FW: VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, September 27, 2013

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

---

Subject: VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, September 27, 2013
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: tmorris@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 15:58:05 -0400

WASHINGTON WEEKLY September 27, 2013 In This Issue: 1. Budget Impact on VA 2. Budget Impact on DOD 3. Affordable Care Act Update 4. Congress Extends Veteran Programs 5. MIAs from Three Wars Identified 1. Budget Impact on VA: Certain VA programs like payments for disability compensation, GI Bill education benefits, survivors benefits, and pensions for current beneficiaries are not subject to the annual discretionary funding battle and are therefore not impacted by the potential lack of an FY 2014 budget or Continuing Resolution on Oct. 1. Those veterans currently scheduled for burial should also be interred as scheduled. There should also be no noticeable change in healthcare, because the VFW led an effort to get advance appropriations signed into law that gives the Veterans Health Administration a preapproved budget two years out. Inpatient and outpatient care will continue to be provided, to include the filling of prescriptions, counseling services, surgeries and dental treatments, and the National Veterans Crisis Line, 1-800-273-8255, will remain operational. Advance appropriations, however, does not extend to VA's two other agencies, the Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration, where veterans could see noticeable changes in customer contact and claims processing. VA said it has sufficient funds to keep its 57 VA Regional Offices (ROs) open through Oct. 4; however, if a budget or Continuing Resolution is not passed before Oct. 7, VA will be forced to close its ROs until Congress acts. This is important because all claims are processed by the ROs. Veterans will still be able to file claims electronically, but not in person. This also means no one will be processing their claims, which would further increase the backlog. The VFW is working hard to get all VA funding protected by advanced appropriations. To learn more about how a potential government shutdown would affect VA services, click here: http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Field_Guide_20130927.pdf. 2. Budget Impact on DOD: The lack of an approved budget or Continuing Resolution will have a tremendous impact on the Department of Defense, should the federal government shut down on Oct. 1. All nonessential activities will cease in order to keep combat forces and forward deployed forces operational. In a telephone conference this afternoon, DOD told the VFW to expect the following actions to take place when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1, barring a last minute funding extension: ·         Personnel: All military personnel will report to work. They will receive their Oct. 1 paycheck because it was earned in September, but subsequent pay will be accrued but go unpaid until a budget or CR is passed. All appropriated fund civilian personnel will also report to work, but only those deemed mission critical—security and fire protection, for example—will remain on duty. Everyone else will be furloughed in a non-work, unpaid status. Nonappropriated fund civilians and military retiree pay should not be effected. Temporary duty and permanent change of station assignments may be cancelled or delayed. ·         Operations & Maintenance: Aircraft and ships are already flying and sailing less, and ground troops are training less because of the current budget reduction and sequester. A government shutdown makes everything worse. Acute and emergency medical and dental care will continue, but routine appointments will be cancelled or delayed. Other military service providers, such as legal and human resources, will remain open but be minimally staffed due to the civilian workforce furlough. All DOD schools and childcare centers will remain open, but stateside commissaries will be closed. The duration of the shutdown will directly impact the severity of cost-saving measures. Congress has a lot of work to do in a very short amount of time, and it all starts with getting rid of sequestration and passing a defense budget now. Add your voice to the fight today by contacting your congressional members at http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=62940921. 3. Affordable Care Act Update: Thanks to the VFW and our friends in Congress, every veteran, service member, dependent, retiree or survivor enrolled in VA healthcare or any of the military's 10 Tricare programs, plus the U.S. Family Health Plan, are deemed to have met the minimum essential coverage standards required by the new Affordable Care Act. Minimum essential coverage must be in place by Jan. 1, 2014. People who fail to do so will be assessed a fee for every month they do not have adequate coverage; the fee will be collected from 2014 tax returns. VA enrollees can learn more at www.va.gov/aca; Tricare enrollees at http://www.tricare.mil/Home/Welcome/AboutUs/MEC.aspx; and everyone can learn more about the new Affordable Care Act at www.healthcare.gov. 4. Congress Extends Veteran Programs: This week, Congress cleared VFW-supported legislation that will extend several programs within VA and the Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training. H.R. 1412, the Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013, authorizes employment assistance under the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program, which provides job placement, on-the-job and classroom training, career counseling, and money management skills. The program was extended through FY 2014. The bill also authorizes supportive services for veterans and their families, extends housing grants for disabled veterans requiring housing modifications, and allows VA to continue providing child care assistance for veterans receiving health services in their facilities. The bill now heads to the President for his signature. To read the final version of the bill in its entirety, click on http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:H.R.1412.EAS:/. 5. Four MIAs Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to four MIAs from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Recovered are: ·         Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Vernal J. Bird, 26, of Lindon, Utah. On March 12, 1944, Bird, a member of the 13th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Group, was piloting an A-20G Havoc aircraft on an attack mission over the island of New Guinea. Bird's aircraft did not return to base. ·         Army Cpl. Armando Alvarez, 20, of El Paso, Texas. In late 1950, Alvarez and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team, also known as Task Force Faith, were forced into a fighting withdrawal to a more defensible position south of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. Alvarez was reported missing on Dec. 2, 1950. ·         Air Force Majs. James E. Sizemore of Lawrenceville, Ill., and Howard V. Andre Jr., of Memphis, Tenn. On July 8, 1969, Sizemore and Andre were on a night armed reconnaissance mission when their A-26A Invader aircraft crashed in Xiangkhoang Province, Laos. Read their individual recovery stories at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. To sign up new veterans' advocates to receive the Washington Weekly every Friday, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

