit
and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals,
and for other purposes. H.R.929 : VA Vet Training Program. To amend title 38, United
States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans
with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.931 : Veterans Employment Act of 2009 to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit
with respect to certain unemployed veterans. H.R.942 : Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2009 to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project
on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department
of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with
the purchase of certain franchise enterprises. H.R.944 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for
veterans who are former prisoners of war. H.R.950 : Vet Distance Learning Assistance. To amend chapter
33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance
for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered
through distance learning. H.R.954 : Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 2009
to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that
a monthly insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the
month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of
50 percent if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of
such month, and for other purposes. H.R.972 : Retired Reserve Age for Health Benefits. 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. H.R.1004 : Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide an enhanced funding
process to ensure an adequate level of funding for veterans health
care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish
standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care
from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.1016 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
advance appropriations authority for certain medical care accounts
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.1017 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans
Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs
Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code, to
require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans
at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to
expand access to such care and services. H.R.1034 : Honor and Remember Flag. To amend title 36,
United States Code, to designate the Honor and Remember Flag
created by Honor and Remember, Inc., as an official symbol to
recognize and honor members of the Armed Forces who died in the
line of duty, and for other purposes. H.R.1036 : Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish
the position of Director of Physical Therapy Service within the
Veterans Health Administration and to establish a fellowship
program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee
rehabilitation, polytrauma care, and rehabilitation research. H.R.1037 : Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans
Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct
a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability
of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities
under title 38, United States Code. H.R.1038 : Shingles Prevention Act to amend part B of title
XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for the
shingles vaccine under the Medicare Program. H.R.1042 : Enemy POW Hospitalization Policy. To prohibit
the provision of medical treatment to enemy combatants detained
by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
in the same facility as a member of the Armed Forces or Department
of Veterans Affairs medical facility. H.R.1075 : Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for
Effective Recovery (RECOVER) Act to amend title 38, United States
Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in major
disaster areas, and for other purposes. H.R.1088 : Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of
2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a
one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach
program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives
by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089 : Veterans Employment Rights to amend title 38,
United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the
Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment
rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by
Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. H.R.1098 : Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009 to amend
title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational
assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain
individuals pursuing internships or on-job training. H.R.1114 : National Cemetery Availability. To direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a process for determining
whether a geographic area is sufficiently served by the national
cemeteries located in that geographic area. H.R.1163 : Establish Nebraska National Cemetery. To direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery
in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska,
western Iowa, and northwest Missouri. H.R.1168 : Veterans Retraining Act of 2009 to amend chapter
42 of title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans
with employment training assistance. H.R.1169 : VA Adapted Housing/Automobile Assistance. 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. H.R.1170 : Adapted Housing Technology Grants. To amend
chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant
program to encourage the development of new assistive technologies
for specially adapted housing. H.R.1171 : Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize
the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years
2010 through 2014. H.R.1172 : VA Website Scholarship Info Addition. To direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet
website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations
that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors. H.R.1182 : Military Spouses Residency Relief Act to amend
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of
spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency,
and for other purposes. H.R.1197 : Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009
to assign a higher priority status for hospital care and medical
services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs
to certain veterans who are recipients of the medal of honor. H.R.1203 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity
Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal
civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums
on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental
premiums. Companion Bill S.491 H.R.1211: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act to
amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health
care services available to women veterans, especially those serving
in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion
Bill S.597 H.R.1232 : Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act
of 2009 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct
a full service hospital in Far South Texas. H.R.1263 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend
title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic enrollment
of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and to clarify
the method for computing certain annuities based on part-time
service; to allow certain employees of the District of Columbia
to have certain periods of service credited for purposes relating
to retirement eligibility; and for other purposes. H.R.1289 : Social Security Fairness for the Terminally
Ill Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act
to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability
insurance program, and for other purposes. H.R.1293 : Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural
Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United
States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount payable
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements
and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services. H.R.1305 : Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act 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. Companion Bill S.572 H.R.1317 : Mortgage Payment Tax Credit. To amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to individuals who
pay their mortgages on time. H.R.1335 : VA Catastrophically Disabled Copay. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who
are catastrophically disabled. H.R.1336 : Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2009 to
amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements
in the basic educational assistance program administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.1377 : VA Emergency Treatment Reimbursement 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. H.R.1388 : Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education
(GIVE) Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws.
Passed 321-105 and placed on the Senate calendar. H.R.1401 : VET Corps Act of 2009 to create a service corps
of veterans called Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps
focused on promoting and improving the service opportunities
for veterans and retired members of the military by engaging
such veterans and retired members in projects designed to meet
identifiable public needs with a specific emphasis on projects
to support veterans, including disabled and older veterans and
retired members of the military. H.R.1416 : Southern New Jersey Veterans Comprehensive Health
Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand
the capability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide
for the medical-care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey. H.R.1428 : VA Parkinson's Disease Compensation. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain
veterans with Parkinson's disease. H.R.1474 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement
of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights
Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.263. H.R.1478 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability
Act of 2009 to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code,
to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States
for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care,
and for other purposes. H.R.1496 : Child Health Care Affordability Act to amend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit
against income tax for medical expenses for dependents. H.R.1513 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment
Act of 2009 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the
rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected
disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation
for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans,
and for other purposes. H.R.1519 : Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993
income tax increase on Social Security benefits. H.R.1522 : United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act to
provide that service of the members of the organization known
as the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II constituted
active military service for purposes of laws administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.1532 : CMOH Statute of Limitations Elimination. To
amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the statute
of limitations on the award of the congressional medal of honor. H.R.1544 : Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act to
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlimited
eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans
of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war. H.R.1546 : Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Committee
on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. H.R.1592 : Pay Increase Guarantee. To amend title 37, United
States Code, to guarantee a pay increase for members of the uniformed
services for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 of one-half of one
percentage point higher than the Employment Cost Index. H.R.1600 : TRICARE Autism Care. To amend title 10, United
States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE. H.R.1647 : Veterans' Employment Transition Support Act
of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers
a credit against income tax for hiring veterans. H.R.1657 : Notification of Exposure to Harmful Material/Contaminants.
To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed
Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially
harmful materials and contaminants. H.R.1658 : Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009 to
amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery
by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital
care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected
disability. H.R.1681 : Veterans Transitional Assistance Act of 2009
to improve the coordination between the Department of Defense
and the Department of Veterans Affairs to better provide care
to members and the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.1694 : Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield
Protection Act to authorize the acquisition and protection of
nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the
Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield
Protection Program. H.R.1695 : Reserve Retired Pay Age Reduction. To amend
title 10, United States Code, to reduce the minimum age for receipt
of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55. H.R.1701 : PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review For Heroes Act to
amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Defense to establish a special review board for certain former
members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder
or a traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. H.R.1708 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period
Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase
out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become
eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period
for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other
purposes. Companion Bill S.700. H.R.1712 : Savings for Seniors Act of 2009 to amend title
II of the Social Security Act to establish a Social Security
Surplus Protection Account in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance Trust Fund to hold the Social Security surplus, to
provide for suspension of investment of amounts held in the Account
until enactment of legislation providing for investment of the
Trust Fund in investment vehicles other than obligations of the
United States, and to establish a Social Security Investment
Commission to make recommendations for alternative forms of investment
of the Social Security surplus in the Trust Fund. H.R.1716 : Property Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the deduction for real
property taxes on the principal residences to all individuals
whether or not they itemize other deductions. H.R.1767 : Fair Housing Tax Credit Extension Act of 2009
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the first-time
homebuyer credit retroactive to the beginning of 2008 and to
permanently extend the credit. H.R.1804 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend
title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in
the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System,
and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes. H.R.1809 : TRICARE Prime Geographic Expansion. To amend
title 10, United States Code, to expand the geographical coverage
of TRICARE Prime to include Puerto Rico and Guam. H.R.1818 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store
Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend
military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans
with a compensable service-connected disability and to their
dependents. H.R.1849 : World War I Memorial and Centennial Act of 2009
to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I
Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I
Memorial, to establish the World War I centennial commission
to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War
I, and for other purposes. H.R.1851 : DOL Transitional Services. To amend title 10,
United States Code, to require that certain members of the Armed
Forces receive employment assistance, job training assistance,
and other transitional services provided by the Secretary of
Labor before separating from active duty service. H.R.1872 : Secure Electronic Military Separation Act to
require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, to develop and implement a secure electronic
method of forwarding the Certificate of Release or Discharge
from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to the appropriate office of the
Department of Veterans Affairs for the State or other locality
in which a member of the Armed Forces will first reside after
the discharge or release of the member from active duty. H.R.1879 : National Guard Employment Protection Act of
2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment
and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time
National Guard duty. H.R.1902 : Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of
2009 to provide veterans with individualized notice about available
benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits,
and for other purposes. H.R.1963 : Military Separation Transitional Services. To
amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of
the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty receive
comprehensive employment assistance, job training assistance,
and other transitional services, to require that such members
receive a psychological evaluation in addition to the physical
examination they receive as part of their separation from active
duty, and for other purposes. H.R.1982 : Veterans Entitlement to Service (VETS) Act of
2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge
the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other
communications submitted by veterans. H.R.1994 : Citizen Soldier Equality Act of 2009 to amend
title 10, United States Code, to provide equity between active
and reserve component members of the Armed Forces in the computation
of disability retired pay for members wounded in action. H.R.2014 : WASP Gold Medal Award. To award a congressional
gold medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP"). H.R.2017 : MOAA Federal Charter. To amend title 36, United
States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers
Association of America, and for other purposes. H.R.2059 : SBP Disabled Child Trust. To amend title 10,
United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities
under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special
needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent
child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan. H.R.2127 : Veterans Travel Equity Act of 2009 to amend
title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the income eligibility
and service-connected disability rating requirements for the
veterans beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2138 : Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for
Veterans Act to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment
courts. H.R.2180 : Disabled Vet Housing Loan Fee Waiver. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to waive housing loan fees for
certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to
active service. H.R.2243 : Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act of
2009 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. H.R.2244 : Single Parent Protection Act of 2009 to amend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an individual who
is entitled to receive child support a refundable credit equal
to the amount of unpaid child support and to increase the tax
liability of the individual required to pay such support by the
amount of the unpaid child support. H.R.2254 : The Agent Orange Equity Act to amend title 38,
United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure
of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic
of Vietnam. H.R.2257 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to
amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.2263 : Disability Equity Act to amend title II of the
Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting periods for people
with disabilities for entitlement to disability benefits and
Medicare, and for other purposes. H.R.2270 : Benefits for Qualified World War II Veterans
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for the establishment of a compensation fund to make payments
to qualified World War II veterans on the basis of certain qualifying
service. H.R.2302 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009 to
amend title 10, United States Code, to limit recoupments of separation
pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive
from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired
or retainer pay. H.R.2342 : Wounded Warrior Project Family Caregiver Act
of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a family caregiver
program to furnish support services to family members certified
as family caregivers who provide personal care services for certain
disabled veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.2365 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act
of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index
for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for
Social Security and Medicare benefits under titles II and XVIII
of the Social Security Act. H.R.2379 : Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act
of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain
veterans an opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans' Group
Life Insurance. H.R.2389 : Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act
of 2009 to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries
of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in
the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical
hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health
care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes. H.R.2405 : Richard Helm Veterans' Access to Local Health
Care Options and Resources Act to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide veterans enrolled in the health system of the
Department of Veterans Affairs the option of receiving covered
health services through facilities other than those of the Department. H.R.2412 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to
exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from
the numerical limitations on immigrant visas. H.R.2419 : Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention
Act to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a medical
surveillance system to identify members of the Armed Forces exposed
to chemical hazards resulting from the disposal of waste in Iraq
and Afghanistan, to prohibit the disposal of waste by the Armed
Forces in a manner that would produce dangerous levels of toxins,
and for other purposes. H.R.2429 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act
of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index
for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for
Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security
Act. H.R.2456 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009
to amend section 484B of Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide
for tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to students who
withdraw from an institution of higher education to serve in
the uniformed services, and for other purposes. H.R.2474 : Veterans Educational Equity Act to amend title
38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of an individual
entitled to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance program who is enrolled at an institution of higher
education in a State in which the public institutions charge
only fees in lieu of tuition, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall allow the individual to use all or any portion of the amounts
payable for the established charges for the program of education
to pay any amount of the individual's tuition or fees for that
program of education. H.R.2486 : Vet Organization Funeral Detail Support. To
amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for support of
funeral ceremonies for veterans provided by details that consist
solely of members of veterans organizations and other organizations,
and for other purposes. H.R.2504 : Homeless Vet VA Appropriation Increase. To 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. H.R.2505 : Reaching Rural Veterans through Telehealth Act
to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program to utilize tele-health platforms to assist in the treatment
of veterans living in rural areas who suffer from post traumatic
stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. H.R.2506 : Veterans Hearing and Assessment Act to direct
the Secretary of Defense to ensure the members of the Armed Forces
receive mandatory hearing screenings before and after deployments
and to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to mandate that
tinnitus be listed as a mandatory condition for treatment by
the Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excellence
and that research on the preventing, treating, and curing of
tinnitus be conducted. H.R.2546 : Right to Display Service Flag. To ensure that
the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential
property not be abridged. H.R.2553 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act to authorize
the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed
Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of
participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other
circumstances. H.R.2559 : Help Our Homeless Veterans Act to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a national media campaign
directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming
homeless. H.R.2561 : Help Student Soldiers Act 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. Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced
5/21/2009) Cosponsors (22) Related Bills: H.R.2456, S.1603 H.R.2573 : Atomic Veterans Relief Act to amend title 38,
United States Code, to revise the eligibility criteria for presumption
of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for
veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service,
and for other purposes. H.R.2583 : Women Veterans Access to Care Act to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve health care for
women veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.2585 : Protecting the Retirement of Our Troops by Ensuring
Compensation is Timely Act to delay any presumption of death
in connection with the kidnapping in Iraq or Afghanistan of a
retired member of the Armed Forces to ensure the continued payment
of the member's retired pay. H.R.2586 : Honor Guard 13-fold Flag Recitation Option.
To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from authorizing
honor guards to participate in funerals of veterans interred
in national cemeteries unless the honor guards may offer veterans'
families the option of having the honor guard perform a 13-fold
flag recitation, and for other purposes. H.R.2594 : Dependent State Plot VA Allowance. 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. H.R.2598 : Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon Gold Medal. To grant
a congressional gold medal to American military personnel who
fought in defense of Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon between December
7, 1941 and May 6, 1942. H.R.2621 : Travel Expense Reimbursement Time Requirement.
To amend title 10, United States Code, to use a time requirement
for determining eligibility for the reimbursement of certain
travel expenses. H.R.2638 : Veterans Stamp to Honor American Veterans Act
to provide for the issuance of a veterans health care stamp. H.R.2642 : Veterans Missing in America Act of 2009 to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist in the identification
of unclaimed and abandoned human remains to determine if any
such remains are eligible for burial in a national cemetery,
and for other purposes. H.R.2647 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2010 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for
military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2010, and for other
purposes. H.R.2672 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act of 2009 to
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow credits for
the establishment of franchises with veterans. H.R.2673 : Surviving Spouse Pension Upgrade. To amend title
38, United States Code, to match the pension amount paid to surviving
spouses of veterans who served during a period of war to the
pension amount paid to such veterans. H.R.2683 : To establish the American Veterans Congressional
Internship Program. H.R.2696 : Servicemembers Rights Protection Act to
amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the
enforcement of rights afforded under that Act. H.R.2698 : Veterans and Survivors Behavioral
Health Awareness Act to improve and enhance the mental health
care benefits available to veterans, to enhance counseling and
other benefits available to survivors of veterans, and for other
purposes. H.R.2699 : Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act
to improve the mental health care benefits available to members
of the Armed Forces, to enhance counseling available to family
members of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. H.R.2713 : Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement
Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements
in the service disabled veterans' insurance program of the Department
of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2735 : Homeless Vet Service Program Improvements. To
amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements
to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. H.R.2738 : Family Caregiver Travel Expense Compensation.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide travel expenses
for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment
facilities. H.R.2756 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act
of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow eligible
veterans to use qualified veterans mortgage bonds to refinance
home loans, and for other purposes. H.R.2774 : Families of Veterans Financial Security Act
to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the
extension of the duration of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
coverage for totally disabled veterans. H.R.2830 : Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) for Veterans
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give priority to unemployed
veterans in furnishing hospital care, medical services, and nursing
home care to certain veterans assigned to priority level 8. H.R.2836 : National Guard and Reservist Suicide Prevention
and Community Response Act to amend the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to improve and expand suicide prevention
and community healing and response training under the Yellow
Ribbon Reintegration Program. H.R.2879 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of
2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health
care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes.
H.R.2898 : Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act to
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide support services
for family caregivers of disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
H.R.2926 : VA Special Care for Vietnam-era & Persian
Gulf War Vets Exposed to Herbicides. To amend title 38, United
States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide,
without expiration, hospital care, medical services, and nursing
home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide
and veterans of the Persian Gulf War. H.R.2928: Post-9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship/OJT Program.
To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide for an apprenticeship
and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational
Assistance Program. H.R.2965 : Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation
Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the
Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business
Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.: Amended
with H.AMDT.291 by Rep. David Reichert, D-WA to give preference
to organizations that are located in under represented states
and regions, or are women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned,
or minority-owned when awarding grants for Small Business Administration
(SBA) outreach efforts authorized under Title III (rural development
and outreach). H.R.2968 : SGLI/VGLI Accelerated Death Benefit. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction
in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain
terminally-ill persons insured under Servicemembers' Group Life
Insurance or Veterans' Group Life Insurance. H.R.2970 : Federal Law Enforcement Officer Vet Age Limit.
To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum
age limit for an original appointment to a position as a Federal
law enforcement officer in the case of any individual who has
been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces
under honorable conditions, and for other purposes. H.R.2974 : Disabled Vet Health Savings Account Eligibility.
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals
eligible for veterans health benefits to contribute to health
savings accounts. H.R.2980 : Survivor Benefit Time Limit for 100% Disabled
Vets. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period
of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the
veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans
rated totally disabled at time of death. H.R.2990 : Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009
to provide special pays and allowances to certain members of
the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement
and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and
for other purposes. H.R.3067 : Health Security for All Americans Act of 2009
to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform Medicare
payments to physicians and certain other providers and improve
Medicare benefits, to encourage the offering of health coverage
by small businesses, to provide tax incentives for the purchase
of health insurance by individuals, to increase access to health
care for veterans, to address the nursing shortage, and for other
purposes. H.R.3073 : Pending Vet Homeless Grant Program. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans
who are at risk of becoming homeless. H.R.3087 : Establish VA Claim Decision Deadlines. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to establish a deadline for decisions
with respect to claims for benefits under laws administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.3155 : Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement
Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain
caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care,
and for other purposes. H.R.3199 : Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009
to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State
emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited
training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training,
and for other purposes. H.R.3200 : America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans
and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other
purposes. H.R.3223 : Vet Owned Businesses VA Contracts. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans
Affairs contracting goals and preferences for small business
concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.3266 : Veteran Assistance Dog Grant Program. To establish
a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain
members of the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.3280 : Rural Vet Transportation Grant Program. To direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program
to assist veterans in highly rural areas by providing transportation
to medical centers. H.R.3281 : Vet Care Rural Area Demonstration Project. To
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out demonstration
projects related to providing care for veterans in rural areas. H.R.3282 : Vet Readjustment and Mental Health Care Services.
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain
veterans with readjustment and mental health care services, and
for other purposes. H.R.3283 : VA Travel Reimbursement for Veterans Annual
Review. To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for reimbursement
of certain travel at a set rate, and for other purposes. H.R.3324 : Stable Future for Veterans' Children Act to
amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment
of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental
or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a
disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit
Plan. H.R.3337 : Post-9/11 Veterans' Job Training Act of 2009
to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use
of entitlement under Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance
Program for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training. H.R.3349 : NAIV Charter. To grant a Federal charter to
the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. H.R.3365 : Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2009 to provide
Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities
for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans
for non-service-connected conditions. H.R.3366 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act to prohibit
the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and
Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established
to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits. H.R.3368 : Honor Act of 2009 to enhance benefits for survivors
of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history
of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury,
to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling
for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.3403 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009 to
amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United
States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of
regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for
covered veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.3407 : Severely Injured Veterans Benefit Improvement
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs relating to benefits for severely injured veterans, and
for other purposes. H.R.3441 : Combat Vet VA Enrollment. To provide for automatic
enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA
medical system, and for other purposes. H.R.3484 : VA Work Study Authority. To amend title 38,
United States Code, to extend the authority for certain qualifying
work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance
programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.3485 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act to amend title
38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid
to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from
consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.3491 : Thomas G. Schubert Agent Orange Fairness Act
to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption
of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans
who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain
herbicide agents, and for other purposes. H.R.3544 : National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009 to
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide guidelines for
the establishment of new national cemeteries by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.3554 : National Guard Education Equality Act to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of
certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying
service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program,
and for other purposes. H.R.3573 : Call to Service Homebuyer Credit Act of 2009
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent a change
in residency as a result of extended official duty in the uniformed
services, Foreign Service, or intelligence community from triggering
the repayment provisions of the first time homebuyer credit,
and for other purposes. H.R.3620 : Hiring Heroes Tax Incentive Act of 2009 to amend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit
against income tax for employing members of the Ready Reserve
and National Guard and veterans recently separated from the Armed
Forces. H.R.3657 : USPHS & NOAA GI Bill Benefit Transfer. To
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for members of
the United States Public Health Service and National Oceanographic
and Atmospheric Administration Corps to transfer unused benefits
under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to family members,
and for other purposes. H.R.3661 : GI Bill Housing Stipend. To amend title 38,
United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend
under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals
pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning,
and for other purposes. H.R.3672 : Social Security COLA Fix for 2010 Act to provide
for an increase of $150 in Social Security benefits for one month
in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment
for that year, and to amend title II of the Social Security Act
to eliminate the requirement that there be a Social Security
cost-of-living adjustment for an adjustment in the contribution
and benefit base to occur. H.R.3677: Save Our Seniors' Social Security Act of 2009
to provide $280 relief payments to recipients of Social Security
and railroad retirement benefits, and for other purposes. H.R.3685 : Inclusion of VetSuccess on VA Website. To require
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page
of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs
a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize
such Internet website. H.R.3719 : Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish
in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity
Administration, and for other purposes. H.R.3787 : Treat Certain Reserve Time as Active Duty Time.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service
in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.3796 : Homeless Vet Assistors Per Diem Grants.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve per diem grant
payments for organizations assisting homeless veterans. H.R.3813 : Veterans Training Act to amend title 38, United
States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs
of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
Program. H.R.3843 : Transparency for America's Heroes Act to amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to publish redacted medical quality-assurance records
of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Internet website
of the Department. H.R.3885 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program
on dog training therapy. H.R.3886 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes
Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide
funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans. H.R.3906 : Low Income Vet Family Permanent Housing. To
amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize appropriations
for the Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide financial
assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran
families in permanent housing. H.R.3908 : Families of Disabled Veterans Work Opportunity
Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide
the work opportunity tax credit with respect to a designated
family member of a veteran with a service-connected disability
if the veteran is unable to work. H.R.3926 : Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act to direct
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to jointly conduct a study on the incidence of breast cancer
among members of the Armed Forces and veterans. H.R.3943 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act
to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to
allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on
or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in
the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes. H.R.3948 : Test Prep for Heroes Act to amend title 38,
United States Code, to provide for entitlement under the Post-9/11
Educational Assistance Program to payment for test preparatory
courses, and for other purposes. H.R.3949 : Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers
Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code,
and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, to make certain improvements
in the laws relating to benefits administered by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.3998 : Compensation for Combat Veterans Act to amend
title 38, United States Code, to clarify the service treatable
as service engaged in combat with the enemy for utilization of
non-official evidence for proof of service-connection in a combat-related
disease or injury. H.R.4006 : Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care
Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code,
to provide for Indian veterans health care coordinators, and
for other purposes. H.R.4028 : Rural Veterans Services Outreach and Training
Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services
for veterans residing in rural areas. H.R.4043 : Military Spouse Pin Act to amend title 10, United
States Code, to recognize the spouses of members of the Armed
Forces who are serving in combat or have served in combat through
the presentation of an official lapel button. H.R.4044 : Vet Plot & Headstone/Marker Allowance. To
amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to restore plot allowance eligibility for veterans
of any war and to restore the headstone or marker allowance for
eligible persons. H.R.4045 : Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of
2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial
benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.4048 : Rural Area TBI Pilot Program. To direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on
the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas. H.R.4051 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009 to amend
title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military
service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably
during the Cold War, and for other purposes. H.R.4054 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements
Act of 2009. To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security
Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified
as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for
purposes of such titles. H.R.4058 : Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act of 2009 to
amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Veterans
to Work Program providing for the employment of individuals,
especially veterans, who participate in apprenticeship programs
on designated military construction projects, and for other purposes. H.R.4063 : WWII Messman/Steward Congressional Gold Medal.
To grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the messman
and steward branches of United States Navy, Marine Corps, and
Coast Guard that served during World War II. H.R.4064 : Post-9/11 EAP Improvements. To make certain
improvements in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program. H.R.4073 : Rural Veterans Reimbursement Act to amend title
38, United States Code, to increase the payments to certain veterans
for certain travel expenses. H.R.4121 : Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to
establish a commission to study judicial review of the determination
of veterans' benefits, and for other purposes. H.R.4156 : Increasing Housing Opportunities for Veterans
Act of 2009 to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating
to housing for veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.4203 : Direct Deposit of Vet Education Payments. To
amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to provide veterans certain educational assistance
payments through direct deposit. H.R.4220 : Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend
title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in
the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating
to small business concerns and employment assistance, and for
other purposes. H.R.4221 : Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Improvement
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for improved acquisition practices by the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.4241 : State Veteran Home Payments. To amend chapter
17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility
in payments for State veterans homes. H.R.4279 : Vet Accelerated Educational Assistance Payments.
