Veterans information bulletins covering Medical Care, Medical Supplements, Travel and
Immigration, Tax/SS/Insurance & Legal, Death & Survivors, Pay & Finances, & Tricare.

James Tichacek's Veterans Information Bulletins
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The following summarized and edited Veteran's RAO Bulletins are provided by:
Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret)
Director, Retiree Activities Office & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP
Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net (PRI) or raoemo@mozcom.com (Alternate)
Web: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html
Tel: (63-74) 442-7135 or FAX 1-801-760-2430
AL/AMVETS/CORMV/DAV/FRA/NCOA/PRA/TROA/USDR/VFW/VVA Member


Annual Reminder for 2009

    All Hands: This notice is to inform you of the Baguio Retiree Assistance Office (RAO) mission; the availability of informational assistance to fellow veterans; and the purpose of the Director's associated Newsletter. The service provides a POC for anyone who has queries on Veteran issues and/or residence in this Geographic area. It also provides a means for Veterans to keep abreast of benefit changes and/or pending Veteran related legislation.

     Bulletin Updates are sent twice a month...on the 1st & 15th. Twice a month allows time for readers to digest the info and make any inquiries they may have. It is understood that not every article that goes out is applicable to every reader but over a period of time every reader will find some article(s) of interest to him or her personally. Unfortunately, the Bulletin cannot be sent to some users of AOL and a few other servers. It does not meet their big Brother policy of deciding what their readers are allowed to receive. A few other servers such as Juno & Netzero allow their readers to receive the Bulletin but will not allow me to communicate with them. I can receive their messages but they cannot receive mine. Anyone currently in receipt of the Bulletin receiving duplicate copies let me know. Those who no longer want to receive it just click Reply and add the word “Remove” in the subject line. If you decide you no longer want the Bulletin feel free to drop me a line in the future if you ever need any assistance.

     The Baguio Retiree Assistance Office [RAO] is basically an "answer place" for all Veterans and Expats in addition to providing FPO mail services; Forms; U.S. & RP Government Services; etc.. There are no longer any bases in the Philippines and the Embassy is 180 km away...so over the last 18 years it has become the unofficial source for just about everything related to Government Programs impacting on those residing in this Geographic area. Because of our remote location...the majority of Veterans' assistance is provided by email. All questions received via email are responded to with either an answer or a source of where to obtain an answer. If you do not receive an answer within 72 hours, your inquiry was probably never received...and you should re-transmit it. The variety of questions, and subsequent research to answer them, has resulted in the development of a 2500+ page Library of articles, a 70+ page index of article titles available upon request for recall, and a Email Directory of over 70,000 email addees for dissemination of the newsletter to other RAO/RSO's, Military Fraternal Organizations and interested Veterans worldwide. The objective is to provide Veteran related information to at least one member of every Veteran Group worldwide who can act as a point of contact to pass on any information felt germane to that Organization's membership. Through their involvement, the Bulletin info presently reaches approximately half a million Veterans and/or Dependents.

     Our RAO meets the criteria, and is recognized as an "Independent RAO" and source of Veteran related info. However the Bulletin is not an "Official" DoD sanctioned newsletter. The articles provide items taken from a wide variety of sources that have been edited or editorialized for retransmission. They also include info to ease transition into the Philippines for those who may be considering relocating there. The information contained therein is just that...informational (FYI). The objective is only to PASS THE WORD in order to keep our Military Community informed. It is the responsibility of readers to verify exactly how information applies to them if they intend to expend funds or time in following up on the data provided in the articles. Unless you have questions concerning Veteran's issues to be answered, there is no need for comments. Although it's nice to get the occasional "thanks for the info", it's not necessary, and just adds to the 50+ emails I receive daily. I do not send out jokes - prayers - religious material or music - chain letters - photos - etc., so please reciprocate by not sending these to me. Nor do I normally participate in "political stuff" unless it is essential to an article being presented in the Bulletin. I would greatly appreciate that you not forward personal political comments/beliefs/prejudices, but I am always open to anything that could benefit other Veterans.

     Updates are sent either Bcc or via a Newsletter Mailing List provider, so recipients are not bothered with large headers nor have their email addee revealed to others. If you want to know if anybody else in your organization is receiving the Bulletin just ask. Articles contain subjects of interest to all Veterans regardless of Geographic location. The existing addees on the directory are about 2%:98% local vs. worldwide. The Bulletin content is for use in any way you see fit and retransmit is encouraged. Sources are provided wherever possible so readers can re-validate info if they desire. The primary source is always listed first and if multiple sources are used it is indicated by "++" after the primary source in the source line. Sometimes my Internet servers are inhibited in their ability to send to other servers worldwide because of filters incorporated by these servers to block spam. However I can always receive incoming messages. If you do not receive your Bulletin just let me know. Request all communications be sent to my primary email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net even though you may be receiving the Bulletin from some other addee. The email addee of any veteran or military fraternal organization can be added to the directory if desired. It only takes a click on the "Unsubscribe" line at the end of each Bulletin to drop anyone off later if they find the Updates are of no use to them. Of course, there are no charges, advertisements, or solicitations associated this service. Nor do we accept donations.

     If you are interested in other articles contained within the Bulletin, they can be forwarded via email. Attachments sent should be virus free, since it is our policy NEVER to open incoming attachments because they might contain a virus. My installed Norton Anti Virus program tells me about 1% do.

     At http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html you can view the current and review past Bulletins sent in the last 5 years. Bear in mind that the articles shown in these Bulletins were only valid at the time they were written (normally indicated in the source line) and may have since been updated. At this site, you can also find the Bulletin Index to identify any articles you may want to recall. They will be provided upon email request.

"Mabuhay from Baguio City, Philippines"
Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek USN (Ret)
Director RAO Baguio

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Past RAO Bulletins

1 December 2009

VA Electronic Health Record Update 01 (VA/Kaiser Pilot Program)
U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps (VA Recognition Sought)
COLA 2011 (0.1% OCT 09)
Mobilized Reserve 24 NOV Update 09 (9,082 Decrease)
DFAS myPay System Update 07 (Personal Email Addees)
Military Health Records (72,000 PDHRAs Missing)
VA Blue Water Claims Update 08 (H.R.2254 & S.1939)
VA Emergency Care Update 04 (Non-VA Facilities)
Combat Zone Tax Rules (IG Audit Uncovers Problems)
Vet Pro Bono Assistance Update 01 (Center for Vet Advancement)
VA Women Vet Programs Update 08 (4 Year Study)
Tricare Regional Contracts Update 04 (Health Net Protest Upheld)
Veterans Corps Update 02 (Vet Application Date)
Veteran Employment Update 05 (SVAC Hearing 18 NOV)
Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 Update 02 (TFL Impact)
VA Family Caregiver Assistance Update 01 (Senate Vet Package)
SDVOSB Contract Fraud (Disabled Vet Program Abused)
VA Nursing Homes Update 04 (Gold Star Parent Admission)
VA Claim Denial Update 04 (Appeal Process Legislation)
VA Budget 2010 Update 05 (Senate Action)
Tricare Reserve Select Update 14 (Gray Area Entry Delay)
Tricare Reserve Select Update 15 (2010 Enrollment)
VA Thyroid Cancer Treatment (Radiation Overdose)
DoD to VA Transition Update 12 (DES Pilot Expansion)
Aid & Attendance Update 03 (2009)
Mammograms (New Guidelines)
Cholesterol (Overview)
Cholesterol Update 01 (Zetia Study)
U.S. Savings Bonds Update 05 (Redemption Problems)
South Dakota DVA (Stand Alone DVA Sought)
Health Care Reform Update 16 (Vet Death Impact)
Health Care Reform Update 17  (H.R.3962 Unintended Vet Harm)
Health Care Reform Update 18 (FY09 Questionable Claim Pmts)
Health Care Reform Update 19 (More Vet Assurances)
Veterans' Court Update 03 (New DPA Report)
VA Prostrate Radiation Treatment Update 01 (Few Sanctions)
VA Prostrate Radiation Treatment Update 02 (NRC Sanctions)
VA Medical School Affiliations (Strengthening Partnership)
Arlington National Cemetery Update 07 (Cemetery Probe Ordered)
Mission Serve (Community Vet Integration)
Pennsylvania GVOACs (Governor Closing 5)
VA Burial Benefit Update 08 (Summary)
Enlistment Update 04 (Credit/Finance Criteria)
Medicare Fraud Update 27 (16-30 Nov 09)
Medicaid Fraud Update 03 (16-30 Nov 09)
Military History Anniversaries (Dec 1-15 Summary)
Tax Burden for Kansas Retirees (2009)
Veteran Legislation Status 29 Nov 09 (Where we stand)
Have You Heard (The hunting dog)

All Hands: This notice is to inform you of the Baguio Retiree Assistance Office (RAO) mission; the availability of informational assistance to fellow veterans; and the purpose of the Director's associated Newsletter. The service provides a POC for anyone who has queries on Veteran issues and/or residence in this Geographic area. It also provides a means for Veterans to keep abreast of benefit changes and/or pending Veteran related legislation.

    Bulletin Updates are sent twice a month...on the 1st & 15th. Twice a month allows time for readers to digest the info and make any inquiries they may have. It is understood that not every article that goes out is applicable to every reader but over a period of time every reader will find some article(s) of interest to him or her personally. Unfortunately, the Bulletin cannot be sent to some users of AOL and a few other servers. It does not meet their big Brother policy of deciding what their readers are allowed to receive. A few other servers such as Juno & Netzero allow their readers to receive the Bulletin but will not allow me to communicate with them. I can receive their messages but they cannot receive mine. Anyone currently in receipt of the Bulletin receiving duplicate copies let me know. Those who no longer want to receive it just click Reply and add the word “Remove” in the subject line. If you decide you no longer want the Bulletin feel free to drop me a line in the future if you ever need any assistance.

    The Baguio Retiree Assistance Office [RAO] is basically an "answer place" for all Veterans and Expats in addition to providing FPO mail services; Forms; U.S. & RP Government Services; etc. There are no longer any bases in the Philippines and the Embassy is 180 km away...so over the last 18 years it has become the unofficial source for just about everything related to Government Programs impacting on those residing in this Geographic area. Because of our remote location...the majority of Veterans' assistance is provided by email. All questions received via email are responded to with either an answer or a source of where to obtain an answer. If you do not receive an answer within 72 hours, your inquiry was probably never received...and you should re-transmit it. The variety of questions, and subsequent research to answer them, has resulted in the development of a 2500+ page Library of articles, a 70+ page index of article titles available upon request for recall, and a Email Directory of over 70,000 email addees for dissemination of the newsletter to other RAO/RSO's, Military Fraternal Organizations and interested Veterans worldwide. The objective is to provide Veteran related information to at least one member of every Veteran Group worldwide who can act as a point of contact to pass on any information felt germane to that Organization's membership. Through their involvement, the Bulletin info presently reaches approximately half a million Veterans and/or Dependents.

    Our RAO meets the criteria, and is recognized as an "Independent RAO" and source of Veteran related info. However the Bulletin is not an "Official" DoD sanctioned newsletter. The articles provide items taken from a wide variety of sources that have been edited or editorialized for retransmission. They also include info to ease transition into the Philippines for those who may be considering relocating there. The information contained therein is just that...informational (FYI). The objective is only to PASS THE WORD in order to keep our Military Community informed. It is the responsibility of readers to verify exactly how information applies to them if they intend to expend funds or time in following up on the data provided in the articles. Unless you have questions concerning Veteran's issues to be answered, there is no need for comments. Although it's nice to get the occasional "thanks for the info", it's not necessary, and just adds to the 50+ emails I receive daily. I do not send out jokes...prayers...religious material or music...chain letters...photos...etc., so please reciprocate by not sending these to me. Nor do I normally participate in "political stuff" unless it is essential to an article being presented in the Bulletin. I would greatly appreciate that you not forward personal political comments/beliefs/prejudices, but I am always open to anything that could benefit other Veterans.

    Updates are sent either Bcc or via a Newsletter Mailing List provider, so recipients are not bothered with large headers nor have their email addee revealed to others. If you want to know if anybody else in your organization is receiving the Bulletin just ask. Articles contain subjects of interest to all Veterans regardless of Geographic location. The existing addees on the directory are about 2%:98% local vs. worldwide. The Bulletin content is for use in any way you see fit and retransmit is encouraged. Sources are provided wherever possible so readers can re-validate info if they desire. The primary source is always listed first and if multiple sources are used it is indicated by "++" after the primary source in the source line. Sometimes my Internet servers are inhibited in their ability to send to other servers worldwide because of filters incorporated by these servers to block spam. However I can always receive incoming messages. If you do not receive your Bulletin just let me know. Request all communications be sent to my primary email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net even though you may be receiving the Bulletin from some other addee. The email addee of any veteran or military fraternal organization can be added to the directory if desired. It only takes a click on the "Unsubscribe" line at the end of each Bulletin to drop anyone off later if they find the Updates are of no use to them. Of course, there are no charges, advertisements, or solicitations associated this service. Nor do we accept donations.

     If you are interested in other articles contained within the Bulletin, they can be forwarded via email. Attachments sent should be virus free, since it is our policy NEVER to open incoming attachments because they might contain a virus. My installed Norton Anti Virus program tells me about 1% do.

    At http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html you can view the current and review past Bulletins sent in the last 5 years. Bear in mind that the articles shown in these Bulletins were only valid at the time they were written (normally indicated in the source line) and may have since been updated. At this site, you can also find the Bulletin Index to identify any articles you may want to recall. They will be provided upon email request.

Bulletin Updates

1. Call their server and ask how to bypass the filters that are blocking their Bulletin;
2. Send a COA to another email addee that they can be reached at; or
3. Go to http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html on the 2nd and 16th of each month to read/download the Bulletin.

    This has happened over the years to other subscriber’s whose server’s decide to treat the Bulletin as spam because of its size. If this should happen to you they will not tell you they are doing it. To verify if Bulletins are being published go to http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html If you did not receive yours let me know on this end and I will respond on the action you should take. If I do not respond within three days it means your server is preventing you from receiving my response. In that case you need to contact your server as to what action you need to take to resume delivery of the Bulletin and communications with the RAO. For those JUNO and NETZERO subscribers currently being blocked I will continue to send the Bulletin until such time as I can confirm there is no way for them to receive it. [Source: Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, Director RAO Baguio 14 Jul 09 ++]

VA Electronic Health Record Update 01: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Kaiser Permanente on 25 NOV announced a pilot program designed to improve care and services to our Nation's heroes. VA and Kaiser Permanente are launching a program to exchange electronic health record (EHR) information using the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) created by the Department of Health and Human Services. Starting late NOV, VA and Kaiser Permanente will send a joint letter to Veterans in the San Diego area who receive care from both institutions, to invite Veterans to participate in this first-ever pilot program. Veterans, who respond and ask to participate, will enable their public and private sector health care providers and doctors to share specific health information electronically, safely, securely and privately. This initial pilot is planned to begin in mid-December 2009.

    "This partnership demonstrates the power of a large-scale EHR that safely connects several care systems. Securely digitizing American's health care information is only the first step in realizing the cost saving and improved quality benefits possible with health care technology," said Andrew M. Wiesenthal, MD, associate executive director of The Permanente Federation. "The reality is that most people receive care from multiple providers. Without the ability for caregivers and patients to have access to their data, all of the time, there is the possibility for wasted time and resources duplicating tests and procedures. Exchange of current health record data at the point of treatment also improves quality, allowing medical decisions to be made quickly, with the relevant background."

    The pilot program connects Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect and the VA's electronic health record system, VistA, two of the largest electronic health record systems in the country. The program puts the highest priority on patient privacy and data security, and no exchange of information will occur without the explicit permission of the individual patient. Explicit policies and technologies to safeguard patient information are part of the NHIN. Patient information will not be shared without first obtaining their consent. Veterans' access to care will in no way be affected at either institution if they choose not to participate. Patients who do choose to participate will benefit by allowing their doctors at any one of the institutions to obtain key health record information from other participating institutions. VA, DoD, and HHS have been working closely to create a system that will modernize the way health care is delivered and benefits are administered. DoD will be included in the next phase of the pilot program in early 2010. [Source: VA Press Release 25 Nov 09 ++]

U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps: Many surviving Nurse Corps members throughout the country, have been writing letters to President Obama, Congress members and their senators urging them to pass a bill that would recognize the service of the Corps members as active military service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. A bill for the Corps 116,717 members to receive veteran status has been introduced several times to Congress by Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) starting in 1996. Testimony for the newest bill, The United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act (H.R.1522), was presented to the Veterans Affairs subcommittee in March.

    During World War II, there was an urgent need to train students ages 17 to 35 to help fill the gap left behind by nurses who had gone overseas to help with the war effort. New nurses were needed to keep the healthcare system running at home. President Roosevelt initiated the Corps in 1943 and launched a nationwide recruitment campaign that promised a free education and a monthly stipend of $15 plus room and board. Students took a pledge after completion of the program to go into a branch of the military. Corp members did all functions of a graduate nurse: went to class, worked 12 hour days performing tasks from bathing and treatments to obstetrics and pediatrics, and even custodial duties like keeping the labs clean because the men were overseas. Because of the Corps, nurse education improved, standards were higher and our country’s hospitals stayed intact. President Truman authorized the United States Public Health Service to become a military branch and oversee the Corps.

    Dubbed the “Forgotten Angels,” members of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps never received benefits for their service during World War II. However, many took their state board exams and became registered nurses after the war. The U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps induction pledge was: At this moment of my induction into the United States Cadet Nurse Corps of the United States Public Health Service:

* I am solemnly aware of the obligations I assume toward my country and toward my chosen profession;

* I will follow faithfully the teachings of my instructors and the guidance of the physicians with whom I work;

* I will hold in trust the finest traditions of nursing and the spirit of the Corps;

* I will keep my body strong, my mind alert, and my heart steadfast;

* I will be kind, tolerant, and understanding;

* Above all, I will dedicate myself now and forever to the triumph of life over death;

* As a Cadet nurse, I pledge to my county my service in essential nursing for the duration of the war.

[Source: The Advertiser-News article 19 Nov 09 ++]

COLA 2011: The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that inflation rose 0.1% in OCT 09 due to slight increases in energy and new car prices. The CPI is the measure used to make annual cost-of-living adjustments to military retired pay, survivor benefits, Social Security and other federal pensions. However, cumulative inflation 1.8% in the hole for COLA calculation purposes, since inflation actually declined 1.9% last year. If the October inflation rate of 0.1% were to continue every month, it would take until DEC 2010 to get out of the “COLA hole.” And that would mean no COLA until DEC 2011 (payable in the Jan 2012 check). That may turn out to be a pessimistic forecast, as inflation could well heat up in time to generate a small COLA in Dec 2010. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 24 Nov 09 ++]

Mobilized Reserve 24 NOV Update 09: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 24 NOV 09. The net collective result is 9,082 less reservists mobilized than last reported in the Bulletin for 8 SEP 09. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 105,522; Navy Reserve, 6,482; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 13,818; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,617; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 779. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 134,218, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2009/d20091124ngr.pdf [Source: DoD News Release No. 929-09 25 Nov 09 ++]

DFAS myPay System Update 07: All existing Personal Email Addresses were deleted from myPay on 30 NOV 09. If you want a Personal Email Address you may enter it as a Secure Personal Email Address. It should be secure enough that sensitive information as well as general notifications may be sent to it and it may not match an existing email address on myPay. To add your Personal Email Address as your Secure Personal Email Address select the email address option located on your myPay main menu. You must enter the Secure Personal Email Address twice. Questions regarding this myPay change may be directed to the Centralized Customer Support Unit at 1(888)-332-7411, commercial (216) 522-5096, Defense Switching Network (DSN) 580-5096 (07-1830 EST). [Source: DFAS Nov 09 ++]

Military Health Records: A congressional watchdog agency reported 19 NOV that the Defense Department cannot locate post-deployment health reassessments (PDHRA)) for more than 72,000 people...about 23% of service members who have returned from combat since 1 JAN 07, when the detailed assessments were supposed to be kept for anyone deployed for 30 days or longer. Missing questionnaires might be the result of returning service members deciding not to complete the form, which is supposed to detail any post-deployment health problems or concerns. But it is also possible that completed forms were lost, the Government Accountability Office says in a report to Congress. Whatever the cause, the absence of such a large percentage of records is significant because one purpose for collecting the information was to look for trends in health issues and to be able to track people with similar reports of minor problems to see if they become something larger. Defense officials acknowledge this is a serious issue. In a written response to the report, Ellen Embrey, the acting assistant defense secretary for health affairs, said, “We must be more aggressive.” Every service has problems, according to the report, but the Army and Air Force seem to be doing a better job than the Navy and Marine Corps in getting completed questionnaires to a central repository, the report says. Missing PDHRA by service are:

* Army: 36,510 missing reports, the largest number of all of the services. But this represents just 19.6% of the people who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, the report says.

* USAF: 8,162 missing reports, 15.8% of those who had returned from the combat theaters.

* Navy: 5,938 which is the lowest number of missing reports, but the highest percentage gap at 44.3%, because it has deployed far fewer people than the other services.

* USMC: 21,751 questionnaires, which represents 32.1% of the returning Marines.

    The Defense Department started using a post-deployment health assessment in 2005, with a goal of having everyone complete the form within 90 to 180 days of their return from Iraq or Afghanistan. Some of the current form is voluntary and some is mandatory. Service members must complete the demographic data identifying who they are, where they deployed and other information. The self-assessment about their health, including mental health, is voluntary. The form is electronic, and it is supposed to be submitted to a central repository when completed and a copy added to the service members’ medical records. The report notes that only about 1% of returning service members refuse to complete the health portion of the report, with the refusal rate being the greatest in the Air Force, where up to 5 percent don’t complete the health questions. Every form is supposed to be reviewed by a health professional, and service members who report problems are supposed to be given a chance to discuss them, the report says. Because everyone is supposed to fill out the form, the absence of so many questionnaires shows policy is not being followed, the report to Congress says.

[Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 0 Nov 09 ++]

VA Blue Water Claims Update 08: Legislation granting Air Force and Navy veterans a better shot at receiving disability benefits for Agent Orange-related illness now has 204 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, 14 short of the number needed to guarantee passage. The bill, H.R.2254, is the Agent Orange Equity Act. It would grant people who served in the waters off Vietnam and the airspace above it the same presumptions as people who set foot there: that certain diseases are the result of exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange, widely used to defoliate jungle around U.S. bases and outposts. If enacted, the bill would cover veterans who had received a Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal or who served on Johnston Island, a Navy outpost, beginning 1 APR 72, and ending 30 SEP 77. Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA-51), the House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman who is the measures chief sponsor, said the bill goes a long way toward providing benefits to veterans whom the Veterans Affairs Department illogically refuses to acknowledge. Current law requires VA to provide care for service members exposed to Agent Orange by virtue of their boots on the ground, but ignores veterans that served in the blue waters and the blue skies of Vietnam, Filner said. His bill would provide the same presumptions to all combat veterans of the Vietnam War, regardless of where they served. Filner said he hopes Congress acts soon. Time is running out for these Vietnam veterans. Many are dying from their Agent Orange-related diseases, uncompensated for their sacrifice. Achieving the 218 votes needed to guarantee passage of a bill through the House does not guarantee the change will become law. There is a Senate version of the bill, S.1939, sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) that has eight co-sponsors, far short of the 51 needed to guarantee passage.
[Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 20 Nov 09 ++]

VA Emergency Care Update 04: In 2001, the U.S. Congress provided VA with authorization (called the Mill Bill) to pay for emergency care in non-VA facilities for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. The benefit will pay for emergency care rendered for non-service-connected conditions for enrolled veterans who have no other source of payment for the care. However, VA will only pay to the point of medical stability. There are very strict guidelines concerning these types of claims. Veterans and their non-VA providers should be aware that these claims must be filed with the VA within 90 days from the last day of the emergent care; otherwise, the claim will be denied because it was not filed in a timely manner. This benefit is a safety net for enrolled veterans who have no other means of paying a private facility emergency bill. If another health insurance provider pays all or part of a bill, VA cannot provide any reimbursement. Veterans who retired from the U.S. military are covered by Tricare/CHAMPUS insurance and cannot file a Mill Bill claim. To qualify, you must meet all of these criteria:

* You were provided care in a hospital emergency department or similar facility providing emergency care; and

* You are enrolled in the VA Health Care System, and

* You have been provided care by a VA health care provider within the last 24 months (excludes C & P, Agent Orange, Ionized Radiation and Persian Gulf exams); and

* You are financially liable to the provider of the emergency treatment for that treatment; and

* You have no other form of health care insurance; and

* You do not have coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, or a state program; and

* You do not have coverage under any other VA programs; and

* You have no other contractual or legal recourse against a third party (such as a Workman’s Comp Claim or a Motor Vehicle Accident) that will pay all or part of the bill; and

* Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal facilities were not feasibly available at time of the emergency; and

* The care must have been rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health.

