FW: World War 2---Do you remember?

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible;

 and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

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Date: Sat, 16 May 2015 01:44:42 -0400
From: garykat@centurylink.net
Subject: Fwd: World War 2---Do you remember?

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Subject: FW: World War 2---Do you remember?

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I "grew up" thinking: patriotism, it is the AMERICAN way! I am glad to see that somebody saved these posters. ~ These were our parents ~ What in God's name have we let happen ? I guess we are the last generation to see, or even remember anything like these! Whatever happened? It's called....... Political correctness (or "re-education") happened, Lack of God's name happened, Lack of personal responsibility happened, Lack of personal integrity and honesty happened, Lack of respect and loyalty to our country happened, Lack of being an American happened. Did all of these things die along with common sense?!? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I for one am still proud to be an American! If you are too..... Pass this along, so others can show their pride

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FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, May 15, 2015

"I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. 

The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will."  

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, May 15, 2015
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 15 May 2015 14:37:14 -0400

May 15, 2015 In This Issue: 1. Second Veterans Choice Program Report 2. VFW Testifies at Choice Program Hearings 3. Senate Holds Hearing on Key Bills 4. House Holds Oversight Hearing 5. Senate Committee Moves NDAA 6. VA Grants Higher Ed Waivers 7. Burial of Unclaimed Remains 8. National WWI Memorial Design Competition 9. Two WWI Soldiers to Receive Medal of Honor 10. Korean War Soldier Identified 1. Second Veterans Choice Program Report: On Monday, the VFW released a second report on the Veterans Choice Program based on feedback from more than 9,600 veterans. The VFW found that participation and awareness of the program has improved. However, the report reveals several areas of concern that still remain to be addressed. Read the report and the VFW's 13 recommendations here: www.vfw.org/VAWatch/. 2. VFW Testifies at Choice Program Hearings: This week the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs held hearings to evaluate the Choice Program. The committees discussed challenges the program faces and proposed changes. Senior Legislative Associate Carlos Fuentes presented the findings from the VFW's second report on the Choice Program. Fuentes discussed the importance of ensuring eligibility for non-VA care is veteran centric and clinically based.  He also stated the VFW's opposition to a proposed change that will require veterans to choose whether to participate in the Choice Program or wait longer than 30 days for a VA appointment, before exploring their options through the Choice Program. The current process allows veterans to make an informed choice by exploring their private sector options before rejecting their VA appointment. Read the VFW's testimony and watch the hearings here: Senate hearing: www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/exploring-the-implementation-and-future-of-the-veterans-choice-program051215. House hearing: www.veterans.house.gov/hearing/assessing-the-promise-and-progress-of-the-choice-program.   3. Senate Holds Hearing on Key Bills: On Wednesday, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing on several important bills related to VA benefits. VFW Deputy Legislative Director Aleks Morosky offered the VFW's support for many of the bills, as well as recommendations to improve others. The bills under discussion addressed several important issues including VA employee accountability, improving the disability claims process and making GI Bill eligibility calculation fairer for reservists. In addition, Morosky voiced the VFW's strong support for S. 681, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015. Introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), this critical bill would finally extend presumptive service connection for conditions related to Agent Orange exposure to Blue Water Navy Veterans. At the hearing, Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) indicated that the Committee will continue to move the bills through the legislative process, with a markup to be scheduled sometime in June. To view a video of the hearing and read the full transcript, visit: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/pending-benefits-legislation051315. 4. House Holds Oversight Hearing: On Thursday, the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing to better understand the allegations of VA employees improperly using government purchase cards. A year ago, the VA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) substantiated misuse of these cards, and recently a whistleblower has stepped forward claiming VA has done little to eliminate the practice. VA, the OIG and the whistleblower all testified in what was a heated hearing. To read the witnesses' statements and watch the hearing, click here: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/waste-fraud-and-abuse-in-va-s-purchase-card-program. 