FW: Your September 27 Washington Weekly

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

---

Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 16:16:44 -0500
From: friendsoffreedom@vfw.org
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Your September 27 Washington Weekly

Having difficulty seeing the images in this message? View it online.

September 27, 2013 Post on Facebook Budget Impact on VA Certain Department of Veterans Affairs programs, like payments for disability compensation, GI Bill education benefits, survivors benefits, and pensions for current beneficiaries, are not subject to the annual discretionary funding battle, and are therefore not impacted by the potential lack of an FY 2014 budget or Continuing Resolution on Oct. 1. Those veterans currently scheduled for burial should also be interred as scheduled. There should be no noticeable change in healthcare, because the VFW led an effort to get advance appropriations signed into law that gives the Veterans Health Administration a preapproved budget two years out. Inpatient and outpatient care will continue to be provided, to include the filling of prescriptions, counseling services, surgeries, and dental treatments, and the National Veterans Crisis Line, 1-800-273-8255, will remain operational. Advance appropriations, however, does not extend to VA's two other agencies, the Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration, where veterans could see noticeable changes in customer contact and claims processing. VA said it has sufficient funds to keep its 57 VA Regional Offices (ROs) open through Oct. 4; however, if a budget or Continuing Resolution is not passed before Oct. 7, VA will be forced to close its ROs until Congress acts. This is important because all claims are processed by the ROs. Veterans will still be able to file claims electronically, but not in person. This also means no one will be processing their claims, which would further increase the backlog. The VFW is working hard to get all VA funding protected by advanced appropriations. Learn more about how a potential government shutdown would affect VA services. Budget Impact on DODThe lack of an approved budget or Continuing Resolution will have a tremendous impact on the Department of Defense, should the federal government shut down on Oct. 1. All nonessential activities will cease in order to keep combat forces and forward deployed forces operational. In a telephone conference this afternoon, DOD told the VFW to expect the following actions to take place when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1, barring a last minute funding extension: Personnel: All military personnel will report to work. They will receive their Oct. 1 paycheck because it was earned in September, but subsequent pay will be accrued but go unpaid until a budget or CR is passed. All appropriated fund civilian personnel will also report to work, but only those deemed mission critical—security and fire protection, for example—will remain on duty. Everyone else will be furloughed in a non-work, unpaid status. Nonappropriated fund civilians and military retiree pay should not be effected. Temporary duty and permanent change of station assignments may be cancelled or delayed. Operations & Maintenance: Aircraft and ships are already flying and sailing less, and ground troops are training less because of the current budget reduction and sequester. A government shutdown makes everything worse. Acute and emergency medical and dental care will continue, but routine appointments will be cancelled or delayed. Other military service providers, such as legal and human resources, will remain open but be minimally staffed due to the civilian workforce furlough. All DOD schools and childcare centers will remain open, but stateside commissaries will be closed. The duration of the shutdown will directly impact the severity of cost-saving measures. Congress has a lot of work to do in a very short amount of time, and it all starts with getting rid of sequestration and passing a defense budget now. Add your voice to the fight today by contacting your congressional members. Affordable Care Act UpdateThanks to the VFW and our friends in Congress, every veteran, service member, dependent, retiree or survivor enrolled in VA healthcare or any of the military's 10 Tricare programs, plus the U.S. Family Health Plan, are deemed to have met the minimum essential coverage standards required by the new Affordable Care Act. Minimum essential coverage must be in place by Jan. 1, 2014. People who fail to do so will be assessed a fee for every month they do not have adequate coverage; the fee will be collected from 2014 tax returns. Learn more about the Affordable Care Act. More information for VA enrollees and Tricare enrollees. Congress Extends Veteran ProgramsThis week, Congress cleared VFW-supported legislation that will extend several programs within VA and the Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training. H.R. 1412, the Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013, authorizes employment assistance under the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program, which provides job placement, on-the-job and classroom training, career counseling, and money management skills. The program was extended through FY 2014. The bill also authorizes supportive services for veterans and their families, extends housing grants for disabled veterans requiring housing modifications, and allows VA to continue providing child care assistance for veterans receiving health services in their facilities. The bill now heads to the President for his signature. Read the final version of the bill in its entirety. Four MIAs IdentifiedThe Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to four MIAs from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Recovered are: Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Vernal J. Bird, 26, of Lindon, Utah. On March 12, 1944, Bird, a member of the 13th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Group, was piloting an A-20G Havoc aircraft on an attack mission over the island of New Guinea. Bird's aircraft did not return to base. Army Cpl. Armando Alvarez, 20, of El Paso, Texas. In late 1950, Alvarez and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team, also known as Task Force Faith, were forced into a fighting withdrawal to a more defensible position south of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. Alvarez was reported missing on Dec. 2, 1950. Air Force Majs. James E. Sizemore of Lawrenceville, Ill., and Howard V. Andre Jr., of Memphis, Tenn. On July 8, 1969, Sizemore and Andre were on a night armed reconnaissance mission when their A-26A Invader aircraft crashed in Xiangkhoang Province, Laos. Read their individual recovery stories. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, fill out our online form or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. Was this Washington Weekly forwarded to you by a friend? Sign up to get your own free issue each week. — Find a Post | Contribute | About Us | Contact Us Unsubscribe | Tell A Friend © 2001 - 2013. All rights reserved. Veterans of Foreign Wars | 406 West 34th Street | Kansas City, MO 64111