To amend titles 38 and 10, United States Code, to authorize accelerated
payments of educational assistance to certain veterans and members
of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. H.R.4319 : Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement
Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for certain improvements in the laws relating to specially adapted
housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
H.R.4320 : Post-9/11 GI Education Fairness Act of 2009
to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the types of
approved programs of education for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.4350 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2009 to amend the
Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant status
for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a United
States citizen child if the child was born abroad and is the
child of a deceased member of the Armed Forces of the United
States. H.R.4359 : WARMER Act to amend title 38, United States
Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to guarantee
housing loans for the construction energy efficient dwellings,
and for other purposes. H.R.4403 : SPACE-A Travel Act of 2009 to amend title 10,
United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military
aircraft for unremarried surviving spouses of retired members
of the uniformed services and the unremarried surviving spouses
of veterans who died from a service-connected or compensable
disability, and for the dependents of such spouses. H.R.4429 : Restoring the Social Security COLA Act to provide
for an increase of $250 in benefits under certain Federal cash
benefit programs for one month in 2010 to compensate for the
lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year. H.R.4443 : Veterans Employment Today Act of 2010 to amend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the work opportunity
tax credit for hiring veterans. H.R.4465 : Vet Financial Status for Hospital Care. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to take into account each child a veteran has when determining
the veteran's financial status when receiving hospital care or
medical services. H.R.4505 : KIA Parental State Home Care. To enable State
homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children
died while serving in the Armed Forces. H.R.4525 : Chapter 61 Concurrent Receipt Entitlement. To
amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility
for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans'
disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed
services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability,
regardless of the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.4551 : Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees
Act to restore health care coverage to retired members of the
uniformed services, and for other purposes. H.R.4559 : State Disabled Vet Benefits Review. To establish
a commission to review benefits provided by each State to disabled
veterans. H.R.4568 : TBI Treatment Act to direct the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a
pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain
treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress
disorder. H.R.4569 : Expanded Housing for America's Veterans Act
to amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 relating to the
amount of rental assistance available under the veterans affairs
supported housing program. H.R.4592 : Vet Energy Related Jobs Pilot Program. To provide
for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the employment
of veterans in energy-related positions. H.R.4593 : Keeping Faith With the Greatest Generation Military
Retirees Act of 2010 to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social
Security Act to waive Medicare part B premiums for certain military
retirees (i.e. those who entered the service prior to December
7, 1956). H.R.4632 : Renovate and Enhance Veterans' Meeting Halls
and Posts Act of 2010 to amend the Housing and Community Development
Act of 1974 to set-aside community development block grant amounts
in each fiscal year for grants to local chapters of veterans
service organizations for rehabilitation of their facilities. H.R.4639 : Corporal Dustin Lee Memorial Act to amend title
10, United States Code, to authorize the adoption of a military
working dog by the family of a deceased or seriously wounded
member of the Armed Forces who was the handler of the dog. H.R.4656 : VA Child Care Center. To direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program establishing
a child-care center for children of veterans receiving treatment
and other individuals. H.R.4664 : OIF/OEF Survivor Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium.
To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for a
one-year moratorium on the sale or foreclosure of property owned
by surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in Operation Iraqi
Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. H.R.4667 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment
Act of 2010 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2010, the
rates of 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. H.R.4765 : VA Work Study Allowances. To amend title 38,
United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing
programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive
work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided
through congressional offices, and for other purposes. H.R.4810 : End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in
the services provided for homeless veterans under the laws administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.4845 : VA Children Housing Loan Benefits. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to provide housing loan benefits for children of members
of the Armed Forces and veterans who die from service-connected
disabilities. H.R.4887 : Tricare Affirmation Act to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that health coverage provided
by the Department of Defense is treated as minimal essential
coverage. H.R.4912 : CRSC Payments to Chap 61 Vets. To amend title
10, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in
the amount of combat-related special compensation paid to disabled
combat-related uniformed services retirees retired under chapter
61 of such title whose disability is attributable to an injury
for which the members were awarded the Purple Heart. H.R.4923 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act to
amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage
to certain dependents under the age of 26. H.R.4947 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction
Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal
year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service
used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve
component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular
service. H.R.5014 : VA Minimal Essential Coverage. To clarify the
health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that
constitutes minimum essential coverage. H.R.5045 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010
to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling
of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the
Board of Veterans' Appeals, and for other purposes. H.R.5120 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010 to
improve employment, training, and placement services furnished
to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. H.R.5136 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2011 H.R.5185 : Fair Health Care for Military Families Act to
amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum
age for children eligible for medical care under the TRICARE
program and the CHAMPVA program. H.R.5225 : Improving Veterans' Electronic Transition Services
Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to jointly develop and implement an electronic personnel
file system, and to jointly conduct a study on improving the
access of veterans to files related to military service and veterans
benefits, and for other purposes. H.R.5259 : Equal Access to Preseparation Counseling Act
to amend title 10, United States Code, to require preseparation
counseling for members of the reserve components upon their retirement
or separation from service. H.R.5303 : VA Post-9/11 EAP Housing Stipends. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to improve housing stipends for
veterans receiving educational assistance under the Post-9/11
Veterans Educational Assistance Program. H.R.5360 : Blinded Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement
Act of 2010 to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify
the standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially
adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. H.R.5371 : William Shemin Jewish World War I Veterans Act
to direct the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the
Navy to conduct a review of military service records of Jewish
American veterans of World War I, including those previously
awarded a military decoration, to determine whether any of the
veterans should be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and
for other purposes. H.R.5403 : Alaska Tricare Reimbursement Rates. To direct
the Secretary of Defense to temporarily adjust the reimbursement
rates for TRICARE claims in Alaska. H.R.5404 : Reserve Space A Travel. To amend title 10, United
States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military
aircraft for a member or former member of a reserve component
who is eligible for retired pay but for age and for dependents
of the member who accompany the retiree. H.R.5428 : Disseminate Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights
Info. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate
certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform
veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights,
and for other purposes. H.R.5449 : Retroactive Stop-Loss Special Pay Extension.
To amend section 310 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act,
2009 to extend the period of time during which claims for retroactive
stop-loss special pay may be submitted. H.R.5484 : VetStar Veteran-Friendly Business Act of 2010
to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an annual
award program to recognize businesses for their contributions
to veterans' employment, and for other purposes. H.R.5516 : Access to Appropriate Immunizations for Veterans
Act of 2010 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for certain requirements relating to the immunization of veterans,
and for other purposes. H.R.5517 : Every Veteran Counts Act to amend title 13,
United States Code, to require that the questionnaire used in
a decennial census of population shall include an inquiry regarding
an individual's status as a veteran, a spouse of a veteran, or
a dependent of a veteran, and for other purposes. H.R.5550 : Loss of Use Definition. To amend title 38, United
States Code, to include a definition of "loss of use"
for purposes of evaluating disabilities and providing adapted
housing and automobiles under the laws administered by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs. H.R.5555 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans
Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for eligibility
for housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs
for the surviving spouses of certain totally-disabled veterans. H.R.5641 : Heroes at Home Act to amend title 38, United
States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
enter into contracts for the transfer of veterans to non-Department
adult foster homes for veterans who are unable to live independently. H.R.5642 : Pension Increase Codification. To codify increases
in the rates of pension for disabled veterans and surviving spouses
and children that were effective as of December 1, 2009. H.R.5648 : Vet Unauthorized Fees Criminal Penalties. To
amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate criminal penalties
for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees. H.R.5719 : Veterans' Information Act. To amend title 10,
United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to develop, and the Secretary of Defense to distribute to members
of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active
duty, information in a compact disk read-only memory format or
other appropriate digital format that lists and explains the
health, education, and other benefits for which veterans are
eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. H.R.5731 : Veterans Mental Health Professionals Oversight
Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for annual reviews of mental health professionals treating veterans,
and for other purposes. H.R.5739 : AMRA Charter. To amend title 36, United States
Code, to grant a Federal charter to the American Military Retirees
Association, and for other purposes. H.R.5826 : Guard Active Duty Definition. To amend title
38, United States Code, to expand the definition of active duty
for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program
of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include certain service
in the National Guard. H.R.5829 : World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act. To
direct the Secretary of Defense to accept additional documentation
when considering the application for veterans status of an individual
who performed service in the merchant marines during World War
II, and for other purposes. H.R.5838 : Homeless Veterans Transitional Housing Act of
2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the multifamily
transitional housing loan program of the Department of Veterans
Affairs by requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue
loans for the construction of, rehabilitation of, or acquisition
of land for multifamily transitional housing projects instead
of guaranteeing loans for such purposes, and for other purposes. H.R.5841 : VA PTSD Treatment Public-Private Partnerships.
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish public-private
partnerships for the treatment and research of post-traumatic
stress disorder. H.R.5862 : Veterans FAA Employment Fairness Act of 2010.
To amend title 49, United States Code, with respect to the eligibility
of veterans for employment with the Federal Aviation Administration,
and for other purposes. H.R.5879 : Hmong Burial in VA Cemeteries. To amend title
38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to inter in national cemeteries individuals who supported
the United States in Laos during the Vietnam War era. H.R.5928 : Veterans' Disability Claims Efficiency Act of
2010. To improve the efficiency of processing certain claims
for disability compensation by veterans. H.R.5933 : Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements
Act of 2010. H.R.5953 : Posting Women Veterans Bill of Rights. To direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display in each facility
of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women Veterans Bill of
Rights. H.R.5996 : VA Care of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. H.R.6022 : Veteran-Owned Small Business Contracting Fairness
Act of 2010. To improve the Federal contracting process with
respect to veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.6042 : Dignity for our Nation's Heroes Act. To expand
burial benefits for certain homeless veterans. H.R.6058 : Wounded Warrior and Military Survivor Housing
Assistance Act of 2010. To ensure that the housing assistance
programs of HUD and DVA are available to veterans and members
of the Armed Forces who have service-connected injuries and to
survivors and dependents of veterans and members of the Armed
Forces. H.R.6104 : POA Hand Salute Authorization. To amend title
4, United States Code, to authorize members of the Armed Forces
not in uniform and veterans to render a military salute during
the recitation of the pledge of allegiance. H.R.6123 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative
Services' Improvements Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United
States Code, to improve the provision of rehabilitative services
for veterans with traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes. H.R.6127 : Extension of Health Care Eligibility for Veterans
Who Served at Qarmat Ali. To amend title 38, United States Code,
to provide for the continued provision of health care services
to certain veterans who were exposed to sodium dichromate while
serving as a member of the Armed Forces at or near the water
injection plant at Qarmat Ali, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. H.R.6132 : Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement
Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish
a transition program for new veterans, to improve the disability
claim system, and for other purposes. H.R.6146 : Warrior Home Loan Act. To amend title 38, United
States Code, to make permanent home loan guaranty programs for
veterans regarding adjustable rate mortgages and hybrid adjustable
rate mortgages. H.R.6154 : VA Health Care for Operation New Dawn Vets.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility
of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation New Dawn
for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care provided
by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.6188 : Veterans' Homelessness Prevention and Early
Warning Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to
make certain improvements in the laws relating to default procedures
for loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.6211 : Veterans Back and Spinal Therapy Act. To direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program
to evaluate the effectiveness of treating veterans with spinal,
back, and musculoskeletal injuries and pain using non-invasive
techniques. H.R.6220 : Inform All Veterans Act. To amend title 38,
United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs provides veterans with information concerning service-connected
disabilities at health care facilities. H.R.6227 : Extended TRICARE Coverage for Military Families
Now Act. To establish a temporary prohibition on termination
of coverage under the TRICARE program for age of dependents under
the age of 26 years. H.R.6269 : Reserve Component VA Burial Benefit. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for burial
in national cemeteries for certain members of the reserve components
of the Armed Forces and National Guard, and to increase the amount
payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the burial and
funeral expenses of certain veterans. H.R.6336 : Post-9/11 GI Bill Dependent Transfer. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to extend the time period in which
an individual may transfer entitlement of Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance benefits to dependents. H.R.6339 : VA Medic/Corpsman Transition Program. To direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to assist
military medics and corpsmen in making transitions to civilian
physician assistant jobs. H.R.6371 : Gold Star Parental stipend. To amend title 38,
United States Code, to provide for the payment of a monthly stipend
to the surviving parents (known as "Gold Star parents")
of members of the Armed Forces who die during a period of war. H.R.6372 : Post-9/11 GI Bill Spouse Transfer. To amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide for the entitlement
of surviving spouses of members of the Armed Forces who die while
serving on active duty to educational assistance under the Post-9/11
Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes. H.R.6430 : Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement
Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
educational assistance for veterans who served in the Armed Forces
after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes. H.R.6466 : Dependent Care Act of 2010. To amend title 38,
United States Code, to provide certain abused dependents of veterans
with health care. H.R.6496 : Arlington National Cemetery Management. To require
reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery. H.R.6503 : Arlington National Cemetery Management. To require
reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery. H.R.6513 : Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program special
education. To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for
the transfer of educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational
Assistance Program to certain dependents to be used for special
education. Senate: [Source: RAO Bulletin Attachment 15 December 2011 ++] United States Senate website: http://www.senate.gov/
S.46 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of
2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal
the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. S.66 : Disabled Vet Space A. A bill to amend title 10,
United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces
who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel
on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent
as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel
on such aircraft. S.67 : Disabled POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled
former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary
and exchange stores. S.68 : Filipino Service Certification. A bill to require
the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims
of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on
behalf of the United States during World War II. S.94 : Long-Term Care Family Accessibility Act. A bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a nonrefundable
tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums. S.239 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each
of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at
least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration
in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract
in the State. S.246 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality
of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs
medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to
serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and
for other purposes. S.252 : Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the
capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and
retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, to
improve the provision of health care veterans, and for other
purposes. S.263 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement
of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights
Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1474. S.274 : Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act of 2009. A bill to
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an incentive
to hire unemployed veterans. S.296 : Fair Tax Act of 2009. A bill to promote freedom,
fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax
and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and
enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by
the States. S.307 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009.
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide
flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes
of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical
access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from
the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number
of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill H.R.668 S.315 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach
activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. Companion Bill H.R.32 S.347 : Vet Hand Loss Traumatic Injury Protection. 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. S.402 : Keeping Our Promise to America's Military Veterans
Act. A bill to improve the lives of our Nation's veterans and
their families and provide them with the opportunity to achieve
the American dream. S.404 : Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009.
A bill 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. Companion Bill H.R.1377. S.407 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment
Act of 2009. A bill to increase, effective as of December 1,
2009, the rates of 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. S.423 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency
Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize advance appropriations for certain medical care accounts
of the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal
year budget authority, and for other purposes. S.491 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity
Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance
premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE
supplemental premiums. S.498 : Vet Dental Insurance. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans
and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes. S.514 : Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements
Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
enhance vocational rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and
for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.297. S.535 : SBP DIC Offset Elimination. A bill to amend title
10, United States Code, to repeal requirement for reduction of
survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans'
dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes.
Companion Bill H.775. S.543 : Veteran and Servicemember Family Caregiver Support
Act of 2009. A bill to require a pilot program on training, certification,
and support for family caregivers of seriously disabled veterans
and members of the Armed Forces to provide caregiver services
to such veterans and members, and for other purposes. S.546 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired
members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected
disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department
of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service of Combat-Related
Special Compensation. Companion Bill H.R.811. S.572 : Purple Heart Forever Stamp. 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. Companion Bill H.R.1305. S.597 : Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve
health care services available to women veterans, especially
those serving in operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1211 S.606 : Veterans Corps Program. A bill to amend the National
and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish a Veterans Corps
program. S.614 : WASP Gold Medal Award. A bill to award a Congressional
Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP"). S.642 : Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed
to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary
of Defense to establish registries of members and former members
of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational
and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38,
United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed
to such hazards, and for other purposes. S.644 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act
of 2009. 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. S.658 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health
care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes. S.663 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World
War II Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code,
to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the
Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits
to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant
marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport
Service) during World War II. S.669 : Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. A bill
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. S.691 : Colorado National Cemetery for Veterans. A bill
to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national
cemetery for veterans in southern Colorado region, and for other
purposes. S.699 : South Texas Veterans' Hospital. A bill to provide
for the construction by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of
a full service hospital in Far South Texas. S.700 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act
of 2009. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act
to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals
to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting
period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and
for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1708. S.728 : Veterans' Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act
of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance
veterans' insurance benefits, and for other purposes. S.731 : TRICARE Coverage For "Gray Area" Reservists.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for
continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of
the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill H.R.270 S.734 : Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act
of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit
and retain physicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas and
to improve the provision of health care to veterans in rural
areas, and for other purposes. S.746 : Nebraska National Cemetery. A bill to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery
in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska,
western Iowa, and northwest Missouri. S.760 : National World War I Memorial. A bill to designate
the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas
City, Missouri, as the "National World War I Memorial". S.768 : Bataan Gold Medal Initiative. A bill to grant the
Congressional Gold Medal to the soldiers from the United States
who were prisoners of war at Bataan during World War II. S.772 : Honor Act of 2009. A bill to enhance benefits for
survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with
a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain
injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling
for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. S.793 : Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars
Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree
or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation
and mobility. S.801 : Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009. A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to waive charges for humanitarian
care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to family
members accompanying veterans severely injured after September
11, 2001, as they receive medical care from the Department and
to provide assistance to family caregivers, and for other purposes. S.820 : Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the automobile
assistance allowance for veterans, and for other purposes. S.821 : VA Copay Collection Prohibition. 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. S.831 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act
of 2009. 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. S.832 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36,
United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military
Officers Association of America, and for other purposes. S.842 : VA Home Loan Payoff to Mortgagers. A bill to repeal
the sunset of certain enhancements of protections of servicemembers
relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, to amend title
38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to pay mortgage holders unpaid balances on housing loans
guaranteed by Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. S.847 : SBP Education Assistance Limitation Exclusion.
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. S.883 : Medal of Honor Coin. A bill to require the Secretary
of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration
of the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861, America's
highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which
can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services
of the United States, to honor the American military men and
women who have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, and to
promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how
ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service
and patriotism, can challenge fate and change the course of history. S.902 : Veteran's Treatment Courts. A bill to provide grants
to establish veteran's treatment courts. S. 944 - The Wounded Warrior Transition Assistance Act.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the
Secretaries of the military departments to give wounded members
of the reserve components of the Armed Forces the option of remaining
on active duty during the transition process in order to continue
to receive military pay and allowances, to authorize members
to reside at their permanent places of residence during the process,
and for other purposes. S.977 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009. A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits
for veterans who are former prisoners of war, and for other purposes. S.998 : Arthur Woolweaver, Jr., Social Security Act Improvements
for the Terminally Ill Act. A bill to amend title II of the Social
Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the
disability insurance program, and for other purposes. S.1008 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit requirements
of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary
separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently
receiving retired or retainer pay. S.1015 : Enhanced Disability Compensation for Certain Disabled
Veterans. 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. S.1016 : Vet Disability Compensation Award upon Separation.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the commencement
of the period of payment of original awards of compensation for
veterans who are retired or separated from the Uniformed services
for disability. S.1042 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act. A bill to
prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans
and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established
to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits. S.1055 : Gold Medal Award for 100th Inf Bn & 442nd
RCT. A bill to grant the congressional gold medal, collectively,
to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat
Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service
during World War II. S.1106 : Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act. 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. S.1109 : PRO-VETS Act of 2009. A bill to provide veterans
with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline
application processes or the benefits, and for other purposes. S.1118 : DIC Compensation Rate Increase to 55%. 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. S.1128 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act. A bill to authorize
the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed
Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of
participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other
circumstances. S.1160 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009. A bill to provide
housing assistance for very low-income veterans. S.1166 : Voluntary Support for Reservists and National
Guard Members Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate part or all of any
income tax refund to support reservists and National Guard members. S.1168 : Nationally Significant Battlefields Protection.
A bill to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally
significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary
War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection
Program. S.1169 : Uniformed Services with Autism (USA) Heroes Act
. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for
the treatment of autism under TRICARE. S.1204 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act
of 2009. A bill to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health
Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 to require the provision
of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department
of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and for other purposes. S.1237 : Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans
with Children Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to expand the grant program for homeless veterans with
special needs to include male homeless veterans with minor dependents
and to establish a grant program for reintegration of homeless
women veterans and homeless veterans with children, and for other
purposes. S.1337 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of
2009. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War
II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas. S.1347 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability
Act of 2009. A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United
States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the
United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper
medical care, and for other purposes. S.1394 : Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009. A
bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge
the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other
communications submitted by claimants, and for other purposes. S.1427 : Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality
Report Card Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative
to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Centers, and for other purposes. S.1429 : Servicemembers Mental Health Care Commission Act.
A bill to establish a commission on veterans and members of the
Armed Forces with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain
injury, or other mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity
of mental health care providers to assist such veterans and members,
to ensure such veterans are not discriminated against, and for
other purposes. S.1449 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36,
United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military
Officers Association of America, and for other purposes. S.1467 : Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers
Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009. 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. S.1495 : Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009. A bill
to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using service
dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical
or mental injuries or disabilities, and for other purposes. S.1518 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital
care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who
were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water
was contaminated at Camp Lejeune. S.1520 : NAIV Charter. A bill to grant a Federal charter
to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated. S.1543 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009. A bill
to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5,
United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members
of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care
for covered veterans, and for other purposes. S.1547 : Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of
2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, and the United
States Housing Act of 1937 to enhance and expand the assistance
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department
of Housing and Urban Development to homeless veterans and veterans
at risk of homelessness, and for other purposes. S.1556 : Veteran Voting Support Act of 2009. A bill to
require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities
of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter
registration agencies, and for other purposes. S.1558 : Travel Reimbursement for Inactive Duty Training
Personnel (TRIP) Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 37, United
States Code, to provide travel and transportation allowances
for members of the reserve components for long distance and certain
other travel to inactive duty training. S.1668 : National Guard Education Equality Act. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion
of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying
service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program,
and for other purposes. S.1685 : Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act of 2009.
A bill to provide an emergency benefit of $250 to seniors, veterans,
and persons with disabilities in 2010 to compensate for the lack
of a cost-of-living adjustment for such year, and for other purposes. S.1695 : Congressional Gold Medal Award. A bill to authorize
the award of a Congressional gold medal to the Montford Point
Marines of World War II. S.1717 : VA Facility Leases. A bill to authorize major
medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs
for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes. S.1752 : Parkinsons Disease VA Compensation. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation
for certain veterans with Parkinson's disease. S.1753 : Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance
Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
increase assistance for disabled veterans who are temporarily
residing in housing owned by a family member, and for other purposes. S.1779 : Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Chemical Hazards
Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide health care to veterans exposed in the line of duty to
occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, and for
other purposes. S.1780 : Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act. A
bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service
in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. S.1798 : Automatic Reserve Component Enrollment Act of
2009. A bill to provide for the automatic enrollment of demobilizing
members of the National Guard and Reserve in health care and
dental care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and
for other purposes. S.1932 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act.
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active
duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate
in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes. S.1939 : Vet Presumptive Exposure in Vietnam. A bill to
amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating
to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity
of the Republic of Vietnam, and for other purposes. S.1963 : Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services
Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide assistance to caregivers of veterans, to improve the
provision of health care to veterans, and for other purposes. S.2096 : Parent VA Burial Eligibility. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility
of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national
cemeteries. S.2743 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009. A bill to
amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award
of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who
served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes. S.2759 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements
Act of 2009. A bill to amend title II and XVI of the Social Security
Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified
as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for
purposes of such titles. S.2760 : VA Homeless Vets Appropriations. A bill to 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. S.2769 : Post-9/11 Veterans' Job Training Act of 2009.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for
the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training, and for
other purposes. S.2770 : Veterans Business Center Act of 2009. A bill to
amend the Small Business Act to establish a Veterans Business
Center program, and for other purposes. S.3082 : VA Work Study Allowances. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing
programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive
work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided
through congressional offices, and for other purposes. S.3118 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits
paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded
from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits
paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. S.3162 : VA Minimum Essential Coverage. A bill to clarify
the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
that constitutes minimum essential coverage. S.3171 : Veterans Training Act. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs
of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
Program. S.3192 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for
the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions
of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and for other purposes. S.3201 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage
to certain dependents under the age of 26. S.3234 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010. A bill
to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished
to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. S.3286 : VA Vet Claim Assistance Pilot Program. A bill
to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on the award of grants to State and local government
agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance to
veterans with their submittal of claims to the Veterans Benefits
Administration, and for other purposes. S.3356 : CHAMPVA Children Maximum Age increase. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum
age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA
program, and for other purposes. S.3359 : Veterans' Disability Compensation Automatic COLA
Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide
for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be made automatically
by law each year in the rates of disability compensation for
veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of
dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain
service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes. S.3367 : VA Pension Increase for Disabled Couples. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the rate of
pension for disabled veterans who are married to one another
and both of whom require regular aid and attendance, and for
other purposes. S.3371 : TRICARE Mental Health Care Access Act. A bill
to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve access to mental
health care counselors under the TRICARE program, and for other
purposes. S.3378 : Examination of Exposures to Environmental Hazards
During Military Service and Health Care for Camp Lejeune and
Atsugi Naval Air Facility Veterans and their Families Act of
2010. An original bill to authorize health care for individuals
exposed to environmental hazards at Camp Lejeune and the Atsugi
Naval Air Facility, to establish an advisory board to examine
exposures to environmental hazards during military service, and
for other purposes. S.3394 : Strengthening Entrepreneurship for America's Veterans
Act of 2010. A bill to establish the veterans' business center
program, to improve the programs for veterans of the Small Business
Administration, and for other purposes. S.3398 : Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2010. A bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work
opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans. S.3406 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction
Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate
the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty
or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member
of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for
non-regular service. S.3447 : Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements
Act of 2010. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve educational assistance for veterans who served in the
Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes. S.3454 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2011. An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal
year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense,
for military construction, and for defense activities of the
Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths
for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. S.3477 : Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2010. A bill to
ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service
Flag on residential property not be abridged. S.3499 : Fiduciary Benefits Oversight Act of 2010. A bill
to require fiduciaries of individuals receiving benefits under
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to authorize
the Secretary to obtain financial records with respect to such
individuals for purposes of administering such laws, and for
other purposes. S.3556 : Hire A Hero Act of 2010. A bill to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to
small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the
Ready Reserve or National Guard S.3609 : VA Contract Physicians. A bill to extend the temporary
authority for performance of medical disability examinations
by contract physicians for the Department of Veterans Affairs. S.3615 : Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011. S.3678 : Sergeant Coleman Bean National Guard and Reserves
Mental Health Act. A bill to improve mental health services for
members of the National Guard and Reserve deployed in connection
with a contingency operation, and for other purposes. S.3748 : National Guard and Reserve Soft Landing Reintegration
Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide
for the retention of members of the reserve components on active
duty for a period of 45 days following an extended deployment
in contingency operations or homeland defense missions to support
their reintegration into civilian life, and for other purposes.