5. Senate Committee Moves NDAA: On Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted on their version of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2016. The Senate committee's bill set guidelines for $613 billion. Unlike the bill passed by the House of Representatives, the Senate bill includes language that would lead to the privatization of commissaries. The VFW opposes this provision. The Senate bill did include VFW supported language to provide a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contribution to every service member. However, the Senate bill excluded a House provision that would provide TSP contributions to service members who continue to serve past 20 years. The VFW will fight to ensure that TSP contributions continue throughout the service member's career before the president signs the bill into law. To read the VFW's statement on commissaries, click here: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2015-Articles/VFW-Against-Privatizing-Commissaries/. To view our action alert on military retirement compensation, click here:  http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=65681626. 6. VA Grants Higher Ed Waivers: A section of the VA Access, Choice and Accountability Act required public universities to provide veterans in-state tuition rates or have their education programs disapproved for GI Bill funding. While quickly implementing this change is important, it is equally important to ensure that universities have adequate time to make the appropriate changes so student veterans who are enrolled are not harmed if their school cannot comply by the deadline. Secretary McDonald used his authority today to grant a blanket waiver to universities that are not in compliance with the law, as long as they produce a compliance plan by June 15, 2015. To learn more, read VA's press release here: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2700. 7. Burial of Unclaimed Remains: On Wednesday, VA announced its program to reimburse an individual or entity for the purchase of a casket or urn used to inter a deceased, unclaimed veteran in a VA national cemetery, if the veteran died with no identifiable next of kin and insufficient resources to pay for a casket or urn. Starting this week, VA will reimburse the actual cost of a casket or urn, not to exceed an annually established average cost, used to inter an eligible unclaimed veteran. Read more about the program here: www.cem.va.gov/CEM/docs/factsheets/Unclaimed_Remains_Burial_Resources.pdf. 8. National WWI Memorial Design Competition: The World War I Centennial Commission is opening a design competition for the new national memorial that will be built a block away from the White House in Pershing Park, which is along Pennsylvania Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets. Officials have set up a two-stage competition and it is open to all. In the first stage, participants will submit narrative and graphic descriptions of a design concept responding to the competition's design goals. Judges will select three to five submissions, and those entries will be further refined and developed in the second stage. The commission will have final decision on the selected design, based on the recommendation of a jury. The submission deadline is July 21, 2015, with the finalists to be announced on Aug. 4, 2015. The commission expects to announce its selected design in January 2016. The design competition formally begins May 21 and competition rules will be posted on the commission's website: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/. 9. Two WWI Soldiers to Receive Medal of Honor: Two World War I veterans will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. President Obama will present the nation's highest medal on June 2 to: Army Pvt. Henry Johnson, a member of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, who distinguished himself on May 15, 1918, in the vicinity of the Tourbe and Aisne Rivers, northwest of Saint Menehoul, France. While on night sentry duty, Johnson and a fellow soldier were attacked by a German raiding party. Despite being wounded, Johnson mounted a brave retaliation resulting in several enemy casualties, and prevented his badly wounded comrade from being taken prisoner by engaging an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. He died in 1929 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Accepting the medal on his behalf will be New York National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson. Army Sgt. William Shemin, a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, distinguished himself on August 7-9, 1918, in the vicinity of the Vesle River, Bazoches, France. Shemin left the cover of his platoon's trench and crossed open space to rescue wounded comrades, repeatedly exposing himself to heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Due to casualties suffered by his superiors, Shemin took command of the platoon and displayed great initiative under fire until he was wounded on August 9. He died in 1973. Accepting the medal on his behalf will be his daughter, Ms. Elsie Shemin-Roth, of Webster Grove, Mo. Read more here: http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/05/14/world-war-one-william-shemin-medal-of-honor-henry-johnson/27315323/. 10. Korean War Soldier Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging to Army Cpl. Ben L. Brown, 17, of Four Mile, Ore., who is being buried today with full military honors in Roseburg, Ore. In early 1951, Brown was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, when his unit was forced to withdraw south to a more defensible position. Brown was reported missing in action after the battle. Read more about his story here: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/PressReleaseArticleView/tabid/11400/Article/588200/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-brown.aspx. 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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FW: VFW Legislative Alert

"I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. 