FW: Your September 13 Washington Weekly

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

---

Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 16:53:22 -0500
From: friendsoffreedom@vfw.org
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Your September 13 Washington Weekly

Having difficulty seeing the images in this message? View it online.

September 13, 2013 Post on Facebook The VFW Legislative Conference - Leaders to Discuss Critical Issues The VFW senior leadership will be in Washington next week for the Fall Legislative Conference and to meet with key Defense and VA leadership. On VFW Commander-in-Chief Bill Thien's agenda are meetings with the VA secretary as well as senior Department of Defense officials. Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief John Stroud and Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief John Biedrzycki are expected to meet with wounded troops and their providers at Fort Belvoir, as the 70 Legislative Committee members stress critical issues inside the offices of all 535 members of Congress. Topping the list of five critical issues is the budget sequestration, followed by military sexual assault protections, in-state tuition for GI Bill recipients, grandfathering the Tricare Prime benefit for all retirees, and the passage of advanced appropriations for all VA programs. Check our blog next week for full coverage or events. The VFW's Memo to CongressIn a memorandum of concern to every member of Congress, the VFW Washington Office Executive Director Bob Wallace wrote that the troops and civilians in the field are very worried about what's going on in Washington and how it is directly impacting morale, readiness and training, allied partnerships, and personal career opportunities in the military. The memo was the result of meetings with service members and DOD civilians of all ranks and pay grades in Europe and two large stateside installations. Wallace said the failure of Congress to pass a budget is having a perilous impact on a Defense Department that is struggling to maintain a strong face, but in reality isn't flying its aircraft, sailing its ships or training its ground forces. "The lack of a budget and sequestration is causing concerns our fighting force and their families do not need or deserve," he wrote. "Breaking faith with an all-volunteer force and their families who have shouldered 12 years of war is not how you solve our nation's budget problems; all it does is further weaken an overtasked military and embolden our enemies to stretch and stress our remaining resources even further. Congress must pass a budget for the Department of Defense, and do so now." A similar memorandum was sent to Defense Secretary Hagel on August 27. VFW Legislative Committee members will follow up on the memo in their meetings next week with their respective members of Congress. Read more. House VA Committee HearingsThe House Veterans' Affairs Committee had a busy week of hearings starting with a field hearing in Pittsburgh, Pa. The committee traveled to the Alleghany County Courthouse to examine preventable patient deaths and lapses in care at several VA medical centers. Multiple VA Inspector General reports have linked a number of deaths to widespread mismanagement at VHA facilities, including the Pittsburgh VAMC where a Legionnaires' outbreak last year led to the deaths of at least five veterans. Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) asked witnesses to discuss VA's handling of recent events and if proper management and accountability structures are in place to prevent serious injury and deaths within facilities. The VFW is working with Congress to reform VA disease reporting procedures and accountability enforcement to ensure that dangerous outbreaks are properly contained in the future. On Wednesday, the VFW provided testimony to the Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs regarding the Fully Developed Claim (FDC) program. The program began in several regional offices a decade ago, but was redefined by VBA in 2010 to help expedite claims and to reduce the amount of time spent gathering evidence. The program encourages veterans and VSOs to submit FDCs—claims that do not require development of non-governmental evidence—so as to provide a timelier claims decision on behalf of veterans. VA testified that as of August 31, 2013, they have completed FDCs in an average of 123 days. While the VFW supports the overall program, it is not the answer to solving VA's claims backlog. We described a number of problems with the program and suggested possible ways to correct several others. Further, we reminded Congress that this program is, to some extent, an exercise in smoke and mirrors. In many cases, the time it takes to develop a claim is no shorter under the FDC program than it is under the traditional process. The only reason why VA