     If you are an eligible veteran, and a VA facility is not feasibly available when you believe your health or life is in immediate danger, report directly to the closest emergency room (ER). If your condition is stabilized by the ER but additional medical care is needed, proceed to the nearest VAMC. If hospitalization is required for your service or non-service-connected condition, you, your representative or the treating facility should contact the nearest VAMC’s Transfer Center within 24 hours to arrange a transfer to VA care. Veterans have a responsibility to ensure that the VA Transfer Center is notified immediately upon any hospital admission. Payment responsibility is as follows:

* VA will reimburse health care providers for all medical services necessary to stabilize your condition up to the point you can be transferred to an approved VA health care facility or other federal facility. If you stay beyond that point, you will assume full responsibility for the payment of costs associated with treatment.

* If you are hospitalized, and the VA is notified, the VA will be in regular contact with your physician at the private hospital. As soon as your condition stabilizes, the VA will assist the private facility with arrangements to transport you to a VA, or VA-designated facility.

* If the VA accepts responsibility for the emergency room visit and/or admission, the ambulance will be paid from the scene of the incident to the first non-VA facility providing necessary care.

* The VA is only authorized to pay for an ambulance to go from the scene of the incident to the first non-VA facility providing necessary care. The veteran is responsible for payment for an ambulance from the non-VA facility to a VA facility. Ambulance bills are considered unauthorized claims, and must be submitted to the VA in a timely manner.

* The VA’s authority for reimbursement of pharmacy items to veterans from non-VA providers follows a strict set of guidelines. The veteran must be actively enrolled in a Fee Basis Program; the pharmacy item must be considered as urgent or emergent by the initiating physician; the pharmacy item cannot be reimbursed past a 10 day supply; and the prescription and receipts must be turned in to the Fee Basis Unit. The reimbursement is based upon the U.S. Government’s Red Book cost and no taxes can be reimbursed.

* If you are billed for emergency care services, contact the nearest VAMC Hospital Fee Unit and a representative will assist you in resolving the issue. Under the law, payment from the VA is considered as "payment in full" for the dates authorized.

     Claims must be filed with the nearest VA Medical facility to where the services were rendered within 90 days of the discharge date of medical service; otherwise, the claim will be denied because it was not filed in a timely manner. You will need to provide to the VA the following documents from the Emergency Room/Hospital for them to pay for emergency care in a non-VA facility?

* HCFA Form UB92 or other Approved Medicare Form (OCR) (pink and white Medicare Billing Form) from the Hospital Business Finance Office

* Itemized Billing Statement from the Hospital Business Office.

* A complete copy of All Medical Records pertaining to the admission through the date of discharge for this ER Visit/Hospitalization.

* Ambulance Provider HCFA Form 1500 or other Approved Medicare Form (OCR) (pink and white Medicare billing form).

* Ambulance Trip Ticket/Run Report.

* ALL OTHER Provider/Physician Medicare HCFA Form 1500 or other Approved Medicare Form (OCR)

[Source: http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/FAQs/ECFAQ.asp#emergency Nov 09 ++]

Combat Zone Tax Rules: A recent audit found hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians who have served in combat zones may not have received all their earned tax benefits or have continued to receive benefits to which they are not entitled. According to the audit by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration “active combat zone indicators” remained on the 2007 tax records of some 339, 027 taxpayers beyond the date of their departure from a combat zone. That was 40% of the total number of taxpayers with combat zone indicators on their records for that tax year. The IRS initially reversed the indicators for those taxpayers, based on the exit dates provided by the Pentagon in monthly reports to the IRS, but reactivated the indicators when those taxpayers annotated “combat zone” on their tax returns. Service members and civilians can self-identify as serving in a combat zone by annotating their tax return or calling or e-mailing the IRS. The IRS has required no proof to support such claims. In addition, the IG said:

* The IRS records on combat zone tax indicators do not differentiate between military and civilian taxpayers...which can result in civilians being granted tax relief benefits to which they are not entitled.

* The wages of civilians supporting the military in war zones are not excluded from federal tax, but such civilians are entitled to other benefits such as extensions of time to file their tax returns.

* The IRS cannot tell which member of a married couple filing a joint return is in the military, or if both are serving, which also results in inaccurate returns.

* The IG’s review of tax year 2007 records found that 1,720 of 185, 685 combat zone transactions identified Social Security numbers that did not match an IRS tax account...possibly the result of first-time filers or data entry errors. As a result those records were not flagged with a combat zone indicator.

    J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration said, “This is not the first time we have reported these findings. The IRS must do its best to correct this problem, especially during wartime.” A 2005 audit found that more than 58% of 580, 000 taxpayer records with active combat zone indicators were incorrect, and that errors created during updates “were not resolved.” The errors ranged from missing information to mismatches between Social Security numbers and names. The IRS undertook a “one-time cleanup” following that audit by identifying and reversing the indicators on 203,485 accounts with an entry date more than three years old and no exit date. In its response to the new report the IRS said:

* It concurred with nine of the 10 recommendations made by the inspector general.

* It wants to eliminate self-identification on tax returns, but not until it is sure that other means of identification are adequate

* It will consider the option of a secure form for self-identification by e-mail for civilians. For service members the monthly Pentagon notification should suffice said Michael McKenney, assistant IG for audit.

* It will work to identify which member of a married couple is serving in a combat zone, or if both are, especially if they file jointly.

* It is working to ensure the accurate reversal of a combat zone indicator for joint filers when it receives Pentagon notification of an exit date.

    The IRS disagreed with one recommendation, saying it already has a process for distinguishing between military and civilian taxpayers. The IG countered that although the IRS can identify service members through the records the Pentagon provides, it uses the same indicator for both. Once entered onto a civilian taxpayer’s record, that “could allow the civilian taxpayers to inappropriately exclude income without action by the IRS because the IRS will not review accounts with unreported income if a combat zone indicator is present.” The IRS set up a task force to evaluate processing concerns for combat zone tax exclusions in NOV 087 that has produced some positive results, the inspector general said. Under federal tax law enlisted personnel pay no federal tax on income earned in a combat zone, while officers pay taxes only on income that is above the highest monthly enlisted pay, a provision that affects only senior officers. All troops in combat zones can postpone filing and paying taxes, enforcement activities and other tax actions.

[Source: ArmyTimes William H. McMichael article 30 Oct 09 ++]

Vet Pro Bono Assistance Update 01: A Los Angeles-based law organization on 11 NOV launched a program to provide free legal assistance to veterans who hit bureaucratic roadblocks when filing claims for federal medical and mental health benefits. Public Counsel, a pro bono law firm, will offer the free service throughout Southern California and in partnership with other volunteer attorneys in more than 25 states. "Many veterans who return home to their families are facing a system that routinely rejects their benefit claims," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a Veterans Day news conference to announce the effort. "That's absolutely unacceptable. We can and must do more for our nation's heroes." Public Counsel President Hernan D. Vera said the effort would help the 1.7 million troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iran, many of whom have been denied benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder depression, traumatic brain injury, and other combat-related injuries. The program also will help the tens of thousands of homeless veterans living on the nation's streets to collect government assistance. "The veterans' homeless population is skyrocketing. Nearly one out of every four homeless individuals we see on the streets of Los Angeles wore the uniform protecting our country. But only one in 10 receive the government services that they're entitled to," Vera said. The legal program, called the Center for Veterans Advancement (CVA), will provide free legal representation in court as well as for administrative proceedings with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, all branches of the military, and with other local and national agencies. For additional info refer to http://www.publiccounsel.org Veterans seeking assistance can contact Public Counsel at:

* Mailing Address: P.O. Box 76900, Los Angeles, CA 90076 Tel: (213) 385-2977

* Office Address: 610 South Ardmore Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90005 Fax: (213) 385-9089

    The CVA also provides training in VA representation and assists veterans in obtaining housing, employment, medical care, and supportive services. Public Counsel provides the opportunity for its volunteers to work on a wide variety of projects. Some of the casework is relatively simple, suitable for new attorneys seeking to develop new skills or more experienced attorneys seeking to expand their legal experience. Other cases are highly complex. In addition to work on litigation matters, Public Counsel volunteers can also assist with transactional and administrative matters as well as work in specialized areas such as bankruptcy and health care. Public Counsel’s speakers’ bureaus provide lawyers opportunities to educate their clients about the lawyer’s area of specialty. Volunteer opportunities are by no means limited to lawyers. Paralegals, legal assistants, law students, expert witnesses, and individuals employed in other professions are needed and welcomed (see Non-legal volunteer opportunities). For information about volunteering at Public Counsel, contact their volunteer coordinator, Ted Zepeda, at (213) 385-2977 x125 or tzepeda@publiccounsel.org The Center for Veterans Advancement is being sponsored by grants from the Safeway and Vons foundations, as well as Northrop Grumman, the Oder Family Foundation, the Bettingen Foundation and other private donors. It does not receive city funding.

    Marine Corps veteran Aaron Huffman 27, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan from 2000 to 2004, said he was forced to turn to Public Counsel last year when the Veterans Administration denied his claim for medical coverage after he injured his back when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb in Iraq. The Humvee flipped and loads of gear landed on Huffman, pinning him against the windshield. Huffman said he underwent spinal surgery for three herniated disks in his lower back. He said the Veterans Administration immediately denied his claim for compensation, telling him that he needed to provide more documentation that showed the injuries were suffered in combat. "When you're in the middle of combat, you don't always have time to pull over and say, 'Time out, I just got hurt, can you record this,' " Huffman said. "That's not the way combat works. That's some of the issues veterans are facing." [Source: Los Angeles Times Phil Willon article 12 Nov 09 ++]

VA Women Vet Programs Update 08: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a comprehensive study of women Veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War to explore the effects of their military service upon their mental and physical health. The study, which begins NOV 09 and lasts more than four years, will contact approximately 10,000 women in a mailed survey, telephone interview and a review of their medical records. As women Vietnam Veterans approach their mid-sixties, it is important to understand the impact of wartime deployment on health and mental outcomes nearly 40 years later. The study will assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and physical health conditions for women Vietnam Veterans, and explore the relationship between PTSD and other conditions.

    VA will study women Vietnam Veterans who may have had direct exposure to traumatic events, and for the first time, study those who served in facilities near Vietnam. These women may have had similar, but less direct exposures. Both women Veterans who receive their health care from VA and those who receive health care from other providers will be contacted to determine the prevalence of a variety of health conditions. About 250,000 women Veterans served in the military during the Vietnam War and about 7,000 were in or near Vietnam. Those who were in Vietnam, those who served elsewhere in Southeast Asia and those who served in the United States are potential study participants. The study represents to date the most comprehensive examination of a group of women Vietnam Veterans, and will be used to shape future research on women Veterans in future wars. Such an understanding will lay the groundwork for planning and providing appropriate services for women Veterans, as well as for the aging Veteran population today.

    Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population. There are approximately 1.8 million women Veterans among the nation's total of 23 million living Veterans. Women comprise 7.8% of the total Veteran population and nearly 5.5% of all Veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates women Veterans will constitute 10.5% of the Veteran population by 2020 and 9.5% of all VA patients. In recent years, VA has undertaken a number of initiatives to create or enhance services for women Veterans, including the implementation of comprehensive primary care throughout the nation, staffing every VA medical center with a women Veterans program manager, supporting a multifaceted research program on women's health, improving communication and outreach to women Veterans, and continuing the operation of organizations like the Center for Women Veterans and the Women Veterans Health Strategic Healthcare Group. The study, to be managed by VA's Cooperative Studies Program, is projected to cost $5.6 million.

[Source: VA Press Release 19 Nov 09 ++]

Tricare Regional Contracts Update 04: In what may reflect a flawed Department of Defense (DoD) contracting process, on 17 NOV, the Sacramento Business Journal reported that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has upheld Health Net's bid protest regarding the DoD's award of the $2.8 billion annual Tricare contract for delivering services to active-duty military personnel, National Guard and Reserve, retirees and dependents in twenty East Coast and Midwest states (Tricare North) to Aetna. The GAO had earlier upheld the bid protest of Humana Military Healthcare Services after it lost a multibillion-dollar contract for the southern region (Tricare South) to UnitedHealth Group Inc. The Journal reported that GAO concluded that Aetna had hired a former high-level Tricare employee with access to proprietary information about Health Net Inc.'s performance that could have given Aetna a competitive edge in its bid for the lucrative military health care contract. It went on to report that the GAO detailed six flaws in the procurement process in documents posted online 17 NOV, with a recommendation that Aetna should be excluded from the competition. This would place Health Net "as the only viable awardee." The article reported that according to Michael Golden, GAO managing associate general counsel for the bid protest division, will send a letter to defense officials detailing the flaws and the recommendations. Defense officials have 60 days to respond, but that a decision against the GAO recommendation is "extremely rare." If DoD fails to respond, GAO could present the matter to Congress for action. Tricare services will continue as the bid protest process moves forward through DoD, and, if necessary, through Congress.
[Source: NGAUS Leg Up 20 Nov 09 ++]

Veterans Corps Update 02: On 18 NOV Nicola Goren, Acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service was joined by U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD-03) on a national conference call to discuss new funding opportunities to support veterans service and military families. The conference call with Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) and other veterans groups covered the development of the Veterans Corps and new AmeriCorps funding for programs that leverage veterans' skills and expertise to help restore local communities and ease veterans' transition to civilian life. Veterans Corps is led by the Corporation and was authorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America as part of the AmeriCorps program to prioritize funding for veterans services. Presently, the plan encourages veterans to apply by 26 JAN 2010. According to officials participating in the conference call notification of acceptance in to the program is scheduled for JUN 2010. Veteran groups were also informed that depending on need veterans may be eligible to receive housing, medical care, training and an educational allowance upon completion of the program. For more information refer to the Corporation for National and Community Service website http://www.nationalservice.gov
[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 20 Nov 09 ++]

Veteran Employment Update 05: The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing 18 NOV on improving veterans' employment support and opportunities focusing on the needs of veterans recently separated from active duty. Current statistics show the unemployment rate of returning veterans to be among the highest at 11.6%. Raymond Jefferson, Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training (VETS), Department of Labor discussed current VETS initiatives to include its competitive grant programs and their role in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Committee members probed representatives from wounded warrior transition teams, Microsoft, and Oracle for ideas on how to improve current programs and transition services to veterans.

    U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, held a hearing today . In his opening statement Akaka said, "These are difficult times for many Americans, with an unemployment rate higher than it has been in more than twenty years. Many Americans have given up looking for work because they believe none is available. Many others are only able to find part-time employment. The extent of our challenges is truly staggering. For our Nation’s veterans, especially those who have recently separated from active duty, the search for a job can be particularly difficult. Skills honed on the battlefield are not easily translated to a resume for the civilian job market. The problem is compounded by the need for a period of readjustment to civilian life. Veterans who have been injured while on active duty, and especially those who are suffering the invisible wounds of war, face an even more daunting task when seeking to find a career. For those thousands of veterans who are homeless, who may be bearing the burdens of drug or alcohol abuse, or are struggling with mental health issues, finding work can seem impossible. Older veterans, and those from other conflicts, may lack the skills necessary to compete in an increasingly high tech job market. Jobs that once were plentiful may simply no longer exist...“I will continue to work with my colleagues and advocates to help veterans find and maintain rewarding jobs.” For more on the hearing or to view the live webcast visit the Senate VA website at http://veterans.senate.gov
[Source: VFW Washington Weekly 20 Nov 09 ++]

Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 Update 02: On 19 NOV the House of Representatives passed a bill that would stop the scheduled cut in Medicare physician payments rates scheduled for this coming January. The bill (H.R.3961) blocked the 21% physician cut required by the formula originally passed in 1997. The various scheduled cuts in the last decade have been delayed by Congress from going into effect. These Medicare payments are critically important to any military retiree who uses Tricare for Life, since both Medicare is first payer for TFL. If doctors stopped seeing Medicare patients due to the level of payments they could (and probably would) also stop seeing Tricare patients. The bill restructures the present payment formula in 2011, taking into account spending since 2009 “or, beginning in 2014, spending for the previous five years. It would provide two separate updates, one for evaluation, management and preventive services, and another for other services.”

    It is not at all clear whether the Senate will go along with this version. Last month the Senate rejected another House bill dealing with what is now called the “docs fix” in Washington because there is no offset. The CBO says this bill will cost $210 billion in 10 years and there is no offset in this proposal either. The day before the House passed its bill the Senate’s Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said: “Senate Democrats recently tried to pass a so-called doc fix that would have forced seniors to pay higher premiums — on top of the half a trillion dollars they want to cut from Medicare. Fortunately, this bill was rejected by a wide bipartisan majority. While we all think this problem needs to be addressed, this is not the way to do it. And I’m confident that should a similar bill pass the House later this week, we’ll reject it again.” On the other hand everyone on both sides of the aisle thinks something must be done about the pending 21% cut.
[Source: TREA Washington Update 20 Nov 09 ++]

VA Family Caregiver Assistance Update 01: On 19 NOV the Senate passed Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009 (S.1963) an omnibus package of veterans bills. The bill had been held up for several days because of Senator Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) amendment calling for a cost offset. His amendment required an offset of the costs and would have ordered the State Department to transfer funds from its budget for supporting international organizations and peacekeeping activities. The amendment was defeated 32-66. The bill was then passed 98-0. It combined several different bills:

* S.801: Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to waive charges for humanitarian care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to family members accompanying veterans severely injured after September 11, 2001, as they receive medical care from the Department and to provide assistance to family caregivers, and for other purposes.

* S.252: Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, to improve the provision of health care veterans, and for other purposes.

* S.597: Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

* S.498: Vet Dental Insurance. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes.

* S.246: Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes.

* S.772: Honor Act of 2009. A bill to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

    Among other things It authorizes approximately $3.7 billion for programs to help caregivers for veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, improve health care in rural areas, focus on women veterans health care, provide VA dental care for some veterans and their families and survivors. Senator Coburn’s failed amendment would have also expanded the bill to cover all veterans rather than just those from the present wars. His hold caused a dramatic confrontation. Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) said: “The cost of veterans’ health care is a true cost of war and must be treated as such. The cost of the underlying bill does not need to be offset. The price has already been paid, many times over, by the service of the brave men and women who wore our nation’s uniform.” Senator Coburn’s statement was: “I don’t have any opposition to veterans’ care. We’re supposedly anti-veteran because we think maybe we ought to pay for some things that we do around here...I apologize to no one for having put a hold on this bill for a very good reason.”

[Source: TREA Washington Update 20 Nov 09 ++]

SDVOSB Contract Fraud: Of more than 100 allegations of fraud and abuse, GAO audited 10 firms between OCT 08 and NOV 09 and found that ineligible companies improperly received millions of dollars in set-aside and sole source Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) contracts. The audited firms received approximately $100 million in SDVOSB contracts and another $300 million through other small business programs such as the 8(a) program for disadvantaged minority groups and the HUBZone program for firms located in historically underutilized business zones. According to the Small Business Administration, $6.5 billion in federal contracts were awarded to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses in fiscal 2008. The firms GAO studied committed the fraud in several ways. One company owner was not a service-disabled veteran, another was owned by a service-disabled veteran, but he did not control the firm's daily operations, and several SDVOSBs were serving as pass-throughs for large and sometimes foreign corporations. In the case of a pass-through, a firm or team listed a service-disabled veteran as the majority owner, but all work was performed and managed by a nonservice disabled person or firm, in violation of program requirements.

    Gregory Kutz, GAO managing director of forensic audits and special investigations, told the House Small Business Committee on 19 NOV that the case studies show "significant control weaknesses" in the program, including effective fraud prevention by the Small Business Administration. "The SDVOSB program is essentially an eligibility-based program," Kutz said. "However, neither the SBA, except when responding to a protest, nor contracting officials are currently verifying the eligibility of firms claiming to be SDVOSBs." Neither SBA nor contracting agencies have processes in place to access Veterans Affairs Department records listing individuals who are valid service-disabled veterans, Kutz said. Contracting officers also are not required to validate a firm's eligibility before an award. And unlike the 8(a) or HUBZone programs, firms professing eligibility are not required to submit documents substantiating this claim. Perhaps most discouraging, Kutz said, was that in many fraud cases, federal contracting officials were "actively involved" in and aware of the misrepresentation. He cited an example of a contract for furniture at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., where the contract was awarded to a firm...essentially a shell company...owned by a full-time contract employee on the base. "The base director of business operations also told us that MacDill had about $14 million in service-disabled veteran-owned small business sole source and set-aside contracts in 2008, and 90% of firms that received these contracts were front companies for large businesses," Kutz told lawmakers.

   Committee members of both parties expressed outrage and disgust at the misuse of a program designed to help injured veterans. "Imagine being a veteran who is injured in Iraq or Afghanistan, yet despite your injuries you still manage to launch your own business. Then imagine finding out that you are losing out on contracts designated for veterans because a big company found out how to get around the rules," said Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY). "What kind of message does that send to veterans in this country? We've got to stop it." Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), said fraud alone would be problematic, but in this case it shuts out deserving individuals and firms from crucial opportunities. "The firms denied contracts are those owned by individuals who made a significant sacrifice in defending our country," Graves said. "That is simply unacceptable." Lawmakers and GAO both said at the hearing that there must be greater and swifter penalties for those violating the SDVOSB program. While Mills said SBA has recommended that the 10 firms GAO studied be investigated by the SBA inspector general, Kutz said many, if not all, could still be eligible to receive federal dollars. "It's important when they lie to us and cheat that we do something about it," Kutz said. "You can suspend someone without going through a lengthy three-year process of debarment."

    Administrator Karen Mills said SBA was working closely with Veterans Affairs to strengthen oversight of the program, but that primarily SBA is responsible for ensuring SDVOSBs were in fact small businesses, and VA is responsible for ensuring the owners are service-disabled veterans. "The culture of the SBA is that we will not be the agency of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement," Mills said. "We have an aggressive, new attitude towards this; it is explicitly one of our priorities." Kutz echoed the idea that this priority is relatively new for SBA. "SBA is good people, but the history of SBA has been as an advocacy organization, not an enforcement organization," he said. "Therefore, you're not going to have the right kind of people, necessarily, that are very good at this. But I would argue that if you're going to be an advocate for small businesses, you need to deal with the integrity of the programs, and today's hearing is a good start."

[Source: GOVExec.com Elizabeth Newell article 19 Nov 09 ++]

VA Nursing Homes Update 04: Senator John Ensign’s amendment to expand access for Gold Star parents to Veterans Affairs Nursing Homes was included in the "2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations “a bill that passed the Senate 17 NOV.