The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will."  

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Subject: VFW Legislative Alert

From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 8 May 2015 14:42:28 -0400

Modernize the Military Compensation System Take Action! Background: Congress established the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission in 2013 to provide the President and Congress with recommendations to modernize the military's compensation system. The Commission's report validated many of the VFW's beliefs that the government does not appropriately compensate and care for the men and women of the armed forces. Most notably, the Commission recognizes that the country has an obligation to better help all service members save for retirement. Action: Members of Congress are considering whether to modernize the military compensation system. The VFW needs you to contact your members of Congress and tell them to vote for legislation that will enhance the current military compensation system by providing a 401(k)-type retirement contribution to all service members.

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FW: Important VA Rule Change

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible;

 and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

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Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2015 11:43:44 -0500
From: friendsoffreedom@vfw.org

Subject: Important VA Rule Change

April 2015	VFW SUPPORTER EDITION
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Young Father Yearns For Excellence Brandon Delgado's life changed when his son was born four years ago. Determined to support his family, he joined the Marine Corps. Now a VFW "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" is helping him prepare for the next chapter. VA 'Crow Flies' Rule Change Read more > 'Veterans are not alone...' Read more > When and How to Update Your Will Read more > Scholarship Deadline: April 30 Read More > Other ways to give Find a Post   Contribute   About Us   Contact Us Veterans of Foreign Wars, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 © 2001-2015. All rights reserved. Tell A Friend View Online

FW: Lawsuit Challenging Parts of the Final VA "Standard Claims and Appeals Form" Rules

 If you understand, Things are just as they are. 

If you do not understand, Things are just as they are.

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Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 19:22:03 +0000
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Fw: Re: Lawsuit Challenging Parts of the Final VA "Standard Claims and Appeals Form" Rules

All,

Hopefully this email will answer many of your questions and alleviate any concerns you may have regarding this lawsuit.

The law firm representing the legal action is Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP ("WilmerHale") through its Washington, DC office. Parties to this legal action include the National Veterans Legal Services Program, The American Legion, AMVETS, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Vietnam Veterans of America. WilmerHale is representing this matter on a pro bono basis. 

The proposed challenge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is to two aspects of the rules promulgated by the Office of Veterans Affairs ("VA") on September 24, 2014, which became effective on March 24, 2015: (a) the elimination of the VA's existing "informal claim" process; and (b) the elimination of the VA's duty to infer benefit claims for disabilities when entitlement to service connection for the disabilities is reasonably raised by the evidence of record even though these disabilities are not "related" to the expressly claimed disabilities.

WilmerHale's brief statement of the case is as follows:

               "Background:  On September 25, 2014, the VA published final rules that amend Parts 3, 19, and 20 of 38 C.F.R.  See 79 Fed. Reg. 57660-57698.  These final rules on what VA calls "Standard Claims and Appeals Forms" will become effective on March 24, 2015.   Congress has provided that a lawsuit challenging a VA rule may be filed directly in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.  NVLSP and several other veterans service organizations (VSOs) wish to challenge certain parts of these rules (hereinafter the "new rules").

               "Challenge #1:  For decades prior to these new rules, a veteran could begin a claim for benefits in one of two ways: by filing with the VA (a) a written document (like a letter sent by USPS) expressing an intent to file a claim for benefits (called an informal claim) or (b) the application form that VA has for the particular benefit sought (called a formal claim).  The VA would typically send a formal claim form to the veteran who filed an informal claim and give the veteran a year within which to file the formal claim form.  If the claim initially initiated by an informal claim was ultimately granted, the effective date for the award of benefits would usually be the date VA received the informal claim, not the later date of receipt of the formal claim form.