appears to work FDC claims more rapidly is because the time it takes to develop a claim has shifted from VA to the veteran. Total processing time may remain the same; however, VA does not count the time spent by veterans developing their own claim. For the VFW testimony or to view the recorded webcast of the hearing, click here. On Thursday, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held an oversight hearing on VA's Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program (VRAP) and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). In 2011, Congress passed The VOW to Hire Heroes Act to include VRAP. Currently, VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed veterans. Discussion centered on how VA is managing the program and if it is working. One area of concern is finding and enrolling qualifying veterans into the program. Many of the veterans applying for assistance do not qualify for the program and some that do, do not live near a qualifying institution. The program was set up to provide benefits to those attending two-year technical or community colleges, not those eligible for other GI Bill benefits. The VFW has testified in support of extending VRAP, opening eligibility to four-year schools and part-time students, allowing more participants to fully utilize their benefits. The subcommittee also reviewed the HVRP, which is critical is helping homeless veterans reintegrate into meaningful employment through grants within local communities. HVRP was initially authorized under Section 738 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act in July 1987. It is currently authorized under the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001. Because the programs are employment focused, many veterans receive the employment and training services they need in order to re-enter the labor force. Several bills have been introduced to improve and reauthorize the programs under HVRP. The VFW has testified in support of these initiatives as we look ahead to ending veteran homelessness by 2015. For coverage, including witness statements and recorded webcasts of any of the hearings, visit the House VA website. House Committee Discusses Education Opportunities for Service MembersThis week, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training held a hearing to examine the steps higher education institutions are taking to better support service members and veterans who are looking to earn a postsecondary degree or obtain valuable job training skills. Subcommittee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) remarked, "The higher education community has a responsibility to tailor programs and coursework to ensure the needs of this unique student population are met and taxpayer resources are used wisely and efficiently." The VFW has been leading the charge to ensure any legislation and/or initiatives introduced remain in the best interest of transitioning service men and women. For complete coverage of the hearing, click here. VA Releases 2013 Federal Benefits HandbookThe VA recently released its 2013 Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependent and Survivors handbook. The handbook provides a comprehensive guide of all programs administered by VA, including healthcare, bereavement counseling, education, the caregiver program, and pension and disability claims benefits for eligible veterans and their families. To download the pdf or to view the handbook online, click here. POW/MIA Recognition DayThe third Friday of September is reserved to recognize our nation's POWs and 83,000 MIAs. For those Posts and organizations hosting POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies September 20, a suggested POW/MIA Day speech is available for download under Patriotic Speeches in the member's only section of www.vfw.org. A POW/MIA awareness brochure, "Accounting with Honor," has also been updated and is now available for download. The awareness brochure is open access, and contains Missing Man Table Ceremony guidelines and a narrator script. WWII Airmen IdentifiedThe Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Valorie L. Pollard, 25, of Monterey, Calif., and Sgt. Dominick J. Licari, 31, of Frankfort, N.Y. On March 13, 1944, Pollard and Licari were crewmembers aboard an A-20G Havoc bomber that failed to return to base after attacking enemy targets on what is now Papua New Guinea. Read more about their recovery and identification. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, fill out our online form or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. Was this Washington Weekly forwarded to you by a friend? Sign up to get your own free issue each week. — Find a Post | Contribute | About Us | Contact Us Unsubscribe | Tell A Friend © 2001 - 2013. All rights reserved. Veterans of Foreign Wars | 406 West 34th Street | Kansas City, MO 64111