    Ensign’s amendment will provide Gold Star parents with access to VA Nursing Homes even if they have not lost all of their children in combat. Ensign, said, “Our servicemen and women make the ultimate sacrifice when they give their life for our country. However, Gold Star parents pay the ultimate price when they lose their child for the sake of our country and they are owed a great honor. Current policy requires that these parents must face this loss for every one of their children before they gain admittance to VA Nursing Homes. My legislation will help correct this injustice because one loss is more than should be required to receive VA Nursing Home care for Gold Star parents.” Currently, Gold Star parents may receive care in a VA home only if they have lost all of their children in service to our country. This matter was brought to Senator Ensign’s attention by the Nevada Office of Veterans’ Services and the National Association of State Veterans’ Homes because they are currently in a situation where they must deny admission to Gold Star parents if they have any surviving children. [Source: KTVN-TV Reno NV article 18 Nov 09 ++]

VA Claim Denial Update 04: A House subcommittee moved 18 NOV to reduce the amount of time it takes for a veteran to appeal a benefits decision, which can add two to five years to the wait for benefits. Approved by the disability assistance and memorial affairs subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the unnumbered draft bill, called the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2009, attempts to streamline both the administration appeals process within the Veterans Affairs Department and the judicial review process through the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Included in the bill are procedural changes, such as allowing new information from a veteran whose claim is under appeal to be sent directly to the Board of Veterans Affairs, rather than to a regional office where it would have to work its way through the bureaucracy; and giving the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims the power to review an entire claim, not just one part at a time. The change in the appeals court process is aimed at what veterans have come to call the “hamster wheel” of having a claim with multiple issues decided one at a time in a process that never seems to end as the claim is sent back and forth between the regional official and administrative board. Additionally, the bill tries to set the stage for more fundamental changes by creating an independent panel, the Veterans Judicial Review Commission, that would evaluate the disability and survivor benefits claims process and recommend changes. An interim report from the commission would be required by July 2010 with a final report by 30 DEC 2010. The report deadlines make it possible that some changes could be approved by Congress as early as next year, but major changes would not be considered until 2011. [Source: AirForceTimes Rick Maze article 18 Nov 09 ++]

VA Budget 2010 Update 05: The Senate approved its version of the "2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations" bill with a proposed budget of $133.9 billion on 17 NOV. The House version of the legislation was approved in July. The measure (HR 3082), passed 100-0, is now headed to conference committee, where negotiators will try to hammer out the differences between the Senate and House versions. Some items of interest to the veteran community in the Senate version include:

* Both Senate and House bills include an information technology (IT) budget of $3.3 billion. However, the Senate bill puts hold on $1.1 billion in IT development funds until VA's Chief Information Officer Roger Baker completes a review of the department's IT systems and he and Secretary Eric Shinseki identify which projects should receive funding in fiscal 2010.

* $3.2 billion nationally for health care and support services for homeless veterans, including $500 million in direct programs to assist homeless veterans.

* $50 million for the VA to renovate unused, empty buildings on VA campuses to provide housing with supportive services, including rehabilitation and counseling, for homeless veterans.

* $29 million for medical care for veterans in highly rural areas

* $44.7 billion for VA healthcare in fiscal 2010, which started 1 OCT 09

* $48.2 billion for VA medical services for 2011 to end the cycle of the VA getting its funding late every year as Congress wrangles over the federal budget.

* Gold Star parent admission to VA nursing homes.

* An amendment that directs VA to study how it addresses combat stress in women vets.

* A provision that requires the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) to look Into creating a national cemetery In Montana.

[Source: Various 19 Nov ++]

Tricare Reserve Select Update 14: Gray area military retirees who were promised health care coverage under Tricare may have to wait a year or longer for benefits to begin, Tricare officials are warning. Reserve retirees, who have had to wait until age 60 before military health coverage begins, had been promised they could sign up for Tricare Reserve Select under a provision of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed by President Barack Obama on 28 OCT 09. Tricare coverage for the reserve retirees...called “gray area” retirees because they are eligible for, but not yet receiving retirement benefits, was authorized effective 1 OCT, but everyone expected it would take six to eight months to implement, based on the amount of time it has taken for other Tricare changes. But military and veterans associations were surprised 17 NOV when a Tricare official said it could take 11 to 18 months before enrollment is allowed.

    One group thinks the delay might be driven by the budget. “I suspect the Pentagon is slowing implementation to coincide with the next generation of a Tricare contract to avoid change order costs,” said Marshall Hanson, a retired Navy captain who is legislative director for the Reserve Officers Association. Hanson’s group has launched an effort with other military associations to try to push the Defense Department to move faster by getting congressional leaders involved. Congressional aides working on military health care issues said they already have heard complaints about the slow implementation and were trying to determine the reason. The Tricare statement warning of the delay says the new program requires Tricare to come up with “complex operational procedures, negotiate significant modifications to existing contracts and introduce changes in the Code of Federal Regulations.” The statement from Thomas E. Broyles, a Tricare Management Activity spokesman, was sent to several military and veterans groups that were inquiring about when the new benefit would begin.
[Source: MarineCorpsTimes Rick Maze article 18 Nov 09 ++]

Tricare Reserve Select Update 15: By law, Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) Premiums are now based on the actual cost of delivering care to Guard and Reserve families. Previously, the Defense Department developed TRS premiums based on federal civilian health costs. When military associations and Congress questioned that, the Government Accountability Office did a study and determined that TRS premiums were significantly higher than actual costs would indicate. So Congress directed a substantial premium reduction, implemented in JAN 09, and required that 2010 premiums would be 28% of the average of actual cost of delivering care to Guard and Reserve eligibles in 2007 and 2008. The Defense Department has announced that:

* The TRS member-only premium for 2010 will be $49.62 per month - a $2.11 (4.4%) increase from 2009.

* The TRS family premium for 2010 will be $197.65 per month - a $17.48 (9.7%) increase.

Current enrollment in the program is approximately 30% of those eligible. Enrolling in Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) is a 2-step process:

1. Qualify - Log on to the Guard and Reserve Web Portal https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs/ Follow the instructions; Print and sign the TRS Request Form (DD Form 2896-1)

2. Purchase - You may purchase the plan at any time throughout the year, there are no tiers or open seasons. Mail or fax your completed TRS Request Form along with the first month's premium payment to your regional contractor within the specified deadline.

[Source: NGAUS & MOAA Leg Up 20 & 24 Nov 09 ++]

VA Thyroid Cancer Treatment: A thyroid cancer patient at the San Diego VA Medical Center recently received an unusually large dose of radiation after radioactive iodine became stuck in his feeding tube for nearly four days, federal regulators and the hospital’s officials said. Dr. Daniel Duick, a thyroid cancer expert in Phoenix and former president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, said he had never heard of such a case. “Why would (the iodine) have gotten lodged in the feeding tube?” he said. “It doesn’t make sense. There is something radically wrong here.” Doctors at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in La Jolla said the patient wasn’t injured. “Any occurrence from radiation exposure we would have expected to see already,” said Dr. Ernest Belezzuoli, who heads the hospital’s nuclear medicine program. “The patient is doing well, with no adverse effects.” VA officials have reported the 21 SEP incident to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and halted the practice of administering radioactive iodine through feeding tubes.

    Receiving radioactive iodine is a standard treatment for most thyroid cancer patients after they undergo surgery to remove the diseased gland. Patients typically swallow the liquid, which enters the bloodstream and gets absorbed by any remaining thyroid cells. Over two days, the radioactive material is excreted naturally from the body. While that’s happening, the patients are confined as doctors monitor their levels of radioactivity. In the VA hospital case, the patient, who lives outside of San Diego County, was supposed to be treated with 194 millicuries of I-131 sodium iodide. Because the man couldn’t swallow due to the recent surgery on his neck, physicians administered the liquid iodine through a feeding tube, Belezzuoli said. “We noticed in our standard monitoring that the radioactivity levels were not going down as expected,” Belezzuoli said. “When we realized the atypical nature of that, we had the feeding tube removed.” A scan of the tube revealed 80 millicuries of iodine, according to a report the hospital filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Doctors estimated that less than half of the intended dose was absorbed by the patient’s body.

    Only a small number of thyroid cancer patients receive radioactive iodine therapy through a feeding tube. “Maybe one every five years” at the local VA hospital, Belezzuoli said. It’s unclear why the iodine became stuck in the recent case. Medical workers administering the treatment typically flush the tube with water to ensure the dose has been delivered properly, Duick said. In rare instances, some of the iodine becomes trapped in the patient’s intestines because of constipation, Belezzuoli said. “We may never know exactly the entire situation,” he said. “It could be an isolated equipment issue. It could be a process issue. It could just be retention in the patient.” Investigators for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently spent several days at the VA hospital, said commission spokeswoman Viktoria Mitlyng. They expect to issue a report on the iodine incident in the coming weeks. Duick said the case could draw the interest of other physicians who treat thyroid cancer patients.

[Source: San Diego Union Keith Darcé article 16 Nov 09 ++]

DoD to VA Transition Update 12: The Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 16 NOV that beginning in JAN 2010, the Disability Evaluation System (DES) pilot will expand to an additional six installations across the country. The new locations will include: Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Riley, Kan.; and Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Va. This expansion brings the total number of military facilities using the pilot to 27. “The decision to expand the pilot was based upon favorable reviews focusing on the program’s ability to meet timeliness, effectiveness, transparency, and customer and stakeholder satisfaction,” said Noel Koch, deputy under secretary of defense, Office of Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy. In NOV 07, the DoD and VA implemented the pilot test for disability cases originating at the three major military treatment facilities in the national capital region. The pilot is a test of a new process design eliminating the duplicative, time-consuming, and often confusing elements of the two current disability processes of the departments. Key features of the DES pilot include one medical examination and a single-sourced disability rating. To date, more than 5,431 service members have participated in the pilot since NOV 07. In OCT 08, DoD and VA approved expansion of the DES pilot to 18 sites beyond the three initial national capital region sites. This process was successfully completed on 31 MAY 09. The estimated completion date for the new six site expansion is scheduled for 31 MAR 2010. “This expansion encompasses an additional 20% of total service member population enrolled in the program to achieve 47% overall enrollments, which will allow us to gather and evaluate data from a diverse geographic area, prior to determining worldwide implementation,” said Koch. The pilot was authorized by the Defense Authorization Act of 2008 and stems from the recommendations from the reports of the Task Force on Returning Global War on Terrorism Heroes, the Independent Review Group, the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors (the Dole/Shalala Commission), and the Commission on Veterans’ Disability Benefits.
[Source: DoD News Release No. 895-09 dtd 16 Nov 09 ++]

Aid & Attendance Update 03: This Special Pension (part of the VA Improved Pension program) allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, undressing or taking care of the needs of nature to receive additional monetary benefits. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisted living facility also qualifies. This most important benefit is overlooked by many families with Veterans or surviving spouses who need additional monies to help care for ailing parents or loved ones. This is a "pension benefit" and is not dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation. Most Veterans who are in need of assistance qualify for this pension. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, nursing home or assisted living facility. For 2009 a single veteran is eligible for up to maximum benefit of $1,645 per month ($19,736 annually), while a surviving spouse is eligible for up to $1,057 per month ($12,681 annually). A couple is eligible for up to $1,950 per month ($23,396 annually). To be eligible the veteran must have served during one of the following periods:

* World War II: December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946.

* Korean War: June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955.

* Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 (February 28, 1961, for veterans who served “in country” before August 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975.

* Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law of Presidential Proclamation.

    The VA must determine that your net worth is such that it will probably not support you through the remainder of your life. The VA does not include primary residence or vehicles when determining net worth. To qualify you must have a “countable income” of less than the pension amount to be eligible for all or a portion of the pension. Countable Income is the amount of income a veteran or surviving spouse receives each year including rollover interest, AFTER deducting all unreimbursed, and recurring health care expenses. This includes assisted living costs, home health care, insurance & Medicare premiums, on-going pharmacy costs and more. If you have dependents, their health care costs can also be used to reduce your countable income. However, their income must also be added into the equation. Refer to http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm#3 for additional details on the Aid & Attendance pension. Application to the VA for this benefit can be made by any of the following methods:

* On line at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp or

* At http://www4.va.gov/vaforms download and fill out VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or Pension. Send the completed application and any copies of other documents to the VA regional office that serves your area of residence. Make sure you download all parts of the application as well as the instructions for filling out the forms. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates).

* Contact a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) from a veterans service organization. To locate call 1-800-827-1000, for the location of the nearest VSO nearest you. Also, you can refer to http://www1.va.gov/vso for a list of the nationally recognized Veterans Service Organizations.

    There are three levels to the Improved Pension program: Basic Pension, Housebound, or Aid & Attendance. Each tier has its own level of benefits and qualifications. If you or your loved one does not qualify for Aid and Attendance, you may want to check to see if you qualify for another level of the Pension. For example the following would apply for eligibility to receive the Basic Pension:

* A veteran receives $14,000 per year from Social Security. His wife earns $9,000 per year. The veteran also earns $5,000 per year from a small company pension giving the couple a total annual income of $28,000, and;

* The couple have $38,000 in net worth in CDs and savings (not enough to support them for the rest of their lives) and they still live in the home they bought in 1954, and;

* The veteran pays $1,800 per month for his wife’s home health care, they each pay a monthly Medicare premium of $96.40
(x 2 = $192.80/mo), and he also pays $149 per month for supplemental insurance. Thus, their total medical monthly expenses come to $25,702 per annum.

* When you subtract the medical expenses from their total income, you get a “countable income” of only $2,368. The maximum basic benefit amount of $15,493 minus the countable income amount of $2,298 equals $13,195 ($1100 per month) which would be paid by the VA if the veteran applies for it.

[Source: Various Nov 09 ++]

Mammograms:  A government panel's recommendation 16 NOV that women under the age of 50 do not need regular mammograms set off a furious debate about the importance of the routine screening tool, leaving many women confused about how best to protect their health. In issuing its guidelines, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that risk of breast cancer is very low in women age 40 to 50 and that the risk of false positives and complications from biopsies and other invasive procedures is too high for the procedure to be used routinely. The current standard is mammograms every year or two for women 40 and older. Oncologists were nearly uniform in their disparagement of the guidelines, fearing the loss of a valuable cancer-prevention tool. Women in their 40s account for at least a quarter of breast cancer diagnoses. "I think it is unfortunate that they came to this conclusion," said Dr. Angela Sie, director of imaging at the Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. "It would be a huge step backwards for women's health in this country." And other groups that issue guidelines about screening and prevention, such as the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, immediately attacked the federal panel's conclusion, saying that they would not change their guidelines and would continue to urge women to undergo the tests. Insurance companies and Medicare administrators, which normally follow the panel's guidelines closely, said they would continue to pay for the procedure...although it is not clear how long they can resist the panel's influence.

    The argument is similar to the one recently surrounding men's screening for prostate cancer. Several studies have suggested that complications from false positives and biopsies in PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening outweigh the potential benefits of the procedure. The government panel has not produced general guidelines for prostate testing. The cancer society and institute simply recommend that men consult with their doctors about the potential value of the test. That, in effect, is also what the panel is suggesting for mammograms. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force was established by the U.S. Public Health Service in 1986 to assess the value of preventive medical techniques, such as mammography. It is now sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Its recommendations are closely watched and are generally followed by insurance companies and Medicare, but adherence is not mandatory. The task force issued the new guidelines, an update to its 2002 recommendations in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. "No one is saying that women should not be screened in their 40s," said Dr. Diana Petitti, vice chairwoman of the task force. "We're saying there needs to be a discussion between women and their doctors." The task force also advised women age 50 and older to get mammograms every two years instead of every year, and said evidence isn't sufficient to determine a course of action for women 75 and older.

    Breast cancer specialists warned that the new recommendations could undermine advances in detecting and treating breast cancer early. Deaths from breast cancer have dropped 30% since 1990. Mammography "is one screening test that I recommend unequivocally, and would recommend to any woman 40 and over," Dr. Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer of the cancer society, said in a statement. Brawley said the task force concluded that screening 1,300 women in their 50s to save one life is worth it, but that screening 1,900 women in their 40s to save one life is not. Brawley also noted that 17% of breast cancer deaths in 2006 were among women diagnosed in their 40s. Added Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, the cancer society's deputy medical officer: After a review of the evidence, "We see no reason at this point to alter our guidelines." Women in their 40s "have more aggressive cancers, have higher risks of death and recurrence, and more difficult cancers to treat," added Dr. Alice Chung, assistant director of the John Wayne Cancer Institute Breast Center in Santa Monica. "When you are weighing the benefits and risks for them, the benefits clearly outweigh the risks." More than 192,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected in the U.S. this year, and 40,000 deaths. Early detection is the best tool to prevent deaths, most oncologists agree. The task force also recommends against breast self-examinations, saying teaching women how to perform them doesn't save lives. Instead, experts say, women should make a point of noticing any changes in their breasts in the course of daily activities.

[Source: Los Angeles Times Judith Graham & Thomas H. Maugh article 17 Nov 09 ++]

Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a waxy substance in the bloodstream that plays a critical role in maintaining cell membranes and hormones in the body. It’s crucial to life, completely natural, yet somehow infamous in the minds of health conscious people worldwide. In general, the body is able produce all the cholesterol it needs by synthesizing it in the liver. However, it can also be ingested through food sources such as egg yolks, meat, and dairy products. Overconsumption is the primary cause of elevated cholesterol levels, the consequence of which is multiple associated health risks and a common source of anxiety for many individuals. Cholesterol is only partially water-soluble, which means it cannot dissolve and move through the bloodstream efficiently. Lipoproteins are specialized spherical proteins that encapsulate cholesterol and provide a soluble means of transportation. The density of these lipoproteins categorize cholesterol into four levels: very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL).

    LDL can sometimes leave deposits along the artery linings. These deposits, compounded over time, can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow in a process called atherosclerosis. HDL can reverse the narrowing process by removing the deposits and delivering them to the liver, where cholesterol will be degraded or recycled. Therefore, it's important to maintain a healthy ratio of LDL and HDL cholesterol to minimize the risk of coronary heart disease. If your LDL cholesterol is too high, or your HDL cholesterol is too low, consider alternatives to foods high in saturated fat such as oatmeal and other complex carbohydrates that can trap LDL cholesterol and remove it from the body. Healthy eating and regular exercise will help you maintain a proper ratio, as well as numerous additional benefits. Bottom line cholesterol in moderation is healthy and necessary for life. So the next time someone speaks ill of it, remind them that even excessive water consumption can be hazardous to a person’s health.

[Source: http://www.nibbledish.com/recipes/search/cholesterol Nov 09 ++]

Cholesterol Update 01: Results of a new study suggest that the cholesterol lowering drug Zetia, manufactured by Merck maybe dangerous. Millions of Americans take Zetia to control their cholesterol, but study results indicate that they maybe at increased risk of heart problems. In the study, researchers analyzed health records of people who took Zetia, comparing them to people taking a rival drug, Niaspan. Those people on the Merck drug did not see a reduction in their cholesterol build up and were also at a greater statistical risk of suffering a heart attack. Zetia “has been on the market for about seven years and we still haven’t proven that it improves clinical outcomes,” said Dr. Roger Blumenthal, preventive cardiology chief at Johns Hopkins University. The new results will be “very influential” in getting more doctors to turn to Niaspan, he said. The study will be published in the 16 NOV issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
[Source: http://www.DbTechNo.com Nov 09 ++]

U.S. Savings Bonds Update 05: Holders of lost savings bonds dating back to World War II say it's not nearly as easy to track down the lost money as the U.S. Treasury Department claims in an ongoing lawsuit. The Bureau of the Public Debt counters that its process aims to make sure that only the legal owners of the old bonds are able to redeem them. Demanding requirements...which can include the Social Security number of long-dead original purchasers for a gift bond...are in place to make sure the money ends up in the right place, the agency said. Anne Adams of Nashville, Tenn., doesn't believe it. She has spent months trying to recover lost bonds for her daughter and her husband. In both cases, she said the Treasury Department threw up insurmountable roadblocks to recovering the money. Her husband served in the Marines during the Vietnam War, she said, and had a large portion of his paycheck automatically sent into savings bonds. Adams said the Treasury Department required copies of the original paycheck stubs in order to track down the lost bonds. The family had no way of getting the old paystubs from the Marines. "It was a lot of money, probably half his paycheck for four years," Adams said. For her daughter, Treasury is asking for the Social Security number of the now deceased family friend...from another state...who originally bought the $100 bond in the late 1970s. "It was a waste of money, it was a complete waste of money," Adams said of the bonds. "I am sure that money is going somewhere, but it is not to the people it was intended for."

    If she can't find the lost bond or the requested documentation, the Treasury Department doesn't have to send her the money. "I am starting to think that is what they were counting on," Adams said. Joyce Harris, with the Bureau of the Public Debt, said the agency needs to make sure that only the legal owners of the bonds can redeem them. "We want to make sure the rightful owner is getting the proceeds of the bond," she said. More than $16 billion worth of the bonds are unclaimed. Several states are suing the federal government, seeking the money back on behalf of their residents. Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Missouri argue states are the legal repository for lost funds, and already have a system in place that makes it easy for people to reconnect with lost money. The federal government counters that the money isn't really lost. "It is not unclaimed property," said Harris, the Treasury spokeswoman. "It is unredeemed in our minds." A Web site http://www.savingsbonds.gov/indiv/tools/tools_treasuryhunt.htm set up by the Treasury Department to help people track down lost bonds only searches back as far as the early 1970s...frustrating those who hold older bonds commonly bought much earlier during patriotic fundraising efforts. But Harris said older records were not computerized. And she noted earlier bonds were often bought with just names, and not listed under a Social Security number that can facilitate a computer search.

    Tom Boergadine of St. Louis said he has been trying to help his wife Gail track down a bond purchased in 1963. But he said the Treasury Department has been of little help, especially after it became clear the Internet search site was of no use to them. "It's obviously frustrating," he said. "There is no lost bond department that we know of." Boergadine said that the bond is not for a lot of money, perhaps $100. The relatively small sums of the bonds prompted many families to simply forget about them as time went on. The bonds date back to the unprecedented bond buying campaign of World War II. Most American families bought at least one bond at the time and many never cashed them in - thanks in part to a 40-year maturity in the bonds. And those same "Series E" war bonds continued to be sold by the federal government until 1980. Not everyone holding old, unredeemed bonds favors the lawsuit, which would transfer the money to the states. Bea Giusti said her 83-year-old husband bought bonds when he was a soldier in World War II. The California resident who lives north of San Francisco says she doesn't trust the state...caught in a financial meltdown...with the money. Giusti said the couple may simply pass the bonds on, unredeemed, to their grandchildren so they can be used later.

[Source: Military.com AP article 16 Nov 09 ++]

South Dakota DVA:  A coalition of veterans’ organizations that has tried for several years to convince South Dakota to create a separate Department of Veterans Affairs has gained new support on the issue. The veterans also want the director and employees of that department to be required to have had honorable discharges. About a dozen legislators joined Republican gubernatorial candidate and Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson on 14 NOV in signing a pledge to split off Veterans Affairs from the state Department of Military Affairs and staff it only with people with honorable discharges. The legislators attended a lunch sponsored by the South Dakota Veterans Council, including the American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Retired Enlisted Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. Legislators also agreed to support feasibility studies for an East River state veterans home and a state or national cemetery, and they promised to continue to support veterans preference in public, state and federal employment.