                The new rules eliminate the informal claim.  Under the new rules, an award of benefits can be no earlier than the date the VA receives (a) an electronically submitted formal claim form; (b) a paper formal claim form; (c) a new form called a form indicating an intent to file a claim for benefits; or (d) an oral statement of intent to file a claim, but only if (i) the oral communication is "directed to a VA employee designated to receive such a communication" and (ii) the VA employee documents the date the employee received the oral communication.  This means that if VA receives from a veteran a letter expressing a desire for a particular benefit, receipt of that letter can no longer serve to establish the earliest effective date if the VA ultimately awards the benefit.  The VA will send a formal claim form to a veteran who submits a letter requesting benefits, but the earliest possible effective date will be the date the formal claim form is received by VA.

                The new rules eliminating the informal claim harms low-income and disabled veterans who (a) do not have access to and know how to use a computer (b) are not located near a VA facility that has copies of VA claims forms, and (c) do not have access to a telephone.  For example, a homeless, impoverished, disabled veteran who lives in a rural area is at a significant disadvantage compared to those who can navigate the internet, own a telephone, or live near a VA facility that has VA claims forms.  If that vet sends the VA a letter asking for a particular type of benefit, VA receipt of that letter will have no impact on the effective date.  Even if the homeless vet provides an address of a friend to which the VA could send a claims form, it may take months for the VA to respond by sending a claims form and for the homeless vet to file the form that will serve to establish the earliest possible effective date.

     NVLSP and the other VSOs wish to challenge the elimination of an informal claim that serves to set the earliest effective date as inconsistent with VA's statutory authority and a violation of the Fifth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection.

      "Challenge #2: Congress, the courts, and the VA have all long agreed that the VA claims adjudication process is intended to be non-adversarial and pro-claimant and that the VA has a duty to assist a veteran-claimant obtain the evidence necessary to substantiate the claim.  The VA has long taken the position when it considers a veteran's claim for a particular service connected disability (disability X), and the record reveals that the veteran is entitled to service-connected disability benefits for a different disability (disability Y), the VA has a duty to adjudicate the veteran's entitlement to service connection for disability Y, even though the veteran never requested benefits for disability Y.  Thus, if a Vietnam veteran files a claim for service connection for PTSD and the record reveals that the veteran suffers from type 2 diabetes, the VA would have an obligation when adjudicating the PTSD claim to also adjudicate entitlement to service connection for type 2 diabetes since VA regulations provide that a Vietnam veterans who manifests type 2 diabetes is entitled to service connected disability benefits for type 2 diabetes.

     In VA's commentary to the final rules, VA stated regarding the scope of a claim filed pursuant to the new rules that VA will continue to "infer or identify and award certain benefits that a claimant has not expressly requested but that are related to a claimed condition and there is evidence of record indicating entitlement."  79 Fed. Reg. 57692.  However, VA stated that "entirely separate conditions never identified on a standard claim form generally will not be the subject of claims that are reasonable raised by the evidence of record."  Id.  Thus, VA in effect takes the position that in the above example, it is not obligated to adjudicate whether the veteran is entitled to service connected disability benefits for type 2 diabetes because the veteran never filed a claim for benefit for type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is unrelated to PTSD.

     NVLSP and the other VSOs wish to challenge VA's elimination in the new rules of VA's duty to infer benefit claims for disabilities when entitlement to service connection for the disabilities is  reasonably raised by the evidence of record even though these disabilities are not "related" to the expressly claimed disabilities."

This action in no way affects the VA's Fully Developed Claim (FDC) process - "Quick Claim Procedure". The FDC is separate and distinct. MOPH is NOT advocating modification/elimination of the FDC process. MOPH is, in fact, a strong advocate of the FDC process.

If there are further questions/comments, please contact me.

Yours in Patriotism,

FRANK VAN HOY

National Service Director

Military Order of the Purple Heart

5413-B Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151

O: 703.642.5360

frankvanhoy@purpleheart.org

____________________________________________________________
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FW: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, March 13, 2015

Ya' know, every once in a while something comes along that is just perfect!!!