FW: VFW Washington Weekly, September 13, 2013

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

---

Subject: VFW Washington Weekly, September 13, 2013
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: tmorris@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 17:01:15 -0400

VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY September 13, 2013 In This Issue: 1. VFW Legislative Conference - Leaders to Discuss Critical Issues 2. VFW Memo to Congress 3. House VA Committee Hearings 4. House Committee Discusses Education Opportunities for Service Members 5. VA Releases 2013 Federal Benefit Handbook 6. POW/MIA Recognition Day 7. WWII Airmen Identified 1. VFW Legislative Conference - Leaders to Discuss Critical Issues: VFW senior leadership will be in Washington next week for the Fall Legislative Conference and to meet with key Defense and VA leadership. On VFW Commander-in-Chief Bill Thien's agenda are meetings with the VA secretary as well as senior Department of Defense officials. Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief John Stroud and Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief John Biedrzycki are expected to meet with wounded troops and their providers at Fort Belvoir, as the 70 Legislative Committee members stress critical issues inside the offices of all 535 members of Congress. Topping the list of five critical issues is the budget sequestration, followed by military sexual assault protections, in-state tuition for GI Bill recipients, grandfathering the Tricare Prime benefit for all retirees, and the passage of advanced appropriations for all VA programs. Check with our blog, next week for full coverage or events, http://thevfw.blogspot.com/ 2. VFW Memo to Congress: In a memorandum of concern to every member of Congress, VFW Washington Office Executive Director Bob Wallace wrote that the troops and civilians in the field are very worried about what's going on in Washington, and how it is directly impacting morale, readiness and training, allied partnerships, and personal career opportunities in a military. The memo was the result of meetings with service members and DOD civilians of all ranks and pay grades in Europe and two large stateside installations. Wallace said the failure of Congress to pass a budget is having a perilous impact on a Defense Department that is struggling to maintain a strong face, but in reality isn't flying its aircraft, sailing its ships or training its ground forces. "The lack of a budget and sequestration is causing concerns our fighting force and their families do not need or deserve," he wrote. "Breaking faith with an all-volunteer force and their families who have shouldered 12 years of war is not how you solve our nation's budget problems; all it does is further weaken an overtasked military and embolden our enemies to stretch and stress our remaining resources even further. Congress must pass a budget for the Department of Defense and do so now." A similar memorandum was sent to Defense Secretary Hagel on Aug. 27. VFW Legislative Committee members will follow-up on the memo in their meetings next week with their respective members of Congress. Read it in its entirety at https://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2013-Articles/A-Letter-to-Congress-from-VFW-Executive-Director/ 3. House VA Committee Hearings: The House Veterans' Affairs Committee had a busy week of hearings starting with a field hearing in Pittsburgh, Pa. The committee traveled to the Alleghany County Courthouse to examine preventable patient deaths and lapses in care at several VA medical centers. Multiple VA Inspector General reports have linked a number of deaths to widespread mismanagement at VHA facilities, including the Pittsburgh VAMC where a Legionnaires' outbreak last year led to the deaths of at least five veterans. Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) asked witnesses to discuss VA's handling of recent events and if proper management and accountability structures are in place to prevent serious injury and deaths within facilities. The VFW is working with Congress to reform VA disease reporting procedures and accountability enforcement to ensure that dangerous outbreaks are properly contained in the future. On Wednesday, the VFW provided testimony to the Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs regarding the fully developed claim program or FDC. The program began in several regional offices a decade ago, but was redefined by VBA in 2010 to help expedite claims and to reduce the amount of time spent gathering evidence. The program encourages veterans and VSOs to submit FDCs - claims that do not require development of non-governmental evidence - so as to provide a timelier claims decision on behalf of veterans. VA testified that as of August 31, 2013, they have completed FDCs in an average of 123 days. While VFW supports the overall program, it is not the answer to solving VA's claims backlog. We described a number of problems with the program and suggested possible ways to correct several others. Further, we reminded Congress that this program is, to some extent, an exercise in smoke and mirrors. In many cases the time it takes to develop a claim is no shorter under the FDC program than it is under the traditional process. The only reason why VA appears to work FDC claims more rapidly is because the time