    American Legion Adjutant Denny Brenden pointed out that the House and Senate last year passed a concurrent resolution calling on the Legislative Research Council to study creating a new Veterans Affairs Department. But no study has been done. "The voices of South Dakota veterans are being ignored. This year we recommend a resolution to mandate a study," Brenden said. Rick Barg, VFW adjutant, said the 73,000 veterans in South Dakota create a powerful voting bloc. The pledge that legislators and gubernatorial candidates were asked to sign, which will be offered at three other events around the state, is a good voting guide to those veterans, he said. "With the pledge, we're telling them, this is how this guy feels about veterans. Barg said. "We're doing our homework before we get to Pierre. You're on our side, or you aren't with us." A Veterans Affairs Department separate from Military Affairs would fall in line with what a majority of states already recognize, that running a state National Guard and veterans programs present vastly different challenges, Murphy said. Twenty-seven states have separate Veterans Affairs Departments, and 17 states group Veterans Affairs with a department other than Military Affairs, according to Murphy.

[Source: The Sioux-Falls Argus Peter Harriman article 15 Nov 09 ++]

Health Care Reform Update 16: A report from Agence France Presse (AFP) indicates that the number of American veterans who died in 2008 because they didn't have healthcare, is 14 times higher than the military death toll in Afghanistan, for the entire year. Two Harvard medical researchers analyzed data, comparing U.S. combat-related deaths in Afghanistan, with the number of veterans who died because they lacked the ability to seek out adequate healthcare and access medical services. All of the veterans surveyed were under the age of 65. The study was released to coincide with the Veterans Day holiday, when those who died fighting overseas are honored and recognized. It clearly indicates that in spite of care from the Veterans Administration, many American veterans remain without coverage. The AFP report states that the analysis utilized census data to determine how many U.S. veterans lack both private health coverage and VA care. Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, David Himmelstein, is also the co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program, which co-authored the study. He said the veterans represent a group of about 1.5 million people.

    Along with co-author Stephanie Woolhandler, who is also a Harvard medical professor, Himmelstein compared that figure with an additional study that examined the mortality rate that accompanies a lack of health insurance. He told AFP, "The uninsured have about a 40% higher risk of dying each year than otherwise comparable insured individuals. Putting that all together you get an estimate of almost 2,300 to 2,266 veterans who die each year from lack of health insurance." He cites how some veterans in the U.S. have access to medical care through the VA, but that coverage, under the current system, breaks veterans down into 8 "priority groups" and this can lead to delays in treatment. "The priority eight group, the lowest priority, are veterans above the very poor group who have no other reason to be eligible and that group is essentially shut out of the VA," Himmelstein said. It is not clear how the study will affect the US Senate's decision on health care reform legislation. In the end, Himmelstein is clear that even current congressional proposals would still leave veterans out in the cold in terms of healthcare coverage. He says in the AFP article that he favors a national health care program similar to those in Britain and Canada.

    The Wall Street Journal’s columnist James Taranto’s opinion of what was reported above is garbage in, garbage out. Even a reporter should be smart enough to realize that you can't derive a precise number like 2,266 from hazy ones like "about 1.5 million people" and "about a 40% higher risk." This is junk science with an obvious political agenda.

[Source: Salem-News.com Tim King article 15 Nov 09 ++]

Health Care Reform Update 17: Two top Republicans warn that the national health care reform plan approved by the House of Representatives could end up hurting military retirees and veterans. Reps. Howard “Buck” McKeon of California, ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, and Steve Buyer of Indiana, ranking Republican on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said they fear the Affordable Health Care for America Act that passed the House by a 220-215 vote on 7 NOV would restrict options and possibly reduce coverage for veterans, retirees and their families. The bill is now headed to the Senate for debate that is likely to result in major changes in the bill. “I find it outrageous that the government would attempt to dictate where and how they obtain health care,” said Buyer, one of the lawmakers who helped create the Tricare for Life health benefit for Medicare-eligible military retirees. Specifically, Buyer said he opposes H.R.3962 because it “restricts veterans’ health care options and imposes a sweeping government takeover of our nation’s health care system.” The ability of the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments to fully control their own health care programs are jeopardized by the bill, he said, because these programs are not given autonomy from the larger federal health care czar position that would be created by the legislation.

    Democratic leaders, including the three committee chairman responsible for preparing H.R.3962, repeatedly have said there is nothing in the bill that interferes with military and veterans health coverage but McKeon and Buyer are talking mostly about unintended harm. The two key Republicans have the support of major veterans groups...including AmVets, Blinded Veterans of America and The Retired Enlisted Association...which share the same concerns, although perhaps not to the same fierce extent. Raymond Kelly, national legislative director AMVETS, said his concerns are based on a desire for clarity. “The intent of the bill is to allow veterans to have VA care and, if they qualify, to also be part of the insurance exchange to get care for themselves and their families,” Kelly said. “We support the intent, but we would like the bill to spell that out more directly.” Concessions were made in an effort to provide greater clarity, although McKeon and Buyer did not get everything they sought. At Buyer’s urging, the House bill includes a provision that would specifically exempt veterans enrolled in VA health care from having to pay a 2.5% penalty on their income if they don’t have private health insurance.

[Source: ArmyTimes Rick Maze article 9 Nov 09 ++]

Health Care Reform Update 18: A new federal report has found that the government paid $47 billion in questionable Medicare claims in fiscal year 2009, illustrating the challenges the government could face as it seeks to pay for health reform by reducing fraud. According to the report, the figure represents about 12.4% of spending in Medicare's fee-for-service program. It is unclear whether fraud is actually worsening because much of the increase in possible fraud over the last year is due to changes in HHS methodologies. The report indicates that from 2005 to 2008, the Bush administration reported that 4% of Medicare payments were improper...or about $17 billion in 2008 alone. During that time, officials did not consider a payment improper if it lacked complete documentation or if the provider's signature was illegible...even though these factors typically bar payment. Critics said that fraud figures during that period therefore were understated.

    For FY 2009, the Obama administration did count those claims as improper, but a complete tally could not be tabulated based on the new methodology. Using the new formula, the report officially lists a partial improper payment tally of 7.8% but noted that the unofficial 12.4% figure is more accurate. The federal government is hoping to reduce improper payments in the program to 9.5% next year, resulting in savings of $9.7 billion. The report also found that 9.6% of Medicaid claims, or about $18.1 billion, are improperly paid. President Obama is expected to announce new efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud, including a government Web site to provide a more comprehensive account of health care spending. CMS also is launching its own Web site next month that will allow users to track Medicare payments by state, diagnosis and hospital. CMS is coming under scrutiny because of records indicating that for three years, it ignored internal watchdog warnings of fraud in several programs. The records were provided to the press by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the agency is implementing new processes for tracking warnings.
[Source: AP, Detroit Free Press, & Boston Globe articles 17 Nov 09 ++]

Health Care Reform Update 19: The national health reform bill passed by the House last month and the Senate version to be debated in early DEC pose no threat to current health care benefits provided to military families, retirees or veterans, say advocates for these beneficiaries as well as congressional committee staffs. The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R.3962) states in Section 311 that "nothing" in the bill "shall be construed as affecting" authorities used by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to provide Tricare programs or VA health care benefits. The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the Fleet Reserve Association of America, the American Legion and other veterans’ service organizations have studied the legislative language of both bills. Their own reviews, and assurances they’ve received from relevant committees, give them confidence that the bills won’t impact benefits or fees charged by Tricare or VA, nor will these beneficiaries be exposed to any new tax liabilities. "We have not talked to anybody...Republican, Democrat, anyone in the [Obama] administration or serving in Congress...who is trying to do anything to affect military people" as part of national health reform legislation, said Steve Strobridge, MOAA’s director of government relations.

    Confusing the issue for many beneficiaries has been an e-mail being passed among military retirees that warns falsely that the Congressional Budget Office has drafted legislation to attach new fees to Tricare for Life, the prized insurance supplement relied on by Medicare-eligible retirees. The e-mail is filled with misinformation. CBO has no authority to draft legislation. CBO did release a report last December presenting options for holding down federal health care costs; a few of those options would raise fees on military retirees and veterans. But neither the Obama administration nor any members of Congress have embraced any of these ideas. Steve Robertson, legislative director for the American Legion, said he has assurances from the armed services committees, veterans’ affairs committees and congressional leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that health reform will not impact Tricare programs or VA health care. "My comfort level is pretty high," Robertson said. Strobridge noted that the Senate bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R.3590), doesn’t contain the same specific language that the House bill does to shield Tricare programs and VA health benefits. However, the Senate bill’s provision to allow an excise tax on "applicable employer-sponsored coverage" lists, among government plans, only the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan for possible inclusion. Tricare and VA health care benefits are not named. Finance committee staffers have explained that this was intentional to shield these programs.

    MOAA has urged senators to add three clarifying provisions to their bill. One of those would duplicate language of the House bill that nothing in the legislation alters health care program authorities for DOD and VA. Other language is sought to explicitly exclude Tricare, Tricare for Life and VA health care programs from any health reform bill excise tax on certain employer-provided plans. Finally, MOAA wants language in the Senate bill calling for a study of national health reform's impact on veterans to include a study of the impact on Tricare and Tricare for Life. Military people who seek assurance that the Senate health reform bill won’t impact them negatively end up "looking for something that isn’t there," Strobridge said. The Senate, like the House, should make it clear, he said. The only real threat to military and veteran benefits posed by national health reform, he continued, is the likelihood that it will add to the annual federal budget deficit which was $1.4 trillion last year. That will increase political pressure, over time, to curb federal entitlements including military health care and retirement plans, said Strobridge. "There are lots of people out there who would like to raise military fees" on health benefits, Strobridge said. "But they are not trying to do it in this legislation. As far as we can see, everybody in Congress is trying to bend over backwards to protect the military. And that's true of both parties."

    Pressure on defense budgets already is enormous. "That's why Defense leaders have been saying for years ‘I don't what to pay this $10 billion for Tricare for Life that we put in the defense bill every year. I want to shift more costs to the beneficiary. That is what the Bush administration said the last three years," Strobridge said. "We haven't even started to talk about the effect of the baby boom generation on Medicare and Social Security" on future budgets, he added. Given that pressure, MOAA has been pressing Congress to define in law that military members and retirees have earned through service certain unassailable rights to promised retirement and health care benefits. "What we're concerned about is that budget pressure will drive arbitrary decisions. That is what has hurt us in the past," said Strobridge. Congress should take steps to spell out what military folks have earned. "If you don't have any rules to rely on," he said, "when the budget tidal wave comes it will sweep you away."

[Source: Military Update Tom Philpott article 28 Nov 09 ++]

Veterans' Court Update 03: A new report by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) exposes practices and policies that for decades have unjustly resulted in large numbers of psychically injured and addicted veterans landing in U.S. prisons and jails. The report reflects a year's worth of outreach to veterans and veterans' advocates across the country and a distillation of their most creative, innovative and optimistic responses to the problem. Gen. Steven Xenakis, M.D., special adviser to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for warrior and family support, brought a message of official support to a teleconference announcing the release of the report: "250,000 soldiers is a large number of soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen who have been affected," he said. "It is so important that people are made aware of the issues and that we follow up with the best action plans we can find. We in this country have a responsibility to assist and support them." The report recommends changes in state and federal statutes that now prioritize punishment over treatment for veterans who commit nonviolent drug-related offenses as a result of their addictions and other mental health issues. "Courts, as a way of dealing with large numbers of people with substance-abuse problems, are a very slow and expensive way to go," Dan Abrahamson, the Drug Policy Alliance's director of legal affairs, explained. "You need a courtroom and a judge and all the players, from prosecutors to defense attorneys. Providing treatment straight up requires far fewer resources and far less investment for far greater returns."

    The report also calls for the adoption of overdose-prevention programs and the expansion of veterans' access to medication-assisted therapies to treat opioid dependence. Overdose is an ongoing problem among veterans, as are other self-destructive behaviors that inflate the official and unofficial tally of suicides among active-duty troops and veterans. (Veterans, often compromised by alcohol or drugs, are an astonishing 148% more likely to die in a motorcycle crash than civilians of comparable age, race and sex.) Guy Gambill, a longtime veteran’s advocate who was instrumental in shaping the report, reminded the teleconference participants that "one of the hallmark symptoms of PTSD is the tendency to self-medicate. In the aftermath of Vietnam, self-medication and its collateral behaviors landed tens of thousands of veterans in prison," Gambill said. "This time, let's be smarter than the problem...so who do we have room to help? People with drug-offense charges. In cases where a veteran has combat-related psychological trauma and nonviolent drug offenses, there is a lot of political will to give these guys a break." A great litmus test for that political will would be the immediate repeal of the 2002 Veterans Administration directive barring treatment for incarcerated veterans. This almost incomprehensibly myopic policy is, as the report states, "...a missed opportunity for the VA to provide critical services and support for veterans to recover from the psychological wounds that caused their criminal activity in the first place.

    Currently, the most successful mechanism for diverting veterans from incarceration and into treatment was conceived by Judge Robert Russell. His veterans' court in Buffalo, N.Y., is a hybrid version of the drug and mental health courts that since the 1980s have had a dramatic impact on the conversation about who and under what circumstances should be sent to prison. Russell's court was the first in the country to cater specifically to the needs of veterans with addiction disorders and/or mental illness who are charged with nonviolent criminal offenses. After almost two years, Russell's court boasts an astonishing recidivism rate of zero, compared to the 60 to 70% national average. Such courts are now springing up across the country, but they are seriously limited by their abilities to attract and process large numbers of cases. Last year, Russell's court processed under a hundred cases. Tom Tarantino, a legislative associate with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, pointed out the whole problem, is of an entirely unknown magnitude. "We don't really know how many veterans are in jail right now. The numbers cited in the DPA report are from a survey done in 2004. In 2004, there were over a million fewer veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan than there are today... The Department of Defense has lists of people who have been in the military, and the Department of Justice quarterly collects lists of people who have been arrested. We just need them to compare lists."

    But even armed with that data, there are only about a dozen veterans courts in operation or in the planning stages in the entire country. Even if more troops and veterans can be persuaded to make use of them, there are hardly enough courts to handle the daunting wave of new veterans expected to run afoul of the law. The consequences of an arrest and conviction can be devastating, the report explains, including denial of employment, housing or public benefits. And an estimated 585,000 veterans are denied the right to vote because of felony convictions. The DPA report is more interested in interventions that can occur before veterans become entangled in the criminal justice system. It emphasizes "front-end diversion practices," or ways keep veterans out of prison in the first place. Gambill noted some encouraging experimental programs in Chicago and Los Angeles that make use of veterans who are specifically trained to ride along with police when they get disturbance calls. Some of the suggestions made in the report will require the coordinated efforts and funds of multiple agencies. But some are so simple and obvious, even cheap, that it is sort of mind-boggling that they even warrant discussion. For example Tricare, the Defense Department's health insurance plan for active-duty service members, will not pay for methadone and other medication therapies for addicted veterans. It simply excludes maintenance treatment. No explanation. It just says, we don't pay for it.

    Untreated combat-related mental-health injuries are predictive of substance abuse, and untreated substance abuse is predictive of encounters with the criminal justice system. And the door predictably revolves. For many service members the vicious cycle begins while they are still under military jurisdiction. "It was really alarming how many combat soldiers were given prescription drugs with little or no supervision," he reported. "To be really blunt, I know crack dealers who are more discriminating with issuing drugs than some of the clinics that I saw in Iraq." Many of those drugs have serious known side effects, including suicide. And many of them, drugs to help soldiers sleep and drugs to help them stay awake, are seriously addictive. "The ease of obtaining prescription drugs in the combat zone," Tarantino explains, "is not mirrored back in garrison. When soldiers come home, their reliance on those same drugs can create severe problems." This report highlights the gross injustice of holding service members and veterans entirely responsible for drug reliance that is facilitated, if not encouraged, when it serves military purposes. That injustice is aggravated when it is used as an excuse to kick people out of the military, thereby denying them benefits. It is further aggravated when treatment is withheld, both for their injuries and for their addictions, and aggravated further still when it is punished with incarceration.

[Source: AlterNet News Penny Coleman article 11 Nov 09 ++]

VA Prostrate Radiation Treatment Update 01: More than a year after the Philadelphia VA Medical Center said it had given substandard care to nearly 100 veterans with prostate cancer, the list of sanctions is sparse: One physician accepted a three-day suspension. A radiation safety official got a letter of reprimand. And the University of Pennsylvania doctor who performed most of the poor procedures lost his job when the Philadelphia VA closed the program. Newly obtained documents shed more light on the program, showing that the mistakes began with the earliest cases, starting in 2002, and that the hospital missed numerous opportunities to catch them. Yet no
program-wide review ensued, and the brachytherapy treatments continued for five more years. The timeline of events was:

* FEB 02: The first prostate-cancer patient is treated.

* FEB 03: In the ninth patient treated, more than half the seeds land in the bladder.

* OCT 05: A patient, 86, gets half the seeds put in his bladder.

* MAY 08: A dosing error triggers a full program review.

* JUN 08: The program is shut down. Director Gary Kao stops treating patients at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania.

* SEP 08: Veterans Affairs' Administrative Board of Investigation recommends disciplinary action against several key people.

* JUN 09: Articles in the New York Times and The Inquirer detail a troubled program. Kao takes a leave from Penn research position. The first congressional hearing is held.

* AUG 09: Radiation oncologist Richard Whittington is suspended for three days.

* OCT 09: Radiation safety officer Mary E. Moore receives a letter of reprimand.

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reviewed several of the worst Philadelphia cases but failed to stop the procedures. From FEB 02 to JUN 08, the month the implant program was closed, 98 of 114 veterans treated got incorrect doses of radiation. Federal investigators have found that 63 were under dosed and that 35 got too much radiation to tissue near their prostates. Ten veterans have had a recurrence of their prostate cancer, according to the VA. And nine others show signs of a possible return. The mistakes led to internal investigations, congressional scrutiny, and probes by the NRC and the VA's inspector general. At least five veterans have filed claims seeking compensation from the VA. The number is expected to rise since the VA has advised all the veterans of their rights to pursue legal action.

    Gerald Cross, acting undersecretary for health at the Veterans Health Administration, and other officials ascribed delays to giving employees due process. "Perhaps there were some missed opportunities" early on, Cross said, but he added that the agency had responded quickly when it identified a problem. "We found it. We reported it. We took action" to stop the program, he said last month on his third visit to the medical center this year. Cross said the VA was carefully monitoring the patients to ensure everything possible was being done for them. Much of that may have been avoided if someone at the Philadelphia VA had been monitoring the quality of the implants performed by its team. Several members of Congress said the long delays and weak consequences set a bad precedent. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) said, "Unless they are taking the recommendations and acting upon them, particularly if it means disciplinary action, then a message is being sent that it is OK. A lack of accountable leadership is the source of the real problem here. Fixing it isn't just about putting better systems in place. It is also making sure that the culture of accountability is ingrained, and that is what is wrong with not taking these recommendations and acting upon them." Some lawmakers who have investigated the cases said that the DVA actions were both anemic and late, and that the agency had acted only after prominent newspaper articles appeared in the summer, detailing radiation overdoses and underdoses. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) said, "They ought not have to wait for a front-page newspaper article or a Senate committee hearing to do what they should have done on their own. I think that it is regrettably necessary to keep pressure on them to follow up."

[Source: Philadelphia Inquirer Josh Goldstein Article 15 Nov 09 ++]

VA Prostrate Radiation Treatment Update 02: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 17 NOV found the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center in violation of multiple regulations regarding the surgical placement of radiation seeds in the treatment of prostate cancer patients. The findings resulted from a special inspection NRC conducted at the medical center after a physicist there determined a prostate cancer patient had received an incorrect radiation dose in May 08. That discovery triggered multiple investigations by NRC and VA, which ultimately identified 98 medical errors out of 116 treatments for 114 veterans at the Philadelphia center between 2002 and 2008. All the patients were undergoing brachytherapy, a complicated treatment that involves implanting iodine-125 seeds in the prostate to destroy cancer cells. Dozens of patients were found to have seeds erroneously implanted in other organs. VA suspended the center's program in JUN 08. "My professional medical opinion is that the prior brachytherapy program did not remotely meet current medical standards," said Dr. Ronald Goans, the medical consultant NRC hired to examine the records and health outcomes of prostate cancer patients treated at the center.

    Goans extensively analyzed the records of 30 patients who were most seriously underdosed or overdosed and found a number experienced symptoms that could be related to the errors, including inflammation and damage to the colon, rectal bleeding and in at least one case, a recurrence of cancer. In his report to NRC, Goans said the program's past performance "is quite puzzling and shows considerable inconsistency in seed placement." Brachytherapy at the Philadelphia VA center was performed under a contract with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and many of the errors were found in surgeries performed by Dr. Gary Kao, a radiation oncologist at the university who played a key role in implementing the center's brachytherapy program in 2002. In JUN 08, Kao suspended his clinical practice at the school's request, according Dr. Stephen Hahn, chairman of the university's radiation oncology department, in a statement submitted to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee in July.

    The NRC inspection found that the Philadelphia center lacked adequate procedures to ensure patients received treatments according to the physician's prescription and failed to instruct personnel in reporting requirements for medical events. Inspectors also cited the center for incomplete record-keeping and failing to notify NRC no later than the next calendar day after discovery of a medical event. NRC is considering a range of enforcement actions against the Philadelphia medical center, from a notice of violations to thousands of dollars in fines. Regulators are scheduled to meet with VA officials on Dec. 17 to discuss the issue further. Any enforcement decisions likely will be made early next year, said NRC spokeswoman Viktoria Mitlyng. Despite the program's shortcomings, Goans praised staff at the center for their efforts to address the problems: "I continue to be impressed with the efforts of the current VA oncology department staff and would not foresee a recurrence of the situation seen in the time frame 2002 to 2008. The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that injured veterans and their spouses have filed 31 claims seeking $58 million in damages over botched prostate cancer care at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.

[Source: GOVExec.com Katherine McIntire Peters articles 19 Nov 09 ++]

VA Medical School Affiliations: To ensure Veterans receive 21st century care, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has vowed to strengthen the partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the schools that train the nation's health care professionals. Secretary Shinseki said, "Schools of medicine and other institutions of higher education for health care professionals have been essential partners with VA in caring for Veterans for over 60 years. VA is strengthening that relationship to ensure it provides accessible, world-class health care for the men and women who have served this nation in uniform." Shinseki's remarks came in response to a report by a blue-ribbon panel appointed to advise VA on strengthening relationships with medical schools and other colleges and universities for health care professionals. Two key recommendations from that report, which are among the 50 for which Shinseki said VA will have an implementation plan by January, are:

* Formation of a standing, federally-chartered advisory committee to help VA realize the full potential of its partnerships with health professional schools; and

* Examination and streamlining of policies and procedures that impede those partnerships.

    The report reaffirms the vital importance of academic affiliations and calls for VA to strengthen its partnerships with the academic community to enhance health care for Veterans.

    VA manages the largest medical education and health professions training program in the United States. VA facilities are affiliated with 107 medical schools, 55 dental schools and more than 1,200 other schools for health care professionals. Each year, 100,000 health professionals are trained in VA medical centers. About two-thirds of the physicians practicing in the United States have had some of their professional education in the VA health care system. "We welcome this opportunity to build even stronger bonds that will benefit not only the Veterans we serve, but also the tens of thousands of health professional trainees who receive some of their professional education in VA facilities," said Shinseki. The Blue Ribbon Panel on VA-Medical School Affiliations, which included members from within and outside VA, was chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act in 2006. It was led by Dr. Jordan Cohen, professor of medicine and public health at George Washington University and president emeritus of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

[Source: VA News release 16 Nov 09 ++]

Arlington National Cemetery Update 07: Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced 13 NOV that he has ordered an investigation into allegations of lost accountability of some graves, poor record keeping and other issues at Arlington National Cemetery. “As the final resting place of our nation’s heroes, any questions about the integrity or accountability of [the cemetery’s] operations should be examined in a matter befitting their service and sacrifice,” McHugh said after signing an order directing the Army Inspector General to begin investigating allegations regarding cemetery operations. McHugh’s order comes amid revelations that cemetery workers inadvertently buried cremated remains at a gravesite that was already in use. The error was discovered in MAY 08 and cemetery officials took immediate corrective measures, moving the cremated remains to another gravesite and remarking the original grave. Since then, questions have been raised over whether cemetery officials used proper procedures to correct the mistake, including notifying the next of kin.