S.3794 : FOR VETS Act of 2010. A bill to amend chapter
5 of title 40, United States Code, to include organizations whose
membership comprises substantially veterans as recipient organizations
for the donation of Federal surplus personal property through
State agencies. S.3801 : CHAMPVA Child Coverage to Age 26. A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for
children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program,
and for other purposes. S.3818 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act. A bill to amend
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow credits for the establishment
of franchises with veterans. S.3846 : Extended TRICARECoverage for Military Families
Now Act. A bill to establish a temporary prohibition on termination
coverage under the TRICARE program for age of dependents under
the age of 26 years. S.3860 : Arlington National Cemetery Reports. A bill to
require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery. S.3875 : Honoring reservists as Vets. A bill to amend title
38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve
components of certain persons by honoring them with status as
veterans under law. S.3889 : Stop-Loss Claim Deadline Extension. A bill to
extend the deadline for the submittal of claims for retroactive
stop-loss special pay compensation for members and former members
of the Armed Forces. S.3890 : Stop-Loss Claim Deadline Extension. A bill to
amend section 310 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009,
to extend the period of time during which claims for retroactive
stop-loss special pay may be submitted, and for other purposes. S.3955 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area"
Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity
Act of 2010. To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize
space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the
reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve component
who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows and widowers
of retired members, and dependents. S.3956 : Commissary/Exchange Use for Disability Separation/Retirement
Vets. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit
the use of commissary and exchange facilities by former members
of the Armed Forces who were retired or separated for physical
disability. S.4001 : Marine Corps Aviation Centennial Commemorative
Coin Act [Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 12 Dec 2010 ++] |
1 January 2011
Mobilized Reserve 28 DEC 2010 (Decrease of 1,988)
Medicare End of Life Planning (Now Available)
Cancer Risk Reduction Update 01 (Aspirin)
Medical Complaint Filing (Who to Contact)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (VA Claims Increasing)
Tax Returns (2010 Filing Delay)
VA SSVF Program (Application & Deadline)
Vet Abuse (Nashville TN)
Gulf War Syndrome Update 13 (VA Attaboy)
Military Recruiting Update 02 (Pool Shrinks)
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Ratified)
Stop-loss Pay Update 09 (Another Deadline Extension)
Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 14 (Claim Consolidation)
VA Medical Benefits Package Update 01 (Eligibility)
VA Medical Benefits Package Update 02 (Enhanced Enrollment)
Medicare Premiums 2011 (Three Tiers)
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 15 (Cognitive Rehab Therapy)
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 16 (CRT Campaign)
VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 31 (Hartford CT)
Project Paperclip Lawsuit (CIA Wants Dismissal)
Debit Cards Update 01 (Fee Reduction Proposal)
Museum of Military History (Chandler AZ)
VA Direct Deposit Update 01 (Paper Check Phase Out)
Census 2010 Update 01 (308,745,538)
Kidney Disease Update 02 (More Accurate Blood Test)
Medal of Honor Update 02 (Now 86)
Arlington National Cemetery Update 19 (Audit Bill Passed)
GI Bill Update 90: Congress passed S. 3447
VA Presumptive VN Vet Diseases Update 17 (AO Claim Sitrep)
IRS Audit Update 01 (Likelihood)
VA Claims Backlog Update 47 (Claims Denial Probe)
VA Claims Backlog Update 48 (Gone by 2015)
VA Claims Backlog Update 49 (Additional $460M Funding)
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 14 (Nat Intrepid Ctr of Excellence)
NDAA 2011 Update 08 (Replacement Bill)
Army Commemorative Coins (Available 2011)
Wreaths Across America Update 03 (To find out how to sponsor a wreath.)
VA Patient Comms (Secure Email)
VA Homeless Vets Update 19 (Intervention Program)
VA Care Payment Rates (Non-VA providers)
PTSD Update 60 (VVA FOIA Lawsuit)
Saving Money (Proverbial Wallet)
Notes of Interest (16-31 Dec 2010)
Medicare Fraud Update 55 (16-31 Dec 2010)
Medicad Fraud Update 28 (16-31 Dec 2010)
State Veteran's Benefits (Indiana)
Financial Planning (Myths)
Military History (Koga's Zero)
Military History Anniversaries (January 1-15 Summary)
Military Trivia 19 (General George S. Patton )
Tax Burden for Texas Retirees (2009)
Congressional Alphalist (Index S-Z)
Have You Heard? (Revenge for the youth-challenged)
Veteran Legislation Status 27 DEC 2010 (Where we stand)
All Hands: This notice is to inform you of the Baguio Retiree Assistance Office (RAO) mission; the availability of informational assistance to fellow veterans; and the purpose of the Director's associated Newsletter. Our service provides a POC for anyone who has queries on Veteran issues and/or residence in this Geographic area. It also provides a means for Veterans to keep abreast of benefit changes and/or pending Veteran related legislation. Bulletin Updates are sent twice a month...on the 1st & 15th. Twice a month allows time for readers to digest the info and make any inquiries they may have. It is understood that not every article that goes out is applicable to every reader but over a period of time every reader will find some article(s) of interest to him or her personally.
The Baguio Retiree Assistance Office [RAO] is an "answer place" for all Veterans and Expats in addition to providing FPO mail services; Forms; U.S. & RP Government Services; etc. There are no longer any bases in the Philippines and the Embassy is 180 km away, so over the last 18 years it has become the unofficial source for just about everything related to Government Programs impacting on those residing in this Geographic area. Because of our remote location the majority of Veterans' assistance is provided by email. All questions received via email are responded to with either an answer or a source of where to obtain an answer. If you do not receive an answer within 72 hours, your inquiry was probably never received...and you should re-transmit it. The variety of questions, and subsequent research to answer them, has resulted in the development of a 2500+ page Library of articles, a 90+ page index of article titles available upon request for recall, and a Email Directory of over 70,000 email addees for dissemination of the newsletter to other RAO/RSO's, Military Fraternal Organizations and interested Veterans worldwide. The objective is to provide Veteran related information to at least one member of every Veteran Group worldwide who can act as a point of contact to pass on any information felt germane to that Organization's membership. Through their involvement, the Bulletin info reaches approximately half a million Veterans and/or Dependents.
Our RAO meets the criteria, and is recognized as an "Independent RAO" and source of Veteran related info. The Bulletin is not an "Official" DoD sanctioned publication. The articles provide items taken from a wide variety of sources that have been edited or editorialized for retransmission. They also include info to ease transition into the Philippines for those who may be considering relocating there. The information contained therein is just that...informational (FYI). The objective is only to PASS THE WORD in order to keep our Military Community informed. It is the responsibility of readers to verify exactly how information applies to them if they intend to expend funds or time in following up on the data provided in the articles. Unless you have questions concerning Veteran's issues to be answered, there is no need for comments. Although it's nice to get the occasional "thanks for the info", it's not necessary, and just adds to the 50+ emails I receive daily. I do not send out prayers...religious material or music...chain letters...photos...etc., so please reciprocate by not sending these to me. Nor do I normally participate in "political stuff unless it is essential to an article being presented in the Bulletin. I would greatly appreciate that you not forward personal political comments/beliefs/prejudices, but I am always open to anything that could benefit other Veterans.
Updates are sent Bcc via a Mailing List Provider so recipients are not bothered with large headers nor have their email addee revealed to others. If you want to know if anybody else in your organization is receiving the Bulletin just ask. Articles contain subjects of interest to all Veterans regardless of Geographic location. Over 98% of subscribers reside outside of the Philippines. The Bulletin content is for use in any way you see fit and retransmit is encouraged by email. If you intend to post the Bulletin or any articles to a website or a website assessed newsletter you need to request the Website Edition so you will not have a problem with Military Times. Sources are provided wherever possible so readers can re-validate info if they desire. The primary source is always listed first and if multiple sources are used it is indicated by "++" after the primary source in the source line.
Unfortunately, the Bulletin cannot be sent to users of AOL and a few other servers. It does not conform to the prerequisites of their Big Brother policies that establish what their readers are and are not allowed to receive. This also applies to all Netscape, Wmconnect, and Cyberspace users. A few other servers such as Juno & NetZero allow some their readers to receive the Bulletin but not all. I can receive messages from all servers but some like AOL will not allow me to respond. To verify if Bulletins are being published go to
http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html If you did not get yours first ensure I am in your address book and/or on your white list.Then:
1. Call your server and ask how to bypass their spam filters or adjust your computer settings which are blocking your Bulletin.
2. When done request a Test Bulletin. If I do not respond within three days it means your server is preventing you from receiving my response.
3. If you do not receive the Test Bulletin send me an alternate email addee that you can be reached at; or
4. Go to http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html on the 2nd and 16th of each month to read/download the Bulletin.All messages should be sent to my primary email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net even though you may be receiving the Bulletin or my messages from some other addee. The email addee of any veteran or military fraternal organization can be added to the directory if desired. It only takes a click on the "Unsubscribe" line at the end of each Bulletin for anyone to automatically remove themselves from the directory later if they find the Updates are of no use to them. Of course, there are no charges, advertisements, or solicitations associated this service. Nor do we accept donations. If you are interested in other articles contained within the Bulletin, they can be forwarded via email. Attachments sent should be virus free since it is our policy only to open incoming items screened by our installed Norton Anti-Virus program. Norton tells me about five a day do. At http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html you can view the current and review past Bulletins sent in the last two years. Bear in mind that the articles shown in these Bulletins were only valid at the time they were written (normally indicated in the source line) and may have since been updated. At this site, you can also find the Bulletin Index to identify any articles you may want to recall. They will be provided upon email request.
Annual Reminder for FY 2010. Anyone wanting to have the Bulletin sent to them on a regular should send an email request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net It should include your full name plus either the post/branch/chapter number of the fraternal military/government organization you are currently affiliated with (if any) AND/OR the city and state/country you reside in so your addee can be properly positioned in the Master directory for future recovery. Subscription is open to all veterans, dependents, and military/veteran support organizations.
Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek USN (Ret)
Associate Director
RAO Baguio** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material. Anyone who cannot access or open the website provided either because they do not have a password or the information has been removed from their site can submit a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net for it to be forwarded to them by email."
Mobilized Reserve 28 DEC 2010: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 28 DEC 2010. The net collective result is 1,988 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 15 DEC 2010 RAO Bulletin.
At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease.
The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 72,143; Navy Reserve, 5,790; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 8,320; Marine Corps Reserve, 5,060; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 779. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 92,082 including both units and individual augmentees.
A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20101228ngr.pdf [Source: DoD News Release No. 1185-10 dtd 29 Dec 2010 ++]Medicare End of Life Planning: A new health regulation will pay doctors for providing Medicare recipients with voluntary end-of-life planning, a provision that Democrats dropped from the health-care reform bill after prominent Republicans turned the issue into a political hot potato. Voluntary advance care planning, also known as end-of-life planning, is included in a new Medicare regulation issued on 3 DEC that covers annual checkups called "wellness visits. The regulation allows Medicare to pay for voluntary end-of-life planning or counseling as part of the annual checkup, to help Medicare beneficiaries deal with the difficult decisions families face when a loved one is approaching death, such as when to withdraw or forgo life-sustaining care. The new regulation goes into effect on 1 JAN 2011. An early version of the health-care reform bill allowed Medicare to pay for voluntary end-of-life planning every five years. Congressional Democrats later dropped that provision after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin likened the counseling to death panels and Republican House leader John Boehner said that the measure could start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia for people who were critically ill. In contrast to the political controversy, medical research has consistently shown the value of end-of-life planning. Advance care planning improves end-of-life care and patient and family satisfaction and reduces stress, anxiety and depression in surviving relatives, according to the conclusions of a study published this year in the British Medical Journal and quoted by the Obama administration in the preamble to the Medicare regulation. Those who oppose including end-of-life planning in Medicare coverage often argue that patients will lose their ability to control the type of care they receive at the end of their lives or could have treatment withdrawn prematurely, but those views are inconsistent with medical research. According to Dr. Stacy M. Fischer, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, whose research findings were also cited by the Obama administration, end-of-life discussions between doctor and patient help ensure that one gets the care one wants and protect patient autonomy. Recent data suggest that, although only approximately 30% of adults have completed an advance directive (AD), 93% would like to discuss ADs with their physician.' Fischer wrote after Democrats dropped end-of-life planning from the health-care reform bill, "The reality is that these conversations are time consuming, incompatible with 20-minute appointments, and not billable." Despite opponents' claims that discussing ADs with one's physician would hasten death, Fischer said there is no evidence that these discussions or completing an AD lead to harm. On the contrary, the harm may be in denying end-of-life planning to people who need it, according to Dr. Donald M. Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, who issued the new regulation. Using unwanted procedures in terminal illness is a form of assault. In economic terms, it is waste. Several techniques, including advance directives and involvement of patients and families in decision-making, have been shown to reduce inappropriate care at the end of life, leading to both lower cost and more humane care. [Source: About.com | Senior Living Sharon O'Brien article 28 Dec 2010 ++]
Cancer Risk Reduction Update 01: Seniors who currently take a "baby aspirin" every day to help prevent stroke or heart disease may also have a lower risk of cancer, according to a new Oxford University study published 7 DEC, which found a 20% drop in cancer deaths among people taking a low-dose aspirin daily. The benefits of taking a daily low-dose aspirin (typically a 75 mg or 81 mg tablet) is well-established for people at high risk of heart disease, but is sometimes not recommended for healthy middle-aged adults and those 80 and older due to the small risk of stomach bleeds. "These results do not mean that all adults should immediately start taking aspirin," said Professor Peter Rothwell of the Department of Clinical Neurology at Oxford University, who led the work. "Previous guidelines have rightly cautioned that in healthy middle aged people the small risk of bleeding on aspirin partly offsets the benefit from prevention of strokes and heart attacks, but the reductions in deaths due to several common cancers will now alter this balance for many people." The results of the study, published in the Lancet, show that aspirin reduced death due to any cancer by around 20% during the trials. But the benefits of aspirin only became apparent after people took the drug for five years or more, suggesting that low-dose aspirin works by slowing or preventing the early stages of the disease so that the effect is only seen much later. After five years of taking aspirin, patients in the trial showed death rates that were 34% less for all cancers and as much as 54% less for gastrointestinal cancers, such as esophagus, stomach, bowel, pancreas and liver cancers. In testing for the long-term benefits of taking a low-dose aspirin daily, researchers found that the risk of cancer death over a period of 20 years remained 20% lower for all solid cancers among those who had taken aspirin, and 35% lower for gastrointestinal cancers. It took about five years to see a benefit in taking aspirin for esophagus, pancreatic, brain, and lung cancer; about 10 years for stomach and bowel cancer; and about 15 years for prostate cancer. The 20-year risk of death was reduced by about 10% for prostate cancer, 30% for lung cancer, 40 percent for bowel cancer and 60 percent for esophagus cancer. Given the evidence that aspirin has a delayed preventative effect against cancer, Rothwell believes that the people who benefit most would be those who start taking aspirin in their late 40s or 50s, before most people's risk of cancer starts to increase, and then continue for 20 to 30 years. But Rothwell added a cautionary note: "I don't think it's necessarily right for the person who did the research to say what guidelines should be. We can't say with absolute certainty that there won't be some unknown harm in taking aspirin for 30 years, but it looks as if there would be pretty large benefits in reducing cancer deaths. People have to accept there's some uncertainty here." The results of this study are promising and potentially exciting, showing that something as simple as aspirin can help prevent many types of cancer. As always, however, you should check with your personal physician before beginning, increasing or changing any medication.
[Source:About.com | Senior Living Sharon O'Brien article 7 Dec 2010 ++]Medical Complaint Filing: You count on nursing homes, doctors and other medical professionals to provide the care you and your loved ones need, but sometimes things go wrong and there are serious problems you never expected. If that happens, and you need to file a complaint with the agency that licenses physicians and nursing homes in your area, contact your state's Department of Health Services, Department of Aging, or the Foundation Aiding the Elderly (FATE) for assistance. To express your concerns or complaints at a national level, write or call the Senate Special Committee on Aging which has jurisdiction over aging issues and elder care: U.S. Senate, Special Committee on Aging, Dirksen Office Building G-31, Washington, DC 20515-6400 Tel: (202) 224-5364 or get in touch with FATE: Foundation Aiding the Elderly, P.O. Box 254849, Sacramento, CA 95865-4849 Tel: (916) 481-8558. Info on the last two offices can be found at http://www.4fate.org & http://aging.senate.gov To request information about reputable local nursing homes that provide long-term care, contact your state's Department of Health Services or Department of Aging for details and referrals.
[Source: About.com | Senior Living Sharon O'Brien article 7 Dec 2010 ++]
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: More veterans are complaining about complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), which they believe derived from injuries suffered in the service. The illness can cause lifelong medical nightmares for some adults and even children, usually after a mild trauma inflames the nerves, causing pain that never shuts off - even after the original injury heals. The condition attacks the central nervous system and leaves those affected in constant anguish, much like amputees who feel pain in their "phantom limb." Because the malady isn't formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, those affected say they find it difficult to get benefits from the government. Although there is no way to know how many vets suffer from the pain syndrome, according to the Board of Veterans' Appeals the number of appeals for disability compensation that cite the illness rose to nearly 600 in 2009, up from 330 in 2005. The board lists about 500 cases related to the syndrome for 2010. An Air Force Reserve colonel suffering from the syndrome is trying to raise public awareness has led the charge in seeking compensation for hundreds of other military personnel returning from service. Many complain they have found little support from a federal agency already besieged with head injuries and post traumatic stress syndrome.
The VA compensates veterans for injuries related to complex regional pain syndrome, said Thomas Pamperin, the agency's deputy undersecretary for disability assistance, based in Washington. But he doesn't believe it is necessary to assign a code to every disability, saying "our ratings schedule is flexible enough to evaluate any recognized condition." Most patients refer to the condition by its former name...reflex sympathetic dystrophy. It usually begins with a searing or stabbing pain that is disproportionate to the original injury and persists longer than the expected healing time.
The first signs may include a hypersensitivity to touch, swelling and skin discoloration, altered temperature and abnormal sweating. The pain ebbs and flows daily, causing anxiety when patients believe they have improved only to have it return, sometimes much later, said Dr. Timothy Lubenow, professor of anesthesiology at Rush University Medical Center. No one is sure how many people suffer from the illness, which can be cured if caught early. The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) based in Milford, Conn., estimates there are 50,000 new American patients annually, based on Norwegian studies.
Few doctors understand it, and many don't know how to best treat it, Lubenow said. "It was initially ascribed to people in the Civil War who had gunshot injuries," Lubenow said. "It is not as infrequent as one would think. It isn't always as readily recognized as it should be because early on it may present with relatively mild symptoms." Some people with the syndrome suffer pain and can hold jobs. Air Force reservist Col. Doug Strand, 51, of Hampton, Va. says if left untreated for too long, the nerve damage can spread to other parts of the body. He said he developed the syndrome after injuring his left leg in 2008, and now copes with problems affecting his lungs. After living daily with pain, many patients experience depression and undergo personality changes, experts said. What exacerbates the problem is that people who aren't familiar with the syndrome don't understand its debilitating effects. Jim Broatch, executive director of the RSDSA, started a Web page http://www.rsds.org/index2.html devoted specifically to veterans after hearing complaints from returning soldiers. "I always laugh when they say, 'It's in your head,'" Broatch said. "I say, 'Damn right.'" [Source: Chicago Tribune Lisa Black article 26 Dec 2010 ++]
Tax Returns: It will take a little longer for some taxpayers to file their 2010 returns, but it will be worth the wait for beneficiaries of a new tax law: college students, teachers and residents of states that have sales taxes but no income tax. Thanks to a December tax package that was hailed as a forerunner of a bipartisan spirit in government, the Internal Revenue Service needs to reprogram computers for new college tuition breaks, teachers who buy classroom supplies with their own money, and Americans who live where there's no state and local income tax to deduct. The IRS said 23 DEC that it will be mid- to late February before it can accept returns that apply for those tax breaks. However, delays will be minimal for taxpayers who already itemize deductions, because they normally have to wait for their financial documents. "The majority of taxpayers will be able to fill out their tax returns and file them as they normally do," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "We will do everything we can to minimize the impact of recent tax law changes on other taxpayers. The IRS will work through the holidays and into the new year to get our systems reprogrammed and ensure taxpayers have a smooth tax season." The IRS will announce a specific date when it can start processing tax returns affected by the changes.
The changes in the law that will cause delays were:
* The new line on Schedule A, Itemized deductions, to allow for state and local sales tax deductions. Taxpayers in states with income taxes usually chose that deduction instead. Taxpayers cannot complete Schedule A until this tax break is programmed in IRS computers.
* The new higher education tuition and fees deduction for parents and students, covering up to $4,000 paid to a post-secondary institution. Many parents and students, however, will instead use existing education credits.
* The new expense deduction for kindergarten-through-grade 12 educators who have out-of-pocket classroom expenses of up to $250.The new tax law gives benefits ranging from tax cuts for millionaires and the middle class to longer-term help for the jobless. Without the law, millions of Americans would have been hit with increases starting on New Year's Day. The package retains Bush-era tax rates for all taxpayers, including the wealthiest Americans, a provision President Barack Obama and congressional liberals opposed. It also offers 13 months of extended benefits to the unemployed and attempts to stimulate the economy with a Social Security payroll tax cut for all workers. Meanwhile, a board that reviews IRS operations said examinations of returns increased by 8 percent this year on taxpayers with incomes above $1 million. Examinations of individuals with incomes below $1 million, small and large corporations, and collections, remained steady from last year. The rate of returns filed electronically rose slightly to 69%, while revenue from enforcement action was up from $48.9 billion in 2009 to $57.6 billion this year. The IRS Oversight Board, which consists of nine members, was created by Congress under a 1998 law to oversee the agency's operations. [Source: Los Angeles Daily News AP Larry Margasak article 23 Dec 2010 ++]
VA SSVF Program: The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program is a new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program that will award grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives who will provide supportive services to very low-income Veterans and their families residing in or transitioning to permanent housing. The grantees will provide a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability. The VA has announced the availability of funds for supportive services grants under the SSVF Program. A Notice of Fund Availability (NOFA) was published in the 23 DEC Federal Register concerning the SSVF Program, the application process, and the amount of funding available.
The NOFA is available at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-31742.pdf
Applications can be downloaded at http://www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/SSVF_Application-Dec2010.pdf
VA will use the collected information to evaluate and select recipients for supportive services grants. Applicants may be asked to provide additional supporting evidence or to quantify details during the review process. Questions regarding this application may be directed to VA's technical assistance provider, the Corporation for Supportive Housing at 1(312) 332-6690 x17 or via Email: SSVFinfo@csh.org If you have any questions regarding the SSVF Program, contact the SSVF Program Office at 1(877)737-0111. Applications for assistance must be received by the SSVF Program Office by 4 p.m. EST on 11 MAR 2011. Regional grant-writing workshops focused on the application will take place throughout the month of January. Each workshop will provide attendees with (i) an overview of the SSVF Program, (ii) an overview of the NOFA, and (iii) advice on completing the application. In addition, workshop attendees will be provided an opportunity to ask questions of VA and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (VAs technical assistance contractor for the SSVF Program). There is no registration fee for attending these workshops. However, pre-registration is required by entering your data at http://63.247.141.136/~csh/registration Attendees are responsible for any travel or other expenses associated with their attendance. Attendance at a workshop is not required to submit an application for the SSVF Program. The PowerPoint slides used during the workshops will be posted to this website in early JAN 2011.The workshop schedule is:
* Chicago Thursday, January 6, 2011 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. at Hotel Allegro, 171 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois
* Los Angeles Tuesday, January 11, 2011 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. atEmbassy Suites LAX, 9801 Airport Road, Los Angeles, California
* Seattle Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. at Doubletree Arctic Club Hotel - Downtown, 700 3rd Ave, Seattle, Washington
* Houston Tuesday, January 18, 2011 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. at Sheraton North Houston, 15700 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, Texas
* New York City Thursday, January 20, 2011 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. at New York City Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street, New York, NY (meeting location) Club Quarters - Rockefeller Center, 25 W. 51st Street, New York, NY (Hotel location) Grant-writing workshops will also be held in Tampa, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada in early FEB 2011. Dates and specific locations are forthcoming.
[Source: http://www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp Dec 2010 ++]Vet Abuse: A home healthcare worker is facing sex abuse charges after authorities said a Rossville family used a hidden camera to catch him abusing an 82-year-old man. Thomas Franklin Scroggins, 36, is charged with two counts of aggravated sodomy and one count of aggravated sexual battery. Scroggins, who is also an employee at Hutchinson Medical Center, was working for ResCare Home Care. Rescare has a contract with the Veterans Administration. The abused patient is a decorated Army paratrooper and was a prisoner of war in Korea. He was assistant fire chief in Rossville for 20 years. Family members said the video shows Scroggins physically and sexually abusing the veteran. Pati J. Kelly, Rescare executive director, NW and NE GA, issued this statement, "ResCare has just learned of this devastating news. Our hearts go out to the client and the family during this difficult time. We are very concerned and are fully cooperating with the police and their investigation. We hesitate to provide further comment at this time as to not jeopardize the police investigation."
[Source: Chattanoogan article 22 Dec 2010 ++]
Gulf War Syndrome Update 13: Approximately 697,000 men and women served in various operations during Desert Shield and Desert Storm between August 1990 and June 1991. While the war was short lived, the chronic medical symptoms are not. A Gulf War Illness Task Force, wisely formed so as to prevent litigation, has discovered that nearly a quarter of these veterans of war have reported chronic fatigue, weakness, gastrointestinal problems, cognitive dysfunction, sleep interruptions, persistent headaches, skin disorders, lung problems and chronic mood disorders. This cluster of symptoms are now known as Gulf War Veteran Illness The task force states that there research with these veterans will continue for the next three to five years. A preliminary finding is that the reported illnesses are not the result of mental health issues, but the by product of exposure to environmental toxins. Publicly, no one mentions depleted uranium exposure, yet we know that it is included in the research. We also know that a team of soldiers who returned to Kuwait to clean up the Bradley tanks from DU, all became gravely ill. To some this an Agent Orange Deja Vu. But again, we must give some credit to the new regime at the VA, they are not trying to hide, as they did with Agent Orange. The VA has approved $2.8 million for research into treatments for these illnesses.
[Source: Tuscon Sentianal mike brewer article 22 Dec 2010 ++]Military Recruiting Update 02: According to a just published report by the nonprofit Education Trust, almost one in four high school students who try to join the Army fail its entrance exam. The Army requires a minimum score of 31 out of 99 on the first stage of the three-hour Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Potential Marine, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard recruits need higher minimum scores, which are 32, 35, 36 and 40, respectively. The report adds to a growing worry among military recruiting commanders and civilian education leaders that the pool of young people qualified for military service is shrinking.
The services are meeting their recruiting goals...primarily due to the economy...but recruiting officials admit that 75% of today's pool of 17 to 24-year-olds are ineligible for military service due to aptitude, fitness, health and/or criminal records.