We are here on earth to do good unto others. What the others are here for, I have no idea. 

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From: vva@vva2.talklist.com
To: krrisk@comcast.net
Subject: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, March 13, 2015
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:17:09 -0500

Ken Riskedahl
Tupelo, MS.

March 13, 2015 In This Issue: 1. VFW to Meet with President in Phoenix 2. Choice Card Survey 3. VFW meets with VA Research and Development Leadership 4. DoD Authorizes GWOT-EM for Freedom's Sentinel 5. Seven Korean War Soldiers Identified 1. VFW to Meet with President in Phoenix: President Obama is visiting the Phoenix VA Medical Center today and VFW National Inspector General Ray Thomas is expected to join him in a roundtable discussion on veterans' health care issues. In a newspaper interview, Thomas said most of the veterans he's talked with seem pleased that patient wait times have improved substantially, but that there is still an issue with specialists, especially cancer specialists. Last year, the VFW championed the passage of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act to help counter the nationwide crisis in care and confidence that Phoenix ignited—but now in hindsight could have been started at a different facility anywhere. The VA still has an uphill climb to fix what's broken, to hold employees accountable, and to restore the faith of veterans in their VA. 2. Choice Card Survey: The VFW has commissioned a second survey to poll members on their experiences accessing the Veterans Choice Program. Thank you to those who have taken the second survey. Your participation has allowed the VFW to continue to keep its finger on the pulse of this important program and evaluate progress as the Veterans Choice Program enters its fifth month. If you took our first survey, but have not taken the second survey, which went live on February 6, 2015, please help us track any changes in your experiences. If you are taking this survey for the first time, your input is critical to holding VA accountable for delivering timely non-VA care options to veterans. Take the survey here: https://www.research.net/s/VFWChoiceSurvey2. To learn more about the Veterans Choice Program or to share your stories with us, please visit: http://www.vfw.org/VAWatch/. 3. VFW meets with VA Research and Development Leadership: On Wednesday, the VFW hosted the VA's Research and Development team for a discussion on the status of their research programs. VA has many promising research projects, including: women's health, which will increase VA's knowledge on best ways to deliver care for women; health disparities and access needs in minority populations; and the on-going Million Veteran Program (MVP), a genetic data collection and research program that lead to a better understanding of the relationship between genetics and diseases and military-related illnesses. To learn more about VA Research and Development or how to participate in the MVP program click here: http://www.research.va.gov/. 4. DoD Authorizes GWOT-EM for Freedom's Sentinel: Operation Freedom's Sentinel is now a qualifying operation for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. The Defense Department said the award is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015. Service members deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Freedom's Sentinel continue to be awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Troops deployed abroad in support of Freedom's Sentinel, but stationed outside of the campaign medal's area of eligibility, are now eligible for award of the GWOT Expeditionary Medal. Also now authorized are service stars on medals or ribbons to reflect multiple deployments. The GWOT-EM, as well as the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, are VFW membership qualifiers. Read more about the Pentagon's policy change at: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128351&source=GovDelivery. 5. Seven Korean War Soldiers Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced the identification of remains belonging to seven Army soldiers who had been lost and unaccounted-for since the Korean War. Returned home for burial with full military honors are: Sgt. 1st Class Donald R. Strum, Company C, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, who was lost in North Korea on Nov. 4, 1950. Cpl. Robert Higgins, 21, of Bucks County, Penn. He was assigned to Battery C, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, when lost in battle in South Korea on Feb. 13, 1951. Sgt. Floyd J.R. Jackson, 20, of Warrensburg, Mo., died while a POW in North Korea on Feb. 13, 1951. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which made up part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team. Pfc. John R. Bowers, of Greenville, S.C. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, when lost in South Korea on Feb. 14, 1951. Sgt. Arnold V. Andring, 25, of Gary, Minn., died while a POW in North Korea after being captured on Feb 14, 1951. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 8th Army. Pfc. Lotchie J.R. Jones, 18, of Jasper, Tenn., died while a POW in North Korea on Feb. 28, 1951. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Cpl. Lindsey C. Lockett, 25, of Henrico, Va., died while a POW in North Korea on May 31, 1951. He was assigned to Medical Detachment, Headquarters Battery, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. 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.

FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, March 6, 2015

  

Ya' know, every once in a while something comes along that is just perfect!!!

We are here on earth to do good unto others. What the others are here for, I have no idea. 

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, March 6, 2015
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2015 16:32:29 -0500

March 6, 2015 In This Issue: 1. Commander Testifies, VFW Meets One-on-One with Congress 2. VFW Discusses Sequestration with President 3. House Passes Two Important VA Bills 4. Student Vets Join VFW to Storm the Hill 5. VFW Participates in Toxic Exposures Roundtable 6. VFW Participates in Appeals Roundtable 7. Sanders Receives VFW Congressional Award 8. Carter Becomes New SECDEF 9. Army Airborne Hazards Study Looks for Participants 10. Eight WWII Airmen Identified 1. Commander Testifies, VFW Meets One-on-One with Congress: VFW members from across the country converged on Capitol Hill this week to set VFW's agenda for the year. Members from every department met with their state's congressional members and staff to outline the 2015 Priority Goals and provide more detailed solutions to pressing issues like ending budget sequestration, access to health care and timely claims processing. To view the 2015 VFW Priority Goals and Talking Points click here: http://www.vfw.org/VFW-in-DC/National-Legislative-Service/. VFW Commander-in-Chief John W. Stroud finished the Legislative Conference by presenting VFW's legislative agenda before a Joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees hearing. You can watch the hearing and read the Commander's full testimony here: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-presentation-of-veterans-of-foreign-wars03042015. 2. VFW Discusses Sequestration with President: VFW National Commander John Stroud met with President Obama Tuesday afternoon to discuss the looming restart of mandatory sequestration this fall, the disastrous impact it will have on military readiness, as well as the quality of life programs that serve the troops and their families, and its potential impact on the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies that serve veterans. Stroud also addressed his concerns regarding access to care issues at the VA, and the VFW's strong support to ensure the Veterans Choice Program—which is intended to be the solution to last year's nationwide crisis in VA care and confidence—does not fail. Prior to his White House meeting, Stroud met with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Walsh to discuss sequestration and the recommendations made by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, and he met with the interim leadership of the new Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 3. House Passes Two Important VA Bills: On Monday, the House of Representatives passed two bills designed to increase access and accountability in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The first, H.R. 280, authorizes the VA secretary to retroactively rescind bonuses from any employee who is later found to have manipulated data or otherwise defrauded the government during the time period for which the bonus was granted. The second, H.R. 294, the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act, would allow veterans under VA nursing home care to be transferred to a medical foster home, if they so choose. Medical foster homes are family-style settings which may be better options for some veterans than institutional nursing homes.  The two bills now move to the Senate for consideration. The VFW proudly endorsed both measures, and Deputy Legislative Director Aleks Morosky testified in their support before the House Veterans Affairs Committee on January 27, 2015. To read Morosky's testimony in its entirety, click here: http://veterans.house.gov/witness-testimony/mr-aleks-morosky. To watch his Fox and Friends interview on H.R. 280, click here: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4020179685001/union-condemns-va-reform-bill/?#sp=show-clips. Stay tuned to the Action Corps Weekly for updates on these bills as they move through the Senate.  4. Student Vets Join VFW to Storm the Hill: This week the VFW hosted 10 student veterans who stormed Capitol Hill for the inaugural VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship. The 10 fellows were selected in collaboration with Student Veterans of America based on an essay submission on a veterans' advocacy issue of their choosing. Throughout the week, the fellows were integrated into the VFW National Legislative Conference, advocating face-to-face on their issues with their congressional delegations. The fellows also had the opportunity to receive briefings from Department of Labor and VA officials on transition policies; from congressional staff members on effective ways to advocate; and from a prominent veteran's beat reporter on how to work with the media. The fellows also met with leadership from the VFW and SVA to discuss their experiences and potential sustainability of the program. During his testimony before the Joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees, VFW Commander-in-Chief John Stroud acknowledged the fellows' contributions throughout the week, and pledged to grow the program in coming years. To see photo highlights from the Legislative Conference, click here: https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&q=%23vfwhill2015. 