it takes to develop a claim has shifted from VA to the veteran. Total processing time may remain the same; however, VA does not count the time spent by veterans developing their own claim. For the VFW testimony or to view the recorded webcast of the hearing, click here: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/implementation-update-fully-developed-claims On Thursday, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held an oversight hearing on VA's Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program (VRAP) and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). In 2011, Congress passed The VOW to Hire Heroes Act to include the Veterans Retraining and Assistance program. Currently, VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed veterans. Discussion centered on how VA is managing the program and if it is working. One area of concern is finding and enrolling qualifying veterans into the program. Many of the veterans applying for assistance do not qualify for the program and some that do, do not live near a qualifying institution. The program was set up to provide benefits to those attending two-year technical or community colleges not those eligible for other GI Bill benefits. VFW has testified in support of extending VRAP, opening eligibility to four year schools and part time students, allowing more participants to fully utilize their benefits. The subcommittee also reviewed the HVRP which is critical is helping homeless veterans reintegrate into meaningful employment through grants within local communities. HVRP was initially authorized under Section 738 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act in July 1987. It is currently authorized under the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001. Because the programs are employment focused, many veterans receive the employment and training services they need in order to re-enter the labor force. Several bills have been introduced to improve and reauthorize the programs under HVRP. VFW has testified in support of these initiatives as we look ahead to ending veteran homelessness by 2015. For coverage, to include witness statements and recorded webcasts of any of the hearings visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/ 4. House Committee Discusses Education Opportunities for Service Members: This week, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training held a hearing to examine the steps higher education institutions are taking to better support service members and veterans who are looking to earn a postsecondary degree or obtain valuable job training skills. Subcommittee Chairwoman, Virginia Foxx (R-NC) remarked, "The higher education community has a responsibility to tailor programs and coursework to ensure the needs of this unique student population are met and taxpayer resources are used wisely and efficiently." VFW has been leading the charge to ensure any legislation and/or initiatives introduced remain in the best interests of transitioning service men and women. For complete coverage of the hearing, click here: http://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=348912 5. VA Releases 2013 Federal Benefits Handbook: The VA recently released its 2013 Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependent and Survivors handbook. The handbook provides a comprehensive guide of all programs administered by VA to include health care, bereavement counseling, education, the caregiver program and pension and disability claims benefits for eligible veterans and their families. To download the pdf or to view the handbook online, click here: http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp 6. POW/MIA Recognition Day: The third Friday of every September is reserved to recognition our nation's POWs and 83,000 MIAs. For those Posts and organizations hosting POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies Sept. 20, a suggested POW/MIA Day speech is available for download under Patriotic Speeches in the member's only section of www.vfw.org. A POW/MIA awareness brochure, "Accounting with Honor," has also been updated and is now available for download at https://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/VFW_in_DC/POWMIA%20Awareness%20Brochure.PDF. The awareness brochure is open access, and contains Missing Man Table Ceremony guidelines and narrator script. 7. WWII Airmen Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Valorie L. Pollard, 25, of Monterey, Calif., and Sgt. Dominick J. Licari, 31, of Frankfort, N.Y. On March 13, 1944, Pollard and Licari were crewmembers aboard an A-20G Havoc bomber that failed to return to base after attacking enemy targets on what is now Papua New Guinea. Read more about their recovery and identification story at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/ As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. To sign up new veterans' advocates to receive the Washington Weekly every Friday, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

FW: Your September 6 Washington Weekly

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

---

Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 16:35:26 -0500
From: friendsoffreedom@vfw.org
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Your September 6 Washington Weekly

Having difficulty seeing the images in this message? View it online.