To read the Education Trust report go to http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6879/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=2946
[Source: VFW Washington Weekly 22 Dec 2010 ++]
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty: In an overwhelming 71-26 vote, the U.S. Senate on 22 DEC ratified the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, a pact to level the arms playing field between the United States and Russia. Considered critical to U.S. national security, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a 21 DEC statement that the treaty "will enhance strategic stability at lower numbers of nuclear weapons, provide a rigorous inspection regime including on-site access to Russian missile silos, strengthen our leadership role in stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and provide the necessary flexibility to structure our strategic nuclear forces to best meet national security interests." The former arms treaty, and its on site arms inspections, between the two world superpowers ended nearly a year ago. Details of the treaty include:* The treaty allows the United States and Russia to conduct as many as 18 short-notice, on-site inspections each year, with as many as 10 "Type 1" inspections, which focus on strategic systems, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines and bombers, and up to eight "Type 2" inspections, which cover storage sites, test ranges and other operations. On-site inspections work in synergy with other elements of the treaty, including data exchanges on the technical characteristics, locations and distribution of weapons. Any changes in the status of strategic systems must be reported through timely notifications and biannual reports, according to the treaty.
* The treaty mandates that 35 facilities in Russia and 17 in the United States are subject to inspections. Russian inspectors will be permitted entry into the United States via Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, escorted by Defense Threat Reduction Agency officials. Each side has to give 32 hours notice during normal working hours before a short-notice inspection. The new treaty will be carried out in conjunction with the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, a 20-year-old effort to advance nuclear nonproliferation around the world. As of 21 JUN, the program has supported the elimination of 783 ICBMs and 672 ICBM launchers, 651 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and 476 SLBM launchers, 155 heavy bombers, 906 air-to-surface missiles, and deactivation of 7,545 nuclear warheads. Russia is expected to ratify the treaty by the end of the year. [Source: AFPS Terri Moon Cronk article 22 De 2010 ++]Stop-loss Pay Update 09: The deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to 4 MAR 2011, allowing personnel more time to apply for the benefits they've earned under the program guidelines. The deadline extension is included in the continuing resolution signed by President Obama 22 DEC, providing funding for federal government operations through 4 MAR 2011. "There was a surge of applicants as we approached our earlier deadline, but there may still be more out there who have yet to apply," said Lernes Hebert, director, Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management. "We are pleased that this extension was included in the continuing resolution which will give those remaining the opportunity to apply as we continue to work through the current applications." The RSLSP was established to compensate for the hardships military members encountered when their service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss Authority between 11 SEP 01, and 30 SEP 09. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service in order to receive the benefit of $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status. When RSLSP began on 21 OCT 09, the services estimated 145,000 service members, veterans and beneficiaries were eligible for this benefit. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, the services have engaged in extensive and persistent outreach efforts over the past 14 months. Outreach efforts including direct mail, engaging military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets, will continue through 4 MAR 2011. To apply for more information, or to gather more information on RSLSP, including submission requirements and service-specific links, go to http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/
[Source: DoD News Release No. 1174-10 dtd 22 Dec 2010 ++]
Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 14: Responding to heightened publicity and an uneven smattering of decisions on claims, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin training a specialized cadre of workers to handle disability claims related to historic water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. The agency will consolidate claims at one office in Louisville, Ky. Eight employees there will focus on culling, researching and adjudicating disability claims related to the contaminated water. The move is more than bureaucratic; it could prove significant to Marine veterans across the country who are suffering from cancers and other diseases that they think are related to the poisonous chemicals that flowed through Lejeune's water supply.
McClatchy Newspapers reported in June that the VA's decisions on Lejeune-related claims appeared uneven and that they varied for Marines across the country. That led to questions from Congress about whether the VA was doing enough to track cases related to the contamination. Devereaux was among those who testified on the issue. A million people - civilian workers, Marines and their family members - are thought to have been exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and more than 160,000 have registered with the Marine Corps to learn more about the case. From the mid-1950s to the mid-1980s, water wells at Lejeune were poisoned with trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, vinyl chloride and other volatile organic chemicals. The wells were shuttered in the mid-'80s, but many Marine veterans and their families had no idea of the contamination until Congress required the military to notify them beginning in 2008. In response to congressional inquiries, the agency has begun tagging claims that list Lejeune's water as a cause; traditionally claims have been tracked by disability, not cause.
Bradley Flohr, the VA's assistant director for policy in compensation and pension service, said in an interview that the agency was acting now because it had grown concerned that disability decisions hadn't been consistent across regional offices. "Perhaps we're not getting as consistent decisions as we would like to have. We've committed to do training for staff dedicated to do these claims. We know for certain benzene is most often associated with leukemias, acute myelocytic leukemia, and others. Kidney cancer as well, with TCE and PCE, and liver cancer is associated with vinyl chloride." The department found about 195 adjudicated disability claims that listed Camp Lejeune's contaminated water as a cause. Of those, just 32 have been approved. In SEP 2010, Thomas J. Pamperin, now the VA's deputy undersecretary for disability assistance, testified to the House of Representatives that the VA hadn't found conclusive evidence to link the water to a host of cancers and other diseases. Instead, the VA reviewed claims on a case-by-case basis, which resulted in scattershot decisions. Now the agency has decided to have one office review all incoming Lejeune claims. So far, about 100 new ones await adjudication, Pamperin said in an interview. "
The VA's move to consolidate Lejeune-related claims comes even as federal scientists in Atlanta continue a years-long project to understand the contamination's health effects better. Results of water-modeling and other studies from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry are expected in 2013, Flohr said. The VA already had tried this year to update regional offices about the water contamination - but not always with the most up-to-date information. The agency sent a memo last spring to regional offices, but it referenced a controversial 2009 report from the National Research Council that left out significant contaminants and that epidemiologists have disputed. Flohr said the letter was updated this past summer to include other contaminants, such as benzene and vinyl chloride. This fall, the director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Christopher Portier sent a letter to the Department of the Navy and the Marines with a copy to the VA warning them that the National Research Council report had flaws, including leaving out certain contaminants, low-balling potential impacts of exposure to the chemicals and not fully appreciating how more scientific study would better explain the health effects of the contamination. "Let me be perfectly clear; there was undoubtedly a hazard associated with drinking the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.", he wrote.[Source: McClatchy Newspapers Barbara Barrett article 20 Dec 2010 ++]
VA Medical Benefits Package Update 01: VA provides a Medical Benefits Package to all enrolled Veterans. This comprehensive plan provides a full range of preventive outpatient and inpatient services within VA health care system. Also, once you enroll in the VAs health care system, you can be seen at any VA facility across the country. VA operates an annual enrollment system that helps to manage the provision of health care by providing an overall population of beneficiaries. Additionally, the enrollment system ensures that Veterans who are eligible can get care and ensures that care is given to Veterans who are eligible. VA applies a variety of factors in determining Veterans eligibility for enrollment, but once a Veteran is enrolled, that Veteran remains enrolled in the VA health care system. There are many ways that a Veteran may qualify to receive VA health care at over 1,400 medical centers and clinics across the nation. The VA has highly trained physicians and clinicians that allow the VA to address many specialties. You may also be able to receive assistance with prescription medication. VA health care is portable. Once enrolled, you may receive care at your home facility as well as the nearest VA facility while traveling.If you are a Veteran, and you want low-cost, high-quality health care, you probably qualify for VA Health Care if any of the below apply to you. If so, got to https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/ to apply online. For help in applying, call 1-877-222-8387:
Basic service criteria...
* You served in the active military, naval, or air service and were honorably discharged or released; or
* You were/are a Reservist or National Guard member and you were called to active duty by a Federal Order (for other than training purposes) and you completed the full call-up period.
Any of the following applies to you...
* You were discharged or separated for medical reasons, early out, or hardship.
* You served in theater of combat operations within the past 5 years.
* You were discharged from the military because of a disability (not preexisting).
* You are a former Prisoner of War.
* You received a Purple Heart Medal.
* You receive VA pension or disability benefits.
* You receive state Medicaid benefits.[Source: http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility Dec 2010 ++]
VA Medical Benefits Package Update 02: In January 2008 Congress increased Combat Veteran benefits by extending the period of enhanced health care enrollment eligibility from two to five years post discharge for Veterans who served in the theater of operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after 11 NOV 98. In addition, Combat Veterans discharged from active duty before 28 JAN 03 who had not enrolled in VAs health care system were provided an enhanced enrollment window through 27 JAN 2011. This enhanced enrollment provides cost-free hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for any illness determined to be possibly related to their combat service. Veterans whose enhanced enrollment eligibility is about to expire are encouraged to enroll by either applying for enrollment on-line at https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/ , contacting VA at 1 877-222- 8387, mailing an application to their local VA medical center or visiting the nearest VA health care facility to apply in person.
For more information regarding enrollment, refer VAs eligibility site at http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/
[Source: http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility Dec 2010 ++]
Medicare Premiums 2011: Most Medicare beneficiaries wont see any increase in Medicare Part B premiums in 2011. This is because there was no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security annuitants this year. Beneficiaries with incomes under $85,000 (or $170,000 for couples) and who have their Part B premiums withheld from their Social Security will have their premiums frozen at either $96.40 or $110.50 per month (depending on when they signed up). For others, Medicare Part B monthly premiums will be $115.40 in 2011 - a 4.4% increase over the 2010 premium.
This increased premium will affect:
* New Part B beneficiaries (because they didn't have the premium withheld from their Social Security benefit in the previous year) and,
* Beneficiaries who do not have their Part B premium withheld from their Social Security benefit As experienced in January 2010, beneficiaries with incomes above $85,000 (or $170,000 for couples)also will see higher premiums in 2011, based on the income they reported to the IRS for 2009. At incomes above those levels, the government subsidy for Medicare is progressively reduced. For most eligibles, the subsidy is 75%. As income rises, the subsidy is progressively reduced to 20% for those in the highest income category. Refer to the below chart to determine what your 2011 Medicare premium will be.
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 22 Dec 2010 ++]
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 15: Over the past few decades, scientists have become increasingly persuaded that people who suffer brain injuries benefit from what is called cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT)...a lengthy, painstaking process in which patients relearn basic life tasks like counting, cooking and remembering directions to get home. Neurologists, several major insurance companies and even some medical facilities run by the Pentagon agree that the therapy can help people whose functioning has been diminished by blows to the head. Despite pressure from Congress and the recommendations of military and civilian experts, the Pentagons health plan for troops and many veterans does not cover the treatment...a limitation that could affect the tens of thousands of troops who have suffered brain damage fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials with Tricare say the scientific evidence does not justify providing comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation. But an investigation by NPR and ProPublica found that internal and external reviewers of a Tricare-funded assessment found it fundamentally misguided. Confidential documents obtained by NPR and ProPublica show that reviewers called the Tricare study deeply flawed, unacceptable and dismaying.
One scientist called the review a misuse of science designed to deny treatment for servicemembers. Tricares stance is also at odds with that of other medical groups and even other branches of the Pentagon. Last year, a panel of 50 civilian and military brain specialists convened by the Pentagon unanimously concluded that cognitive therapy is an effective treatment that would help brain-damaged troops. The National Institutes of Health and peer-reviewed studies have also endorsed cognitive therapy as a treatment for brain injury. Tricare officials said their decisions are based solely on laws requiring scientific proof of the efficacy and quality of treatment. But the investigation found that Tricare officials have privately worried about the high cost of cognitive rehabilitation, which can cost $15,000 to $50,000 per soldier. With tens of thousands of troops and veterans suffering long-term symptoms from head injuries, treatment costs could quickly soar into the hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars...a crippling additional burden on the militarys overtaxed medical system. The battle over science and money has made it difficult for wounded troops to get a treatment recommended by many doctors for one of the wars signature injuries, according to the investigation, which was based on scores of interviews with military and civilian doctors and researchers, soldiers and their families; visits to treatment centers across the country; confidential scientific reviews; and documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has complained over the past year about the growing cost of the Pentagons health care budget, declined a request for an interview. Tricare officials defended the agencys decision not to cover cognitive rehabilitative therapy and said it was not linked to budget concerns.Navy Capt. Robert DeMartino, who directs Tricares behavioral health department, said the agency is mandated to ensure the quality and safety of medical care delivered to servicemembers. That consistency can be difficult with cognitive rehabilitation. Therapists design highly individualized treatment plans, often relying on a variety of different techniques. The holistic approach and lack of standardization make it hard to measure the effects of any single technique or treatment. DeMartino said cost played no role in the agencys decision, calling such a suggestion completely wrong. Still, a handful of military and veteran facilities provide cognitive rehabilitation therapy or offer programs of limited scope. Most facilities dont have the capacity.
Since Tricare has a policy against covering cognitive rehabilitation, servicemembers and retirees who seek treatment at one of the nations civilian rehabilitation centers would have their claims denied, or only partially paid. Tricare will cover some types of treatment considered part of cognitive rehabilitative therapy. For instance, Tricare will pay for speech and occupational therapy, which can play a role in cognitive rehabilitation. The conflicting policies have resulted in unequal care. Some troops and their families have relied upon high-level contacts or fought lengthy bureaucratic battles to gain access to civilian cognitive rehabilitation programs, which provide up to 30 hours of therapy a week. Soldiers without strong advocates have been turned away or never sought care because of Tricares refusal to pay for services.[Source: Stars & Stripes T. Christian Miller and Daniel Zwerdling article 20 Dec 2010 ++]
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 16: The campaign to persuade Tricare to cover cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) began in earnest after the scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington in 2007. News reports featured brain-damaged soldiers living in squalid conditions and receiving substandard care. The Brain Injury Association of America, a grassroots advocacy group for head trauma victims, started lobbying Congress and the Defense Department to order Tricare to cover rehabilitation for servicemembers. The insurance industry is divided. Five of 12 major carriers will pay for cognitive rehabilitation therapy for head trauma, according to a recent survey. Carriers and doctors providing the service can point to a long list of medical associations and scientific studies backing the effectiveness of cognitive therapy. The National Institutes of Health, the National Academy of Neuropsychology and the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine, among others, have weighed in supporting the treatment. Armed with such evidence, brain injury association lobbyists did not have much trouble finding support in Congress.
By 2008, more than 70 House and Senate members had signed letters to Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking him to support funding for cognitive rehabilitation therapy. Then-Sen. Barack Obama led the group of 10 senators urging Tricare to pay for therapy. In APR 09, 50 of Americas leading brain specialists gathered for two days of debate. The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, the Pentagons lead program for the treatment of brain injury, convened the conference to help settle the debate about cognitive rehabilitation therapy. The participants were leading researchers and doctors, both military and civilian, neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, family doctors and rehabilitation experts. Their unanimous conclusion was that cognitive therapy improved the thinking skills and quality of life for people suffering from severe and moderate head injuries. Soldiers suffering lingering problems from a mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, would also likely benefit from the therapy, the experts concluded. Shortly after the conference, officials from the militarys medical system met to discuss the findings at Tricares headquarters. One source, who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals from the military, said money was one topic of discussion. The Pentagons figures show that 188,000 servicemembers have suffered a brain injury since 2000. Of those, 44,000 suffered moderate or severe head injuries. Another 144,000 had mild traumatic brain injuries. Previous ProPublica and NPR reports showed that number likely understates the true toll by tens of thousands of troops. Some estimates put the number of brain injuries at 400,000 servicemembers. Studies suggest that while most soldiers with concussions heal quickly, some 5 to 15% suffer lasting difficulties in memory, concentration and multitasking. For the militarys health system, the figures added up quickly. Tens of thousands of servicemembers and veterans authorized to receive cognitive rehabilitative therapy might result in a $4 billion bill, using high-end estimates for the cost of treatment from the Brain Injury Association. In MAY 09, Tricare issued a $21,000 contract to the ECRI Institute which called for ECRI to review the available scientific literature to determine whether cognitive rehabilitation therapy helped patients with traumatic brain injuries. ECRI graded the evidence for the benefits of cognitive therapy as being inconclusive or offering only low or moderate quality support of improvement in patients cognitive functions.
The final report, delivered to Tricare in OCT 09, noted some areas of benefit. For instance, tentative evidence showed cognitive therapy significantly improved the quality of life for brain-damaged patients. Overall, the report concluded, the evidence for most benefits from cognitive rehabilitation therapy remained inconclusive. By summer 2009, ECRI researchers had finished a draft of the study. ECRI, later joined by Tricare, asked outside scientific experts to review it. The reviews, according to interviews and copies obtained by NPR and ProPublica, were uniformly critical. Some of the researchers accused Tricare of using a study that was designed to deny coverage to soldiers. Wayne Gordon, director of the rehabilitation medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, called the review dismaying and unacceptable. Karen Schoelles, ECRIs medical director for the health technology assessment group, said the firm stood by its assessment. Cognitive rehabilitation may be on to something, Schoelles said. But it needs more research. Last year, Congress ordered the Pentagon to conduct further studies to review the effectiveness of the therapy. The congressionally mandated studies have not begun. Results are not expected for several years.[Source: Stars & Stripes T. Christian Miller and Daniel Zwerdling article 20 Dec 2010 ++]
VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 31: A former U.S. Navy mail clerk from Connecticut has been sentenced to 10 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after admitting that he fabricated a story about a traumatic military record in Vietnam, where he never served, to collect some $80,000 in government disability benefits. John Golino, 61, will also have to pay restitution to the government. Golino claimed falsely on a veteran's benefit application that, while serving in Vietnam with a special forces unit of U.S. Navy SEALs, he went through experiences, one of which he received a purple heart for, that caused him to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. He said that he had been forced to shoot a teenage girl who was trying to throw a satchel of explosives; watched a booby-trapped baby explode in the hands of a friend; and suffered shrapnel injuries to a wrist and a leg during an encounter with Viet Cong forces in Cambodia. In reality, federal prosecutors said the only legitimate disability Golino suffered was a wrist injury while he was assigned to handle mail on a World War II-era submarine tender, the USS Sperry. On 29 SEP, Golino pleaded guilty to one count of converting money of the United States before U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant. A year ago, prosecutors said the Inspector General's office of the Veterans Affairs Administration confronted Golino about his military record. They said he admitted that he was never a Navy SEAL, had never been in a combat situation, had not earned a Purple Heart and that he had never been to Vietnam. He admitted as well that he fabricated the war record to increase his benefits. Since 1998, Golino had been receiving legitimate disability compensation benefits for the wrist injury he claimed to have suffered during his service as a mail clerk. As a result of a falsified application, the Veterans Administration changed Golino's disability rating to 70% disabled and increased his monthly compensation payments. The fraudulent payments, which prosecutors said Golino received from 2004 to 2009, amounted to $79,624. [Source: The Hartford Courant Kim Velsey article 20 Dec 2010 ++]Project Paperclip Lawsuit: The Vietnam Veterans of America filed a lawsuit in JAN 09 on behalf of six Vietnam War veterans claiming that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had used an estimated 7,800 US service members as guinea pigs in Project Paperclip experiments involving at least 250, but as many as 400 chemical and biological agents. Among the chemicals the lawsuit alleges were used on the soldiers were LSD, sarin and phosgene nerve gases, cyanide, PCP and even THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The lawsuit described it as a vast program of human experimentation that was shrouded in secrecy and carried out without the informed consent of the experiment subjects. The VVA says the CIA has refused to use a routine protective order that would restrict any sensitive CIA data to within the courtroom, and instead blacked out large parts of relevant documents. The plaintiffs say the CIA refused to provide the names of the test subjects involved, allowing only the names of the six defendants who filed the lawsuit. Even more unbelievably, it appears that the CIA has yet to search even the most obvious location for documents...Edgewood Arsenal itself.
In 1970, the CIA provided Congress with an alphabetical list showing that they had tested 145 drugs during Projects Bluebird, Artichoke, MKULTRA and MKDELTA. A 2003 Department of Veterans Affairs report http://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/vhi/chem_bio_rad_weapons.pdf states that between 1950 and 1975, about 6,720 soldiers took part in experiments involving exposures to 254 different chemicals, conducted at US Army Laboratories at Edgewood Arsenal, MD. Congressional hearings into these experiments in 1974 and 1975 resulted in disclosures, notification of subjects as to the nature of their chemical exposures, and ultimately to compensation for a few families of subjects who had died during the experiments. On 13 JAN the CIA will argue for dismissal of Vietnam veterans' claims that the CIA must provide them with information about the health effects of chemicals used on the servicemen. In its 32-page motion to dismiss the group's third amended complaint, the CIA claims it has no legal obligation to provide the veterans with notice of the drugs' health effects. A copy of the brief is available at http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/12/14/CIADismiss.pdf
[Source: The Raw Story Daniel Tencer and Military.com articles 27 Apr & 21 DEC 2010 ++]
Debit Cards Update 01: The Federal Reserve has just announced its proposal that would limit debit card fees to a maximum of 12 cents per transaction. This is a stunning change from the existing interchange or swipe fees charged to retailers that average between 1% and 2% of a transaction. This is part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill signed in JUL 2010 that requires the Fed to limit these interchange fees to a level reasonable and proportional to what it costs the bank to process the transaction. The intent of the legislation is to lower the cost for merchants which, in turn, would hopefully result in lower prices on goods and services for consumers. This is obviously good news for retailers who fought hard for it, but this is very bad news for banks. These rules will slash debit card revenue which was almost pure profit for the banks. This proposal could drastically change the debit card industry.
The big question is how this will affect consumers. Will retailers pass on these savings to consumers in the form of lower prices?
Or will merchants pocket these savings?
Merchants are charged an interchange fee each time a debit card is swiped. Card processors like Visa and MasterCard pass on the majority of this fee to the banks. The fee is set by the card network and currently the average fee is approximately 2% of the transaction value. A $200 purchase with a 2% interchange fee generated $4 for the bank; the new rule reduces the fee to 12 cents.
The National Retail Federation estimates that debit card fees total about $20 billion annually. Bank of America, the biggest issuer of debit cards, said earlier this year that the fee limits could cost the bank between $1.8 billion to $2.3 billion annually. Banks are going to have to make up for this substantial loss of revenue by raising rates and fees in other areas. In addition, well probably see issuers cut rewards on debit cards. More than likely, it will be the consumer who will pay the price for this rate cut for retailers.
Changes are already underway for issuers to generate more revenue and its the consumer who is being asked to pay more. Chase began notifying some customers this month that it is adding a $6 monthly fee to accounts with small deposits. Direct deposits will have to be at least $500 to qualify for a waiver on the monthly fee. The monthly requirement is a single direct deposit of at least $500; multiple direct deposits that add up to $500 will not qualify for the waiver. The monthly fee is waived if customers make five or more debit card purchases in a statement period. The change goes into effect starting 8 FEB 2011and applies to basic checking accounts. The Fed also proposed rules that would let merchants choose from at least two independent debit networks for routing transactions, potentially creating more competition for Visa and MasterCard. The Fed has until mid-April to publish final rules that would ensure that debit card interchange fees are reasonable and proportional. Final rules are scheduled to become effective in JUL 2011. [Source: Lynn Oldshue article 16 Dec 2010 ++]Museum of Military History: The Internal Revenue Service has revoked its determination that the Chandler AZ Museum of Military History qualifies as a non-profit organization as described in sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and will disallow tax deductions for contributions made to this organization.. Generally, IRS will not disallow deductions for contributions made to an organization on or before the date of announcement in the Internal Revenue Bulletin However, the IRS is not precluded from disallowing a deduction for any contributions made after an organization ceases to qualify under section 170(c)(2) if the organization has not timely filed a suit for declaratory judgment under section 7428 and if the contributor:
* Had knowledge of the revocation of the ruling or determination letter.
* Was aware that such revocation was imminent, or
* in part responsible for or was aware of the activities or omissions of the organization that brought about this revocation.
Note that his revocation only applies to the Military Museum located in Chandler AZ and not to the numerous other Military History Museums located throughout the country. A partial list of these include facilities located in the Great Lakes, Boise ID, Washington DC, Frankfort KY, Sacramento CA and Little Rock AR. [Source: IRS Announcement 201084 pg. 603 dtd 1 Nov 2010 ++]
VA Direct Deposit Update 01: The Department of the Treasury announced a new rule that will extend the safety and convenience of electronic payments to millions of Americans and phase out paper checks for federal benefits by 1 MAR 2013. Officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) urge Veterans to sign up for electronic payment of their benefits. "Receiving VA benefits electronically will increase the security, convenience and reliability of these vital payments," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "VA encourages Veterans who are now receiving their benefits in paper checks to set up direct deposits before the deadline." On 1 MAR 2013, VA will stop issuing paper checks. People who do not have electronic payments for their federal benefits by that time will receive their funds via a pre-paid debit card. Called the Direct Express card, it is issued by Comerica Bank as the financial agent of the U.S. Treasury. Another deadline affects people receiving VA's compensation or pensions for the first time after 1 MAY 2011. Those people will automatically receive the benefits electronically. Anyone already receiving federal benefit payments electronically will be unaffected by the changes. To learn more about the federal government's switch to direct deposit - or to change VA benefits to direct deposit -- visit http://www.GoDirect.org. Information about the federal government's "Go Direct" campaign is also available at 1-800-333-1795. Along with payments for VA benefit, the change will also affect recipients of payments from Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Board, or Office of Personnel Management. [Source: VA News Release 21 Dec 2010 ++]Census 2010 Update 01: Republicans got the official good news from the Census Bureau 21 DEC: The population growth and shifts of the past decade have worked to their favor, and the majority of House seats that will be reapportioned for the next decade will be moving to GOP stronghold states in the South and Sunbelt at the expense of several generally Democratic states in the Northeast and Midwest. By far the biggest winner will be reliably Republican Texas, which will get four new congressional districts mainly because of its soaring Hispanic population...for a new total of 36 House seats, meaning its 38 electoral votes will be an even bigger second prize in the next three presidential elections than California. Florida will get to elect 27 House members during the next decade, up from 25. New seats would also be assigned to Georgia (for a new total of 14), Washington (for 10), Arizona (for nine), South Carolina (for seven) and Nevada and Utah (for four apiece). The two-seat losers would be New York (which would be left with 27) and Ohio (reduced to 16). One seat each would be taken from Illinois and Pennsylvania (leaving both with 18), New Jersey (12), Massachusetts (9) Michigan (14), Missouri (eight), Louisiana (six) and Iowa (four).For the first time in its history, Democratic-leaning California did not gain a House seat after a census. The reapportionment numbers, of course, are only the first step in the politically byzantine process by which the states will redraw their congressional maps before the 2012 election. Before that, though, the new census results will be used to distribute more than $400 billion in annual federal aid. The official 2010 count as of 1 APR, census day, was set at 308,745,538...putting the national growth at 9.7% during the previous decade. That was the smallest since the 1940 census, which pegged population during the decade of the Great Depression. (It was 13.2% in the 1990s.). The Census also disclosed that over 2.4 million firms in the United States are Veteran Owned firms. That is 9% of all the firms in the country. Approximately half a million firms employ 5.9 million people and have a combined annual payroll of $213,974,430,000 While 1.9 million businesses do not have additional paid employees (sole owners or with non paid family members). There are additionally over 1.2 million Veteran/Non Veteran Equal Ownership Businesses. These are usually Small Businesses (defined as having less than 500 employees) which are owned by a husband and wife. So according to this just completed analysis of 2007 surveys, 13.5% of all businesses in the U.S. are owned or are significantly controlled by veterans. [Source: CQ Roll Call Daily Briefing 21 Dec 2010 ++]
Kidney Disease Update 02: Cystatin C, a blood marker of kidney function, proved significantly more accurate than the standard blood marker, creatinine, in predicting serious complications of kidney disease, in a study by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco. Among adults who were identified as having chronic kidney disease by high creatinine levels, the researchers found that only patients who also had abnormally high levels of cystatin C were at high risk for death, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or kidney failure. People with high creatinine but normal cystatin C levels had risks similar to those with normal creatinine levels.
