FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, June 27, 2014

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

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

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, June 27, 2014

Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 15:01:20 -0400

VFW Action Corps Weekly June 27, 2014 In This Issue: 1. VFW Calls for Mexican Travel/Product Boycott 2. VFW Member Selected to Receive Medal of Honor 3. House/Senate Conferees Meet on VA Bill 4. House Holds Late Night Hearing on VA Capacity 5. VBA-VHA Medical Examinations Discussed 6. IOM Releases PTSD Study 7. WWII Marine Recovered 1. VFW Calls for Mexican Travel/Product Boycott: VFW National Commander Bill Thien this week called for a nationwide boycott of travel and products from Mexico. The purpose is to apply economic pressure on the Mexican government to release Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, who has been languishing away in a Mexican jail since he was arrested March 31 for allegedly crossing the border accidentally with three personal firearms that were legally registered in the United States but not in Mexico. Thien said the VFW twice asked President Obama to contact Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, but a phone call specifically about the Marine sergeant never took place. "This is about politics, and if my government won't do anything, then I guess we need to let the power of the purse take over," said the Chief. "No products, no travel, a total boycott … then maybe a dialogue will start." 2. VFW Member Selected to Receive Medal of Honor: America's newest Medal of Honor selectee is former Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts, 28, a life member of VFW Post 8862 in Vicenza, Italy. He was assigned as a forward observed with Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in Wanat, Afghanistan. On July 13, 2008, he and his fellow paratroopers fought off a force of more than 200 enemy fighters who were attempting to overrun their observation post and vehicle patrol base. The Battle of Wanat is one of the deadliest of the war, with nine paratroopers giving their lives and 27 wounded. Read more at http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140623/NEWS/306230052/Army-staff-sergeant-will-receive-Medal-Honor-valor-Wanat. 3. House/Senate Conferees Meet on VA Bill: On Wednesday, House and Senate Conferees met to begin working out the differences between their proposals to address the VA health care crisis. It has been more than 15 years since a conference was called to discuss any VA-related legislation. All conferees spoke about their commitment to fix the VA so that all generations of veterans could receive the quality and accessible healthcare they have earned. One of the sticking points among members is how to pay for the bill. Last week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the proposals could cost roughly $50 billion per year. Senate VA Ranking Member Richard M. Burr (R-NC) called the numbers "grotesquely" out of line. House VA Committee Chairman, Jeff Miller (R-FL) said CBO needs to issue a new estimate, but added that the conferees will keep working to settle their differences while they wait for updated numbers. Despite differences of opinion over funding and the overall quality of care at the VA, lawmakers were hopeful they can come to a resolution. VFW urges the conferees to reach an agreement that will provide the necessary funds to resolve the scheduling and access issues, and ensure that when VA does authorize outside care, that private providers are also held to access and quality standards.   Read VFW's letter to congressional leaders outlining our views on the conferenced bill at http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/VFW_in_DC/Joint%20VSO%20Letter%20on%20VA%20Access%20Legislation%20Conference%20-%20June%2017,%202014%20-%20UPDATED%20FINAL.pdf. For a list of conferees and webcast of the meeting, visit the Senate VA Committee website at http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/house-and-senate-veterans-affairs-conference-committee-meeting6242014. 4. House Holds Late Night Hearing on VA Capacity: Late Monday night, the House VA Committee held an oversight hearing to assess the VA's efforts to increase its capacity and efficiency within medical facilities. The hearing is one of several the committee has held to find improvements among VA practices and policies regarding access to care for veterans. At the center of the hearing was a new program entitled "VA Accelerating Access to Care Initiative." Unveiled in May, the coordinated system-wide program requires VHA facilities to systematically review clinical capacity in an effort to provide timely medical appointments to veterans. Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) and Ranking Member Michael Michaud (D-ME) both seemed frustrated at the lack of standardization and response to their requests about program details. The VA Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Operations, Dr. Thomas Lynch, spoke about recent issues regarding wait times and scheduling, and acknowledged that overall services within VA are being questioned. He also told committee members that "VA is committed to correcting unacceptable practices in patient scheduling, and that these practices are not consistent with values of the Department, and we are working to fix the problems." VFW believes that VA must identify the facilities where access is not meeting demand, and offer well-coordinated care outside VA when direct care cannot be provided in a timely manner. For complete information on the hearing, to include the recorded webcast, go to http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/evaluating-the-capacity-of-the-va-to-care-for-veteran-patients. 5. VBA-VHA Medical Examinations Discussed: VA's Medical Disability Examination, or MDE process, was the topic of discussion at a hearing held by the House VA Committee on Wednesday. Witnesses included representatives from both VA's Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration, as well as a veteran whose company provides MDE services to VA as a contractor. Committee members praised VA in its efforts to provide timely medical examinations to determine a veteran's entitlement for VA benefits, but also noted that in some areas, the focus of the backlog has come at a cost, or has increased delays to other benefits. Witnesses all agreed that a clear standard for exams needs to be set, and that a balance between contract and non-contract exams should be assessed. It is worth noting that the current national average for medical examinations for benefits purposes is 24 days, which is six days better than the VA goal of 30 days. For more, click on http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/vba-and-vha-interactions-ordering-and-conducting-medical-examinations. 6. IOM Releases PTSD Study: The Institute of Medicine recently released its final assessment on Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations. The report was mandated as a part of the FY 2010 national defense act and requires IOM to assess PTSD programs and services within the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The study evaluated collaborative efforts of the two departments and provided a scientific overview of neurobiology of PTSD. They also made recommendations in their assessments. The full report can be viewed online at http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2014/Treatment-for-Posttraumatic-Stress-Disorder-in-Military-and-Veteran-Populations-Final-Assessment.aspx. 7. WWII Marine Recovered: The Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to Marine Corps Pfc. Randolph Allen, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, who was lost on Tarawa on Nov. 20, 1943. He was accounted for on June 17 and will be buried with full military honors tomorrow in Arlington National Cemetery. 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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