September 6, 2013 Post on Facebook VA Releases Caregiver Expansion Report Late this week, VA released a congressionally mandated report on expanding the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers to caregivers of veterans of all eras. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 created a wide range of benefits for caregivers of severely disabled post-9/11 veterans, including a monthly stipend, training, mental health counseling and respite care. Although VA stated that they have the capability to provide these benefits, they could not recommend that Congress do so without first increasing funding for the program. VA estimates that fully expanding the program would cost between $1.8 and $3.8 billion. VA stated that if they had to find the funding within its current budget, it would diminish their ability to provide direct-to-veteran healthcare services. The VFW supported the original Caregiver Act, but has consistently called for a full expansion, which would properly recognize the sacrifices of all severely disabled veterans and their families. Currently, the Senate VA committee has cleared legislation (S. 851), which would provide these services to veterans of all eras. The VFW testified in support of the bill and will continue to work with Congress to ensure it is funded and implemented. Learn more about current caregiver program benefits. The VFW Joins DOL for Discussion on Women Veterans' EmploymentThe VFW was on hand at a recent Department of Labor (DOL) summit with private industry, academia and other veterans' advocates to discuss women veterans' employment issues. The meeting was the third in a series regarding employment for female veterans. DOL data shows unemployment has remained stagnant, with nearly 12 percent of women veterans still struggling to find work. Hoping to make significant changes, the Women Veterans Employment Initiative was created as a collaboration between the secretary's office, the Veterans Employment and Training Service, and the Women's Bureau to help identify unique challenges to employment for women veterans and to develop potential solutions. Speakers and participants discussed additional research gaps for information on women veterans in the workforce; developing innovative solutions to help women veterans find meaningful employment; and building upon military-acquired skills to find civilian careers. The VFW will continue to work with Labor and private industry to ensure that all veterans have access to quality careers. For more information and to check back regularly for updates, visit our blog. Congress Returns to Busy Fall ScheduleNext week, Congress returns from a month-long recess with a full agenda of items to debate. Among the most critical are the budget debate and the effects of sequestration on DOD. With the fiscal year just a few short weeks away (Oct. 1), Congress looks to pass a two- to three-month continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government into the next fiscal year. The CR would fund the government at current FY 2014 levels, but allows some time to consider compromises on other issues, such as raising the government's statutory borrowing authority and restructuring sequestration. The VFW continues to urge Congress to come to a budget agreement. We urge all of you—our advocates—to reach out to your legislators and urge them to pass a budget agreement as soon as they return to Washington. Remind them their inability to reach a bipartisan budget agreement weakens the country, impacts military readiness, and hurts our troops and their families. Tell them it is their responsibility as leaders to work together to replace the senseless and irresponsible policy of sequestration. Take action today. Change Affecting TRICARE for Life Beneficiaries Who Use VABeginning October 1, TRICARE for Life (TFL) beneficiaries who are Priority Group (PG) 8e and 8g (non-service connected, over income and not enrolled as of January 16, 2003) will be responsible for 80 percent of the cost of the care they receive at VA medical facilities. Earlier this month, TRICARE sent out letters to the approximately 12,000 beneficiaries affected by this change, which resulted from a review of previously overlooked provisions of the 2001 NDAA. Until now, PG 8e and 8g TFL beneficiaries have only been responsible for 20 percent of the cost of their care at VA, in accordance with a 1995 Memorandum of Understanding between VA and DOD. It is highly recommended that those affected by this change should seek care from Medicare-authorized community providers in order to avoid the increased costs. It is important to realize that this change will only affect vets who are PG 8 and ineligible for VA enrollment but choose to use their TFL benefits at VA anyway. TFL vets who are eligible for VA enrollment will still only be responsible for standard VA copays, which generally range from $15 to $50 per visit for non-service connected care. Care for service-connected conditions remains free of charge. More information can be found here. Korean War MIA IdentifiedThe Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to Army Sgt. Charles L. Scott, 20, of Lynchburg, Va. In late November 1950, Scott and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team were deployed along the east side of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea when they were under attack and forced into a fighting withdrawal. Scott was reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950. Read more about his recovery and identification. Congratulations go out to VFW Departments of California, Florida, Texas and Virginia for being the August leaders in signing up new advocates to join our Action Corps team! Great job, and keep up the good work! As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, fill out our online form or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org. Was this Washington Weekly forwarded to you by a friend? Sign up to get your own free issue each week. — Find a Post | Contribute | About Us | Contact Us Unsubscribe | Tell A Friend © 2001 - 2013. All rights reserved. Veterans of Foreign Wars | 406 West 34th Street | Kansas City, MO 64111

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