The researchers also found that a "small but important segment" of the study population was missed by creatinine but identified by cystatin C as being at significant risk of serious complications, according to lead author Carmen A. Peralta, MD, MAS, an SFVAMC researcher and an assistant professor of medicine in residence in the division of nephrology at UCSF. The study of 11,909 participants appears online in the JASN Express 16 DEC section of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The authors analyzed patient data from two prospective studies: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and the Cardiovascular Health Study, both sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Principal investigator Michael G. Shlipak, MD, MPH, chief of general internal medicine at SFVAMC, said that the current study highlights a potential clinical use for cystatin C as a method for confirming a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. Shlipak has been a leader among physicians in identifying cystatin C as an alternative, accurate, and reliable marker of kidney function. Both cystatin C and creatinine are substances made in the body and filtered by the kidneys. High levels of the substances in the blood indicate that the kidneys are losing the ability to filter them, and thus are losing function. "However," explained Peralta, "creatinine is a byproduct made in muscles, so it is affected by what you eat and especially by how much muscle you have." Thus, "a bodybuilder with healthy kidneys might have an elevated creatinine level because of high muscle mass, whereas a frail elderly person might have normal or even low levels of creatinine, but in fact this person's kidneys are not working well...it's just that there's not much creatinine because there's not much muscle." In contrast, cystatin C is a protein made in cells throughout the body. "In studies so far, it does not seem to be that affected by age or muscle mass or diet," said Shlipak, who is also a professor in residence of medicine and epidemiology and biostatistics at UCSF.
Shlipak proposes that cystatin C, which can cost as little as $17 per test, be added as a method for confirming or staging chronic kidney disease in guidelines that are currently being formulated by nephrologists. "It's vital that we have an accurate diagnostic test, because kidney disease does not show symptoms until it's too late, when your kidneys have almost failed completely," he said. "Being missed by creatinine is an important limitation in our current method of diagnosing kidney disease," said Peralta. Yet, she adds, being falsely identified with kidney disease through inaccurate test results can be disastrous as well. "There is fear and psychological stress, particularly in communities of color, where people have a lot of friends and family members who are on dialysis," she noted. "You can also be subjected to unnecessary and expensive tests and medications."
[Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/health 17 Dec 2010 ++]Medal of Honor Update 02: The nation has lost another Medal of Honor recipient. Melvin Biddle was awarded the medal for his actions in Belgium in 1944. Acting as an Army infantry scout in the Battle of the Bulge, he took out three snipers, took out three machine gun nests and killed 13 Germans in a single volley. All single handedly which then allowed the Allies to advance into the town. When President Truman placed the medal around Biddle's neck at the White House, he famously said on that day, people don't believe me when I tell them that I would rather have one of these than be president. Melvin Biddle of Indiana was 87. His death now leaves 86 living recipients of the Medal of Honor. [Source: NBC Nightly News 17 Dec 2010 ++]
Arlington National Cemetery Update 19: Following months of reports detailing serious shortcomings in the administration of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), Congress has adopted legislation that directs a comprehensive remediation plan. The House voted 407-3 to pass the bill. The Senate passed the measure by unanimous consent on 4 DEC. President Obama is expected to sign it. Reports of mis-labeled ANC gravesites prompted a July hearing before the Contracting Oversight panel chaired by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) who sponsored the bill. S.3860:
* Directs the Army to account for the gravesites at ANC including whether they are correctly identified, labeled, and occupied.
* Requires the GAO to report to Congress on the management and oversight of contracts supporting burial operations.
* Directs the Army to report on progress in implementing its own plan and revised regulations to improve ANC management.
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 17 Dec 2010 ++]GI Bill Update 90: Congress passed S. 3447, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 by unanimous consent in the Senate on 13 DEC, and the House later approved it by a vote of 409-3 on 16 DEC. Though some military fraternal organizations did not support all of its provisions, the bill does fix a number of shortcomings in the current Post-9/11 GI Bill. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law before the end of the year. It takes effect in August 2011. According to a report that accompanied the bill, an additional 131,000 Guardsmen will be immediately eligible for benefits. Each year, 8,000 more will qualify. The additional benefits include $1.8 billion in direct spending for the National Guard during the first 10 years it is in effect, but the costs will be more than offset by other provisions in the bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The new law also will:
* Allow veterans to apply their benefit to vocational and trade schools and distance learning in addition to four-year schools. Now it will be able to be used for licensing and certification programs, apprenticeships, on the job training, flight training and other non-college programs
* Expands the housing allowance to students enrolled in long distance learning Increase assistance for the purchase of books and supplies; and
* Extend the time severely injured veterans and their caregivers have to use the benefit.
[Source: TREA Washington Update]
VA Presumptive VN Vet Diseases Update 17: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has decided more than 28,000 claims in the first six weeks of processing disability compensation applications from Vietnam Veterans with diseases related to exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange. "With new technology and ongoing improvements, we are quickly removing roadblocks to processing benefits," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "We are also conducting significant outreach to Vietnam Veterans to encourage them to submit their completed application for this long-awaited benefit." VA published a final regulation on 31 AUG that makes Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease, or a B-cell (or hairy-cell) leukemia eligible for health care and disability compensation benefits. With the expiration of the required 60-day congressional review on 30 OCT, VA is now able to process these claims. Vietnam Veterans covered under the new policy are encouraged to file their claims through a new VA Web portal at https://www.fasttrack.va.gov/AOFastTrack/home.do Vietnam Veterans are the first users of this convenient automated claims processing system. If treated for these diseases outside of VA's health system, it is important for Veterans to gather medical evidence from their non-VA physicians. VA has made it easy for physicians to supply the clinical findings needed to approve the claim through the new Web portal. These medical forms are also available at http://www.vba.va.gov/disabilityexams/ The portal guides Veterans through Web-based menus to capture information and medical evidence required for faster claims decisions. While the new system currently is limited to these three disabilities, usage will expand soon to include claims for other conditions. VA has begun collecting data that recaps its progress in processing claims for new Agent Orange benefits at http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/agentorange/reportcard/index.html
[Source: VA News Release 17 Dec 2010 ++]IRS Audit Update 01: For the budget year ending 30 SEP 2010, the IRS audited 1.58 million individual returns, up 11% from the 1.43 million audits in 2008. And they made money doing it. The statistics for 2008 were:
* If you made over $200,000, your odds of an audit were about 1 percent.
* Incomes over $200,000 but less than $1 million had audit odds of nearly 3 percent.
* With an income over $1 million, your odds of an audit increased to nearly 6.5 percent.For tax year 2009, about 389,000 individual returns had income of $1 million or above, and IRS audited more than 8% of them. If you're rich or non-profit, your odds of being audited go up. We saw individual audits increase, reaching the highest rate in the past decade, said Steve Miller, IRS deputy commissioner for services and enforcement. The bottom line shows enforcement revenue topped $57 billion, up almost 18% from last year.
Among the returns most likely to be audited? Wealthy individuals, big businesses, and non-profit organizations. Targeting people with money is nothing new.
Best advise: Make it a goal to report less than a million in income for 2010. If you cant help it because youre just that good, keep accurate records.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews Stacy Johnson article 17 Dec 2010 ++]VA Claims Backlog Update 47: Two Western Pennsylvania congressmen for the second time are pushing for a review of allegations that the Pittsburgh office of the Department of Veterans Affairs deliberately delayed veterans' claims so caseworkers could get productivity bonuses. An audit by the Government Accountability Office, sought by two senators and three House members more than a year ago, never happened because they could not get needed support from legislative leaders. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA-18) and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA-04) said they will try again. "We must make sure that we know exactly what went wrong so that we can ensure mistakes like this do not happen again," Altmire said in an e-mail. The initial demand followed a brief 17 MAY 09 report by the Veterans Affairs inspector general, who found evidence that the processing of at least 10 disability claims were delayed, making caseworkers eligible for $300 productivity bonuses. A note attached to one veteran's case read: "Not ready to rate because of the incentive." The VA suspended the bonus program in NOV 08.
GAO spokeswoman Laura Kopelson said because of its heavy workload, the office does not honor such requests for audits unless the person seeking one includes the chair or ranking member of a relevant committee, such as the House or Senate veterans affairs committees. Murphy said the Pennsylvania lawmakers could not get support from committee leaders. But questions about the allegations remain, and Murphy said he plans to renew efforts to get a GAO review of not only the bonus allegations but the reasons for a growing backlog of veterans disability claims in Pittsburgh and elsewhere. Murphy said veterans faced undue delays in getting claims reviewed and processed. "I know these are not guys who are faking it," he said. Nationally, according to VA spokeswoman Ramona Joyce, the agency has a backlog of nearly 250,000 claims, about 35% of all pending claims. The number of claims ballooned recently because of changes in standards for Agent Orange claims. In Pittsburgh, Joyce said, 34.9% of the 5,487 pending claims are classified as backlogged. Murphy said he would seek support from Rep. Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican who will chair the House veterans panel. "I think we will get him to cooperate," said Murphy, adding that he has a list of veterans services-related issues he wants the GAO to look at.
A spokesman for Miller did not respond to a request for comment.
[Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Walter F. Roche article 17 Dec 2010 ++]VA Claims Backlog Update 48: John Gingrich, the VA department's chief of staff, said during a conference call with reporters on 17 DEC that the Veterans Affairs Department is on its way to eliminating its claims-processing backlog within four years. Under the guidance of VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki VA will deem claims backlogged" if they take longer than 125 days to process. Today, the average claim takes 165 days to process, and department officials plan to drop that average to 80 to 90 days, he said. The department has about 250,000 claims older than 125 days, Gingrich said. It has reduced the backlogged claims and plans to eliminate the logjam by 2015, he said. "It's a huge leap, but we're going to get there," he said. "Over the next couple months, [VA officials] will be able tell you how we'll get there." The reduction has come even as claims are rising, mostly due to policy changes with regard to post-traumatic stress and Vietnam-era Agent Orange chemical exposure, Gingrich said. More than 100,000 claims are filed with VA every month...about 14,000 each month for post-traumatic stress...resulting in 1.2 million new claims filed this year, Gingrich said. The department received 974,000 claims in 2009, he added. VA has 45 pilot programs in place to help reach its goal of meeting President Barack Obama's directive "to transform the VA into a 21st century, people-oriented department with established metrics and is forward-looking," Gingrich said. "Our leadership is not looking at how things were, but how things are going to be," he said. "I've watched this entire leadership chain say, 'How do we move forward?'" Making that transformation requires a culture change in the department and a focus on accountability, smarter technology, re-engineered business processes and closer collaboration with stakeholders, Gingrich said. Increased budgets are helping the department make the necessary changes, he noted. "Not only are we working on culture, we're putting the resources behind it," he said. "The whole VA is behind it. We've got VA support, congressional support, and presidential support. We're going to make a dramatic change in VA processing in the coming years. With the secretary's help, we've turned a corner." [Source: AFPS Lisa Daniel article 17 DEC 2010 ++]
VA Claims Backlog Update 49: On 21 DEC Congress approved a continuing resolution in order to keep the federal government funded through 4 MAR 2011. The resolution came just in time to prevent a government lockout as funding for federal government operations would have expired on 22 DEC. The bill extends most agencies funding at 2010 levels, but it also includes an additional $460 million for the VA in order to maintain claims processors and help reduce the backlog of claims. Reducing the claims backlog has been a long-standing goal. More funding was required to keep pace with the swell of claims brought on by the three new presumptive conditions for exposure to Agent Orange approved by the VA this fall. The resolution also includes a two years pay freeze for federal civilian employees starting on January 1. Military personnel will not be affected by the freeze, and instead will see a 1.4% pay increase in 2011.
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 22 Dec2010 ++]
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 14: When it officially opened its doors in JUN 2010, the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at the National Naval Medical Center set out to provide a new level of care for warfighters suffering traumatic brain injuries and psychological disorders. Six months later, as it continues to build staff to reach full operational capability, the center is making a difference in the lives of servicemembers struggling to deal with the unseen, signature wounds of war with hopes they can continue their military service. "Our vision is to be an instrument of hope, healing, discovery and learning," said Navy Capt. Thomas Beeman, a reservist recalled to active duty to lend his civilian health care administration expertise to help stand up the facility. "We are living out that vision and trying to meet those needs." The $65 million center, a gift from the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, features the most advanced equipment and facilities available to diagnose and treat TBI and other psychological disorders. Among its offerings is $10 million in imaging equipment that enables health care providers and researchers the rare ability to see inside the brain to formulate diagnoses and treatment plans. State-of-the-art medicine is just one aspect of the center's holistic, multidisciplinary approach to treating TBI, post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and other combat-related psychological stressors. "We try to take care of the spiritual, the physical and the emotional, psychological health of the people we serve," said Beeman, the center's deputy commander. "Our mission is to return as many warriors back to active duty as possible, or at least to get them in the right place and at the right spot so they can enjoy healthy and holistic lives." A playground just behind the facility hints at the center's family-centered focus, which Dr. James Kelly, a neurologist serving as the center's director, called critical to patients' long-term recovery. "This isn't just for individual servicemembers in uniform. It's for their whole family," he said. "That's been the concept of operations from the very beginning." The new, 72,000-square-foot center is one of six created under the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. Located on the grounds of the National Naval Medical Center, and directly across the street from the National Institutes of Health, it provides unprecedented opportunity for collaboration and information-sharing. That supports all of the center's missions: not just providing clinical care to servicemembers and their families, but also expanding the body of research about TBI and psychological disorders and sharing it with the broader medical community. "This is not just one place that a handful of people come through and get excellent care," Kelly said. "This is actually an opportunity for all of us to learn together and to learn from one another and to share that information nationwide. So everybody will benefit."[Source: AFPS Donna Miles article 17 Dec 2010 ++]
NDAA 2011 Update 08: A new defense bill reduced to only 904 pages was introduced on 15 DEC that omitted some controversial provisions that held up the passage of the previous version...mainly the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and military hospital abortions. One controversial item did remain: a provision that would allow the U.S. government to pay reparations to the families of Guam residents subjected to atrocities during the Japanese occupation in World War II but it eventually was omitted also. The new bill was the product of weeks of bipartisan negotiations between the House and the Senate and contains critical provisions for our troops. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (H.R. 6523) will:
* Provide $725 billion in funding on a range of items, to include war funding and weapons systems modernization programs;
* Extend Tricare healthcare coverage to dependent children up to age 26.;
* Extendsfor 1 year the prohibition on increasing the premium and copayment for TRICARE Prime, charges for inpatient care in civilian hospitals under TRICARE Standard, and cost sharing requirements for drugs provided through the TRICARE retail pharmacy; and
* Provide a 1.4% across-the-board military pay raise. The defense bill was passed on 22 DEC and passed to For a full summary of the replacement bill, refer to the House Armed Services Committee website at http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=47290df4-6149-481c-97dc-7d35f8c3f308
[Source: TREA Washington Update 17 Dec 2010 ++]Army Commemorative Coins: Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey, Jr. and Army Historical Foundation (AHF) Executive Director BG Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. (USA-Ret.) unveiled designs for three 2011 Army Commemorative Coins to over 60,000 people in between the third and fourth quarters in the Army's end zone. during the 111th Army-Navy football classic on December 11 at Philadelphias Lincoln Financial Field. "The designs for the 2011 U.S. Army Commemorative Coins celebrate our magnificent Army's storied history and heritage and signify a remarkable public tribute to every American Soldier who has served our nation in war and in peace, noted Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh following the unveiling. The United States Mint will produce the $5 dollar gold coin, the silver dollar, and the clad half-dollar in both proof and uncirculated versions. Black and white line rendering on each coin can be viewed on the AHF website.
Details of each coin are:
* With its theme of Service in War, the $5 coins front, or obverse, features five Soldier figures whose service from colonial times through today symbolizes the Armys continuity of strength and readiness. The coins reverse includes the U.S. Army emblem and inscription, This Well Defend, to represent the unbroken history of the Armys loyalty and commitment to defend the Nation. The law authorizes minting 100,000 of the $5 dollar coins.
* The front of the Army silver dollar, themed Modern Army Service, depicts the busts of a male and female Soldier symbolizing the worldwide deployment of the 21st century Army. The back is impressed with the Great Seal of the United States surrounded by the Armys seven core values. Mintage limit for the silver dollar is 500,000.
* The theme of the clad half-dollar is Service in Peace. Its obverse represents the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves contributions during peacetime, to include disaster relief/humanitarian assistance and the Armys pioneering role in early space exploration. * The reverse depicts a Continental Soldier, symbolizing the Army as the first military service to defend the country. The United States Mint will produce up to 750,000 of the clad half-dollars.
Prices will be announced on 31 JAN 2011 and will go on sale in February and be available through 2011. Surcharges collected from coin sales...$35 dollars for each gold coin, $10 for each silver coin, and $5 for each clad coin...are authorized to be paid to the Army Historical Foundation to help finance the National Museum of the United States Army which will be built at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The intrinsic value of these commemorative coins is certain to resonate with our more than one million currently serving Soldiers and their families and our 11 million surviving Army veterans across the country as sincere public appreciation of their selfless service and personal sacrifices, Abrams commented at the unveiling. On their behalf, I thank the Congress for enacting the coin legislation, the United States Mint for the stunning designs of the coins, and the American public for their continuing support of our Soldiers and Army veterans, Abrams added.
For more information about the coins refer to: The Army Historical Foundation, 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 Tel: (800) 506-2672 Web http://www.armyhistory.org/ [Source: TREA Washington Update & AHF website 17 Dec 2010 ++]Wreaths Across America Update 03: To find out how to sponsor a wreath go to http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org
During the last year:
* Over 219,000 total wreaths were donated and placed in 2010.
* 545 locations participated, including ceremonies at 24 national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil.
* It is projected that over 160,000+ volunteers participated nationwide.
* 2010 included the first annual wreath displays at historic locations such as Pearl Harbor, Bunker Hill, and Valley Forge Park, in addition to the wreath displays in NYC, The Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA to remember the victims of 9/11 .
* The wreath-laying events were supported by over 50 volunteer trucks and drivers from more than 30 different trucking companies.
* 2000 red hats were distributed to children under the age of 12 as part of the newly founded 'Red Hat Brigade' The Escort To Arlington is now being emulated at locations all over the Country and has become as important as placing the wreaths in showing support for veterans, active military, and their families.'Teach in 2010' added a number of new educational resources including the downloadable curriculum, children's book, and the new 'Million Memories Project' [http://1000memories.com/waa] - a way to capture and save the stories of our veterans and their service.
[Source: WAA Newsletter 22 Dec 2010 ++]VA Patient Comms: The Veterans Affairs Department plans to establish at all VA medical facilities by MAR 2011 the capability for veterans to securely communicate online with their physicians through their My HealtheVet (https://www.myhealth.va.gov/#content-wrapper) patient portal. VA has to date tested secure email at 40 of its facilities so that veterans can inquire about their prescription refills, test results and appointments, said Dr. David Douglas, who is leading VAs effort to deploy secure messaging. Veterans can access the secure messaging feature through a tab on their MyHealtheVet Web site and select opt in after reading important information about its use, he said. They can determine if their healthcare team has been phased in to the communications feature by creating a new message and looking for the provider name in the to field. They can also use secure messaging to discuss such things as symptoms, questions about prescribed medications and appointment cancellations with their physicians or their staff, Douglas said in a recent announcement on the MyHealtheVet site. In the future, VA plans to use secure messaging in place of some face-to-face appointments to get rid of the need to drive to a VA medical center or clinic, he said. Some 57 companies, including name-brand ones like AT&T, Sprint and Motorola, have expressed interest in VAs request for information (RFI) for a patient and guest wireless Internet access program. Based on questions submitted to VA, respondents to the RFI are considering both Wi-Fi and high speed cellular service, which is in line with the thinking of VA CIO Roger Baker. [Source: Government HealthIT Mary Mosquera article 7 DEC 2010 ++]
VA Homeless Vets Update 19: A homeless-prevention program by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which seeks to help Veterans and families who are on the verge of becoming homeless, has moved closer to implementation. The program marks the first time that VA will fund services for the spouses and children of Veterans at risk of becoming homeless. "The problems that lead to homelessness begin long before Veterans and their families are on the streets," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "By putting more resources into intervention programs for people at risk of becoming homeless, we can reduce suffering and increase the opportunities for turning around these lives." Shinseki's comments came as VA formally announced that it is taking applications from private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives interested in providing needed services to at-risk Veterans and their families. With funding from VA for the program, called Supportive Services for Veterans Families, community organizations will be better able to provide counseling, training, education assistance, direct time-limited financial assistance, transportation, child care, rent, utilities, and other services to participating Veterans and family members. In January, VA is sponsoring free grant-writing workshops for community organizations interested in applying for funds under this program. The workshops will be held in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston and New York City. When the "Notice of Funds Availability" applications are available, they will be posted on the VA Web site at http://www1.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp
Details about the workshops and other information about the program are available on the Internet at http://www1.va.gov/homeless/ Community organizations can also contact VA at 1-877-737-0111 or at SSVF@va.gov
[Source: VA News Release 16 Dec 2010 ++]
VA Care Payment Rates: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced16 DEC it will begin using Medicare's standard payment rates for certain medical procedures performed by non-VA providers on16 FEB 2011. "This regulation will have no impact on the Veterans we care for," said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert A. Petzel. "VA will now have the ability to better plan budgets and place more money into access to health care for the Veterans that VA is honored to serve."The new adjustment was made in federal regulations and will affect the following treatments VA provides to Veterans through contracted care: ambulatory surgical center care, anesthesia, clinical laboratory, hospital outpatient perspective payment systems, and end stage renal disease (ESRD). Veterans who are eligible for care will continue to receive the uninterrupted care they need and have earned. Non-VA doctors and facilities will still get paid for services they provide to eligible Veterans but at rates set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) and Fee Schedules. Existing contracts will not be affected and the rule allows for new contracts using the new rates. Savings of approximately $1.8 billion over five years will allow VA to continue to invest in such innovative programs as a wearable artificial kidney, home dialysis and expanding access through stand-alone clinics. "Adopting CMS pricing methodology for these schedules and services will allow VA medical centers to use their resources more efficiently to meet Veterans' needs," said Gary Baker, VA's health administration chief business officer. "The adoption of Medicare rates will help ensure consistent, predictable medical costs, while also helping to control costs and expenditures." The pricing methodology changes are a result of a rule change to 38 CFR17.56, the federal regulation that governs VA when paying medical claims for Veterans treated in community facilities. The proposed rule was published on 18 FEB 2010 and was opened for public comment 19 APR 2010. The congressional review period for the final rule begins 17 DEC and lasts 60 days. VA is providing written notifications to Veterans and non-VA providers. As additional information becomes available, it will be posted to the VA's "Non-VA Purchased Care" Web site, http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/ [Source: VA News Release 16 Dec 2010 ++]PTSD Update 60: The Defense Department's (DoD) failure to comply with the law in releasing records that show it has blocked disabled veterans from receiving disability compensation and other benefits, earned as a result of service to our nation has prompted Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and VVA Chapter 120 in Hartford, Connecticut, to file a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit. The complaint, filed 15 DEC at the U.S. District Court in New Haven by the Veterans Legal Services Clinic of the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School, charges that, since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism, DoD has systematically discharged nearly 26,000 veterans, wrongfully classified as suffering from Personality Disorder, a characterization that renders the service member ineligible for receiving rightful benefits. Personality Disorder is a disability that begins in adolescence or early adulthood and can present with symptoms which may mimic Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). "DoD's Personality Disorder designation prevents thousands of wounded veterans from accessing service-connected disability compensation or health care," said VVA National President John Rowan. In 2007, the Veterans Affairs Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives charged DoD with deliberately misusing personality disorder diagnoses in order to reduce to the cost of health care and disability compensation by at least $12.5 billion. Since then, DoD has dramatically decreased the number of soldiers it has discharged on the basis of Personality Disorder.
After discharging an average of 3,750 service members per year for Personality Disorder between 2001 and 2007, DoD has discharged only 960 service members in 2008; 1,426 in 2009; and 650 to date in 2010. However, rather than repairing the harm it has caused to the veterans it misdiagnosed, DoD is refusing to admit that veterans were inappropriately discharged with Personality Disorder before 2008. "While DoD protects its reputation and its pocketbook, veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury continue to be denied the benefits and medical care they are due," said Dr. Thomas Berger, Executive Director of VVA's Veterans Health Council. Since 2007, VVA has publically criticized DoD's systematic misuse of Personality Disorder discharges, in correspondence to DoD Secretary Gates and in testimony before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, with the intent of curbing the wrongful discharge practice and assisting those wrongfully discharged veterans in receiving the benefits to which they are entitled. "If DoD truly believes that all Personality Disorder discharges were lawful, why does it refuse to provide records responsive to VVA's Freedom of Information Act request?" asked Melissa Ader, a law student intern in the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School, which is counsel in the case. "We hope that this lawsuit will allow the public to assess for itself whether DoD has treated veterans unjustly."
For more information refer to: http://www.vva.org/ppd.html[Source: VVA Press Release 15 Oct 2010 ++]
Saving Money: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology counts among its famous alumni Richard P. Feynman (the physicist who helped develop the atom bomb), Paul R. Krugman (who won a 2008 Nobel Prize in economics), and Benjamin Netanyahu (the prime minister of Israel). Now an MIT team of researchers has turned its scientific mind toward a seemingly mundane device: the ordinary wallet. So theyve created the Proverbial Wallet. Actually, three of them. We have trouble controlling our consumer impulses, says the MIT Media Lab team on its website. When we pull a product off the shelf, do we know what our bank account balance is, or whether were over budget for the month? Our existing senses are inadequate to warn us. So these three prototype wallets warn you in very different ways ? The Bumblebee - The friendliest of the trio is the Bumblebee, which contains a tiny motor that vibrates whenever your bank processes a transaction. How does it know? The wallet connects via Bluetooth to your cellphone, then checks in with your bank. The intensity of the vibration correlates to the amount of the transaction, says the teams report, Tangible Interface for Financial Awareness.? The Mother Bear - Instead of a motor, this wallet contains a small, strong hinge. As your bank account gets smaller, it gets stronger making it difficult to open. This concept uses a passive circuit at its heart, reads the report. A hinge has been made out of a motor that can be shorted, and the two leaves of the hinge are sown into the sides of a wallet. When the motor is shorted with a small switch, the hinge offers more resistance, making the wallet harder to open or close.? The Peacock - After buzzing and locking down, whats left? How about inflating? When youre flush with cash, the wallet plumps up. When youre a tad short, the wallet shrinks. This concept uses a servo embedded in a wallet, which is commanded by a square wave of varying frequency to rotate its arm from parallel to perpendicular to the wallet surface, MIT explains. The wallets are viewable at http://web.media.mit.edu/~jkestner/proverbialwallet/Proverbial%20Wallet%20TEI09.pdf
Sadly, none of these wallets are yet available for sale. But the MIT team has grand plans for taking its Proverbial Wallets to the sci-fi levels using shape-memory metal that wouldnt require hinges and motors. What will they think of next?