    The investigation ordered by McHugh follows a separate internal investigation by the Military District of Washington (MDW) over the discovery of an unmarked grave. “Cemetery records, the MDW investigation and the non-invasive geophysical analysis of the gravesites strongly indicate that a husband and wife, who died years apart and should have been buried in the same gravesite, were instead buried in adjacent graves,” MDW spokesman Col. Dan Baggio said in a statement. New grave markers have been ordered for the site, and the couple’s family members have decided against exhuming the remains and conducting DNA tests. The unmarked grave was first discovered in 2003 but cemetery officials took no action until this year. McHugh is now directing the IG to examine accountability and policy issues in that case. The IG also is in the middle of a management review of the cemetery, started under McHugh’s predecessor Pete Geren, to make overall recommendations on how to better operate the facility. “A thorough investigation and transparency in its results can help correct whatever may be wrong and ensure America’s confidence in the operation of its most hallowed ground,” McHugh said in a statement. “We will take appropriate action as the facts dictate.” For a PDF copy of the Article 15-6 investigation by MDW refer to http://www.militarytimes.com/static/projects/pages/arlingtoninvestigation.pdf

[Source: ArmyTimes Michelle Tan article 16 Nov 09 ++]

Mission Serve: On Veterans Day, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the launch of Mission Serve, a network that links veterans to community service groups, calling upon Americans to commit themselves to volunteering. The initiative, part of the public-service group Service Nation, aims to help veterans better integrate themselves in their communities. The Christian Science Monitor reports that only 13% of veterans report that their transition back to civilian life is going smoothly. Mission Serve comes at a time where the unemployment rate of veterans is rising and nearly 2 out of 3 veterans report that they feel their skills are not being sought out by their community. The idea of Mission Serve is to join groups already engaged in community service programs with veterans who have a desire to perform public service. A former Marine, for example, could have leadership skills to volunteer or work at a high school. A retired soldier could work with troubled youth. But there is no organized group bringing the skills to the need. Mission Serve also wants civilians to engage with veterans in community service that benefits the needs of the military community, whether it be working on a free summer camp for military kids or offering veterans vocational, educational training and support. For more info on Mission Serve and/or how to participate in the program refer to http://www.servicenation.org/pages/mission-serve1 [Source: Huffington Post article 13 Nov 09 ++]

Pennsylvania GVOACs: The state of Pennsylvania is quietly shutting down a program nearly 3 decades old that aids veterans statewide, mostly in rural areas. The Rendell administration is closing the state's five Governor's Veterans Outreach and Assistance Centers (GVOAC) which were started by Gov. Dick Thornburgh in 1981. The centers help veterans with paperwork for health claims, job placement, education and other services at locations outside the usual Veterans Affairs and veteran service organization offices across the state. The offices, including branches in Erie and Greensburg, are set to close by the end of DEC 09, though some have been shuttered already. State officials say the centers duplicate services already available in government offices in each of the state's 67 counties, not to mention those offered by the American Legion and other service groups. Many of those working in the five outreach offices are not officially certified to file the complicated forms necessary for obtaining federal benefits, meaning the paperwork has to be reviewed a second time after a veteran files them at the outreach centers. It is still a layer of help that veterans will miss, especially in bad economic times, American Legion leaders said 11 NOV. "If it helps veterans, it doesn't matter who is guiding them" to the aid said Kit Watson, Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion adjutant. "You're eliminating aid to veterans by closing these offices, especially with an influx coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq," said Steve Dennison, service officer for the Legion's Pittsburgh office.

    The state "is not cutting services to veterans. Our mission is to provide work force services that allow veterans to access education, training and employment programs," said Troy Thompson, spokesman for the state Department of Labor and Industry, which oversees veterans services. Employment aid can be better administrated by the state's CareerLink locations, he added, which have experts in veterans services. While Rendell administration officials downplayed any negative effects from closing the veterans center, state Rep. Douglas Reichley (R-Lehigh) was upset. He said he understands "strains on the state budget," but he also favors using state revenues "for funding certain vital services," such as those for veterans. "Countless veterans have come to my district office to consult with GVOAC officers to apply for veterans benefits, obtain service records or to apply for lost medals and recognitions," he said, adding that veterans should "contact the governor or their state legislators to demand that this vital service be restored."

    Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for the House Democratic Campaign Committee, retorted that Republicans "...are all for less taxes and smaller government until the painful cuts needed to meet their demands are made." State Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) who chairs the Senate panel on veterans affairs, plans to take a wait-and-see approach to eliminating the outreach centers. She and other legislators plan to meet with groups such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans "...to review what kind of hole this [elimination of GVOAC] will put in veterans' programs and how it will affect some of the rural, underserved areas." She said the program used $900, 000 in federal funds, but that loss will be offset by the use of $1.68 million in state funds for veterans’ services. She wants "...outreach services to veterans to move forward. We can't remember veterans just on Veterans Day. We have to remember them every day."

[Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Timothy McNulty & Tom Barnes article 12 NOV 09 ++)

VA Burial Benefit Update 08: VA offers the following benefits and services to honor our Nation's deceased Veterans. For detailed information about all VA benefits and services, refer to http://www.va.gov

* Headstones and Markers: VA can furnish a monument to mark the grave of an eligible Veteran.

* Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC): VA can provide a PMC for eligible recipients.

* Burial Flag: VA can provide an American flag to drape an eligible Veteran's casket.

* Reimbursement of Burial Expenses: Generally, VA can pay a burial allowance of $2,000 for Veterans who die of servicer elated causes. For certain other Veterans, VA can pay $300 for burial and funeral expenses and $300 for a burial plot.

* Burial in a VA National Cemetery: Most Veterans and some dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery.

* Time Limits: There is no time limit to claim reimbursement of burial expenses for a service related death. In other cases, claims must be filed within two years of the Veteran's burial.

[Source: VA Pamphlet 21-00-1 JUL 09 ++]

Enlistment Update 04: If you have unpaid loans which are significantly overdue and/or in collection, you can expect to be denied enlistment until you resolve the problem. A history of bad credit could also affect your security clearance eligibility, which could make many military jobs unavailable to you. Some recruits will have to show that they will be able to meet their current financial obligations upon enlistment. This includes recruits who are married (or who have ever been married), recruits who require a dependency waiver, recruits with a history of collection accounts, bankruptcy, closed uncollected accounts or bad credit. For the Air Force, it also includes any recruit who is at least 23 years of age. In general, the services are attempting to ensure that the recruit can meet current financial obligations on military active duty pay. For example, the Air Force uses the "40% rule." Any recruit who's monthly consumer debts (not counting debts which can be deferred, such as student loans) exceeds 40% of his/her anticipated military pay is ineligible for enlistment.

    The Navy policy examines total indebtness, rather than monthly payments. The Navy Recruiting Regulation States: No person may be selected who has a history of bad checks (unless through bank error), repossessions, cancelled or suspended charge accounts, or indebtedness exceeding half the annual salary of the paygrade at which the person is being recruited. If indebtedness includes a long-term mortgage, total indebtedness must not exceed 2 ½ times the annual salary. The Marines use the same Financial Eligibility Determination forms that the Navy uses. However, the Marines only do a Financial Eligibility Determination when the individual requires a Dependency Waiver. As part of the Dependency Waiver approval process, the applicant is interviewed by the Recruiting Commander (or his/her representative), who ensures, as part of the interview/review process that the recruit would be able to meet their current financial obligations on military pay. Like the Marines, the Army only does a Financial Eligibility Determination when a Dependency Waiver is required.

[Source: About.com: U.S. Military Rod Powers article 19 Sep 09 ++]

Medicare Fraud Update 27:

* Miami FL: Alejandro Gonzalez, Roberto Rodriguez, and Manuel Camacho, all of Miami, were sentenced for their participation in a Medicare fraud scheme. Manuel Camacho was sentenced today to 18 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Roberto Rodriguez was sentenced on 3 NOV to 102 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $9,555,269. Alejandro Gonzalez was sentenced on 1 OCT to 96 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $11,935,761.76. Defendant Camacho previously pled guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, and defendants Rodriguez and Gonzalez pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. According to documents filed with the court, between NOV 03 and NOV 06, defendants Gonzalez and Rodriguez established medical clinics in South Florida, purportedly to administer infusion therapies for the treatment of AIDS patients. In fact, however, no treatments were rendered and patients received a kickback for signing-in at the clinic. In this way, the defendants billed Medicare for millions of dollars for treatments that were not rendered, and, in fact, were not medically necessary. In sum, the defendants billed Medicare for approximately $40 million, of which Medicare paid about $12 million. Court documents reflect that defendant Camacho was recruited by his coconspirators to be the nominee owner of one of the clinics and was listed on the clinic’s bank accounts. Camacho wrote checks and purchased boats and luxury automobiles as directed by Gonzalez and Rodriguez to launder the proceeds of the Medicare fraud. He was involved in laundering more than $1 million on behalf of his co-defendants.

* Hammond IL: Dr. Adolph Yaniz faces charges of taking kickbacks in a Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme and of illegally giving out prescriptions for painkillers and anxiety pills. Yaniz is charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, aiding and abetting in health care fraud, taking kickbacks and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On top of the fraud allegations, the indictment also claims that Yaniz gave three patients prescriptions for hydrocodone, also known as Vicodin, and alprazolam, also known as Xanax, and gave another patient a prescription for OxyCodone, even though none of them were medically needed. It also says Yaniz had 20,000 pills of hydrocodone that he intended to illegally distribute.

* Miami FL: A Miami man accused of bilking Medicare out of millions of dollars has been arrested in Ecuador two years after he allegedly fled. Federal authorities found Fermin Rey, a Santeria high priest, last week in Quito. He was indicted in 2007 as the owner of clinics that bilked Medicare out of $5.2 million in bogus medical equipment claims. Rey fled shortly after the indictment. Rey's case is among those that have caused judges to rethink bond for Medicare fraud suspects in South Florida because it is easy to flee. Of South Florida's 50 fugitives in health care fraud, authorities say dozens have fled to Cuba. Rey's trial is scheduled for MAR 09.

* Virginia Beach VA: A federal court jury on 17 NOV found Dr. Ronald Poulin guilty of 28 counts of health care fraud, ruling that he bilked Medicare and Tricare out of $1.2 million. The prosecutors documented hundreds of occasions where Poulin billed for greater quantities of chemotherapy drugs than were actually administered to patients, charging for patient office visits that never occurred, and splitting vials of the anemia drug Procrit between two patients and then billing the insurance as if each patient had received a full vial. He also billed for vials of Procrit when patients brought in their own medicine. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the most serious charge of altering records, up to 10 years on the health care fraud count and up to five years on each of 26 false statement counts.

* Elizabeth, N.J.: The United States has entered into a settlement with a New Jersey hospital and filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit against a New York hospital involving allegations that the hospitals defrauded Medicare, the Justice Department recently announced. U.S is also seeking to intervene in a lawsuit brought against Brookhaven Memorial Hospital in East Patchogue, N.Y. Both of the hospitals are defendants in a suit brought by a whistleblower,Tony Kite, in 2005. The lawsuit involved allegations that the hospitals fraudulently inflated their charges to Medicare patients to obtain enhanced reimbursement from Medicare. In addition to its standard payment system, Medicare provides supplemental reimbursement, called "outlier payments," to hospitals and other health care providers in cases where the cost of care is unusually high. Congress enacted the supplemental outlier payments system to ensure that hospitals possess the incentive to treat inpatients whose care requires unusually high costs. The lawsuit alleged that the hospitals inflated their charges to obtain supplemental outlier payments for cases that were not extraordinarily costly and for which outlier payments should not have been paid. Kite brought his suit under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Under the civil settlements announced, Kite will receive roughly $679,000, plus interest, out of the total recovery against Trinitas Regional Medical Center.

[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 16-30 Nov 09 ++]

Medicaid Fraud Update 03:

* Washington D.C.: For three years, the federal agency in charge of preventing Medicare fraud repeatedly ignored internal watchdog warnings about swindlers stealing millions of dollars by scamming several programs, documents show. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services received roughly 30 warnings from inspectors over three years during the Bush and Obama administrations but didn't respond to half of them, even after repeated letters, according to records provided to The Associated Press by U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley's office. A JUL 08 warning said organized crime had infiltrated the system and was costing more than $1 million dollars for each phony Medicare provider license the crooks obtained. The letter got no response, Grassley said. He and other critics said lack of oversight in the federally administered program is part of an estimated $60 billion a year in Medicare fraud. "There's no good answer for why the bureaucracy turned a blind eye, and it's a breach of the public trust," said Grassley, an Iowa Republican and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. Fighting the fraud is key for the Obama administration, which hopes to pay for a large chunk of its proposed national health care overhaul by cracking down on those who cheat Medicare. Despite the lapses, Obama's Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services typically responds to fraud warnings promptly, and has investigated more than 300 since 2006. She was not satisfied that all fraud alerts were receiving sufficient responses and her office is implementing a new process for tracking the red flags. Grassley wants the agency to respond to future fraud warnings within two months and Sebelius agreed. "If the department quickly responds to them, there is the opportunity to save significant taxpayer dollars," Grassley said.

* Long Island NY: The mastermind behind a Medicaid fraud scheme that robbed the state of more than $1 million will serve 3 to 9 years for his crime, a Nassau judge ruled 13 NOV. David L. Williams, 48, of North Hills, former vice president of People's Choice Surgical Supplies in Hempstead, pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree grand larceny on charges that he, his wife and two employees falsely billed Medicaid for more than $1 million that had not been ordered by doctors. A spokesman for the NY Attorney General said People's Choice, which was the largest medical supply company on Long Island based on its quantity of Medicaid billing, stole physicians' identities and submitted false claims without their knowledge and permission. Williams also illegally used the ID numbers of Medicaid recipients - sometimes by paying them cash for their information...and then used those numbers to falsely bill Medicaid for medical equipment products that were neither necessary nor ordered by a doctor. The products included diabetic supplies, diapers and Ensure nutritional supplements, among other things. Just three years ago, People's Choice Surgical Supplies was considered a promising local company, having been approved for more than $1 million in assistance from the Nassau Industrial Development Agency and publicly lauded by County Executive Thomas Suozzi. The company abruptly closed in 2006 when the attorney general's probe began, county officials said. David Williams' wife, Cynthia Williams, 46, previously pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny and was sentenced to 6 months in jail. Two People's Choice employees pleaded guilty to petty larceny. One was sentenced to probation and the other is awaiting sentencing.

* Merrillville IN: A Merrillville physician and the operator of a diagnostic laboratory have been indicted with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Dr. Adolph Yaniz, 49, of Merrillville, and Munir Chaudhry, doing business as Medway Diagnostic Laboratories, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud health care programs and four counts of substantive health care fraud violations. Yaniz was also charged with one count of receiving kickbacks, four counts of dispensing drugs without legitimate medical purposes, and one count of conspiracy to distribute Vicodin; while Chaudhry was separately charged with one count of paying kickbacks and one count of providing false information to federal agents, the U.S. Attorney said. Yaniz and Chaudhry were taken into custody on 13 NOV. The indictment was the result of “an extensive investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Indiana Attorney General-Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

* New Orleans: A New Orleans woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for her role in a scheme to bill the Medicaid program for nearly $4 million in fraudulent claims. U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon also on 17 NOV ordered 36-year-old Akasia Lee to pay about $3.9 million in restitution and a $1 million fine. Lee owned and operated A New Beginning of New Orleans Inc., which billed for providing personal care services to children who were Medicaid recipients. Federal prosecutors say Lee and four others who worked at A New Beginning conspired to forge and falsify prescriptions, time sheets and other documents in claims for Medicaid payments.

[Source: Fraud News Daily reports 16-30 Nov -09 ++]

Military History Anniversaries:

Dec 01 1918 - WWI: An American army of occupation enters Germany
Dec 01 1969 - Vietnam: America’s first draft lottery since 1942 is held.
Dec 02 1944 - WWII: General George S. Patton’s troops enter the Saar Valley and break through the Siegfried line.
Dec 03 1950 - Korea: The Chinese close in on Pyongyang, Korea, and UN forces withdraw southward. Pyongyang falls 2 days later.
Dec 03 1942 - WWII: U.S. planes make the first raids on Naples, Italy.
Dec 06 1941 - WWII: President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues a personal appeal to Emperor Hirohito to use his influence to avoid war.
Dec 07 1917 - WWI: The United States declares war on Austria-Hungary with only one dissenting vote in Congress.
Dec 07 1941 - WWII: Japanese attack Pearl Harbor without a declaration of war and land forces in Northern Borneo.
Dec 07 1942 - WWII: The U.S. Navy launches USS New Jersey, the largest battleship ever built.
Dec 08 1861 - Civil War: CSS Sumter captures the whaler Eben Dodge in the Atlantic. The American Civil War is now affecting the Northern whaling industry.
Dec 08 1941 - WWII: Roosevelt declares war on Japan noting the previous day’s events mark it as a date that will live in infamy.
Dec 08 1943 - WWII: U.S. carrier-based planes sink two cruisers and down 72 planes in the Marshall Islands.
Dec 08 1944 - WWII: The United States conducts the longest, most effective air raid on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima.
Dec 09 1950 - Cold War: Harry Gold gets 30 years imprisonment for passing atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union during World War II.
Dec 09 1992 - Operation Restore Hope: U.S. Marines land in Somalia to ensure food and medicine reaches the deprived areas of that country.
Dec 10 1898 - Spanish American War: The U.S. and Spain sign the Treaty of Paris, ending the war and ceding Spanish possessions, including the Philippines, to the United States.
Dec 10 1941 - WWII: Japanese troops invade the Philippine island of Luzon.
Dec 11 1862 - Civil War: Union General Ambrose Burnside occupies Fredericksburg and prepares to attack the Confederates under Robert E. Lee. The battle ends two days later with the bloody slaughter of onrushing Union troops at Marye's Heights.
Dec 11 1941 - WWII: Germany and fascist Italy declare was on America. The U.S. reciprocates.
Dec 12 1863 - Civil War: Orders are given in Richmond, Virginia, that no more supplies from the Union should be received by Federal prisoners.
Dec 13 1775 - The Continental Congress authorizes the building of 13 frigates.
Dec 13 1774 - Mass militiamen successfully attacked arsenal of Ft. William and Mary
[Source: Various Nov 09 ++]

Tax Burden for Kansas Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Kansas:

State Sales Tax: 5.3% (prescription drugs exempt); Cities and counties may add another 3%. Residents with income less than $30,300 and meet other qualifications can receive a sales tax refund on food.

Fuel & Cigarette Tax:

* Gasoline Tax: 25 cents/gallon.

* Diesel Fuel Tax: 27 cents/gallon.

* Cigarette Tax: 79 cents/pack of 20.

Personal Income Taxes:
Tax Rate Range: Low - 3.5%; High - 6.45%
Income Brackets: 3. Lowest - $15,000; Highest - $30,000. For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.
Personal Exemptions: Single - $2,250; Married - $4,500; Dependents - $2,250.
Standard Deduction: Single - $3,000; Married filing jointly - $6,000. Also;

* An additional $850 can be claimed if you are 65 years or older.

* An additional $850 can also be claimed if you are blind.

* If your spouse is 65 years or older, you can claim an additional $850.

* An additional $850 can also be claimed if your spouse is blind.

* If both you and your spouse are 65 years or older and blind, your standard deduction would be $8,800.

Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount. Up to $800 per contract, per taxpayer can be deducted if you have a long term care insurance contract.

Federal Income Tax Deduction: None

Retirement Income Taxes: Military, civil service, state/local government pensions are exempt. Out-of-state government pensions are fully taxed. Railroad retirement is fully exempt. Social Security is exempt for residents with a federal adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less (2008) will be exempt from any state tax on their Social Security benefits.

Retired Military Pay: Not taxed.

Military Disability Retired Pay: Retirees who entered the military before Sept. 24, 1975, and members receiving disability retirements based on combat injuries or who could receive disability payments from the VA are covered by laws giving disability broad exemption from federal income tax. Most military retired pay based on service-related disabilities also is free from federal income tax, but there is no guarantee of total protection.

VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits are not taxable because they generally are for disabilities and are not subject to federal or state taxes.
Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with state department of revenue office.

Property Taxes

Taxable property is assessed at its fair market value. Homeowners 55 and older who earn $29,700 or less are eligible for a refund of up to $700 under the Homestead Property Tax Refund Act. You must also meet one of the following requirements: Be 55 years of age or older, or be blind or disabled, or have a dependent child under 18 who lived with you all year whom you claim as a personal exemption. Additionally, 50% of Social Security benefits will be excluded from the definition of income for the purposes of qualifying for the program, resulting in additional property tax relief for seniors. A property tax refund is available for homeowners 65 or older with a household income of $16,800 or less. The refund is 45% or the property taxes paid. Those who claim this refund cannot claim a Homestead refund.

The effective property tax burden for renters is 15% of total rent. A homeowner with a residence valued at more than $350,000 or more is prohibited from participating in the program. Call 877-526-7738 or 785-296-2365 for property tax details or refer to http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/forms/k-40hbook08.pdf

Inheritance and Estate Taxes.

The Iowa inheritance tax ranges from 1% to 15% depending on the amount of the inheritance and the relationship of the recipient to the decedent. If all the property of the estate has a value of less than $25,000, no tax is due. The surviving spouse's share, regardless of the amount, is not subject to tax. Currently annual gifts in the amount of $12,000 or less are not taxable. For details refer to http://www.iowa.gov/tax/educate/78517.html   Iowa estate tax is not applicable for deaths on or after 1 JAN 05 due to changes in the IRS Code which replaced the state death tax credit with a state death tax deduction.

For further information, visit the Iowa Department of Revenue site http://www.iowa.gov/tax/index.html or call 515-281-3114.

[Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Nov 09 ++]

Veteran Legislation Status 29 Nov 09: For or a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community that have been introduced in the 111th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s Veteran Legislation attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html

    Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise, you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. [Source: RAO Bulletin Attachment 28 Nov 09 ++]

Have You Heard? The hunting dog.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, there was a retired sailor who was reputed to have the best hunting dog ever, by the name of "Chief".

Three Admirals went-up into the mountains and wanted to rent him. The old sailor said good hunting dog...gonna cost ya $50.00 a day." They agreed and three days later came back with the limit.

The next year they came back. "Chief" got better, gonna cost you $75.00 a day." Again they agreed, and 2 days later they came back with the limit.

The third year they came back and told the old sailor they had to have "Chief" even if it cost $100.00 a day. The old sailor replied, "You can have the worthless mutt for $5.00 a day, and I'm overcharging you $4.00!!"

The bewildered Admirals asked, "But we don't understand, what happened to him?"

"Well, a crew from the Navy base in Norfolk came up and rented him. One of the idiots called him Master Chief, and he's just been sitting on his ass barkin' ever since!!!"

Veteran Legislation Status 29 Nov 2009: Of the 4,158 House pieces of legislation introduced in the 111th Congress to date, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. Bill titles in green are new additions to this summary. A good indication on the likelihood a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html

    To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html The key to increasing cosponsorship is letting legislators know of their constituent’s views on issues. Those bills that include a website in red are being pushed by various veterans groups for passage and by clicking on that website you can forward a preformatted message to your legislator requesting he/she support the bill.