5. VFW Participates in Toxic Exposures Roundtable: On Tuesday, the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a roundtable to discuss toxic exposures in the military and how to improve the process for determining which health conditions are associated with military exposures. VFW Senior Legislative Associate Carlos Fuentes urged the Subcommittee, VA and DOD to ensure veterans who were exposed to toxins during military service are not forced to wait for the health care and benefits they deserve. To read more on military exposures, visit: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/index.asp. 6. VFW Participates in Appeals Roundtable: Brendon Gehrke, VFW Senior Legislative Associate, discussed the growing backlog in disability claims appeals with Rep. Ralph Abraham, the Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Dina Titus. While various conversations have taken place over the course of the past year, this roundtable brought more parties to the table in order to promote a discussion on ways that the veterans' appellate process can be simplified and improved. 7. Sanders Receives VFW Congressional Award: On Wednesday evening, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) received the VFW's 2015 Congressional Award, which since 1964 has been presented annually to one sitting member of the House or Senate for significant legislative contributions on behalf of those who have worn the uniform. "It is no understatement to say that Senator Sanders has taken care of wounded, ill and injured veterans and their surviving family members," said VFW National Commander John Stroud. "He has been a commanding voice against changing the COLA calculations for disabled veterans, for the proper care and treatment of women veterans, homeless veterans, for better employment opportunities and improved access to mental health programs, as well as increased congressional oversight of the VA claims processing transformation," he said. "And when the VA imploded last year, he was the lead negotiator for the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which the president signed into law last summer. The VA still has an uphill climb, but veterans everywhere should be proud and comforted to know that this United States senator has their back in Congress." 8. Carter Becomes New SECDEF: The VFW was in the Pentagon this afternoon to witness Ash Carter being sworn in as the new Secretary of Defense. Administering the oath of office was Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Elena Kagan. Carter was deputy secretary of defense from 2011 to 2013, and previously had overseen the buying of the military's newest weapons systems and technologies, as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. During the Clinton Administration, he was assistant secretary of defense for international security policy. 9. Army Airborne Hazards Study Looks for Participants: The Army's Study for Active Duty Military For Pulmonary Disease Related to Environmental Deployment Exposures (STAMPEDE) is looking for OIF/OEF/OND veterans, who developed chronic respiratory symptoms during or soon after deployment, can exercise on a treadmill, had no history of pre-existing lung disease before deployment, and can travel to San Antonio Military Medical Center or Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. STAMPEDE is a study conducted by the Army to evaluate if certain pulmonary health conditions are associated with exposure to particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and dioxins, and other harmful materials found in combat zone burn pits. To read more about this study, visit: http://www.army.mil/article/143161/Researchers_investigate_respiratory_health_of_deployed_personnel_during_operations/. 10. Eight WWII Airmen Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains of eight Army Air Forces airmen who had been missing in action since World War II. Returned home for burial with full military honors are 1st Lts. William D. Bernier of Augusta, Mont., Bryant E. Poulsen of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Herbert V. Young Jr. of Clarkdale, Ariz.; Technical Sgts. Charles L. Johnston of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Hugh F. Moore of Elkton, Md.; Staff Sgts. John E. Copeland of Dearing, Kan., and Charles J. Jones of Athens, Ga.; and Sgt. Charles A. Gardner of San Francisco, Calif. On April 10, 1944, the B-24D Liberator crewmembers took off from Nazdab Air Field in New Guinea on a mission to attack an anti-aircraft site at Hansa Bay. The aircraft was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire. Read more at http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=17160. 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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