[Source: MoneyTalksNews Michael Koretzky article 21 Dec 2010 ++].Notes of Interest:
* VA Claim Deadlines: The lawyer for a Korean War veteran who suffered from schizophrenia and was barred from appealing a denial of benefits because he missed a deadline has urged the Supreme Court to allow veterans some leniency. Oral arguments in the case of Henderson v. Shinseki were heard Dec. 6 before the U.S. Supreme Court. No obvious consensus emerged during oral arguments. A ruling in the case is expected by late June when the justices traditionally recess for the summer. The veteran, David Henderson, passed away on Oct. 24, and his wife, Doretha, has taken over the appeal. The case is being watched closely by several veterans' organizations.
* Female Vet Suicide. A new study has found that the suicide rate among young female U.S. military veterans is nearly three times higher than among civilian women. The study is the first general population study of suicide risk among U.S. female veterans and is published in the December issue of Psychiatric Services. A summary of the study is available on the Psychiatric Services website. The study concluded that the high rate of suicide among women veterans alerts clinicians and caregivers to be aware of warning signs and helpful prevention resources.
* Stolen Valor. The American Legion has joined federal prosecutors in arguing that a federal court in Denver should uphold a law making it illegal to lie about being a military hero. The veterans group filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Prosecutors are asking the appeals court to overturn a lower court ruling that the Stolen Valor Act violates free speech. The law makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to falsely claim to have received a medal from the U.S. military. A federal appeals court in California has also ruled the law is unconstitutional. Prosecutors there have asked the court to reconsider. Neither the Colorado nor California appeals court has said when it might rule.
* HVAC. Rep. elect Jeff Denham (R-CA-19) released a statement on his appointment to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs," saying that as a veteran, "I understand the unique challenges our brave men and women face. It is the duty of Congress to fulfill its commitment to our veterans and ensure they have the care promised." The House Committee on Veterans Affairs has jurisdiction over all U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs programs and facilities.
* Fort Detrick. Defense Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have signed a Federal Facilities Agreement to clean up contamination at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. On EPA's Superfund list since 2008, Ft. Detrick had been the site for the formulation and testing of various herbicides, including Agent Orange. An investigation is underway to determine if contamination has caused cancer cases in the area.
* DADT. President Barack Obama signed into law 22 DEC legislation repealing the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.
* Tennessee Vet Homes. Recent independent reviews of the Tennessee State Veterans' Homes (TSVH) show that the quality of patient care and home operations are exceeding the standard for nursing homes in the state. The veterans homes have passed the scrutiny of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Tennessee Department of Health. State Veterans' homes are located in Murfreesboro, Humboldt and Knoxville. Each facility has 140 beds.
* WWI Vet. Frank Buckles, thought to be the nation's lone living veteran of World War I, hopes he makes it to his 110th birthday about a month from now, despite troubling signs he is on the decline. He has slowed down considerably in just the past two months, according to his daughter Susannah Buckles Flanagan, who lives with him at the family home near Charles Town, West Virginia.
* Palo Alto Lawsuit. The third settlement for a veteran who suffered significant vision loss due to allegedly improper treatment at the Palo Alto veterans hospital, LT Kennedy Jr., has been awarded $400,000. He was one of eight VA Palo Alto Health Care System patients informed by the hospital in early 2009 that his vision loss may be the result of substandard care.
* MA VA Secretary. The Massachusetts VFW is criticizing Gov. Deval Patrick for removing state Secretary of Veterans Affairs Thomas Kelley, saying in a statement that the removal of the 71-year-old Vietnam War veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor winner was a unceremonious dismissal and left 'a very bad taste in their mouths. Kelly will be replaced on an acting basis by Undersecretary of Veterans' Services Coleman Nee, a veteran of the Gulf War veteran. Patrick called Kelley 'a true American hero whose contributions to the commonwealth and to the nation run deep. The official explanation for removal was that Patrick wanted to take the agency in a new direction. Kelley was a holdover from the previous Republican administrations.
* Pay Freeze. The two-year pay freeze that is now law for federal employees on the pay scale known as the General Schedule will also apply to hundreds of thousands of civil servants whose wages are set under a separate salary system. Employees covered by the so-called Administratively Determined pay scale include public health doctors and nurses, medical personnel in the Veterans Affairs system, administrative law judges and attorneys, auditors and other staff at financial agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission.[Source: Various 1-15 Dec 2010 ++]
Medicare Fraud Update 55:
* Miami FL - On 14 DEC, Edisnel Diaz Soler, 25, made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge William C. Turnoff on charges that he laundered money derived from health care fraud and structured cash withdrawals to avoid currency transaction reports. The indictment alleges that Soler laundered money on behalf of Mercy Medical Supply, Inc., JHH Group, Inc., and Yanis Pharmacy, Inc., companies that allegedly engaged in health care fraud. According to the indictment, from OCT 07 to FEB 08, Soler withdrew more than $100,000 in cash in amounts under $10,000 to avoid bank currency transaction reporting requirements. Statements made in court during his bond hearing, indicated he laundered more than $500,000 for companies engaging in health care fraud. In a separate but related case, on 2 DEC, Obel Martinez, 38, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment for his role in laundering money on behalf of Mercy Medical Supply, Inc., and JHH Group, Inc. According to statements made during his guilty plea, Martinez established a corporate bank account for El Cangre Corp., a company that he controlled. Between SEP 07 and JAN 08, he deposited a series of checks from health care companies into that bank account, including 64 checks from Mercy Medical totaling more than $500,000. He then withdrew that amount via ATM withdrawals, cash withdrawals, counter debits, and the cashing of checks made payable to cash. Other defendants have also been sentenced for their participation in this scheme.
* Wilmington NC - Tamala Creasy Newton, 51, was sentenced 13 DEC to a prison term of 8-1/2 years plus restitution of $3.1 million to Medicare and Medicaid. Her father, Roy L. Creasy, was sentenced the week before to three years of house arrest for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Creasy was fined $40,000. and is also responsible for paying the restitution. In June, Newton pleaded guilty to 13 counts of aiding and abetting health care fraud, conspiring to commit health care fraud, four counts of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Newton and her father, a licensed chiropractor, owned and operated the Atlantic Health Clinic, Delco Health Clinic, Lake Waccamaw Medical Clinic and Yaupon Medical Clinic. From NOV 04 to JAN 2010, they billed Medicare and Medicaid for procedures that were never performed, billed for services on days the clinics weren't open, and re-submitted reimbursed claims after inserting a different date. Newton submitted claims under the Delco Health Clinic's provider number after it closed in 2007.She also forged the signature of a Medicaid provider on a Medicaid change form after altering the provider's address and bank information, which funneled the provider's Medicaid reimbursements to Newton.? Miami FL - The owner of a South Florida home health care agency has been sentenced to five years in prison for his part in billing $16.6 million in fraudulent Medicare claims. A Miami federal judge also ordered Yudel Cayro to pay $9.8 million in restitution 17 DEC. Cayro admitted in court that some 344 Medicare recipients were referred through his clinic for unnecessary services. Authorities say the participants doctored patient files to make it look like they qualified for costly nursing visits several times a day to administer insulin, even though they didn't qualify for those services. Dr. Fred Dweck who also pleaded guilty in the scam will be sentenced in January. Four nurses have also been sentenced in the multi million dollar scam.
* Miami FL - A scam tricked Medicare into paying for nearly 10 times more units of an inhaler drug than were available in South Florida, costing taxpayers millions, according to a federal investigation released 29 DEC. The scams over an 18-month period are the latest to be pulled off in Miami and its surrounding communities, which are the national epicenter for Medicare fraud. According to investigators, Medicare paid for 7 million units of the drug arformoterol, even though the manufacturer and the three largest wholesalers sold only 750,000 units in the area in 2008 and the first half of 2009. The drug is used to treat chronic bronchitis and emphysema and legitimate sales to patients should have cost about $3.7 million during that time period. Instead, South Florida providers, mainly in Miami-Dade County, were paid $34 million. That's just more than half of the $62 million worth of the drug that was billed, though Medicare typically only pays for a portion of such drug costs. Miami is responsible for roughly $3 billion of the estimated $60 billion to $90 billion a year in Medicare fraud committed nationally.[Source: Fraud News Daily 16-31 Dec 2010 ++]
Medicad Fraud Update 28:
* Thomasville GA - John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital Inc. has paid the United States a total of $13.9 million to settle allegations that the hospital submitted false claims to the state of Georgias Medicaid program, the Justice Department announced 28 DEC. The settlement resolves allegations that between NOV 02 and JUL 08, the Thomasville, Ga. hospital made false representations to the Georgia Department of Community Health, the state agency that administers the Medicaid program in Georgia, that it was a public hospital for Medicaid purposes in order to increase the amount of Medicaid funds provided to the hospital. Under Medicaid rules, only public hospitals may participate in the Medicaid Upper Payment Limit (UPL) program. In addition, public hospitals receive additional Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program funds that are not available to private hospitals. Contrary to its certification to the Georgia Department of Community Health, Archbold Memorial was in fact a private hospital, and as a result received millions of dollars in UPL and DSH funds to which it was not entitled. As part of the resolution, the whistleblower...Wesley Simms, M.D...will receive $695,151 from the settlement amount.
* Manitowoc WI - Sarah Becker, 37, has been charged with Medicaid assistance fraud and is scheduled to appear before Sheboygan County Circuit Court Judge on 10 JAN to face the charge, which stems from her employment as a registered nurse. According to the Wisconsin Department of Justices criminal complaint, Becker worked for Nurses in Independent Practice as a private duty nurse. She submitted timesheets indicating that between 26 JUL 08 and 13 MAY 2010, she had provided medical services to the clients she was assigned to care for during the same hours that timesheets showed her working at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center. Dalton was paid $15,527.75 for the hours she claimed to have worked as a private duty nurse.
* Los Lunas CA - Mollie Stacey, 61, was sentenced to three years in prison and Deborah Cronn was placed on three years probation by District Court Judge William Sanchez after the two were convicted of Medicaid fraud over $2,500, falsification of documents and conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud. The two made false claims to the Medicaid Personal Care Option Program between 1 MAR 05 and 31 OCT 07. Stacey and Cronn claimed to be each other's caregiver for in-home services and submitted time sheets for which they were paid $96,264.80. A Bernalillo County grand jury indicted Stacey earlier this year of falsely applying for disability benefits. A 13-count indictment accuses Stacey of fraud, perjury and failing to disclose facts in applying for assistance. Authorities said she was not in custody. Stacey is accused of taking $293,000. According to the Social Security Administration, she obtained a Social Security number under a fictitious name and collected benefits between 1986 and 2006 collectong about $637 a month.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 16-31 Dec 2010 ++]State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Indiana provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these refer to the Veteran State Benefits IN attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each click on Learn more about wording highlighted in blue on the attachment.
* Housing Benefits
* Financial Assistance Benefits
* Employment Benefits
* Education Benefits
* Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/illinois-state-veterans-benefits Dec 2010 ++]Financial Planning: Military members face a complex web of pay, allowances, benefits, and bonuses. Too often, doubt and confusion about money matters can get in the way of financial progress. Separating fact from fiction is an essential step toward building a sound financial plan. And with the truth on your side, turning plans into action may be a little easier. The following sets the record straight on some common money myths.
MYTH: Financial planning is all about investing.
REALITY: Investing is one building block toward meeting long-term financial goals. But theres much more to a solid financial plan. Budgeting for daily expenses, maintaining the right insurance coverage, and making smart tax decisions are just as important. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER can help with all of these areas.
MYTH: I cant afford financial advice.
REALITY: Guessing can cost you much more than paying for professional help. And financial advice doesnt have to be expensive. Some financial services companies will answer basic financial questions without charge, or create a base plan for as little as $200. Paying a few hundred dollars now can be a bargain to ensure your financial choices pay off in the long run.
MYTH: Estate planning is only for rich people.
REALITY: Individuals of all income levels should consider drafting a will. And if you have children, the will should designate who will serve as their financial and physical guardian. A durable power of attorney, medical directive and letter of instruction also can help your family handle your affairs in the event of your death or disability. The JAG office can help military members create these documents for free.
MYTH: I dont have enough money to start investing.
REALITY: You can open a mutual fund account for as little as $20 per month. Starting early is key. Over time, the power of compounding returns can help your modest contributions grow. For example, if you invest $20 a month for 20 years and earn an eight percent annual return, youd have $11,859. After 30 years, youd have $30,006.
MYTH: I have plenty of time to save for retirement.
REALITY: As life expectancies get longer, future retirees will need much larger nest eggs so they dont outlive their savings. Building a retirement fund could be the largest financial commitment youll ever make. So starting as early as possible could help you take advantage of compounding returns.
MYTH: There is a formula for beating the stock market.
REALITY: No one can predict what the stock market will do. A winning investment strategy involves maintaining a diversified and disciplined approach to weather the ups and downs of the market over many years. Professional advice may help, but its no substitute for a long-term commitment to systematic investing.
MYTH: My landlords insurance will protect me.
REALITY: If a fire, burglary, or other unfortunate event occurs, a landlords insurance usually covers damages only to the building itself. This means tenants must replace their own belongings. So if you dont own your place, you probably need renters insurance (also called personal property insurance). That includes service members in government housing.
MYTH: Saving for my kids' college tuition comes first.
REALITY: Parents should save for their own retirement before the kids college expenses. Loans, grants, and scholarships can help pay for college, but retirees have far fewer options.[Source: Military.com | USAA Richard Nash article 3 Dec 2010 ++]
Military History: On 4 June 1942, Japanese aircraft attacked the American military base at Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians . One Zero fighter was hit during the raid, severing its oil line. The pilot of the damaged Zero, 19-year-old Flight Petty Officer Tadayoshi Koga, knew he couldn't make it back to his carrier, the RYUJO, and decided to land his aircraft on the island of Akutan , 40 kilometers (25 miles) away. Akutan had been designated for emergency landings, with a Japanese submarine standing off the island to assist pilots who were forced down. Koga attempted to land on what he thought was a grassy meadow while two of his wingmates watched on. The grassy meadow turned out to be a marsh, and when Koga touched down, the Zero's main gear dug into the mud and the aircraft flipped over on its back. Koga's two wingmates had orders to prevent a Zero from being captured, but as they were not certain Koga was dead, they were reluctant to shoot up the overturned Zero and destroy it. Koga did not emerge, and his wingmates finally had to depart in order to make it back to the RYUJO. In fact, Koga was dead. His neck had been broken when the aircraft flipped over.
On 10 July 1942, a US Navy PBY Catalina flying boat on patrol spotted the Zero, and set down on the waves so the crew could go ashore and examine the downed fighter. They excitedly reported their find to their superiors and an expedition was sent to recover the downed aircraft. Navy workers laboriously dragged the Zero onto a skid and pulled out of the bog with a tractor, put the aircraft on a barge, and brought it to Dutch Harbor . Koga's body was buried on Akutan, to be repatriated back to Japan after the war. At Dutch Harbor , the Zero, which was still on its back, was righted, cleaned up, and put in a crate for shipment to San Diego . The Zero's wings could not be detached in any convenient way and so the crate was very big and clumsy. The inability to remove the wings was a nuisance for the Japanese as well, but adding such a feature would have increased the aircraft's weight. After arrival in San Diego, the Zero, which turned out to be an A6M2 Model 21 with a manufacturing date stamp of 19 February 1942, was repaired. One problem was that the propeller was damaged beyond repair, but that was easy to fix, since the Sumitomo design was a straight copy of a readily available Hamilton Standard propeller. Flight evaluations of the captured aircraft began in late September 1942, and demonstrated the performance capabilities and limitations of the type. The information it yielded was vital to the U.S. war effort because in 1941 and most of 1942, the Zero outflew virtually every enemy fighter it encountered, primarily because of its agility. During the previous several years many Zero pilots had seen aerial combat in China, so unblooded Allied pilots in less maneuverable planes usually regretted any attempt to fight Zeros flown by the experienced Japanese...if they lived long enough. A Japanese authority has written that the Allies acquisition of Kogas Zero was no less serious a setback than Japans defeat at Midway, in which they lost four aircraft carriers. To read a more detailed account of this history refer to this Bulletin's attachment on the subject.[Source: Jack Gilmores Bits and Pieces on Jim Rearden book Kogas Zero 23 Dec 2010 ++]
Military History Anniversaries: Significant January events in U.S. Military History are:
* Jan 01 1945 WWII: In Operation Bodenplatte, German planes attack American forward air bases in Europe. This is the last major offensive of the Luftwaffe.
* Jan 02 1904 - Latin America Interventions: U.S. Marines are sent to Santo Domingo to aid the government against rebel forces.
* Jan 02 1942 - WWII: In the Philippines, the city of Manila and the U.S. Naval base at Cavite fall to Japanese forces.
* Jan 02 1966 - American forces move into the Mekong Delta for the first time (Vietnam War)
* Jan 03 1920 - WWI: The last of the U.S. troops depart France.
* Jan 04 1944 - WWII: Operation Carpetbagger, involving the dropping of arms and supplies to resistance fighters in Europe, begins.
* Jan 04 1951 - Korea: Chinese communist forces recapture Seoul from United Nations troops.
* Jan 05 1781 - American Revolution: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.
* Jan 05 1904 - American Marines arrive in Seoul, Korea, to guard the U.S. legation there.
* Jan 05 1942 - WWII: U.S. and Filipino troops complete their withdrawal to a new defensive line along the base of the Bataan peninsula.
* Jan 05 1951 - Korea: Inchon, South Korea, the sight of General Douglas MacArthurs amphibious flanking maneuver, is abandoned by U.N. force to the advancing Chinese Army.
* Jan 06 1941 - WWII: President Franklin D. Roosevelt asks Congress to support the Lend-lease Bill to help supply the Allies.
* Jan 06 1967 - Vietnam: Operation Cedar. Over 16,000 U.S. and 14,000 Vietnamese troops start their biggest attack on the Iron Triangle, northwest of Saigon.
* Jan 07 1944 - WWII: The U.S. Air Force announces the production of the first jet-fighter, Bell P-59 Airacomet.
* Jan 07 1975 - Vietnam: Vietnamese troops take Phuoc Binh in new full-scale offensive.
* Jan 08 1815 - War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans - A rag-tag army under Andrew Jackson defeats the British on the fields of Chalmette in the Battle of New Orleans.
* Jan 08 1863 - Civil War: Second Battle of Springfield ends with a Confederate withdrawal.
* Jan 08 1877 - Crazy Horse and his warriors fight their last battle with the United States Cavalry at Wolf Mountain (Montana Territory).
* Jan 09 1861 Civil War: The "Star of the West" incident occurs near Charleston, South Carolina. It is considered by some historians to be the "First Shots of the War".
* Jan 09 1945 - WWII: U.S. troops land on Luzon, in the Philippines, 107 miles from Manila.
* Jan 10 1847 - Mexican War: General Stephen Kearny and Commodore Robert Stockton retake Los Angeles in the last California battle of the war.
* Jan 10 1923 - WWI: The United States withdraws its last troops from Germany.
* Jan 11 1863 - Civil War: The Battle of Fort Hindman Arkansas ends with a Union victory.
* Jan 11 1940 - Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., becomes the U.S. Armys first black general, his son would later become a general as well.
* Jan 11 1967 Vietnam: Operation Deckhouse Five", a combined USMC and ARVN troop effort in the Mekong River delta ends in failure.
* Jan 12 1991 - Persian Gulf War: The U.S. Congress gives the green light to military action against Iraq in the Gulf Crisis.
* Jan 12 1846 - Mexican War: President James Polk dispatches General Zachary Taylor and 4,000 troops to the Texas Border as war with Mexico looms.
* Jan 13 1893 - U.S. Marines land in Honolulu from the U.S.S. Boston to prevent the queen from abrogating the Bayonet Constitution.
* Jan 13 1968 - Vietnam: U.S. reports shifting most air targets from North Vietnam to Laos.
* Jan 14 1911 - The USS Arkansas, the largest U.S. battleship, is launched from the yards of the New York Shipbuilding Company.
* Jan 14 1943 WWII: Operation Ke, the successful Japanese operation to evacuate their forces from Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal campaign, begins.
* Jan 14 1943 WWII: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill begin the Casablanca Conference to discuss strategy and study the next phase of the war.
* Jan 15 1865 - Civil War: Fort Fisher North Carolina falls to the Union, thus cutting off the last major seaport of the Confederacy.
* Jan 15 1944 - WWII: The U.S. Fifth Army successfully breaks the German Winter Line in Italy with the capture of Mount Trocchio.
* Jan 15 1973 - Vietnam: Citing progress in peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam.[Source: Various Dec 2010 ++]
Military Trivia 19:
1. George Patton was quoting Iliad and Odyssey at age 7. His military destiny was forged from a very young age. Patton didn't start his school education until the age of 12. He graduated from West Point in 1909, ranked 46th from a class of 103.
2. During his years of learning, Patton allowed himself plenty of time for sport. He went on to represent the U.S.A. at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm competing in Modern Pentathlon . Patton finished a credible fifth in the competition. Remarkably it was the shooting element that let him down. In true Patton style he used his military .38 revolver instead of the lighter .22 favored by most of the athletes. The .38 blew larger holes in the target and it is commonly believed that he was not credited with one shot because a round that had supposedly missed the target actually passed through an already established hole. However, in "Patton, A Genius for War" by Carlo D 'este, it has been established that he did indeed miss the target entirely. This was probably due to the fatigue factor of Patton taking weeks to arrive by ship and not having enough time to prepare for the shooting event. Patton was also an expert fencer. He re-wrote the armies manuals on swordsmanship removing the 'parry.' His idea was for all attack. Defense just wasted energy.
3. In 1915 Lt. Patton was posted at Fort Bliss along the Mexican Border. It was here he first saw combat when he killed General Cardenas during a foraging raid over the border. Cardenas was head of the bodyguard detail for the Mexican rebel general Francisco Pancho Villa. After the raid, Patton strapped the bodies of Cardenas, one of Villa's captains and a private, to the hood of his car. He drove back to the U.S. base at Dublin and the war correspondents got a first hand account of Pattons adventure. The stories they filed to their respective newspapers made Patton a national hero for the first time.
4. In 1917, the newly promoted Captain Patton was in Europe getting his first taste of WWI. An attachment to a particular British division during the battle of Cambrai was to give his career a course in Tank Warfare. The battle of Cambrai was unique as it introduced large-scale tank warfare for the first time. The Brits secretly brought in 376 tanks to break the fortified stalemate of the Hindenburg line. The tanks smashed their objectives but the allied manpower was not sufficient to hold the ground. Patton must have loved what he saw because he went on to command and train the first 500 American tankers while in France.
5. With two battlefield promotions, Lt. Col. Patton led his men in the battle of St. Mihiel and the subsequent Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart. The battle of Meuse-Argonne was the last Great War action Patton would see. He was hit by machine gun fire while trying to rescue some tanks that where mired in the mud. The war ended during his recovery and he went home to command the newly formed US Tank Corps, but in peacetime and with no budget, the US Tank Corps didn't gain momentum until congress and the military learned a new word - blitzkrieg.
6. When the U.S.A. joined WWII, Patton was sent to Africa and took over command of the 2nd Corps after they sustained considerable losses at Kasserine Pass on the Atlas Mountains battlefield. Eisenhower needed a general of Patton's caliber to restore morale and get the tankers going forward. By March 1943 Patton had reorganized the 2nd Corps, restored discipline and confidence with the men, and with a counter-offensive, he had the Germans on the retreat. (Montgomery's Brits where pushing from the east.)
7. After Patton's successes in Africa he was assigned to lead the new 7th Army for the invasion of Sicily. He landed on the western half of the island and rival Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery general landed on the eastern side. Starting with their armoured-ego clashes in Africa, Montgomery and Patton's relationship was to be a continual feud. Both generals were extremely driven and competitive. While they still shared the ultimate objective, Berlin, it was who would get there first and how that mattered.
8. Patton was given command of the U.S. 3rd Army for the liberation of Europe. Patton's reputation with the Germans was such that they believed he would lead the main thrust into Europe. Eisenhower exploited this reputation and the 3rd Army was held back and didn't participate on D-Day. The Germans also held back critical Panzer units from the beachheads believing the main thrust would come elsewhere (with Patton).
9. Perhaps one of Patton's greatest moments in WWII was turning his army northward and hitting the southern flank of the Ardennes Offensive. His swift action saved thousands of cut-off airborne troops in the strategically important town of Bastogne. It was during the siege of Bastogne that General McAuliffe gave his famous reply to the German request to surrender, 'Nuts!' For their heroism in holding Bastogne, the 101st was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, the first ever to be awarded to an entire division.
10. One of Patton's trademarks was his outspokenness and his ability to motivate men both through action and word. He is attributed with the quote, "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." By armistice, Patton's 3rd Army had liberated 80,000 square miles of territory, captured hundreds of thousands of troops and inflicted nearly 1.5 million casualties. He was killed in a traffic accident while in occupied Luxembourg on the 21st of December 1945.[Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/World/General-George-S-Patton-145599.html Dec 2010 ++]
Tax Burden for Texas Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Texas.
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6.25% (non-prepared food, prescription and non-prescription drugs exempt); local option taxes can raise the rate to 8.25%.
Gasoline Tax: 20 cents/gallonDiesel Fuel Tax: 20 cents/gallon.
Cigarette Tax: $1.41 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes No state personal income tax.
Retirement Income: Not taxed.
Property Taxes Property tax is imposed by local taxing units.
Refer to http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/ for details.For homeowners 65 and older, $10,000 (in addition to the regular $15,000 homestead exemption) of the property's assessed value is exempt from school taxes and $3,000 is exempt from other local taxes. Once an over-65 homeowner qualifies for an over-65 homestead exemption for school taxes, that owner gets a tax ceiling for that home on school taxes. If the homeowner improves the home (other than normal repairs or maintenance), the tax ceiling is adjusted for the new additions. School district taxes are frozen for seniors (65 and older) and disabled persons at the level imposed on the residence the first year that the taxpayer qualified for the residence exemption. Counties, cities, towns, and junior college districts are permitted to establish a tax freeze on homesteads of those age 65 and older or disabled.
For more information on exemptions refer to http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/exmptns.html
Inheritance and Estate TaxesThere is no inheritance and the estate tax is limited and related to federal estate tax collection.For further information, visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxes/ site or call the appropriate office using telephone numbers found on the site.
[Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Dec 2010 ++]
Congressional Alphalist: To better understand what is happening to veteran legislation as it proceeds through Congress it is useful to know the language used by our representatives as they conduct business. Following are some of the words or expressions you will see while reading about or listening to House and Senate sessions:
* Secretary of the Senate - The Senate's chief administrative officer responsible for overseeing the duties of Senate employees, educating Senate pages, administering oaths, handling lobbyists' registrations and other tasks.
* Select or Special Committee - A committee set up for a special purpose and, usually, for a limited time, by resolution of either the House or Senate.
* Speaker of the House - The elected presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
* Special Session - A session held after Congress has adjourned sine die. Special sessions are convened by the President.
* Suspension of Rules - The process where the Senate and House may suspend their usual rules on the first and third Mondays of each month and during the last six days of a session if two- thirds of a quorum vote affirmatively. A bill may then be brought up immediately for a debate limited to twenty minutes for each side. No amendments are permitted.
* Table a Bill - Motions to table, or to "lay on the table", are used to block or kill amendments or other parliamentary questions. When approved, a tabling motion is considered the final disposition of that issue. One of the most widely used parliamentary procedures, the motion to table, is not debatable, and adoption requires a simple majority vote.
* Unanimous Consent - A process for approving noncontroversial bills without serious debate. Used to expedite floor action and frequently used in a routine fashion.
* U.S. Code - A consolidation and codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States arranged by subject under 50 titles. The first six deal with general or political subjects, and the other 44 are alphabetically arranged from agriculture to war.
* Veto - The rejection of a bill by the President.
* Voice Vote - Voting in unison yes or no by voice, with no record of how individuals voted.
* Well - The area in front of the speaker's rostrum from which House members address the House.
* Whip - A key assistant to a party leader in the House or Senate.[Source: Congressional Glossary of Terms http://www.acha.org/info_resources/glossary.cfm Dec 2010 ++]
Have You Heard?: An old prospector shuffled into the town of El Paso, Texas leading an old tired mule. The old man headed straight for the only saloon in town, to clear his parched throat. He walked up to the saloon and tied his old mule to the hitch rail. As he stood there, brushing some of the dust from his face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other.
The young gunslinger looked at the old man and laughed, saying, "Hey old man, have you ever danced?" The old man looked up at the gunslinger andsaid, "No, I never did dance... never really wanted to."A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, "Well, you old fool, you're gonna' dance now," and started shooting at the old man's feet. The old prospector, not wanting to get a toe blown off, started hopping around like a flea on a hot skillet. Everybody was laughing, fit to be tied. When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon.
The old man turned to his pack mule, pulled out a double-barreled shotgun, and cocked both hammers. The loud clicks carried clearly through the desert air.The crowd stopped laughing immediately. The young gunslinger heard the sounds too, and he turned around very slowly. The silence was almost deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old timer and the large gaping holes of those twin barrels. The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the old man's hands, as he quietly said, "Son, have you ever kissed a mule's ass?" The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, "No sir..... but I've always wanted to."
There are two lessons for us all here:1. Don't waste ammunition. 2. Don't mess with old people.
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"Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other."
Ronald Reagan [1965 Campaign for Governor]
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Veteran Legislation Status 27 DEC 2010: Congress has completed its lame duck session which will marked the end of the 111th Congress. The 112th Congress will commence 3 JAN and all bills not passed by then will die with the end of the 111th and have to be reintroduced. For or a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 111th Congress refer to the Bulletins House & Senate Veteran Legislation attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate.
At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it.
To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/ViewList.php?n=Member&c=111
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veterans feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views.
Otherwise, you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislators phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making.
Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf.[Source: RAO Bulletin Attachment 28 Nov 2010 ++]
House:
United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
To contact Members of the U.S House, go to: http://www.house.gov/Welcome.shtmlH.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (168)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice
and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message
via http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12497121H.R.32 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.315
Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (41)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949.H.R.33 : Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and to eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions.
Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.43 : Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps.
Sponsor: Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (190) Related bill S.46
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=14486941&type=COH.R.82 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to expand retroactive eligibility of the Army Combat Action Badge to include members of the Army who participated in combat during which they personally engaged, or were personally engaged by, the enemy at any time on or after December 7, 1941.
Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (19)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.84 : Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.108 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.
Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.114 : Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act to allow veterans to elect to use, with the approval of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, certain financial educational assistance to establish and operate certain business, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.H.R.147 : Designate a Portion of Tax Payment for Homeless Vets. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (93)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message
via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12922516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.161 : Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits.
Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.162 : Senior Citizens' Tax Elimination Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in gross income of Social Security benefits.
Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.174 : Colorado Vet Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the southern Colorado region.
Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.177 : Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act to provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health testing of such members, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.190 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State. Companion Bill S.239.
Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.198 : Health Care Tax Deduction Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for amounts paid for health insurance and prescription drug costs of individuals.
Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.208 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support
of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes.
Companion Bill S.644.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (172)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials
and /or http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=13672261&azip=92571&bzip=7311H.R.210 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Study. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.217 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Purchase. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acquire a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.H.R.228 : Visual Impairment VA Scholarship Program to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility.
Sponsor: Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 .H.R.236 : Social Security Protection Act to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to protect Social Security beneficiaries against any reduction in benefits.
Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Rules; House Budget
Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on
Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.H.R.237 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B.
Sponsor: Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message
via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12921516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.247 : Protect Our Veterans Memorials Act of 2009 to amend section 1369 of title 18, United States Code, to extend Federal jurisdiction over destruction of veterans' memorials on State or local government property.
Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee
on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.H.R.270 : TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for
certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill S.731.
Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (72)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message
via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12923561&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
or http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&FalseH.R.293 : Homeless Women Veteran and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Program Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a grant program to provide reintegration services through programs and facilities that emphasize services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (15)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.294 : Veteran Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the reauthorization of the Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (19)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.295 : More Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to authorize appropriations for the veterans' workforce investment programs.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: House Education and Labor
Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.H.R.296 : Armed Forces Disability Retirement Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the process by which a member of the Armed Forces is retired for disability and becomes eligible for retirement pay, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.297 : Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and for other purposes.
Companion Bill S.514
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (136)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.309 : American Heroes' Homeownership Assistance Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain current and former service members to receive a refundable credit for the purchase of a principal residence.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.333 : Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (168)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the
Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12406456&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] and
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12888756H.R.341 : Suspend Limitations Period for Tax Refund on VA Retroactive Payments. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the running of periods of limitation for credit or refund of overpayment of Federal income tax by veterans while their service-connected compensation determinations are pending with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.347 : Congressional Gold Medal Award. To grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.
Sponsor: Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (297) Related bill S.1055
Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration
Latest Major Action: 5/18/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs.H.R.379 : State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Expansion Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that all taxpayers have the ability to deduct State and local general sales taxes.
Companion Bill S.35.
Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (26)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.394 : Medal of Honor Pension. 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.
Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee
on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.403 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009 to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Green, Al [TX-9] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (41)
Committees: House Financial Services; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 6/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs.H.R.423 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act to provide compensation for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese.
Sponsor: Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.433 : Ready Employers Willing to Assist Reservists' Deployment (REWARD) Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax equal to 50 percent of the compensation paid to employees while they are performing active duty service as members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard and of the compensation paid to temporary replacement employees.
Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (40)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.442 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2009 to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (212)
Committees: House Judiciary; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.H.R.449 : Health Care for America's Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the availability of health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by adjusting the income level for certain priority veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.456 : Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act to make service-disabled veterans eligible under the 8(a) business development program.
Sponsor: Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Small Business
Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.H.R.466 : Wounded Veteran Job Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit discrimination and acts of reprisal against persons who receive treatment for illnesses, injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the uniformed services.
Sponsor: Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.482 : Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act to authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I.
Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (51)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.H.R.484 : Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act to require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program.
Sponsor: Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (46)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.531 : Social Security Number Fraudulent Use Notification Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to require that the Commissioner of Social Security notify individuals of improper use of their Social Security account numbers.
Sponsor: Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] (introduced 1/14/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.568 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action: 1/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.593 : CRSC for DoD Disability Severances Pay. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all veterans who have a combat-related disability, as defined under section 1413a of such title.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (44)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12918951&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.612 : Disabled Veterans Insurance Act of 2009 to amend section 1922A of title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of supplemental insurance available for totally disabled veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.613 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death.
Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009) Cosponsors (64)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12489731&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.620 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent veterans.
Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 1/21/2009)
Cosponsors (14) Related Bill: H.R.4443
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.627 : Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009 to amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] (introduced 1/22/2009)
Cosponsors (128) Related Bill S.235 Companion Bill S.414
Committees: House Financial Services
House Reports: 111-88
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-24H.R.656 : Unemployed Early Retirement Plan Withdrawal without Penalty. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain individuals who have attained age 50 and who are unemployed to receive distributions from qualified retirement plans without incurring a 10 percent additional tax.
Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.667 : Heroes at Home Act of 2009 to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/23/2009) Cosponsors (46)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.668 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare Program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided forcertain veterans.
Companion Bill S.307
Sponsor: Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] (introduced 1/23/2009) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/23/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.671 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to certain veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam War as a direct result of that service.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/26/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.731 : Jenny's Law to amend title 38, United States Code, to exclude individuals who have been convicted of committing certain sex offenses from receiving certain burial-related benefits and funeral honors which are otherwise available to certain veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and related individuals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] (introduced 1/27/2009) Cosponsors (26)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.746 : Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for economic recovery payments to recipients of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability benefits.
Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.761 : Parental Burial in National Cemeteries (Corey Shea Act).
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national cemeteries.
Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] (introduced 1/28/2009)
Cosponsors (3) Related Bill H.R.3949
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R.3949.H.R.775 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation.
Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (352)
Companion Bill S.535
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2010 Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Jones.
Petition No: 111-10.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12541746
To support the Discharge Petition send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14825891&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.784 : VA Reports to Congress. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.785 : VA Outreach Training. 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. Companion Bill S.543
Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.806 : TRICARE Mail-Order Pharmacy Pilot Program Act to establish a mail-order pharmacy pilot program for TRICARE beneficiaries.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.809 : Widow Remarriage Age Decrease for DIC. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce 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.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12993371H.R.811 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation.
Companion Bill S.546
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.816 : Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care.
Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (202)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12591151&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12603596 or http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12607551 or http://capwiz.com/trea/issues/alert/?alertid=12710751H.R.819 : POW DIC Eligibility Date. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who die after that date.
Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (17)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.870 : Medicare Medically Necessary Dental Care Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under part B for medically necessary dental procedures.
Sponsor: Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (17)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce,
and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.H.R.879 : Affordable Health Care Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a refundable credit against income tax for the purchase of private health insurance.
Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.883 : Social Security 1993 Tax Increase Repeal. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in income taxes on Social Security benefits.
Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.917 : Combat-Related Injury Death Dependent Health Benefits. To increase the health benefits of dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die because of a combat-related injury.
Sponsor: Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.919 : Veterans' Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.929 : VA Vet Training Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Welch, Peter [VT] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.931 : Veterans Employment Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit with respect to certain unemployed veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 2/10/2009)
Cosponsors (None) Related bill: H.R.4443
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.942 : Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises.
Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.944 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.950 : Vet Distance Learning Assistance. To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (30)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.952 : Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.
Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (95)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.953 : Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 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.
Sponsor: Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (68)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.954 : Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.972 : Retired Reserve Age for Health Benefits.
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.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message
via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12992881H.R.1004 : Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide an enhanced funding process to ensure an adequate level of funding for veterans health care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/11/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.1016 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide advance appropriations authority for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (125)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
House Reports: 111-171
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-81H.R.1017 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code, to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (37) Related bill S.1204
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/25/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.1034 : Honor and Remember Flag. To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc., as an official symbol to recognize and honor members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (28)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.H.R.1036 : Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of Physical Therapy Service within the Veterans Health Administration and to establish a fellowship program for physical
therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care, and rehabilitation research.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (31)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.1037 : Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under title 38, United States Code.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
House Reports: 111-162
Latest Major 10/7/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate.
Status: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.H.R.1038 : Shingles Prevention Act to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for the shingles vaccine under the Medicare Program.
Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (12)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.1042 : Enemy POW Hospitalization Policy. To prohibit the provision of medical treatment to enemy combatants detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the same facility as a member of the Armed Forces or Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.1075 : Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery (RECOVER) Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in major disaster areas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (19)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.1088 : Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.1089 : Veterans Employment Rights to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.1098 : Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals pursuing internships or on-job training.
Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (13)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.1114 : National Cemetery Availability. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a process for determining whether a geographic area is sufficiently served by the national cemeteries located in that geographic area.
Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 2/23/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.1163 : Establish Nebraska National Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri.
Sponsor: Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] (introduced 2/24/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.1168 : Veterans Retraining Act of 2009 to amend chapter 42 of title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans with employment training assistance.
Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.1169 : VA Adapted Housing/Automobile Assistance. 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.
Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.H.R.1170 : Adapted Housing Technology Grants. To amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing.
Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.1171 : Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.1172 : VA Website Scholarship Info Addition. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors.
Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
House Reports: 111-164
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.1182 : Military Spouses Residency Relief Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (208)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.1197 : Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009 to assign a higher priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain veterans who are recipients of the Medal of Honor.
Sponsor: Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (15)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.1203 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Companion Bill S.491
Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (218)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message
via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12787701&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.1211: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.597
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (51)
House Reports: 111-165
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12833716&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.1232 : Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a full service hospital in Far South Texas.
Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.1263 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic enrollment of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and to clarify the method for computing certain annuities based on part-time service; to allow certain employees of the District of Columbia to have certain periods of service credited for purposes relating to retirement eligibility; and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.H.R.1289 : Social Security Fairness for the Terminally Ill Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (14)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1293 : Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (16)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/29/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.1305 : Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act 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.
Companion Bill S.572
Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (83)
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.H.R.1317 : Mortgage Payment Tax Credit. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to individuals who pay their mortgages on time.
Sponsor: Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (14)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1335 : VA Catastrophically Disabled Copay. To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.
Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/5/2009) Cosponsors (40)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.1336 : Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the basic educational assistance program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 3/5/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1377 : VA Emergency Treatment Reimbursement 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.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/6/2009) Cosponsors (2) Companion Bill S.404.
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-137H.R.1388 : Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws.
Passed 321-105 and placed on the Senate calendar.
Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 3/9/2009)
Cosponsors (37) Related Bills: H.RES.250, H.RES.296, S.277
Committees: House Education and Labor,
House Reports: 111-37
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-13H.R.1401 : VET Corps Act of 2009 to create a service corps of veterans called Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps focused on promoting and improving the service opportunities for veterans and retired members of the military by engaging such veterans and retired members in projects designed to meet identifiable public needs with a specific emphasis on projects to support veterans, including disabled and older veterans and retired members of the military.
Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (14)
Committees: House Education and Labor
Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.H.R.1416 : Southern New Jersey Veterans Comprehensive Health Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the capability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the medical-care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey.
Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/10/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.1428 : VA Parkinson's Disease Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson's disease.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/11/2009) Cosponsors (84)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12986021&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.1474 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.263.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (28)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services;
House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1478 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009 to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (12)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 267.H.R.1496 : Child Health Care Affordability Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents.
Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/12/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1513 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (10) Related bill S.407
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the
Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048376&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.1519 : Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits.
Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1522 : United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act to provide that service of the members of the organization known as the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (27)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.1532 : CMOH Statute of Limitations Elimination. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the statute of limitations on the award of the congressional medal of honor.
Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1544 : Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war.
Sponsor: Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/20/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.1546 : Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.
Sponsor: Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .H.R.1592 : Pay Increase Guarantee. To amend title 37, United States Code, to guarantee a pay increase for members of the uniformed services for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 of one-half of one percentage point higher than the Employment Cost Index.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 3/18/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=13002241H.R.1600 : TRICARE Autism Care. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE.
Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/18/2009) Cosponsors (23)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1647 : Veterans' Employment Transition Support Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for hiring veterans.
Sponsor: Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1657 : Notification of Exposure to Harmful Material/Contaminants. To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.
Sponsor: Rep Schrader, Kurt [OR-5] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1658 : Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability.
Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/20/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.1681 : Veterans Transitional Assistance Act of 2009 to improve the coordination between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to better provide care to members and the Armed Forces and veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (17)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1694 : Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program.
Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (12) Related Bill S.1168
Committees: House Natural Resources; Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 3/2/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.
Calendar No. 302.H.R.1695 : Reserve Retired Pay Age Reduction. To amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55.
Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (49)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1701 : PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review For Heroes Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a special review board for certain former members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1708 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with
life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.700.
Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (113)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Transportation
and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.H.R.1712 : Savings for Seniors Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to establish a Social Security Surplus Protection Account in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to hold the Social Security surplus, to provide for suspension of investment of amounts held in the Account until enactment of legislation providing for investment of the Trust Fund in investment vehicles other than obligations of the United States, and to establish a Social Security Investment Commission to make recommendations for
alternative forms of investment of the Social Security surplus in the Trust Fund.
Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (22)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1716 : Property Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the deduction for real property taxes on the principal residences to all individuals whether or not they itemize other deductions.
Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (12)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1767 : Fair Housing Tax Credit Extension Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the first-time homebuyer credit retroactive to the beginning of 2008 and to permanently extend the credit.
Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1804 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (4) Related Bill H.R.108
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13048556&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.1809 : TRICARE Prime Geographic Expansion. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the geographical coverage of TRICARE Prime to include Puerto Rico and Guam.
Sponsor: Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1818 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.
Sponsor: Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (21)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1849 : World War I Memorial and Centennial Act of 2009 to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (101) Related Bill S.760
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources.H.R.1851 : DOL Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that certain members of the Armed Forces receive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services provided by the Secretary of Labor before separating from active duty service.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1872 : Secure Electronic Military Separation Act to require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to develop and implement a secure electronic method of forwarding the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
(DD Form 214) to the appropriate office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the State or other locality in which a member of the Armed Forces will first reside after the discharge or release of the member from active duty.
Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (14)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1879 : National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty.
Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (20)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805H.R.1902 : Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
H.R.1919 : Federal Withholding Tax Repeal Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the withholding of income and social security taxes.
Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (12)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.1963 : Military Separation Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services, to require that such members receive a psychological evaluation in addition to the physical examination they receive as part of their separation from active duty, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.1982 : Veterans Entitlement to Service (VETS) Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.1994 : Citizen Soldier Equality Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide equity between active and reserve component members of the Armed Forces in the computation of disability retired pay for members wounded in action.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.H.R.2014 : WASP Gold Medal Award. To award a congressional gold medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP").
Sponsor: Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (337) Companion Bill S.614
Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration
Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on
House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.H.R.2017 : MOAA Federal Charter. To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (140)
Companion Bill S.832 Related Bill S.1449
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.H.R.2059 : SBP Disabled Child Trust. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special
needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.
Sponsor: Rep Foster, Bill [IL-14] (introduced 4/23/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.2127 : Veterans Travel Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the income eligibility and service-connected disability rating requirements for the veterans beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] (introduced 4/27/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.2138 : Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts.
Sponsor: Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] (introduced 4/28/2009) Cosponsors (36) Related Bill S.902
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.H.R.2180 : Disabled Vet Housing Loan Fee Waiver. To amend title 38, United States Code, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service.
Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 4/29/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
House Reports: 111-163
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 81.H.R.2243 : Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 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.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (78)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13303636&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.2244 : Single Parent Protection Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an individual who is entitled to receive child support a refundable credit equal to the amount of unpaid child support and to increase the tax liability of the individual required to pay
such support by the amount of the unpaid child support.
Sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.2254 : The Agent Orange Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (261)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.2257 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie B [TX-30] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (None) - Related Bill S.315
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.2263 : Disability Equity Act to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting periods for people with disabilities for entitlement to disability benefits and Medicare, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.2270 : Benefits for Qualified World War II Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of a compensation fund to make payments to qualified World War II veterans on the basis of certain qualifying service.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/6/2009) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.2302 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit recoupments of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay.
Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 5/7/2009) Cosponsors (5) Companion bill S.1008
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13682556&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13967481&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.2342 : Wounded Warrior Project Family Caregiver Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a family caregiver program to furnish support services to family members certified as family caregivers who provide personal care services for certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 5/11/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.2365 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits under titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act.
Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 5/12/2009) Cosponsors (71)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor
Latest Major Action: 6/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.H.R.2379 : Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans an opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans' Group Life Insurance.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.2389 : Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 5/13/2009) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 1/12/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.H.R.2405 : Richard Helm Veterans' Access to Local Health Care Options and Resources Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide veterans enrolled in the health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs the option of receiving covered health services through facilities other than those of the Department.
Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.2412 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas.
Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (13)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security,
and International Law.H.R.2419 : Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a medical surveillance system to identify members of the Armed Forces exposed to chemical hazards resulting from the disposal of waste in Iraq and Afghanistan, to prohibit the disposal of waste by the Armed Forces in a manner that would produce dangerous levels of toxins, and for
other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (23)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.H.R.2429 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security Act.
Sponsor: Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (25)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor
Latest Major Action: 6/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.H.R.2456 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009 to amend section 484B of Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to students who withdraw from an institution of higher education to serve in the uniformed services, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 5/18/2009) Cosponsors (34) Related Bills: H.R.2561, S.1603
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.H.R.2474 : Veterans Educational Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of an individual entitled to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program who is enrolled at an institution of higher education in a State in which the public institutions charge only fees in lieu of tuition, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall allow the individual to use all or any portion of the amounts payable for the established charges for the program of education to pay any amount of the individual's tuition or fees for that program of education.
Sponsor: Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (48)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.2486 : Vet Organization Funeral Detail Support. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for support of funeral ceremonies for veterans provided by details that consist solely of members of veterans organizations and other organizations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.2504 : Homeless Vet VA Appropriation Increase. To 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.
Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .H.R.2505 : Reaching Rural Veterans through Telehealth Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to utilize tele-health platforms to assist in the treatment of veterans living in rural areas who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.
Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.2506 : Veterans Hearing and Assessment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure the members of the Armed Forces receive mandatory hearing screenings before and after deployments and to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to mandate that tinnitus be listed as a mandatory condition for treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excellence and that research on the preventing, treating, and curing of tinnitus be conducted.
Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.2546 : Right to Display Service Flag. To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged.
Sponsor: Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (56) Related bill: S.3477
Committees: House Financial Services
Latest Major Action: 5/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.H.R.2553 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances.
Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (17) Related bill S.1128
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.2559 : Help Our Homeless Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a national media campaign directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming homeless.
Sponsor: Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (15)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.2561 : Help Student Soldiers Act 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. Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (22) Related Bills: H.R.2456, S.1603
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.H.R.2573 : Atomic Veterans Relief Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility criteria for presumption of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (23)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.2583 : Women Veterans Access to Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve health care for women veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.2585 : Protecting the Retirement of Our Troops by Ensuring Compensation is Timely Act to delay any presumption of death in connection with the kidnapping in Iraq or Afghanistan of a retired member of the Armed Forces to ensure the continued payment of the member's retired pay.
Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.2586 : Honor Guard 13-fold Flag Recitation Option. To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from authorizing honor guards to participate in funerals of veterans interred in national cemeteries unless the honor guards may offer veterans' families the option of having the honor guard perform a 13-fold flag recitation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (46)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.2594 : Dependent State Plot VA Allowance. 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.
Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (49)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.2598 : Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon Gold Medal. To grant a congressional gold medal to American military personnel who fought in defense of Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon between December 7, 1941 and May 6, 1942.
Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (67)
Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration
Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.H.R.2621 : Travel Expense Reimbursement Time Requirement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to use a time requirement for determining eligibility for the reimbursement of certain travel expenses.
Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.2638 : Veterans Stamp to Honor American Veterans Act to provide for the issuance of a veterans health care stamp.
Sponsor: Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.2642 : Veterans Missing in America Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist in the identification of unclaimed and abandoned human remains to determine if any such remains are eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.2647 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (by request) (introduced 6/2/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.2990
Committees: House Armed Services
House Reports: 111-166, 111-166 Part 2
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-84H.R.2672 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow credits for the establishment of franchises with veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (45)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.2673 : Surviving Spouse Pension Upgrade. To amend title 38, United States Code, to match the pension amount paid to surviving spouses of veterans who served during a period of war to the pension amount paid to such veterans.
Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.2683 : To establish the American Veterans Congressional Internship Program.
Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Administration
Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
H.R.2689 : D-Day Memorial. To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, as a unit of the National Park System.
Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (7) Related bill S.1207
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.2696 : Servicemembers Rights Protection Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the enforcement of rights afforded under that Act.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949.H.R.2698 : Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (50)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.2699 : Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces, to enhance counseling available to family members of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (38)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.2713 : Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the service disabled veterans' insurance program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (13)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
H.R.2734 : Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009 to amend section 1781 of title 38, United States Code, to provide medical care to family members of disabled veterans who serve as caregivers to such veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.2735 : Homeless Vet Service Program Improvements. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.2738 : Family Caregiver Travel Expense Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities.
Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.2756 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 6/8/2009) Cosponsors (16)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R.2771 : Military Overpayment Fairness Act of 2009 to amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to provide a more equitable process by which the military departments may recover overpayments of military pay and allowances erroneously paid to a member of the Armed Forces when the overpayment is due to no fault of the member, to expand Department discretion regarding remission or cancellation of indebtedness, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 6/9/2009) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.2774 : Families of Veterans Financial Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the extension of the duration of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for totally disabled veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
H.R.2788 : Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act to designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.
Sponsor: Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] (introduced 6/10/2009) Cosponsors (48)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 3/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.H.R.2830 : Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give priority to unemployed veterans in furnishing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to certain veterans assigned to priority level 8.
Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 6/11/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.2836 : National Guard and Reservist Suicide Prevention and Community Response Act to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to improve and expand suicide prevention and community healing and response training under the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.
Sponsor: Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] (introduced 6/11/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.2879 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/15/2009) Cosponsors (8)
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.2898 : Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide support services for family caregivers of disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/16/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.2926 : VA Special Care for Vietnam-era & Persian Gulf War Vets Exposed to Herbicides.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide, without expiration, hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and veterans of the Persian Gulf War.
Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.2928: Post-9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship/OJT Program. To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program.
Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.2965 : Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.
Amended with H.AMDT.291 by Rep. David Reichert, D-WA to give preference to organizations that are located in under represented states and regions, or are women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, or minority-owned when awarding grants for Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach efforts authorized under Title III (rural development and outreach).
Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Small Business; House Science and Technology
House Reports: 111-190 Part 1, 111-190 Part 2
Latest Major Action: 7/13/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate.
Status: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1233 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.H.R.2968 : SGLI/VGLI Accelerated Death Benefit. To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill persons insured under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance or Veterans' Group Life Insurance.
Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.2970 : Federal Law Enforcement Officer Vet Age Limit. To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a Federal law enforcement officer in the case of any individual who has been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.H.R.2974 : Disabled Vet Health Savings Account Eligibility. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals eligible for veterans health benefits to contribute to health savings accounts.