United States House website: http://www.house.gov/
To contact Members of the U.S House, go to: http://www.house.gov/Welcome.shtml


H.R.23 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (168)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12497121

H.R.32 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.315

Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (41)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 .

H.R.33 : Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and to eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions.

Sponsor: Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.82 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to expand retroactive eligibility of the Army Combat Action Badge to include members of the Army who participated in combat during which they personally engaged, or were personally engaged by, the enemy at any time on or after December 7, 1941.

Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.84 : Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.108 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.114 : Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Business Benefit Act to allow veterans to elect to use, with the approval of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, certain financial educational assistance to establish and operate certain business, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.147 : Designate a Portion of Tax Payment for Homeless Vets. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (87)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12922516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

H.R.161 : Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.162 : Senior Citizens' Tax Elimination Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in gross income of Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.174 : Colorado Vet Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the southern Colorado region.

Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 9/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged.

H.R.177 : Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act to provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health testing of such members, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.190 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State. Companion Bill S.239.

Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.198 : Health Care Tax Deduction Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for amounts paid for health insurance and prescription drug costs of individuals.

Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.208 : National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.644.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (119)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials and /or
http://capwiz.com/ngaus/mail/compose/?mailid=13672261&azip=92571&bzip=7311

H.R.210 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Study. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.217 : Vet Cemetery South Carolina Land Acquisition Purchase. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acquire a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.228 : Visual Impairment VA Scholarship Program to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility.

Sponsor: Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949 .

H.R.236 : Social Security Protection Act to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to protect Social Security beneficiaries against any reduction in benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Rules; House Budget

Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.237 : Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B.

Sponsor: Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12921516&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

H.R.247 : Protect Our Veterans Memorials Act of 2009 to amend section 1369 of title 18, United States Code, to extend Federal jurisdiction over destruction of veterans' memorials on State or local government property.

Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R.270 : TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill S.731.

Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (69)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12923561&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or
http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&False

H.R.293 : Homeless Women Veteran and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Program Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a grant program to provide reintegration services through programs and facilities that emphasize services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (13)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.294 : Veteran Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the reauthorization of the Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.295 : More Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to authorize appropriations for the veterans' workforce investment programs.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

H.R.296 : Armed Forces Disability Retirement Enhancement Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the process by which a member of the Armed Forces is retired for disability and becomes eligible for retirement pay, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.297 : Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.514

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.303 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (117)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.309 : American Heroes' Homeownership Assistance Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain current and former service members to receive a refundable credit for the purchase of a principal residence.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.333 : Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (117)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12406456&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] and http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12888756

H.R.341 : Suspend Limitations Period for Tax Refund on VA Retroactive Payments. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the running of periods of limitation for credit or refund of overpayment of Federal income tax by veterans while their service-connected compensation determinations are pending with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.347 : Congressional Gold Medal Award. To grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.

Sponsor: Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (297) – Related bill S.1055

Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 5/18/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

H.R.379 : State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Expansion Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that all taxpayers have the ability to deduct State and local general sales taxes. Companion Bill S.35.

Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (26)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.394 : Medal of Honor Pension. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension provided under that title by up to $1,000.

Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.403 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009 to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Green, Al [TX-9] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (41)

Committees: House Financial Services; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 6/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

H.R.423 : Samuel B. Moody Bataan Death March Compensation Act to provide compensation for certain World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese.

Sponsor: Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.433 : Ready Employers Willing to Assist Reservists' Deployment (REWARD) Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax equal to 50 percent of the compensation paid to employees while they are performing active duty service as members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard and of the compensation paid to temporary replacement employees.

Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (39)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.442 : Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2009 to provide an amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register certain firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (132)

Committees: House Judiciary; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R.449 : Health Care for America's Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the availability of health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by adjusting the income level for certain priority veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.456 : Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act to make service-disabled veterans eligible under the 8(a) business development program.

Sponsor: Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Small Business

Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

H.R.466 : Wounded Veteran Job Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit discrimination and acts of reprisal against persons who receive treatment for illnesses, injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the uniformed services.

Sponsor: Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.482 : Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act to authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I.

Sponsor: Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (34)

Committees: House Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

H.R.484 : Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act to require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program.

Sponsor: Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] (introduced 1/13/2009) Cosponsors (38)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.531 : Social Security Number Fraudulent Use Notification Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to require that the Commissioner of Social Security notify individuals of improper use of their Social Security account numbers.

Sponsor: Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] (introduced 1/14/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.568 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Major Action: 1/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.593 : CRSC for DoD Disability Severances Pay. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all veterans who have a combat-related disability, as defined under section 1413a of such title.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (49)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
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H.R.598 : American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 to provide for a portion of the economic recovery package relating to revenue measures, unemployment, and health.

Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/16/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Science and Technology; House Education and Labor; House Financial Services

House Reports: 111-8 Part 1, 111-8 Part 2

Latest Major Action: 1/28/2009 Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Ways and Means, H. Rept. 111-8, Part II.

Note: For further action, see H.R.1, which became Public Law 111-5 on 2/17/2009.

H.R.612 : Disabled Veterans Insurance Act of 2009 to amend section 1922A of title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of supplemental insurance available for totally disabled veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.613 : Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death.

Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 1/21/2009) Cosponsors (59)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
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H.R.620 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent veterans.

Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 1/21/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.627 : Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009 to amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (128) Related Bill S.235 Companion Bill S.414

Committees: House Financial Services

House Reports: 111-88

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-24

H.R.656 : Unemployed Early Retirement Plan Withdrawal without Penalty. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain individuals who have attained age 50 and who are unemployed to receive distributions from qualified retirement plans without incurring a 10 percent additional tax.

Sponsor: Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.667 : Heroes at Home Act of 2009 to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/23/2009) Cosponsors (43)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.668 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare Program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill S.307

Sponsor: Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] (introduced 1/23/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 1/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.671 : In Memory Medal for Forgotten Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to certain veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam War as a direct result of that service.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 1/26/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/6/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.731 : Jenny's Law to amend title 38, United States Code, to exclude individuals who have been convicted of committing certain sex offenses from receiving certain burial-related benefits and funeral honors which are otherwise available to certain veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and related individuals, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] (introduced 1/27/2009) Cosponsors (24)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/27/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.746 : Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for economic recovery payments to recipients of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/28/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.761 : Parental Burial in National Cemeteries (Corey Shea Act). To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for interment in national cemeteries.

Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.775 : Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation.

Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (302) Companion Bill S.535

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/17/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via or http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12541746

H.R.784 : VA Reports to Congress. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.785 : VA Outreach Training. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.543

Sponsor: Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] (introduced 1/28/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.806 : TRICARE Mail-Order Pharmacy Pilot Program Act to establish a mail-order pharmacy pilot program for TRICARE beneficiaries.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.809 : Widow Remarriage Age Decrease for DIC. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce from age 57 to age 55 the age after which the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12993371

H.R.811 : Retired Pay Restoration Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill S.546

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.816 : Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care.

Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (192)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
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H.R.819 : POW DIC Eligibility Date. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of former prisoners of war who die after that date.

Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/3/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.870 : Medicare Medically Necessary Dental Care Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under part B for medically necessary dental procedures.

Sponsor: Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.879 : Affordable Health Care Expansion Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a refundable credit against income tax for the purchase of private health insurance.

Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.883 : Social Security 1993 Tax Increase Repeal. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in income taxes on Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 2/4/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.917 : Combat-Related Injury Death Dependent Health Benefits. To increase the health benefits of dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die because of a combat-related injury.

Sponsor: Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.919 : Veterans' Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.929 : VA Vet Training Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Welch, Peter [VT] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.931 : Veterans Employment Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit with respect to certain unemployed veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.942 : Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises.

Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.944 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.950 : Vet Distance Learning Assistance. To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.952 : Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (94)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.953 : Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a deduction for travel expenses to medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities.

Sponsor: Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (52)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.954 : Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly insurance benefit thereunder shall be paid for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.972 : Retired Reserve Age for Health Benefits. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12992881

H.R.1004 : Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide an enhanced funding process to ensure an adequate level of funding for veterans health care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/11/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/11/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1016 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide advance appropriations authority for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (125)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

House Reports: 111-171

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-81

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12704096

H.R.1017 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, United States Code, to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (26) Related bill S.1204

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.1036 : Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of Physical Therapy Service within the Veterans Health Administration and to establish a fellowship program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care, and rehabilitation research.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.1037 : Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under title 38, United States Code.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

House Reports: 111-162
Latest Major 10/7/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R.1038 : Shingles Prevention Act to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for the shingles vaccine under the Medicare Program.

Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.1042 : Enemy POW Hospitalization Policy. To prohibit the provision of medical treatment to enemy combatants detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the same facility as a member of the Armed Forces or Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility.

Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.1075 : Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery (RECOVER) Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand access to hospital care for veterans in major disaster areas, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1088 : Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1089 : Veterans Employment Rights to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1098 : Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals pursuing internships or on-job training.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/10/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.1114 : National Cemetery Availability. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a process for determining whether a geographic area is sufficiently served by the national cemeteries located in that geographic area.

Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 2/23/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1163 : Establish Nebraska National Cemetery. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri.

Sponsor: Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] (introduced 2/24/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 2/24/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.1168 : Veterans Retraining Act of 2009 to amend chapter 42 of title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans with employment training assistance.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1169 : VA Adapted Housing/Automobile Assistance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.1170 : Adapted Housing Technology Grants. To amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1171 : Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1172 : VA Website Scholarship Info Addition. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors.

Sponsor: Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

House Reports: 111-164
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1182 : Military Spouses Residency Relief Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (208)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.1197 : Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009 to assign a higher priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain veterans who are recipients of the medal of honor.

Sponsor: Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (15)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.1203 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Companion Bill S.491

Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/25/2009) Cosponsors (201)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.

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H.R.1211 : Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.597

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (51)

House Reports: 111-165
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

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H.R.1232 : Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a full service hospital in Far South Texas.

Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.1263 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic enrollment of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and to clarify the method for computing certain annuities based on part-time service; to allow certain employees of the District of Columbia to have certain periods of service credited for purposes relating to retirement eligibility; and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.1289 : Social Security Fairness for the Terminally Ill Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (13)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1293 : Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/29/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1305 : Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act to provide for the issuance of a forever stamp to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Companion Bill S.572

Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (76)

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

H.R.1317 : Mortgage Payment Tax Credit. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to individuals who pay their mortgages on time.

Sponsor: Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] (introduced 3/4/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/4/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1335 : VA Catastrophically Disabled Copay. To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 3/5/2009) Cosponsors (40)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.1336 : Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the basic educational assistance program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 3/5/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1377 : VA Emergency Treatment Reimbursement to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/6/2009) Cosponsors (2) Companion Bill S.404.

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1388 : Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws. Passed 321-105 and placed on the Senate calendar.

Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (37) Related Bills: H.RES.250, H.RES.296, S.277

Committees: House Education and Labor,

House Reports: 111-37

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-13

H.R.1401 : VET Corps Act of 2009 to create a service corps of veterans called Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps focused on promoting and improving the service opportunities for veterans and retired members of the military by engaging such veterans and retired members in projects designed to meet identifiable public needs with a specific emphasis on projects to support veterans, including disabled and older veterans and retired members of the military.

Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

H.R.1416 : Southern New Jersey Veterans Comprehensive Health Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the capability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the medical-care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey.

Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/10/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.1428 : VA Parkinson's Disease Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson's disease.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/11/2009) Cosponsors (81)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/13/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

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H.R.1474 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.263.

Sponsor: Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (28)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1478 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009 to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 14 - 12.

H.R.1496 : Child Health Care Affordability Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for medical expenses for dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/12/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1513 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (10) Related bill S.407

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

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H.R.1519 : Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1522 : United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act to provide that service of the members of the organization known as the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II constituted active military service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.1532 : CMOH Statute of Limitations Elimination. To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the statute of limitations on the award of the congressional medal of honor.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1544 : Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war.

Sponsor: Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1546 : Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Sponsor: Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.1592 : Pay Increase Guarantee. To amend title 37, United States Code, to guarantee a pay increase for members of the uniformed services for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 of one-half of one percentage point higher than the Employment Cost Index.

Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] (introduced 3/18/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=13002241

H.R.1600 : TRICARE Autism Care. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 3/18/2009) Cosponsors (22)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1647 : Veterans' Employment Transition Support Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for hiring veterans.

Sponsor: Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1657 : Notification of Exposure to Harmful Material/Contaminants. To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.

Sponsor: Rep Schrader, Kurt [OR-5] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1658 : Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the recovery by the United States of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability.

Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.1681 : Veterans Transitional Assistance Act of 2009 to improve the coordination between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to better provide care to members and the Armed Forces and veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1694 : Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program.

Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (12) Related Bill S.1168

Committees: House Natural Resources; Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 7/15/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee on National Parks held.

H.R.1695 : Reserve Retired Pay Age Reduction. To amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55.

Sponsor: Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (introduced 3/24/2009) Cosponsors (48)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1701 : PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review For Heroes Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a special review board for certain former members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1708 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill S.700.

Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (103)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Transportation and Infrastructure

Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

H.R.1712 : Savings for Seniors Act of 2009 to amend title II of the Social Security Act to establish a Social Security Surplus Protection Account in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to hold the Social Security surplus, to provide for suspension of investment of amounts held in the Account until enactment of legislation providing for investment of the Trust Fund in investment vehicles other than obligations of the United States, and to establish a Social Security Investment Commission to make recommendations for alternative forms of investment of the Social Security surplus in the Trust Fund.

Sponsor: Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1716 : Property Tax Relief Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the deduction for real property taxes on the principal residences to all individuals whether or not they itemize other deductions.

Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1767 : Fair Housing Tax Credit Extension Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the first-time homebuyer credit retroactive to the beginning of 2008 and to permanently extend the credit.

Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 3/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1804 : Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 to amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (4) Related Bill H.R.108

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 307 , H.R. 1804 is laid on the table.

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H.R.1809 : TRICARE Prime Geographic Expansion. To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the geographical coverage of TRICARE Prime to include Puerto Rico and Guam.

Sponsor: Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1818 : Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1849 : World War I Memorial and Centennial Act of 2009 to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (101) Related Bill S.760

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

H.R.1851 : DOL Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to require that certain members of the Armed Forces receive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services provided by the Secretary of Labor before separating from active duty service.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1872 : Secure Electronic Military Separation Act to require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to develop and implement a secure electronic method of forwarding the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to the appropriate office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the State or other locality in which a member of the Armed Forces will first reside after the discharge or release of the member from active duty.

Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1879 : National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty.

Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805

H.R.1902 : Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes for the benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1919 : Federal Withholding Tax Repeal Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the withholding of income and social security taxes.

Sponsor: Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.1963 : Military Separation Transitional Services. To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services, to require that such members receive a psychological evaluation in addition to the physical examination they receive as part of their separation from active duty, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.1982 : Veterans Entitlement to Service (VETS) Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.1994 : Citizen Soldier Equality Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide equity between active and reserve component members of the Armed Forces in the computation of disability retired pay for members wounded in action.

Sponsor: Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

H.R.2014 : WASP Gold Medal Award. To award a congressional gold medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP").

Sponsor: Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (335) Companion Bill S.614

Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.2017 : MOAA Federal Charter. To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (140) Companion Bill S.832 Related Bill S.1449

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

H.R.2059 : SBP Disabled Child Trust. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.

Sponsor: Rep Foster, Bill [IL-14] (introduced 4/23/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2127 : Veterans Travel Equity Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the income eligibility and service-connected disability rating requirements for the veterans beneficiary travel program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] (introduced 4/27/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.2138 : Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts.

Sponsor: Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] (introduced 4/28/2009) Cosponsors (26) Related Bill S.902

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 5/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.

H.R.2180 : Disabled Vet Housing Loan Fee Waiver. To amend title 38, United States Code, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 4/29/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

House Reports: 111-163
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 81.

H.R.2243 : Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (70)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
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H.R.2244 : Single Parent Protection Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an individual who is entitled to receive child support a refundable credit equal to the amount of unpaid child support and to increase the tax liability of the individual required to pay such support by the amount of the unpaid child support.

Sponsor: Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.2254 : The Agent Orange Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (203)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
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H.R.2257 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (None) - Related Bill S.315

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.2263 : Disability Equity Act to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting periods for people with disabilities for entitlement to disability benefits and Medicare, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 5/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.2270 : Benefits for Qualified World War II Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of a compensation fund to make payments to qualified World War II veterans on the basis of certain qualifying service.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/6/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.2302 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit recoupments of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay.

Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 5/7/2009) Cosponsors (5) Companion bill S.1008

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via
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H.R.2342 : Wounded Warrior Project Family Caregiver Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a family caregiver program to furnish support services to family members certified as family caregivers who provide personal care services for certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 5/11/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.2365 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits under titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act.

Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 5/12/2009) Cosponsors (53)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 5/12/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.2379 : Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain veterans an opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans' Group Life Insurance.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 5/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.2389 : Veterans' Group Life Insurance Improvement Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] (introduced 5/13/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.2405 : Richard Helm Veterans' Access to Local Health Care Options and Resources Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide veterans enrolled in the health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs the option of receiving covered health services through facilities other than those of the Department.

Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/15/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.2412 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas.

Sponsor: Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.2419 : Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a medical surveillance system to identify members of the Armed Forces exposed to chemical hazards resulting from the disposal of waste in Iraq and Afghanistan, to prohibit the disposal of waste by the Armed Forces in a manner that would produce dangerous levels of toxins, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (23)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

H.R.2429 : Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009 to require the establishment of a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits under title II of the Social Security Act.

Sponsor: Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (15)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.2456 : Veterans Education Tuition Support Act of 2009 to amend section 484B of Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to students who withdraw from an institution of higher education to serve in the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 5/18/2009) Cosponsors (33) Related Bills: H.R.2561, S.1603

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

H.R.2474 : Veterans Educational Equity Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that in the case of an individual entitled to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program who is enrolled at an institution of higher education in a State in which the public institutions charge only fees in lieu of tuition, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall allow the individual to use all or any portion of the amounts payable for the established charges for the program of education to pay any amount of the individual's tuition or fees for that program of education.

Sponsor: Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (48)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.2486 : Vet Organization Funeral Detail Support. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for support of funeral ceremonies for veterans provided by details that consist solely of members of veterans organizations and other organizations, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2504 : Homeless Vet VA Appropriation Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.2505 : Reaching Rural Veterans through Telehealth Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to utilize tele-health platforms to assist in the treatment of veterans living in rural areas who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.2506 : Veterans Hearing and Assessment Act to direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure the members of the Armed Forces receive mandatory hearing screenings before and after deployments and to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to mandate that tinnitus be listed as a mandatory condition for treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excellence and that research on the preventing, treating, and curing of tinnitus be conducted.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2546 : Right to Display Service Flag. To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged.

Sponsor: Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (30)

Committees: House Financial Services

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

H.R.2553 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances.

Sponsor: Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (12) Related bill S.1128

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2559 : Help Our Homeless Veterans Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a national media campaign directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming homeless.

Sponsor: Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (13)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.2561 : Help Student Soldiers Act to amend section 484B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to forgive certain loans for servicemembers who withdraw from an institution of higher education as a result of service in the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (20) Related Bills: H.R.2456, S.1603

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

H.R.2573 : Atomic Veterans Relief Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the eligibility criteria for presumption of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.2583 : Women Veterans Access to Care Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve health care for women veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (8)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.2585 : Protecting the Retirement of Our Troops by Ensuring Compensation is Timely Act to delay any presumption of death in connection with the kidnapping in Iraq or Afghanistan of a retired member of the Armed Forces to ensure the continued payment of the member's retired pay.

Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2586 : Honor Guard 13-fold Flag Recitation Option. To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from authorizing honor guards to participate in funerals of veterans interred in national cemeteries unless the honor guards may offer veterans' families the option of having the honor guard perform a 13-fold flag recitation, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (46)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.2594 : Dependent State Plot VA Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a plot allowance for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in State cemeteries.

Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (47)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.2598 : Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon Gold Medal. To grant a congressional gold medal to American military personnel who fought in defense of Bataan/Corregidor/Luzon between December 7, 1941 and May 6, 1942.

Sponsor: Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (23)

Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.2621 : Travel Expense Reimbursement Time Requirement. To amend title 10, United States Code, to use a time requirement for determining eligibility for the reimbursement of certain travel expenses.

Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2638 : Veterans Stamp to Honor American Veterans Act to provide for the issuance of a veterans health care stamp.

Sponsor: Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Oversight and Government Reform; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.2642 : Veterans Missing in America Act of 2009 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist in the identification of unclaimed and abandoned human remains to determine if any such remains are eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.2647 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (by request) (introduced 6/2/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.2990

Committees: House Armed Services

House Reports: 111-166, 111-166 Part 2
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-84

H.R.2672 : Help Veterans Own Franchises Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow credits for the establishment of franchises with veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (18)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.2673 : Surviving Spouse Pension Upgrade. To amend title 38, United States Code, to match the pension amount paid to surviving spouses of veterans who served during a period of war to the pension amount paid to such veterans.

Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.2683 : To establish the American Veterans Congressional Internship Program.

Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Administration

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

H.R.2689 : D-Day Memorial. To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, as a unit of the National Park System.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (7) Related bill S.1207

Committees: House Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.2696 : Servicemembers’ Rights Protection Act to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the enforcement of rights afforded under that Act.

Sponsor: Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 10/28/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Provisions of measure incorporated into H.R. 3949.

H.R.2698 : Veterans’ and Survivors’ Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (39)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.2699 : Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act to improve the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces, to enhance counseling available to family members of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (27)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2713 : Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the service disabled veterans' insurance program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.2734 : Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009 to amend section 1781 of title 38, United States Code, to provide medical care to family members of disabled veterans who serve as caregivers to such veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.2735 : Homeless Vet Service Program Improvements. To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.2738 : Family Caregiver Travel Expense Compensation. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 6/4/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.2756 : Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow eligible veterans to use qualified veterans mortgage bonds to refinance home loans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] (introduced 6/8/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 6/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.2771 : Military Overpayment Fairness Act of 2009 to amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to provide a more equitable process by which the military departments may recover overpayments of military pay and allowances erroneously paid to a member of the Armed Forces when the overpayment is due to no fault of the member, to expand Department discretion regarding remission or cancellation of indebtedness, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 6/9/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2774 : Families of Veterans Financial Security Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the extension of the duration of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for totally disabled veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.2788 : Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act to designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

Sponsor: Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] (introduced 6/10/2009) Cosponsors (45)

Committees: House Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

H.R.2830 : Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) for Veterans Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give priority to unemployed veterans in furnishing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to certain veterans assigned to priority level 8.

Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 6/11/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.2836 : National Guard and Reservist Suicide Prevention and Community Response Act to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to improve and expand suicide prevention and community healing and response training under the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

Sponsor: Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] (introduced 6/11/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.2879 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/15/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.2898 : Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide support services for family caregivers of disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 6/16/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.2926 : VA Special Care for Vietnam-era & Persian Gulf War Vets Exposed to Herbicides. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide, without expiration, hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and veterans of the Persian Gulf War.

Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

H.R.2928: Post-9/11 GI Bill Apprenticeship/OJT Program. To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.2965 : Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.: Amended with H.AMDT.291 by Rep. David Reichert, D-WA to give preference to organizations that are located in under represented states and regions, or are women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, or minority-owned when awarding grants for Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach efforts authorized under Title III (rural development and outreach).

Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Small Business; House Science and Technology

House Reports: 111-190 Part 1, 111-190 Part 2

Latest Major Action: 7/13/2009 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1233 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

H.R.2968 : SGLI/VGLI Accelerated Death Benefit. To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill persons insured under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance or Veterans' Group Life Insurance.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Latest Major Action: 7/9/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.2970 : Federal Law Enforcement Officer Vet Age Limit. To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a Federal law enforcement officer in the case of any individual who has been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces under honorable conditions, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

H.R.2974 : Disabled Vet Health Savings Account Eligibility. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals eligible for veterans health benefits to contribute to health savings accounts.

