FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, May 30, 2014

Thank You

Robert Serge

Member

Blog Master

To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, May 30, 2014

Date: Fri, 30 May 2014 17:01:24 -0400

VFW Action Corps Weekly May 30, 2014 In This Issue: 1. VA Secretary Shinseki Resigns 2. House Hearing on Phoenix VA 3. DOD to Review Military Treatment Facilities 4. VFW Testifies on Transition Process 5. Take the Education and Transition Survey 6. Korean War MIA Identified 1. VA Secretary Shinseki Resigns: The president today accepted the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. In response, VFW National Commander Bill Thien said it was in the best interests of the nation's veterans, since "outside calls for his resignation were overshadowing the crisis in healthcare issues veterans face, and that is what's most important." Read the Chief's full statement at http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2014-Articles/VA-SECRETARY-ANNOUNCES-RESIGNATION/. 2. House Hearing on Phoenix VA: Late Wednesday, the House VA Committee heard testimony from three VA officials in response to allegations that VA hospitals falsified waiting lists to conceal patient wait times. The hearing delved into the interim report released by the VA Office of Inspector General that confirmed the widespread use of second patient waiting lists in the Phoenix VA Health Care System that were not in compliance with VA policy, and that the average wait time for a selected sample of veterans was actually 115 days, not the 24-day average wait that Phoenix officially reported. The report also said that 1,400 veterans were on the official electronic waiting list, but inspectors found more than 1,700 other veterans who were waiting for appointments but were not on the official waiting list. To view the recorded hearing, go to http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/to-receive-witness-testimony-related-to-committee-subpoena. To read the interim IG report, go to http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-14-02603-178.pdf. 3. DOD to Review Military Treatment Facilities: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel this week ordered a 90-day comprehensive review of the department's military health system to ensure all eligible patrons are being properly served. The review, which will also include outside experts in the areas of patient safety and quality care, is a prudent response after the VA Inspector General confirmed allegations of non-compliance at the Phoenix VA Health Care System and elsewhere. Read more at http://www.defense.gov/documents/140529_SD-Directive-memo-MHS-Review.pdf. 4. VFW Testifies on Transition Process: On Thursday, the VFW testified before the House VA Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs regarding three programs created to simplify the disability evaluation process that helps veterans transition from the Defense Department into the VA. The programs under scrutiny are the Integrated Disability Evaluation Systems (IDES), Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD), and the Quick Start program. The VFW credited both VA and DOD for setting ambitious goals for delivering benefits, but stressed the need for aggressive congressional oversight and increased funding to ensure they are prepared for the future influx of service members transitioning between the two systems. Funding resources are imperative to improving the delivery of care and services our service members have earned. For complete coverage plus VFW testimony, visit the House VA Committee website at http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/defined-expectations-evaluating-va%E2%80%99s-performance-in-the-servicemember-transition-process. 5. Take the Education and Transition Survey: The Institute for Veterans and Military Families, in collaboration with Student Veterans of America, is surveying all service members, veterans, and their families to better understand their current and post-service education and transition experiences. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes and all responses are confidential. The research team, with support from a Global Google Impact Award, will report their findings and accompanying research reports in the coming months at www.vets.syr.edu. To take the Service Member to Student Veterans' Perceptions of Transition, Higher Education and Success Survey, go to https://syracuseuniversity.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9vjIQ0RYqGhqazj&RID=MLRP_cGWE6bVPA6ZWOUt&_=1. 6. Korean War MIA Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to Army Cpl. Richard Isbell, 20, of Fishtrap, Ky. He will be buried with full military honors on June 7 in Staffordsville, Ky. In April 1951, Isbell was assigned to Company H, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, when attacked by overwhelming Chinese forces near Popsudong, South Korea. Isbell would be declared missing in action on April 25. After the war, returning American POWs reported that Isbell had been captured but died in captivity of dysentery on June 30 in a North Korean POW Camp. To sign up new veterans' advocates, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm 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.

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