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 | July 11, 2014 |
Help Us Get VA Access and Accountability Bill Passed
The VFW needs your help in demanding Congress pass a VA Access and Accountability bill. Both Chambers cleared bills and a conference committee was formed to iron out the differences, but the bill remains stalled in a political discussion about cost. While they debate, veterans are still waiting for care. Congress leaves Washington in a few short weeks, contact them today and demand they pass a compromised VA Access and Accountability bill now.
The VFW Joins Press Conference to Introduce Suicide Prevention BillYesterday, the VFW spoke in support of legislation aimed at suicide prevention and mental health access within VA and DOD. Speaking in front of the Capitol, the VFW reminded Congress that an estimated 22 veteran suicides a day is unacceptable and that veterans deserve timely access to quality mental healthcare. The bill, H.R. 5059, was named in honor of Clay Hunt, a Marine from Texas who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and became active in the veterans' community after leaving the military. After years of battling PTSD, Clay tragically took his own life in 2011. Hunt's mother, Susan Selke, as well as House VA Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL), Representatives Tim Waltz (D-MN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), were on hand to discuss the importance of the legislation. The VFW is asking all members of Congress to support and quickly pass this critical legislation so that service members, veterans and their families receive the support and treatment they desperately need. For complete coverage of the event and to contact your members to urge their support of the bill, click here.
Committee Examines Mental Health Access Between VA-DODThe House VA Committee held a hearing to discuss mental health access for service members transitioning from DOD to VA. The hearing was a preview to a press conference held later in the day to introduce a suicide-prevention bill that the VFW helped craft. The committee members heard from parents of service members who had taken their lives after struggling with PTSD and having difficulties accessing VA services. Legislation includes suggestions from those on the ground—military professionals, mental healthcare providers, family caregivers and veterans, who struggle with the effects of PTSD every day. Some of the provisions include reforming the discharge review process within DOD by requiring military review boards to reexamine the circumstances surrounding those discharges entirely, establishing a VA community outreach program focused on successful transition from active duty to veteran, and increasing access to mental healthcare for service members and guard and reservists. For complete coverage of the hearing, click here. Read our blog story on the bill.
House VA Committee Discusses Whistleblower RetaliationIn another late-night hearing, the House VA Committee heard compelling stories from several VA employees who had filed whistleblower retaliation complaints against the Department of Veterans Affairs. According to the Office of Special Counsel—the agency responsible for overseeing and investigating complaints against agencies by its employees—it currently has 67 active investigations and has received 25 new whistleblower retaliation cases from VA employees since June 1, 2014. Committee members delved into why VA seems to continue to fail to abide by its legal obligation to protect employee rights to report waste, fraud and abuse and mismanagement to the inspector general, to the special council, and to Congress. Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) noted that he has asked staff to develop legislation to improve whistleblower protections for VA employees. For more on the hearing, to include the recorded webcast, click here.
Reservations Open for Disabled Veteran Memorial Dedication
Reservations are now open for the Oct. 5 dedication of the VFW-supported American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, which is being constructed at the foot on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The dedication is free and open to the public with no assigned general seating; however, due to security requirements, a maximum of only four guests can be registered at one time, and each registrant must have a unique name that matches a photo ID. For more information and to register, click here.
Five MIAs Identified
The Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identifications of remains belonging to five American servicemen who had been missing in action since World War II and Korea. Returned home are:
- Marine Corps Pfc. Randolph Allen, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, lost on Nov. 20, 1943, in Tarawa. The date and location of his burial is yet to be announced.
- Army Air Force Staff Sgt. Gerald V. Atkinson, 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, lost on April 10, 1945, north of Berlin. He will be buried with full military honors Aug. 16 in Chattahoochee, Fla.
- Army Air Force Staff Sgts. Robert E. Howard, 21, of Moravia, Iowa, and David R. Kittredge, 22, of Oneida, Wis., lost April 16, 1945, when their B-26B was shot down while on a bombing raid to Wittenberg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. Howard will be buried July 19, in Moulton, Iowa; Kittredge on a date and location to be announced.
- Army Master Sgt. Lawrence O. Jock, Battery A, 955th Field Artillery, 8th U.S. Army, was lost July 14, 1953, in North Korea. He will be buried with full military honors Aug. 1 in Malone, N.Y.
Sign up new veterans' advocates.
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.
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