Sponsor: Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Latest Major Action: 6/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.2980 : Survivor Benefit Time Limit for 100% Disabled Vets. To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Latest Major Action: 6/26/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.2990 : Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 to provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 6/23/2009) Cosponsors (25) Related Bill H.R.2647

Committees: House Armed Services; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Natural Resources; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/25/2009 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 572 , H.R. 2990 is laid on the table.

H.R.3067 : Health Security for All Americans Act of 2009 to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform Medicare payments to physicians and certain other providers and improve Medicare benefits, to encourage the offering of health coverage by small businesses, to provide tax incentives for the purchase of health insurance by individuals, to increase access to health care for veterans, to address the nursing shortage, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor; House Ways and Means; House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 8/3/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.3073 : Pending Vet Homeless Grant Program. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Sponsor: Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.3087 : Establish VA Claim Decision Deadlines. To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a deadline for decisions with respect to claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] (introduced 6/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/10/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.3155 : Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] (introduced 7/9/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/28/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3199 : Emergency Medic Transition (EMT) Act of 2009 to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce

Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.R.3200 : America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means; House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Budget

Latest Major Action: 10/14/2009 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 168.

H.R.3223 : Vet Owned Businesses VA Contracts. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/15/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.3266 : Veteran Assistance Dog Grant Program. To establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] (introduced 7/20/2009) Cosponsors (19) Related Bill S.1485

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

H.R.3280 : Rural Vet Transportation Grant Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to assist veterans in highly rural areas by providing transportation to medical centers.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.3281 : Vet Care Rural Area Demonstration Project. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out demonstration projects related to providing care for veterans in rural areas.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.3282 : Vet Readjustment and Mental Health Care Services. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain veterans with readjustment and mental health care services, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.3283 : VA Travel Reimbursement for Veterans Annual Review. To amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for reimbursement of certain travel at a set rate, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.3324 : Stable Future for Veterans' Children Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.

Sponsor: Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] (introduced 7/24/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

H.R.3337 : Post-9/11 Veterans' Job Training Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the use of entitlement under Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program for the pursuit of apprenticeships and on-job training.

Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] (introduced 7/24/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

H.R.3349 : NAIV Charter. To grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/27/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill S.1520

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 8/19/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

H.R.3365 : Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2009 to provide Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (28)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Energy and Commerce; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.3366 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits.

Sponsor: Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.3368 : Honor Act of 2009 to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] (introduced 7/28/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services; House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.3403 : Supporting Military Families Act of 2009 to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to provide leave for family members of members of regular components of the Armed Forces, and leave to care for covered veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] (introduced 7/30/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections

H.R.3407 : Severely Injured Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to benefits for severely injured veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 7/30/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/31/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.3441 : Combat Vet VA Enrollment. To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.3467 : Veterans Education Enhancement and Fairness Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

H.R.3484 : VA Work Study Authority. To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

H.R.3485 : Veterans Pensions Protection Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.3491 : Thomas G. Schubert Agent Orange Fairness Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain herbicide agents, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.3507 : VA Survivor Education Rate Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the rates of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

H.R.3522 : Veterans Hardship Outreach for Priority Eights (HOPE) Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants and assistance to States to conduct outreach to veterans regarding hardship and priority under the Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system.

Sponsor: Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] (introduced 7/31/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/11/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

H.R.3544 : National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide guidelines for the establishment of new national cemeteries by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 9/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.3554 : National Guard Education Equality Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] (introduced 9/10/2009) Cosponsors (80)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.3573 : Call to Service Homebuyer Credit Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent a change in residency as a result of extended official duty in the uniformed services, Foreign Service, or intelligence community from triggering the repayment provisions of the first time homebuyer credit, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related bills: H.R.2562

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.3575 : Vet Mortgage Life Insurance Increase. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the maximum amount of veterans' mortgage life insurance available under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3577 : Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United State Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/15/2009) Cosponsors (13)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

H.R.3620 : Hiring Heroes Tax Incentive Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for employing members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard and veterans recently separated from the Armed Forces.

Sponsor: Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] (introduced 9/22/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 9/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.3657 : USPHS & NOAA GI Bill Benefit Transfer. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for members of the United States Public Health Service and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Corps to transfer unused benefits under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to family members, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] (introduced 9/25/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3661 : GI Bill Housing Stipend. To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals pursuing programs of education offered through distance learning, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 9/29/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/29/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3672 : Social Security COLA Fix for 2010 Act to provide for an increase of $150 in Social Security benefits for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year, and to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the requirement that there be a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for an adjustment in the contribution and benefit base to occur.

Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 9/29/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 9/29/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.3677: Save Our Seniors' Social Security Act of 2009 to provide $280 relief payments to recipients of Social Security and railroad retirement benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] (introduced 9/30/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Ways and Means; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Appropriations

Latest Major Action: 10/1/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

H.R.3685 : Inclusion of VetSuccess on VA Website. To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website.

Sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 9/30/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/30/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3719 : Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 10/6/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3787 : Treat Certain Reserve Time as Active Duty Time. To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Sponsor: Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] (introduced 10/8/2009) Cosponsors (30) Related bill: S.1780

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3796 : Homeless Vet Assistor’s Per Diem Grants. To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve per diem grant payments for organizations assisting homeless veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/13/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/13/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3813 : Veterans Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the approval of certain programs of education for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/14/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3843 : Transparency for America's Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to publish redacted medical quality-assurance records of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Internet website of the Department.

Sponsor: Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] (introduced 10/15/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/15/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3885 : Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.

Sponsor: Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] (introduced 10/21/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

H.R.3886 : Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse certain volunteers who provide funeral honors details at the funerals of veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3906 : Low Income Vet Family Permanent Housing. To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.

Sponsor: Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] (introduced 10/22/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3908 : Families of Disabled Veterans Work Opportunity Act of 2009 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide the work opportunity tax credit with respect to a designated family member of a veteran with a service-connected disability if the veteran is unable to work.

Sponsor: Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] (introduced 10/22/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 10/22/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.3926 : Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly conduct a study on the incidence of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

Sponsor: Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] (introduced 10/26/2009) Cosponsors (42)

Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.3943 : Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 10/27/2009) Cosponsors (70) Related Bill S.

Committees: House Education and Labor; House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.3948 : Test Prep for Heroes Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for entitlement under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to payment for test preparatory courses, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] (introduced 10/28/2009) Cosponsors (27)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/28/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3949 : Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 10/28/2009) Cosponsors (22)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/4/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.3998 : Compensation for Combat Veterans Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the service treatable as service engaged in combat with the enemy for utilization of non-official evidence for proof of service-connection in a combat-related disease or injury.

Sponsor: Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] (introduced 11/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4006 : Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for Indian veterans health care coordinators, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] (introduced 11/3/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/3/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4028 : Rural Veterans Services Outreach and Training Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve services for veterans residing in rural areas.

Sponsor: Rep Wu, David [OR-1] (introduced 11/5/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4043 : Military Spouse Pin Act to amend title 10, United States Code, to recognize the spouses of members of the Armed Forces who are serving in combat or have served in combat through the presentation of an official lapel button.

Sponsor: Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.4044 : Vet Plot & Headstone/Marker Allowance. To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to restore plot allowance eligibility for veterans of any war and to restore the headstone or marker allowance for eligible persons.

Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (35)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4045 : Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase burial benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (40)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4048 : Rural Area TBI Pilot Program. To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas.

Sponsor: Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4051 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related bill: S.2743

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

H.R.4054 : Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2009. To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as disability for purposes of such titles.

Sponsor: Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (50) Related Bill: S.2759

Committees: House Ways and Means

Latest Major Action: 11/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.4058 : Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act of 2009 to amend title 10, United States Code, to establish the Veterans to Work Program providing for the employment of individuals, especially veterans, who participate in apprenticeship programs on designated military construction projects, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] (introduced 11/6/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: House Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/18/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

H.R.4063 : WWII Messman/Steward Congressional Gold Medal. To grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the messman and steward branches of United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard that served during World War II.

Sponsor: Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] (introduced 11/7/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: House Financial Services; House Administration

Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.4064 : Post-9/11 EAP Improvements. To make certain improvements in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.

Sponsor: Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] (introduced 11/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/7/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4073 : Rural Veterans Reimbursement Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the payments to certain veterans for certain travel expenses.

Sponsor: Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] (introduced 11/16/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4121 : Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2009 to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish a commission to study judicial review of the determination of veterans' benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] (introduced 11/19/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: House Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

H.R.4156 : Increasing Housing Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2009 to provide for certain improvements in the laws relating to housing for veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] (introduced 11/19/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: House Financial Services

Latest Major Action: 11/19/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Senate: Veteran Legislation Status 30 Nov 09: Of the 2,806 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 111th Congress to date, the following are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. Bill titles in green are new additions to this summary. A good indication on the likelihood a bill of being forwarded to the House or Senate for passage and subsequently being signed into law by the President is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. An alternate way for it to become law is if it is added as an addendum to another bill such as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and survives the conference committee assigned to iron out the difference between the House and Senate bills. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s text, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To separately determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html To review a numerical list of all bills introduced refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html The key to increasing cosponsorship is letting legislators know of their constituent’s views on issues. Those bills that include a website in red are being pushed by various veterans groups for passage and by clicking on that website you can forward a preformatted message to your legislator requesting he/she support the bill.

S.35 : IRS Sales Tax Permanent Deduction. A bill to provide a permanent deduction for State and local general sales taxes. Companion Bill H.R.369.

Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.66 : Disabled Vet Space A. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft.

Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.67 : Disabled POW Commissary/Exchange Use. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores.

Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.68 : Filipino Service Certification. A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to determine the validity of the claims of certain Filipinos that they performed military service on behalf of the United States during World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.94 : Long-Term Care Family Accessibility Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a nonrefundable tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums.

Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David [LA] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Major Action: 1/13/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.239 : Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans in each of the 48 contiguous States are able to receive services in at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the State or receive comparable services provided by contract in the State.

Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 1/14/2009) Cosponsors (1) Companion Bill H.R.190

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.246 : Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the quality of care provided to veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 1/14/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.252 : Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, to improve the provision of health care veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/dav/issues/alert/?alertid=14008476&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.263 : Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1474.

Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] (introduced 1/15/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.274 : Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an incentive to hire unemployed veterans.

Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 1/16/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.296 : Fair Tax Act of 2009. A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.307 : Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans. Companion Bill H.R.668

Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 1/22/2009) Cosponsors (15)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 1/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.315 : Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.32

Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 1/26/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.2257

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.347 : Vet Hand Loss Traumatic Injury Protection. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to distinguish between the severity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a qualifying loss of a non-dominant hand for purposes of traumatic injury protection under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 1/29/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.402 : Keeping Our Promise to America's Military Veterans Act. A bill to improve the lives of our Nation's veterans and their families and provide them with the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (4)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.404 : Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1377.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/10/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.407 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009. A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (17) Related bill H.R.1513

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Senate Reports: 111-24
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-37 [GPO: Text, PDF]

S.423 : Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize advance appropriations for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/12/2009) Cosponsors (56)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 8/6/2009 Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 101.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12703276

S.491 : Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums.

Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (45) Companion Bill H.R.1203

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.498 : Vet Dental Insurance. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 2/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 2/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.514 : Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance vocational rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.297.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.535 : SBP DIC Offset Elimination. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.775.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 3/5/2009) Cosponsors (54)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/5/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senator send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=14275496&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.543 : Veteran and Servicemember Family Caregiver Support Act of 2009. A bill to require a pilot program on training, certification, and support for family caregivers of seriously disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces to provide caregiver services to such veterans and members, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 3/6/2009) Cosponsors (14) Companion Bill H.R.785.

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/6/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.546 : Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service of Combat-Related Special Compensation. Companion Bill H.R.811.

Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 3/9/2009) Cosponsors (44)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12904686&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.572 : Purple Heart Forever Stamp. A bill to provide for the issuance of a "forever stamp" to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Companion Bill H.R.1305.

Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 3/11/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009 Referred to Senate subcommittee. Status: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security.

S.597 : Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1211

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 3/16/2009) Cosponsors (20)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.606 : Veterans Corps Program. A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish a Veterans Corps program.

Sponsor: Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Major Action: 3/17/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.614 : WASP Gold Medal Award. A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP").

Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 3/17/2009) Cosponsors (75) Companion Bill H.R.2014

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-40 [GPO: Text, PDF]

S.642 : Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009. A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish registries of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed to such hazards, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.644 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay.

Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (13) Companion Bill H.R.208 Related Bill S.831

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/ncoausa/issues/alert/?alertid=12995086&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
or http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12960556

S.658 : Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (10)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.663 : Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/19/2009) Cosponsors (47)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.669 : Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 3/23/2009) Cosponsors (17)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/16/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 78.

S.691 : Colorado National Cemetery for Veterans. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in southern Colorado region, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.699 : South Texas Veterans' Hospital. A bill to provide for the construction by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a full service hospital in Far South Texas.

Sponsor: Sen Cornyn, John [TX] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.700 : Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes. Companion Bill H.R.1708.

Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 3/25/2009) Cosponsors (19)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 3/25/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.728 : Veterans' Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans' insurance benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/26/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/7/2009 Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 155.

S.731 : TRICARE Coverage For "Gray Area" Reservists. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve. Companion Bill H.R.270

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/26/2009) Cosponsors (23)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805&False&False

S.734 : Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain physicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas and to improve the provision of health care to veterans in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 3/30/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 3/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.746 : Nebraska National Cemetery. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.760 : National World War I Memorial. A bill to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the "National World War I Memorial".

Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.1849

Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 12/3/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee on National Parks. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-366. 2:30 p.m.

S.768 : Bataan Gold Medal Initiative. A bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the soldiers from the United States who were prisoners of war at Bataan during World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Udall, Tom [NM] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.772 : Honor Act of 2009. A bill to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] (introduced 4/1/2009) Cosponsors (12)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.793 : Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility.

Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.801 : Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to waive charges for humanitarian care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to family members accompanying veterans severely injured after September 11, 2001, as they receive medical care from the Department and to provide assistance to family caregivers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (27)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 9/25/2009 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 167.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13104956&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.820 : Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the automobile assistance allowance for veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.821 : VA Copay Collection Prohibition. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read the second time and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.831 : National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/20/2009) Cosponsors (27) Related Bill S.644

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805

S.832 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 4/20/2009) Cosponsors (41) Companion Bill H.R.2017 Related Bill S.1449

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-95 [GPO: Text, PDF]

S.842 : VA Home Loan Payoff to Mortgagers. A bill to repeal the sunset of certain enhancements of protections of servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay mortgage holders unpaid balances on housing loans guaranteed by Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/21/2009 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.847 : SBP Education Assistance Limitation Exclusion. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that utilization of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs.

Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 4/21/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.883 : Medal of Honor Coin. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861, America's highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States, to honor the American military men and women who have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, and to promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, can challenge fate and change the course of history.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/23/2009) Cosponsors (85)

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.902 : Veteran's Treatment Courts. A bill to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts.

Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/27/2009) Cosponsors (3) Related Bill H.R.2127

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 944 - The Wounded Warrior Transition Assistance Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretaries of the military departments to give wounded members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces the option of remaining on active duty during the transition process in order to continue to receive military pay and allowances, to authorize members to reside at their permanent places of residence during the process, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 4/30/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 4/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13266571&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.977 : Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/5/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.998 : Arthur Woolweaver, Jr., Social Security Act Improvements for the Terminally Ill Act. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 5/7/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 5/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1008 : Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to limit requirements of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from members of the Armed Forces subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay.

Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 5/7/2009) Cosponsors (5) Companion bill H.R.2302

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/7/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13682656&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] or
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13967481&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.1015 : Enhanced Disability Compensation for Certain Disabled Veterans. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/11/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/11/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.1016 : Vet Disability Compensation Award upon Separation. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the commencement of the period of payment of original awards of compensation for veterans who are retired or separated from the Uniformed services for disability.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 5/11/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/11/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.1042 : Illegal Garnishment Prevention Act. A bill to prohibit the use of funds to promote the direct deposit of Veterans and Social Security benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits.

Sponsor: Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (2)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1055 : Gold Medal Award for 100th Inf Bn & 442nd RCT. A bill to grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.

Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (35) Related bill H.R.347

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.1106 : Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the provision of medical and dental readiness services to certain members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve based on medical need, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 5/20/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/20/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1109 : PRO-VETS Act of 2009. A bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes or the benefits, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 5/20/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1118 : DIC Compensation Rate Increase to 55%. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1128 : Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act. A bill to authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other circumstances.

Sponsor: Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (3) Related bill H.R.2553

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1160 : Homes for Heroes Act of 2009. A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.

Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/1/2009) Cosponsors (11)

Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Major Action: 6/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

S.1166 : Voluntary Support for Reservists and National Guard Members Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate part or all of any income tax refund to support reservists and National Guard members.

Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Finance

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1168 : Nationally Significant Battlefields Protection. A bill to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program.

Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (1) Related Bill H.R.1694

Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Latest Major Action: 7/15/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-92.

S.1169 : Uniformed Services with Autism (USA) Heroes Act . A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 6/3/2009) Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 6/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1204 : Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/8/2009) Cosponsors (5) Related bill H.R.1017

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1237 : Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs to include male homeless veterans with minor dependents and to establish a grant program for reintegration of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 6/11/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1337 : Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2009. A bill to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas.

Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 6/24/2009) Cosponsors (6)

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.1347 : Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009. A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 6/24/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 6/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

To support this bill and/or contact your Senators send a message via
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13791596&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.1394 : Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by claimants, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 7/6/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1427 : Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 7/9/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1429 : Servicemembers Mental Health Care Commission Act. A bill to establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health care providers to assist such veterans and members, to ensure such veterans are not discriminated against, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 7/9/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1449 : MOAA Federal Charter. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (None) Related Bill H.R.2017 & S,832

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.1450 : Deceased Servicemen Parental Nursing Home Care. A bill to enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces.

Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.1452 : COMBAT PTSD Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 7/14/2009) Cosponsors (5)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 7/14/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.1467 : Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide coverage under Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for adverse reactions to vaccinations administered by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen McCaskill, Claire [MO] (introduced 7/16/2009) Cosponsors (None)

Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.

[Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/111search.html 30 Nov 09 ++]

15 November 2009

FPO/APO Mail Delivery Policy Update 02 (Overseas Exclusion)
VA Lawsuit (Randen Harvey) Update 01 ($218,500 Settlement)
VA Family Caregiver Assistance (S.1963)
Tricare User Fee Update 43 (Chain E-mail Claim)
TriWest Lung Health Service (COPD)
VA Claims Backlog Update 30 (Progress Report)
VA Claims Backlog Update 31 (TVC $400,000 Grant)
Vet Jobs Update 11 (H.R.4058)
Medicare Fraud Update 26 (1-15 Nov 09)
Medicaid Fraud Update 02 (1-15 Nov 09)
Veteran Statistics Update 01 (Public Opinion Polls)
Tricare OTC Demonstration Project Update 01 (Extended)
Veteran's Federal Employment Update 06 (Executive Order)
TFL Cost Matrix (FY 2010)
FPO/APO Charity Policy (Humanitarian Aid)
Texas Veteran Tuition Update 01 (Hazlewood Act)
California DVA Audit (Delivery of Services)
PTSD Update 32 (Groundbreaking Court Decision)
PTSD Update 33 (Treatment Assessment)
Selective Service System Update 06 (Current Status)
Cold War Medal Update 03 (S.2743)
NPRC Military Records Update 03 (Request Policy Clarification)
TRDP Update 07 (Rate Changes)
Independent Budget FY 2011 (Critical Issues)
Legislation of Interest Update 12 (House Vet Bill Approvals)
Health Care Reform Update 15 (Vet Impact Myths)
Layaway (BBB Advise)
VA Homeless Vets Update 12 (5 Year Plan)
Heart Bypass Surgery (VA Study Results)
VA Lawsuit - Spine Surgery ($4.34M Award)
Tricare Pharmacy Policy Update 04 (Mail-Order/Retail Contacts)
Charity Solicitations (Questions to ask)
Enlistment Update 03 (Dependent Criteria)
VA Disability Benefits (Rating Impact)
MIA DNA (ID Samples Needed)
SNAP (Food Assistance)
Still Tasty (Keep it or Toss it)
VA Life Insurance (Summary)
SBP DIC Offset Update 21 (S.535 Support Needed)
TSP Update 24 (OCT 09 Slippage)
TSP Update 25 (Mutual Fund option)
Medication Memory Aid (Taking Pills)
Military History Anniversaries (Nov 16-30 Summary)
Tax Burden for Iowa Retirees (2009)
Have You Heard (Sublime Wisdom)
Veteran Legislation Status 13 Nov 09 (Where we stand)

All Hands: This notice is to inform you of the Baguio Retiree Assistance Office (RAO) mission; the availability of informational assistance to fellow veterans; and the purpose of the Director's associated Newsletter. The service provides a POC for anyone who has queries on Veteran issues and/or residence in this Geographic area. It also provides a means for Veterans to keep abreast of benefit changes and/or pending Veteran related legislation.

    Bulletin Updates are sent twice a month...on the 1st & 15th. Twice a month allows time for readers to digest the info and make any inquiries they may have. It is understood that not every article that goes out is applicable to every reader but over a period of time every reader will find some article(s) of interest to him or her personally. Unfortunately, the Bulletin cannot be sent to some users of AOL and a few other servers. It does not meet their big Brother policy of deciding what their readers are allowed to receive. A few other servers such as Juno & Netzero allow their readers to receive the Bulletin but will not allow me to communicate with them. I can receive their messages but they cannot receive mine. Anyone currently in receipt of the Bulletin receiving duplicate copies let me know. Those who no longer want to receive it just click Reply and add the word “Remove” in the subject line. If you decide you no longer want the Bulletin feel free to drop me a line in the future if you ever need any assistance.

    The Baguio Retiree Assistance Office [RAO] is basically an "answer place" for all Veterans and Expats in addition to providing FPO mail services; Forms; U.S. & RP Government Services; etc.. There are no longer any bases in the Philippines and the Embassy is 180 km away...so over the last 18 years it has become the unofficial source for just about everything related to Government Programs impacting on those residing in this Geographic area. Because of our remote location...the majority of Veterans' assistance is provided by email. All questions received via email are responded to with either an answer or a source of where to obtain an answer. If you do not receive an answer within 72 hours, your inquiry was probably never received...and you should re-transmit it. The variety of questions, and subsequent research to answer them, has resulted in the development of a 2500+ page Library of articles, a 70+ page index of article titles available upon request for recall, and a Email Directory of over 70,000 email addees for dissemination of the newsletter to other RAO/RSO's, Military Fraternal Organizations and interested Veterans worldwide. The objective is to provide Veteran related information to at least one member of every Veteran Group worldwide who can act as a point of contact to pass on any information felt germane to that Organization's membership. Through their involvement, the Bulletin info presently reaches approximately half a million Veterans and/or Dependents.

    Our RAO meets the criteria, and is recognized as an "Independent RAO" and source of Veteran related info. However the Bulletin is not an "Official" DoD sanctioned newsletter. The articles provide items taken from a wide variety of sources that have been edited or editorialized for retransmission. They also include info to ease transition into the Philippines for those who may be considering relocating there. The information contained therein is just that...informational (FYI). The objective is only to PASS THE WORD in order to keep our Military Community informed. It is the responsibility of readers to verify exactly how information applies to them if they intend to expend funds or time in following up on the data provided in the articles. Unless you have questions concerning Veteran's issues to be answered, there is no need for comments. Although it's nice to get the occasional "thanks for the info", it's not necessary, and just adds to the 50+ emails I receive daily. I do not send out jokes - prayers - religious material or music - chain letters - photos - etc., so please reciprocate by not sending these to me. Nor do I normally participate in "political stuff" unless it is essential to an article being presented in the Bulletin. I would greatly appreciate that you not forward personal political comments/beliefs/prejudices, but I am always open to anything that could benefit other Veterans.