Sponsor: Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.2980 : Survivor Benefit Time Limit for 100% Disabled Vets. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.2990 : Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 to provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 6/23/2009) Cosponsors (25) Related Bill H.R.2647
Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform;
House Natural Resources; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.3067 : Health Security for All Americans Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform Medicare payments to physicians and certain other providers and improve Medicare benefits, to encourage the offering of health coverage by small businesses,
to provide tax incentives for the purchase of health insurance by individuals, to increase access to health care for veterans, to address the nursing shortage, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor; House Ways and Means;
House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.3073 : Pending Vet Homeless Grant Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless.
Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.3087 : Establish VA Claim Decision Deadlines. To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a deadline for decisions with respect to claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/10/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.3155 : Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 7/9/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.3199 : Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce
Latest Major Action: 9/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions.H.R.3200 : America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor;
House Oversight and Government Reform; House Budget
Latest Major Action: 10/14/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 168.H.R.3223 : Vet Owned Businesses VA Contracts. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/15/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.3266 : Veteran Assistance Dog Grant Program. To establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] (introduced 7/20/2009) Cosponsors (22) Related Bill S.1485
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.3280 : Rural Vet Transportation Grant Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to assist veterans in highly rural areas by providing transportation to medical centers.
Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.3281 : Vet Care Rural Area Demonstration Project. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out demonstration projects related to providing care for veterans in rural areas.
Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.3282 : Vet Readjustment and Mental Health Care Services. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain veterans with readjustment and mental health care services, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.3283 : VA Travel Reimbursement for Veterans Annual Review. To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for reimbursement of certain travel at a set rate, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.3324 : Stable Future for Veterans' Children Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.
Sponsor: Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] (introduced 7/24/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.H.R.3337 : Post-9/11 Veterans' Job Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training.
Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] (introduced 7/24/2009) Cosponsors (16)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.3349 : NAIV Charter. To grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/27/2009) Cosponsors (8) Related Bill S.1520
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 8/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.H.R.3365 : Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2009 to provide Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (32)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.3366 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits.
Sponsor: Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.3368 : Honor Act of 2009 to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.3403 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009 to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for covered veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] (introduced 7/30/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Administration
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsH.R.3407 : Severely Injured Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to benefits for severely injured veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/30/2009) Cosponsors (27)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/1/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.3441 : Combat Vet VA Enrollment. To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (26)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
H.R.3467 : Veterans Education Enhancement and Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (13)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.3484 : VA Work Study Authority. To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.3485 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (14) Related Bill: S.3118
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .H.R.3491 : Thomas G. Schubert Agent Orange Fairness Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain herbicide agents, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
H.R.3507 : VA Survivor Education Rate Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the rates of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
H.R.3522 : Veterans Hardship Outreach for Priority Eights (HOPE) Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants and assistance to States to conduct outreach to veterans regarding hardship and priority under the Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system.
Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.3544 : National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide guidelines for the establishment of new national cemeteries by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 9/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=14779496&azip=92571H.R.3554 : National Guard Education Equality Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] (introduced 9/10/2009) Cosponsors (104)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.3573 : Call to Service Homebuyer Credit Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent a change in residency as a result of extended official duty in the uniformed services, Foreign Service, or intelligence community from triggering the repayment provisions of the first time homebuyer credit, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.2562
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R.3575 : Vet Mortgage Life Insurance Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the maximum amount of veterans' mortgage life insurance available under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
H.R.3577 : Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United State Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents.
Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (28)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.H.R.3620 : Hiring Heroes Tax Incentive Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for employing members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard and veterans recently separated from the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 9/22/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 9/22/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.3657 : USPHS & NOAA GI Bill Benefit Transfer. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for members of the United States Public Health Service and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Corps to transfer unused benefits under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to family members, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/25/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.3661 : GI Bill Housing Stipend. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 9/29/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/2/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.3672 : Social Security COLA Fix for 2010 Act to provide for an increase of $150 in Social Security benefits for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year, and to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the requirement that there be a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for an adjustment in the contribution and benefit base to occur.
Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 9/29/2009) Cosponsors (16)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.3677: Save Our Seniors' Social Security Act of 2009 to provide $280 relief payments to recipients of Social Security and railroad retirement benefits, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 9/30/2009) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Appropriations
Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.H.R.3685 : Inclusion of VetSuccess on VA Website. To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website.
Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 9/30/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.3719 : Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 10/6/2009) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.3787 : Treat Certain Reserve Time as Active Duty Time. To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 10/8/2009) Cosponsors (43) Related bill: S.1780
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/tier2.asp?bid=17553H.R.3796 : Homeless Vet Assistors Per Diem Grants. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve per diem grant payments for organizations assisting homeless veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.3813 : Veterans Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.
Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/14/2009) Cosponsors (19) Related bills: S.3171
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.3843 : Transparency for America's Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish redacted medical quality-assurance records of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Internet website of the Department.
Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/15/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.3885 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.
Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 10/21/2009) Cosponsors (12)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/26/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.3886 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.3906 : Low Income Vet Family Permanent Housing. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.
Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 10/22/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.3908 : Families of Disabled Veterans Work Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide the work opportunity tax credit with respect to a designated family member of a veteran with a service-connected disability if the veteran is unable to work.
Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 10/22/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.3926 : Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly conduct a study on the incidence of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 10/26/2009) Cosponsors (45)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.3943 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 10/27/2009) Cosponsors (171) Related Bill S.
Committees: House Education and Labor; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.H.R.3948 : Test Prep for Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for entitlement under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to payment for test preparatory courses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] (introduced 10/28/2009) Cosponsors (30)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.H.R.3949 : Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/28/2009) Cosponsors (22) Related Bill: H.R.761
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/4/2009 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.3998 : Compensation for Combat Veterans Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the service treatable as service engaged in combat with the enemy for utilization of non-official evidence for proof of service-connection in a combat-related disease or injury.
Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 11/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.4006 : Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for Indian veterans health care coordinators, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 11/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.4028 : Rural Veterans Services Outreach and Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services for veterans residing in rural areas.
Sponsor: Rep Wu, David [OR-1] (introduced 11/5/2009) Cosponsors (21)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee
on Water Resources and Environment.H.R.4043 : Military Spouse Pin Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to recognize the spouses of members of the Armed Forces who are serving in combat or have served in combat through the presentation of an official lapel button.
Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.4044 : Vet Plot & Headstone/Marker Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to restore plot allowance eligibility for veterans of any war and to restore the headstone or marker allowance for eligible persons.
Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (37)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.4045 : Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (43)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.4048 : Rural Area TBI Pilot Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas.
Sponsor: Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.4051 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (46) Related bill: S.2743
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.4054 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2009. To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles.
Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (74) Related Bill: S.2759
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.4058 : Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Veterans to Work Program providing for the employment of individuals, especially veterans, who participate in apprenticeship programs on designated military construction projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.H.R.4063 : WWII Messman/Steward Congressional Gold Medal. To grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the messman and steward branches of United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard that served during World War II.
Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] (introduced 11/7/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration
Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.H.R.4064 : Post-9/11 EAP Improvements. To make certain improvements in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.
Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 11/7/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.4073 : Rural Veterans Reimbursement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments to certain veterans for certain travel expenses.
Sponsor: Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] (introduced 11/16/2009) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/20/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.4121 : Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish a commission to study judicial review of the determination of veterans' benefits,
and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 11/19/2009) Cosponsors (113)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/20/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.4156 : Increasing Housing Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to housing for veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] (introduced 11/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Financial Services
Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.H.R.4203 : Direct Deposit of Vet Education Payments. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans certain educational assistance payments through direct deposit.
Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 12/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.4220 : Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to small business concerns and employment assistance, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 12/8/2009) Cosponsors (15)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business
Latest Major Action: 1/4/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.H.R.4221 : Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improved acquisition practices by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 12/8/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.H.R.4241 : State Veteran Home Payments. To amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes.
Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 12/8/2009) Cosponsors (46)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/3/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.4279 : Vet Accelerated Educational Assistance Payments. To amend titles 38 and 10, United States Code, to authorize accelerated payments of educational assistance to certain veterans and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Rep Quigley, Mike [IL-5] (introduced 12/10/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/12/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.4319 : Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] (introduced 12/15/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Committee Hearings Held.H.R.4320 : Post-9/11 GI Education Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the types of approved programs of education for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Murphy, Scott [NY-20] (introduced 12/15/2009) Cosponsors (20)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.4350 : Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2009 to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for nonimmigrant status for an alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a United States citizen child if the child was born abroad and is the child of a deceased member of the
Armed Forces of the United States.
Sponsor: Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] (introduced 12/16/2009) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 3/1/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security,
and International Law.H.R.4359 : WARMER Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to guarantee housing loans for the construction energy efficient dwellings, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 12/16/2009) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .H.R.4403 : SPACE-A Travel Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for unremarried surviving spouses of retired members of the uniformed services and the unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected or compensable disability, and for the dependents of such spouses.
Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 12/16/2009) Cosponsors (29)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 1/21/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.H.R.4429 : Restoring the Social Security COLA Act to provide for an increase of $250 in benefits under certain Federal cash benefit programs for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year.
Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/13/2010) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: House Ways and Means; House Appropriations; House Veterans' Affairs; House
Oversight and Government Reform; House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 1/21/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.H.R.4443 : Veterans Employment Today Act of 2010 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the work opportunity tax credit for hiring veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 1/13/2010)
Cosponsors (14) Related Bills: H.R.620, H.R.931, S.274
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 1/13/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.H.R.4465 : Vet Financial Status for Hospital Care. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take into account each child a veteran has when determining the veteran's financial status when receiving hospital care or medical services.
Sponsor: Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] (introduced 1/19/2010) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.4505 : KIA Parental State Home Care. To enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Rep Thornberry, Mac [TX-13] (introduced 1/26/2010) Cosponsors (30)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-246 [GPO: Text, PDF]H.R.4525 : Chapter 61 Concurrent Receipt Entitlement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of the members' disability rating percentage.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/26/2010) Cosponsors (13)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Budget; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=15039641&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]H.R.4551 : Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act to restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 1/27/2010) Cosponsors (32)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
H.R.4555 : Janey Ensminger Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 2/2/2010) Cosponsors (38)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/5/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.4559 : State Disabled Vet Benefits Review. To establish a commission to review benefits provided by each State to disabled veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] (introduced 2/2/2010) Cosponsors (11)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.4568 : TBI Treatment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 2/2/2010) Cosponsors (19)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/25/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.4569 : Expanded Housing for America's Veterans Act to amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 relating to the amount of rental assistance available under the veterans affairs supported housing program.
Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 2/2/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Financial Services
Latest Major Action: 2/2/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.H.R.4592 : Vet Energy Related Jobs Pilot Program. To provide for the establishment of a pilot program to encourage the employment of veterans in energy-related positions.
Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 2/3/2010) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.4593 : Keeping Faith With the Greatest Generation Military Retirees Act of 2010 to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive Medicare part B premiums for certain military retirees (i.e. those who entered the service prior to December 7, 1956).
Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/3/2010) Cosponsors (20)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: 2/24/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.4632 : Renovate and Enhance Veterans' Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2010 to amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to set-aside community development block grant amounts in each fiscal year for grants to local chapters of veterans service organizations
for rehabilitation of their facilities.
Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 2/22/2010) Cosponsors (20)
Committees: House Financial Services
Latest Major Action: 2/22/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.H.R.4639 : Corporal Dustin Lee Memorial Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the adoption of a military working dog by the family of a deceased or seriously wounded member of the Armed Forces who was the handler of the dog.
Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 2/22/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 3/5/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.H.R.4656 : VA Child Care Center. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program establishing a child-care center for children of veterans receiving treatment and other individuals.
Sponsor: Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] (introduced 2/23/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 2/26/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.4664 : OIF/OEF Survivor Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium. To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for a one-year moratorium on the sale or foreclosure of property owned by surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom or
Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sponsor: Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] (introduced 2/23/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.H.R.4667 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2010, the rates of 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.
Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/23/2010)
Cosponsors (8) Related bills: H.R.1513 & S.407 & S.3107
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.4765 : VA Work Study Allowances. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 3/4/2010) Cosponsors (12) Related bill: S.3082
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.4810 : End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/10/2010) Cosponsors (14)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.4845 : VA Children Housing Loan Benefits. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide housing loan benefits for children of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die from service-connected disabilities.
Sponsor: Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] (introduced 3/15/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 3/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.4887 : Tricare Affirmation Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that health coverage provided by the Department of Defense is treated as minimal essential coverage.
Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 3/19/2010) Cosponsors (20)
Committees: House Ways and Means; Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Signed by President.H.R.4912 : CRSC Payments to Chap 61 Vets. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of combat-related special compensation paid to disabled combat-related uniformed services retirees retired under chapter 61 of such title whose disability is attributable to an injury for which the members were awarded the Purple Heart.
Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/22/2010) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/8/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.4923 : TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26.
Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 3/24/2010) Cosponsors (106) Related bills: S.3201
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.4947 : Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service.
Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 3/25/2010) Cosponsors (48) Related bills: S.3406
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 4/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=14876641H.R.5014 : VA Minimal Essential Coverage. To clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 4/14/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-173 [GPO: Text, PDF]H.R.5045 : Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the tolling of the timing of review for appeals of final decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 4/15/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: S.3192, H.R.5064
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 4/16/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.5120 : Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010 to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 4/22/2010) Cosponsors (41) Related bills: S.3234
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Education and Labor; House Small Business; House
Energy and Commerce; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/27/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.H.R.5136 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011.
Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (by request) (introduced 4/26/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Related bills: H.RES.1404, H.RES.1467, H.R.1467, H.R.5013, S.3454
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2010 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative
Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 447. House Reports: 111-491, 111-491 Part 2
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/tier2.asp?bid=17870H.R.5185 : Fair Health Care for Military Families Act to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the TRICARE program and the CHAMPVA program.
Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 4/29/2010) Cosponsors (2) Related Bill H.R.5206
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/6/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5225 : Improving Veterans' Electronic Transition Services Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly develop and implement an electronic personnel file system, and to jointly conduct a study on improving the access of veterans to files related to military service and veterans benefits, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 5/5/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5226 : Appalachian Veterans Outreach Improvement Act to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Appalachian Regional Commission to carry out a program of outreach for veterans who reside in Appalachia, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 5/5/2010) Cosponsors (23) Related bill: S.3314
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 7/29/2010 Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 111-580, Part I.H.R.5259 : Equal Access to Preseparation Counseling Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to require preseparation counseling for members of the reserve components upon their retirement or separation from service.
Sponsor: Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] (introduced 5/11/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5303 : VA Post-9/11 EAP Housing Stipends. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve housing stipends for veterans receiving educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program.
Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 5/13/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/14/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.5360 : Blinded Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2010 to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 5/20/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.5371 : William Shemin Jewish World War I Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Navy to conduct a review of military service records of Jewish American veterans of World War I, including those previously awarded a military decoration, to determine whether any of the veterans should be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] (introduced 5/24/2010) Cosponsors (15)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5403 : Alaska Tricare Reimbursement Rates. To direct the Secretary of Defense to temporarily adjust the reimbursement rates for TRICARE claims in Alaska.
Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 5/26/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5404 : Reserve Space A Travel. To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age and for dependents of the member who accompany the retiree.
Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 5/26/2010) Cosponsors (2) Related bills: S.3955
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5428 : Disseminate Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights Info. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/27/2010) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.5449 : Retroactive Stop-Loss Special Pay Extension. To amend section 310 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 to extend the period of time during which claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay may be submitted.
Sponsor: Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] (introduced 5/27/2010) Cosponsors (21) Related bills: S.3889, S.3890
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5484 : VetStar Veteran-Friendly Business Act of 2010 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an annual award program to recognize businesses for their contributions to veterans' employment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 6/8/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.H.R.5516 : Access to Appropriate Immunizations for Veterans Act of 2010 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements relating to the immunization of veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 6/10/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.5517 : Every Veteran Counts Act to amend title 13, United States Code, to require that the questionnaire used in a decennial census of population shall include an inquiry regarding an individual's status as a veteran, a spouse of a veteran, or a dependent of a veteran, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 6/10/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/30/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives.H.R.5550 : Loss of Use Definition. To amend title 38, United States Code, to include a definition of "loss of use" for purposes of evaluating disabilities and providing adapted housing and automobiles under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/17/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.5555 : Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses of certain totally-disabled veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] (introduced 6/17/2010) Cosponsors (34)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.5641 : Heroes at Home Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts for the transfer of veterans to non-Department adult foster homes for veterans who are unable to live independently.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 6/30/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.5642 : Pension Increase Codification. To codify increases in the rates of pension for disabled veterans and surviving spouses and children that were effective as of December 1, 2009.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 6/30/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/2/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.5648 : Vet Unauthorized Fees Criminal Penalties. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate criminal penalties for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 6/30/2010) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 7/2/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.5719 : Veterans' Information Act. To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop, and the Secretary of Defense to distribute to members of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active duty, information in a compact disk read-only memory format or other appropriate digital format that lists and explains the health, education, and other benefits for which veterans are eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] (introduced 7/13/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5731 : Veterans Mental Health Professionals Oversight Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for annual reviews of mental health professionals treating veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 7/14/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/16/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.5739 : AMRA Charter. To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the American Military Retirees Association, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] (introduced 7/14/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 7/14/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.H.R.5826 : Guard Active Duty Definition. To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the definition of active duty for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include certain service in the National Guard.
Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.5829 : World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act. To direct the Secretary of Defense to accept additional documentation when considering the application for veterans status of an individual who performed service in the merchant marines during World War II, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (35)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 9/16/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.5838 : Homeless Veterans Transitional Housing Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the multifamily transitional housing loan program of the Department of Veterans Affairs by requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue loans for the construction of, rehabilitation of, or acquisition of land for multifamily transitional housing projects instead of guaranteeing loans for such purposes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.5841 : VA PTSD Treatment Public-Private Partnerships. To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish public-private partnerships for the treatment and research of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/23/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.5862 : Veterans FAA Employment Fairness Act of 2010. To amend title 49, United States Code, with respect to the eligibility of veterans for employment with the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] (introduced 7/26/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Major Action: 7/27/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.H.R.5879 : Hmong Burial in VA Cemeteries. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to inter in national cemeteries individuals who supported the United States in Laos during the Vietnam War era.
Sponsor: Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] (introduced 7/27/2010) Cosponsors (22)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/30/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.5928 : Veterans' Disability Claims Efficiency Act of 2010. To improve the efficiency of processing certain claims for disability compensation by veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 7/29/2010) Cosponsors (117)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/30/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.5933 : Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010.
Sponsor: Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] (introduced 7/29/2010) Cosponsors (125)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/30/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.5953 : Posting Women Veterans Bill of Rights. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display in each facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women Veterans Bill of Rights.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 7/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/1/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.5996 : VA Care of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 7/30/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.6022 : Veteran-Owned Small Business Contracting Fairness Act of 2010. To improve the Federal contracting process with respect to veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 7/30/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Small Business; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/17/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.6042 : Dignity for our Nation's Heroes Act. To expand burial benefits for certain homeless veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] (introduced 7/30/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/17/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.H.R.6058 : Wounded Warrior and Military Survivor Housing Assistance Act of 2010.
To ensure that the housing assistance programs of HUD and DVA are available to veterans and members of the Armed Forces who have service-connected injuries and to survivors and dependents of veterans and members of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] (introduced 7/30/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Financial Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs.H.R.6104 : POA Hand Salute Authorization. To amend title 4, United States Code, to authorize members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military salute during the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.
Sponsor: Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] (introduced 8/10/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 9/20/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.H.R.6123 : Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2010.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 9/14/2010) Cosponsors (14)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.6127 : Extension of Health Care Eligibility for Veterans Who Served at Qarmat Ali.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the continued provision of health care services to certain veterans who were exposed to sodium dichromate while serving as a member of the Armed Forces at or near the water injection plant at Qarmat Ali, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 9/15/2010) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.H.R.6132 : Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement Act of 2010.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a transition program for new veterans, to improve the disability claim system, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 9/15/2010) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6146 : Warrior Home Loan Act. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent home loan guaranty programs for veterans regarding adjustable rate mortgages and hybrid adjustable rate mortgages.
Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 9/16/2010) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/17/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.6154 : VA Health Care for Operation New Dawn Vets. To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 9/16/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/17/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.6188 : Veterans' Homelessness Prevention and Early Warning Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to default procedures for loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 9/22/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/24/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.H.R.6211 : Veterans Back and Spinal Therapy Act. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of treating veterans with spinal, back, and musculoskeletal injuries and pain using non-invasive techniques.
Sponsor: Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] (introduced 9/23/2010) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/24/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.H.R.6220 : Inform All Veterans Act. To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides veterans with information concerning service-connected disabilities at health care facilities.
Sponsor: Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] (introduced 9/28/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Health Prior to Referral.H.R.6227 : Extended TRICARE Coverage for Military Families Now Act. To establish a temporary prohibition on termination of coverage under the TRICARE program for age of dependents under the age of 26 years.
Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 9/28/2010) Cosponsors (3) Related Bill: S.3846
Committees: House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 10/20/2010 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.H.R.6269 : Reserve Component VA Burial Benefit. To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for burial in national cemeteries for certain members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and National Guard, and to increase the amount payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the burial and funeral expenses of certain veterans.
Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 9/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6336 : Post-9/11 GI Bill Dependent Transfer. To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the time period in which an individual may transfer entitlement of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits to dependents.
Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 9/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6339 : VA Medic/Corpsman Transition Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to assist military medics and corpsmen in making transitions to civilian physician assistant jobs.
Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 9/29/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6371 : Gold Star Parental stipend. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of a monthly stipend to the surviving parents (known as "Gold Star parents") of members of the Armed Forces who die during a period of war.
Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C. [VA-2] (introduced 9/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6372 : Post-9/11 GI Bill Spouse Transfer. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the entitlement of surviving spouses of members of the Armed Forces who die while serving on active duty to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C. [VA-2] (introduced 9/29/2010) Cosponsors (2) Related bill H.R.5443
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6430 : Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve educational assistance for veterans who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] (introduced 11/18/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/18/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6466 : Dependent Care Act of 2010. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain abused dependents of veterans with health care.
Sponsor: Rep Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 12/1/2010) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/1/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6496 : Arlington National Cemetery Management. To require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery.
Sponsor: Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] (introduced 12/7/2010)
Cosponsors (11) Related Bills: H.R.6503, S.3860
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/7/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6503 : Arlington National Cemetery Management. To require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery.
Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 12/8/2010)
Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.6496, S.3860
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/8/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6513 : Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program special education. To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for the transfer of educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to certain dependents to be used for special education.
Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 12/9/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/9/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.H.R.6567 : Veterans Affairs loan guarantee. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and make permanent the Department of Veterans Affairs loan guarantee for the purchase of residential cooperative housing units, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] (introduced 12/21/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/21/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Senate:
Veteran Legislation Status 27 DEC 2010: Congress has completed its lame duck session which will marked the end of the 111th Congress. The 112th Congress will commence 3 JAN and all bills not passed by then will die with the end of the 111th and have to be reintroduced. For or a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 111th Congress refer to the Bulletins House & Senate Veteran Legislation attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate.
At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bills content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it.
To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veterans feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views.
Otherwise, you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislators phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making.
Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf.[Source: RAO Bulletin Attachment 28 Nov 2010 ++]
United States Senate website: http://www.senate.gov/
To contact Members of the U.S Senate, go to: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfmS.3454 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (introduced 6/4/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.5136, S.3455, S.3456, S.3457
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Senate Reports: 111-201
Latest Major Action: 12/9/2010 Senate floor actions. Status: Upon reconsideration, cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 57 - 40. Record Vote Number: 270.S.3477 : Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2010. A bill to ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service Flag on residential property not be abridged.
Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 6/10/2010) Cosponsors (11) Related Bill: H.R.2546
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.S.3499 : Fiduciary Benefits Oversight Act of 2010. A bill to require fiduciaries of individuals receiving benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to authorize the Secretary to obtain financial records with respect to such individuals for purposes of administering such laws, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 6/16/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 6/16/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.S.3556 : Hire A Hero Act of 2010. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard
Sponsor: Sen Brownback, Sam [KS] (introduced 6/30/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 6/30/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.S.3609 : VA Contract Physicians. A bill to extend the temporary authority for performance of medical disability examinations by contract physicians for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 7/19/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/2/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 559.S.3615 : Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011.
Sponsor: Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] (introduced 7/19/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: S.1407
Committees: Senate Appropriations
Senate Reports: 111-226
Latest Major Action: 7/19/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 469.S.3678 : Sergeant Coleman Bean National Guard and Reserves Mental Health Act. A bill to improve mental health services for members of the National Guard and Reserve deployed in connection with a contingency operation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] (introduced 7/29/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 7/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.S.3748 : National Guard and Reserve Soft Landing Reintegration Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the retention of members of the reserve components on active duty for a period of 45 days following an extended deployment in contingency operations or homeland defense missions to support their reintegration into civilian life, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 8/5/2010) Cosponsors (7) Related bill: S.1426
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 8/5/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
S.3765 : SGLI/VGLI Improvements. An original bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance and to modify the provision of compensation and pension to surviving spouses of veterans in months of the deaths of the veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 9/2/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Senate Reports: 111-282
Latest Major Action: 9/2/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 553.S.3794 : FOR VETS Act of 2010. A bill to amend chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, to include organizations whose membership comprises substantially veterans as recipient organizations for the donation of Federal surplus personal property through State agencies.
Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] (introduced 9/16/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/15/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.S.3801 : CHAMPVA Child Coverage to Age 26. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 9/16/2010) Cosponsors (1) Related Bills: H.R.5206, S.3356
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/16/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.S.3818 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow credits for the establishment of franchises with veterans.
Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] (introduced 9/22/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.2672
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 9/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.S.3846 : Extended TRICARECoverage for Military Families Now Act. A bill to establish a temporary prohibition on termination coverage under the TRICARE program for age of dependents under the age of 26 years.
Sponsor: Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] (introduced 9/27/2010) Cosponsors (5) Related Bills: H.R.6227
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 9/27/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.S.3860 : Arlington National Cemetery Reports. A bill to require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery.
Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 9/28/2010) Cosponsors (12)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/28/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.S.3875 : Honoring reservists as Vets. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law.
Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 9/29/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.S.3889 : Stop-Loss Claim Deadline Extension. A bill to extend the deadline for the submittal of claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay compensation for members and former members of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 9/29/2010) Cosponsors (2) Related bills: H.R.5449, S.3890
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.S.3890 : Stop-Loss Claim Deadline Extension. A bill to amend section 310 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009, to extend the period of time during which claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay may be submitted, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] (introduced 9/29/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.5449, S.3889
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
S.3953 : Vet Children Spina Bifida Benefits. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide benefits for children with spina bifida of veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era outside Vietnam, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 11/17/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/17/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.S.3955 : National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area" Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity Act of 2010. To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents.
Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 11/17/2010) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.5404
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 11/17/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/tier2.asp?bid=17750S.3956 : Commissary/Exchange Use for Disability Separation/Retirement Vets. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit the use of commissary and exchange facilities by former members of the Armed Forces who were retired or separated for physical disability.
Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 11/17/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 11/17/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.S.4001 : Marine Corps Aviation Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 12/2/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/2/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
[Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?n=Browse 12 Dec 2010 ++]
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