    Updates are sent either Bcc or via a Newsletter Mailing List provider, so recipients are not bothered with large headers nor have their email addee revealed to others. If you want to know if anybody else in your organization is receiving the Bulletin just ask. Articles contain subjects of interest to all Veterans regardless of Geographic location. The existing addees on the directory are about 2%:98% local vs. worldwide. The Bulletin content is for use in any way you see fit and retransmit is encouraged. Sources are provided wherever possible so readers can re-validate info if they desire. The primary source is always listed first and if multiple sources are used it is indicated by "++" after the primary source in the source line. Sometimes my Internet servers are inhibited in their ability to send to other servers worldwide because of filters incorporated by these servers to block spam. However I can always receive incoming messages. If you do not receive your Bulletin just let me know. Request all communications be sent to my primary email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net even though you may be receiving the Bulletin from some other addee. The email addee of any veteran or military fraternal organization can be added to the directory if desired. It only takes a click on the "Unsubscribe" line at the end of each Bulletin to drop anyone off later if they find the Updates are of no use to them. Of course, there are no charges, advertisements, or solicitations associated this service. Nor do we accept donations.

    If you are interested in other articles contained within the Bulletin, they can be forwarded via email. Attachments sent should be virus free, since it is our policy NEVER to open incoming attachments because they might contain a virus. My installed Norton Anti Virus program tells me about 1% do.

    At http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html you can view the current and review past Bulletins sent in the last 5 years. Bear in mind that the articles shown in these Bulletins were only valid at the time they were written (normally indicated in the source line) and may have since been updated. At this site, you can also find the Bulletin Index to identify any articles you may want to recall. They will be provided upon email request.

Bulletin Updates

1. Call their server and ask how to bypass the filters that are blocking their Bulletin;
2. Send a COA to another email addee that they can be reached at; or
3. Go to http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html on the 2nd and 16th of each month to read/download the Bulletin.

    This has happened over the years to other subscriber’s whose server’s decide to treat the Bulletin as spam because of its size. If this should happen to you they will not tell you they are doing it. To verify if Bulletins are being published go to http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html If you did not receive yours let me know on this end and I will respond on the action you should take. If I do not respond within three days it means your server is preventing you from receiving my response. In that case you need to contact your server as to what action you need to take to resume delivery of the Bulletin and communications with the RAO. For those JUNO and NETZERO subscribers currently being blocked I will continue to send the Bulletin until such time as I can confirm there is no way for them to receive it. [Source: Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, Director RAO Baguio 14 Jul 09 ++]

Note: We are not able to provide the rest of the 15 November 2009 RAO Bulletin.

1 November 2009

Veterans Day Specials 2009 (Complimentary & discounted)
Colds vs. Flu (Symptoms)
NDAA 2010 Update 04 (Public Law No: 111-84)
Tricare Regional Contracts Update 03 (GAO upholds appeal)
SBP Lawsuit Update 06 (DoD concedes)
VA Claim Retroactive Payment (After death receipt)
VA Mental Health Care Update 03 (Summit OCT 09)
VA Pain Management (Male vs. female)
VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 26 (Waco TX)
Wisconsin Vet Homes Update 01 (Unauthorized expenditures)
VA Burial Benefit Update 06 (H.R.761 Parental burial)
VA Burial Benefit Update 07 (Hmong & Laotian Vets)
Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 Update 01 (S.1776 Fails)
VA Health Care Funding Update 22 (Obama signs bill)
Bariatric Surgery Update 02 (Super obese death risk)
Stop-loss Pay Update 01 (Applications being accepted)
Vietnam Memorial Wall Update 04 (Repair work)
PTSD Update 31 (Surgery risks)
Vet Benefit Funding (Bitter budgets ahead)
Personality Disorder Discharge Update 01 (Report requested)
Vet Grave Locator 02 (What’s available)
Board of Veterans' Appeals Update 01 (Expansion)
We Care for Veterans Program (Caregiver offer)
Hugo Salutes Our Veterans (Canes for vets)
Medicare Fraud Update 25 (Detroit $2.8M)
Medicare Fraud Update 26 (Los Angeles $25M)
Tricare Flu Shots (Referral/authorization waived)
Texas Veteran Lottery (Starts 9 NOV)
U.S. Savings Bonds Update 04 (Ownership lawsuit)
Military Holiday Mailing (Deadlines 2009)
DoD to VA Transition Update 11 (Far-sighted partnership)
GI Bill Update 61 (Blame shared for delays)
GI Bill Update 62 (Telephone outreach)
GI Bill Update 63 (Contractor support)
Data Breach Blue Cross/Shield (Stolen laptop)
Manila VARO & OPC (Overview)
Utah Property Tax Interpretation (Disabled vets irked)
FPO Mail Delivery Policy Update 01 (Overseas retiree service)
SBP DIC Offset Update 20 ($14 Billon bribe)
Tricare Overseas Program Update 02 (New contract)
VA Lawsuit - Leishmaniasis (Plaintiffs lose)
SSA Projections Update 01 (2010)
USCG/NOAA Personnel Locator (Retiree)
Disabled Retiree Back Tax Update 02 (USCG/NOAA refunds)
Long Term Care FLTCIP Update 05 (Misleading promotion)
VA Health Care Billing (Inappropriate charges)
State of the VA (Shinseki HVAC Testimony)
SSA COLA 2010 Update 02 (Obama wants $250)
SSA COLA 2010 Update 03 ($250 Opposition)
VA VistA Update 04 (Modernization needed)
VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 25 (Waco TX)
Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Exposure Update 08 (History)
Vet Toxic Exposure Legislation Update 02 (S.1779)
Vet Toxic Exposure Basra Update 01 (Exposees sought)
Vet Toxic Exposure Vieques (Puerto Rico)
Vet Toxic Exposure Atsuki (VA report to SVAC)
Enlistment Update 02 (Citizenship criteria)
Military History Anniversaries (Nov 1-15 Summary)
Tax Burden for Indiana Retirees (2009)
Veteran Legislation Status 30 Oct 09 (Where we stand)
Have You Heard (Last names only)

All Hands: This notice is to inform you of the Baguio Retiree Assistance Office (RAO) mission; the availability of informational assistance to fellow veterans; and the purpose of the Director's associated Newsletter. The service provides a POC for anyone who has queries on Veteran issues and/or residence in this Geographic area. It also provides a means for Veterans to keep abreast of benefit changes and/or pending Veteran related legislation.

    Bulletin Updates are sent twice a month...on the 1st & 15th. Twice a month allows time for readers to digest the info and make any inquiries they may have. It is understood that not every article that goes out is applicable to every reader but over a period of time every reader will find some article(s) of interest to him or her personally. Unfortunately, the Bulletin cannot be sent to some users of AOL and a few other servers. It does not meet their big Brother policy of deciding what their readers are allowed to receive. A few other servers such as Juno & Netzero allow their readers to receive the Bulletin but will not allow me to communicate with them. I can receive their messages but they cannot receive mine. Anyone currently in receipt of the Bulletin receiving duplicate copies let me know. Those who no longer want to receive it just click Reply and add the word “Remove” in the subject line. If you decide you no longer want the Bulletin feel free to drop me a line in the future if you ever need any assistance.

    The Baguio Retiree Assistance Office [RAO] is basically an "answer place" for all Veterans and Expats in addition to providing FPO mail services; Forms; U.S. & RP Government Services; etc.. There are no longer any bases in the Philippines and the Embassy is 180 km away...so over the last 18 years it has become the unofficial source for just about everything related to Government Programs impacting on those residing in this Geographic area. Because of our remote location...the majority of Veterans' assistance is provided by email. All questions received via email are responded to with either an answer or a source of where to obtain an answer. If you do not receive an answer within 72 hours, your inquiry was probably never received...and you should re-transmit it. The variety of questions, and subsequent research to answer them, has resulted in the development of a 2500+ page Library of articles, a 70+ page index of article titles available upon request for recall, and a Email Directory of over 70,000 email addees for dissemination of the newsletter to other RAO/RSO's, Military Fraternal Organizations and interested Veterans worldwide. The objective is to provide Veteran related information to at least one member of every Veteran Group worldwide who can act as a point of contact to pass on any information felt germane to that Organization's membership. Through their involvement, the Bulletin info presently reaches approximately half a million Veterans and/or Dependents.

    Our RAO meets the criteria, and is recognized as an "Independent RAO" and source of Veteran related info. However the Bulletin is not an "Official" DoD sanctioned newsletter. The articles provide items taken from a wide variety of sources that have been edited or editorialized for retransmission. They also include info to ease transition into the Philippines for those who may be considering relocating there. The information contained therein is just that...informational (FYI). The objective is only to PASS THE WORD in order to keep our Military Community informed. It is the responsibility of readers to verify exactly how information applies to them if they intend to expend funds or time in following up on the data provided in the articles. Unless you have questions concerning Veteran's issues to be answered, there is no need for comments. Although it's nice to get the occasional "thanks for the info", it's not necessary, and just adds to the 50+ emails I receive daily. I do not send out jokes - prayers - religious material or music - chain letters - photos - etc., so please reciprocate by not sending these to me. Nor do I normally participate in "political stuff" unless it is essential to an article being presented in the Bulletin. I would greatly appreciate that you not forward personal political comments/beliefs/prejudices, but I am always open to anything that could benefit other Veterans.

    Updates are sent either Bcc or via a Newsletter Mailing List provider, so recipients are not bothered with large headers nor have their email addee revealed to others. If you want to know if anybody else in your organization is receiving the Bulletin just ask. Articles contain subjects of interest to all Veterans regardless of Geographic location. The existing addees on the directory are about 2%:98% local vs. worldwide. The Bulletin content is for use in any way you see fit and retransmit is encouraged. Sources are provided wherever possible so readers can re-validate info if they desire. The primary source is always listed first and if multiple sources are used it is indicated by "++" after the primary source in the source line. Sometimes my Internet servers are inhibited in their ability to send to other servers worldwide because of filters incorporated by these servers to block spam. However I can always receive incoming messages. If you do not receive your Bulletin just let me know. Request all communications be sent to my primary email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net even though you may be receiving the Bulletin from some other addee. The email addee of any veteran or military fraternal organization can be added to the directory if desired. It only takes a click on the "Unsubscribe" line at the end of each Bulletin to drop anyone off later if they find the Updates are of no use to them. Of course, there are no charges, advertisements, or solicitations associated this service. Nor do we accept donations.

    If you are interested in other articles contained within the Bulletin, they can be forwarded via email. Attachments sent should be virus free, since it is our policy NEVER to open incoming attachments because they might contain a virus. My installed Norton Anti Virus program tells me about 1% do.

    At http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html you can view the current and review past Bulletins sent in the last 5 years. Bear in mind that the articles shown in these Bulletins were only valid at the time they were written (normally indicated in the source line) and may have since been updated. At this site, you can also find the Bulletin Index to identify any articles you may want to recall. They will be provided upon email request.

Bulletin Updates

1. Call their server and ask how to bypass the filters that are blocking their Bulletin;
2. Send a COA to another email addee that they can be reached at; or
3. Go to http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html on the 2nd and 16th of each month to read/download the Bulletin.

    This has happened over the years to other subscriber’s whose server’s decide to treat the Bulletin as spam because of its size. If this should happen to you they will not tell you they are doing it. To verify if Bulletins are being published go to http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html If you did not receive yours let me know on this end and I will respond on the action you should take. If I do not respond within three days it means your server is preventing you from receiving my response. In that case you need to contact your server as to what action you need to take to resume delivery of the Bulletin and communications with the RAO. For those JUNO and NETZERO subscribers currently being blocked I will continue to send the Bulletin until such time as I can confirm there is no way for them to receive it. [Source: Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, Director RAO Baguio 14 Jul 09 ++]

Veterans Day Specials 2009: Following are some Veteran Day specials for 2009. In addition to this list many companies, restaurants, and recreational sites offer military discounts which are not well advertised. When making purchases it is always a good idea to first ask if a military discount is available for your veteran status:

* NOV 01-26: KNOTT'S BERRY FARM - Knott's Berry Farm pays tribute to past and present U.S. armed forces personnel during Veteran's Month with park admission at no charge for them and a guest 1-26 NOV 09 only. Up to six additional tickets can be purchased for only $15 each. Military ID or DD214 required for discount. Not valid for the evening event - Halloween Haunt. For details refer to http://www.knotts.com/public/admission/prices/deals.cfm#

* NOV 06-11: Lowes - Lowe's Companies, Inc. will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10% discount on in-store U.S. purchases made during the Veterans Day holiday Nov. 6 thru 11. The discount is available on in-stock and special order purchases up to $5,000. To qualify individuals must present a valid military ID or other proof of service. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.co, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards. In addition to offering military discounts at specific times during the year Lowe’s has extended benefits for its employees serving in the military and offers employment opportunities to military personnel after their military service has ended.
http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/lowes-veterans-day-discount.asp

* NOV 07: Cosco - Herocare San Diego and Costco have partnered to offer a special shopping event in recognition of those who serve as heroes within the community. The event is being held Saturday 7 NOV from 1800 - 2000 at Costco store locations in Santee, San Marcos, Vista, Poway, Temecula, Carmel Mountain, Carlsbad, Rancho Del Ray, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Lake Elsinore, and SESD. The event is to recognize those who work, at any level, active or retired in the following industries: Military Schools, Colleges, Medical, Fire, Police, CHP, Sheriff, State, City, County or non-profit agencies. Employees and their families are invited to attend for pictures with Santa Claus, refreshments, food samplings and opportunity drawings. Some locations will feature entertainment from local schools, police cars and fire trucks.

* NOV 08: McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants is honoring veterans who have served in war and peace on Sunday, 8 NOV with a complimentary entree from a special menu upon presentation of proper authentication when you visit the restaurant. Acceptable ID includes VA card, VFW card, American Legion card, discharge papers, DD214, or other veteran's ID. For details refer to http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day.aspx

* NOV 11: Applebees - Choose from five dinner entrees which will be provided at no charge at participating stores during business hours on Wednesday, 11 NOV to veterans who can identify themselves with an active/reserve/retired ID card or Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW). For details refer to http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx

* NOV 16: Golden Corral - The 2009 Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, 16 NOV from 1700 to 2100 in all Golden Corral Restaurants. The no cost "thank you" dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, Retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves you are invited to participate in Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner. Some form of ID indicating your service is required. For details refer to http://www.goldencorral.com/military

Additional discounts are available to active duty and retirees at the following:

* Home Depot Home Depot: The Home Depot offers at participating stores all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military veterans, and their families a 10% discount off their purchases up to a maximum of $50 or $200 depending on the time of year.

* Sea World: Military Members can receive up to 4 free tickets for themselves and their dependants (discounted tickets after your four free for those of you with many rugrats) each year.

* Disney World: Complimentary 5-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” ticket which includes admission to all Disney World theme parks, including the water parks and DisneyQuest. Eligible military members can purchase discounted Disney tickets for their friends and family - adult or child 5-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” ticket for up to 5 people for $99 per ticket (add $25 for access to all parks). A limited number of discounted Disney Resort hotel tickets are available. Offer Expires 23 DEC 09.

* San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park: The zoo and wild animal park are free to active duty military all the time.

* USS Midway Tour: Tour the USS Midway (a great piece of WWII history) for free with your Military ID.

* Deep Sea Fishing: Deep sea fishing is available in San Diego and Oceanside and offer great rates for military members sometimes up to half off.

* Restaurants/Stores/Shops: Many restaurants, stores and shops offer military discounts in the San Diego area (large military population) you just need to ask for it many times.

* ITT: Information, ticket + Tours (ITT) offices on Camp Pendleton, Miramar, MCRD, and other bases offer great rates on tickets to many of the other attractions throughout the area. You can also get vouchers for hotels in Primm (48 mi from the strip) and Las Vegas Nevada through the ITT ticket offices.

[Source: Various OCT 09 ++]

Colds vs. Flu: With flu season upon us, and with the increasing number of H1N1 flu cases being reported, more people are making the trip to the doctor. So how can you tell if it’s a cold, seasonal flu or H1N1? According to Fred Sutton, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer, Harris County Hospital District Texas, “The flu is usually much worse than the common cold. Colds will generally last a few days, while the flu normally lasts much longer. Complications from colds are relatively minor, but seasonal flu and H1N1 can both lead to pneumonia and hospitalizations. If you have symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor.” The common cold and flu are both contagious viral infections. Because these two types of illnesses have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Whether a person has typical seasonal flu or H1N1 flu, the symptoms are also similar. H1N1 is also associated with vomiting and diarrhea. There are multiple viruses and colds causing similar symptoms circulating during the fall and winter season. Here are some ways to decide the difference.

* Fever: Fever is rare with a cold whereas fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.

* Coughing: A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold whereas a non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

* Aches: Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold whereas severe aches and pains are common with the flu.

* Stuffy Nose: Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week whereas stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.

* Chills: Chills are uncommon with a cold wherteas 60% of people who have the flu experience chills.

* Tiredness: Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold whereas tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.

* Sneezing: Sneezing is commonly present with a cold whereas neezing is not common with the flu.

* Sudden Symptoms: Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days whereas the flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

* Headache: A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold whreas a headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

* Sore Throat: Sore throat is commonly present with a cold whreas sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.

* Chest Discomfort: Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold whereas chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

[Source: Various Oct 09 ++]

NDAA 2010 Update 04: On 28 OCT the President signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which authorizes $550.2 billion for FY 2010 Department of Defense programs, and $130 billion to support overseas military operations. Some highlights include:

* No proposed Tricare fee increases.
* A 3.4% pay raise for active duty, Guard and Reserve members.
* Authorizing premium-based Tricare coverage for "gray area" Reserve retirees who are under age 60.
* Authorizing special compensation on behalf of caregivers of severely wounded warriors while on active duty.
* Requiring a medical examination before administrative separations of members affected by traumatic brain injury or PTSD.
* Protecting absentee voting rights for military members and families.
* Expanding active-duty Tricare eligibility for activating Guard/Reserve members and their families.

   The complete Conference Report of what Congress passed and signed into law can be found at http://armedservices.house.gov
A summary of what is contained in that report is provided in an attachment to this Bulletin. [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 30 Oct 09 ++]

Tricare Regional Contracts Update 03: TRICARE South Region contractor Humana Military Healthcare Services and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) are reporting that the GAO has upheld Humana's protest of the Defense Department’s award of the new South Region contract to UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services. The current contract, covering 3 million beneficiaries, is set to expire as of 31 MAR 10. Details of the GAO determination have not yet been made public, but its upholding of the protest indicates the initial contract award to UnitedHealth didn't comply with laws and regulations governing the award. The obvious question for the South Region beneficiaries is, "What happens now?" We won't know that until GAO releases its full report. It's possible that GAO will recommend reopening the contract bid. In rare cases, it could recommend outright award of the contract to a losing bidder. The decision raises the prospect that the current Humana contract might be extended pending any possible contract rebid process. GAO can only recommend action, but DoD failure to comply with a GAO recommendation on such a high-profile contract would certainly invite congressional scrutiny. The GAO also is expected to issue a decision soon on Health Net Federal Services' protest of the Pentagon's award of the TRICARE North Region contract to Aetna, Inc. While the two protests are completely independent, the upholding of one of them at least raises some uncertainty whether the other might be upheld. More to come. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 30 Oct 09 ++]

SBP Lawsuit Update 06: On 22 OCT the Defense Department announced it will not appeal the AUG 09 ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals in the case of three widows who sued the government to keep both their VA survivor benefits and their military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. At issue is a 2004 law that restored DIC payments to veterans' surviving spouses who remarry after their 57th birthday. Before the law change, survivors lost DIC upon remarriage at any age. In JUL 07 three widows filed a lawsuit claiming that the unique wording of the 2004 law entitled widows who remarry after age 57 to receive both Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities from DoD and VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), without any offset between the two. Defense Department lawyers argued that was a flawed interpretation, arguing that the 2004 law's language barring offset for any other "veteran's benefit" didn't apply to SBP, because SBP is a DoD benefit, not a VA benefit. After the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled in favor of the widows, the government filed an appeal. But the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a strong rejection of the government's appeal, and the Pentagon's decision not to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court ends the discussion.

    The Defense Department has issued guidance to the services and Defense Finance and Accounting Service to identify all SBP annuitants who are eligible for DIC and who remarried after their 57th birthday. Qualifying survivors will be eligible to receive both payments in full, retroactive to 1 JAN 04 or the date of their remarriage, whichever is later. Payments will be reduced by the amount of any previous SBP premium refund and by the amount of any Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance payments the survivor may have received. Although the number of survivors affected is relatively small, this decision gives us yet another equity argument to change the law for all remaining SBP-DIC widows. It simply doesn’t make sense to have two separate standards in the law, one that allows payment of full SBP and DIC for survivors who remarry after age 57 and another that forces a dollar-for-dollar offset between the two benefits for all others.
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 30 Oct 09 ++]

VA Claim Retroactive Payment: Veterans who submit claims to the VA for disability compensation which are subsequently approved receive retroactive payment back to the date of claim submission. The amount of payment is based on the monthly compensation they are entitled to for the percentile rating they are awarded times the number of months since the claim submission. This is normally a lump sum check after which they start receiving monthly checks. However, if the veteran has died in the interim, federal law mandates the money be reclaimed by the government if the recipient has died. If the veteran has a wife or children, they could petition the VA to get that money returned to his estate. If the veteran is single the VA will reclaim the money from his estate depriving other relatives from benefiting from it and allowing the deceased veterans debts to go unpaid.

    Case in point is Vietnam veteran Daniel Hoeck, a Purple Heart recipient, who died at age 62 when a burglar stabbed him to death. Before he was killed and at the urging of family, Hoeck sought medical help from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Baltimore and applied for benefits. About 18 months later, a lump sum retroactive payment finally came in the mail for him and monthly checks were soon to follow, but the problem was, Hoeck was dead. At the advice of an attorney, Hoeck's sister deposited the check of $13,694 in an estate account for him at First Mariner Bank. Hoeck never married or had children, so Davidson was considered his legal and personal representative. While she didn't indicate she thought that monthly benefits should be sent to a deceased person, her issue was the retroactive lump sum payment, which would help cover her brother's debts. "They just never managed the affairs to get him the money," she said. The estate attorney Gina Shaffer said, "It was something that was owed to him prior to his death, and whether it was payable to him individually or his estate, it was owed,"

    But Veterans Affairs officials saw the case very differently. Soon after learning from the family that Hoeck had been killed, they took the benefits check back, demanding First Mariner return the money to the U.S. Treasury Department. No notice was given to the family by the VA who learned of the action via a letter from the bank. After a local TV News team investigated the issue and made an inquiry to the VA, they agreed to pay Davidson more than $2,700 to cover expenses related to Hoeck's death, but they made it clear that it was a one-time payout. Bernard Edelman of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) group said that part of the blame goes to the 18 months Hoeck had to wait before the VA determined his benefit eligibility. Long waits can be common, but not if veterans get help from service representatives who can act as a veteran's advocate that organizations like the VVA offer. Veterans’ submitting claims are encouraged to contact the VVA, DAV, VFW, American Legion, and other fraternal military organizations who have trained personnel to act in their behalf. They can ensure that claims are properly filled out with supporting documents to avoid unnecessary delays in processing.

[Source: WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore report 26 Oct 09 ++]

VA Mental Health Care Update 03: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) are hosting a first-of-its-kind national summit to address the mental health care needs of America's military personnel, families and Veterans, harnessing the programs, resources and expertise of both departments to deal with the aftermath of the battlefield. The summit, which opened 26 OCT at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., invited mental health experts from both departments, Congress, the president's cabinet and more than 57 non-government organizations to discuss an innovative, wide-ranging public health model for enhancing mental health for returning service members, Veterans, and their families. Striking down the stigma associated with the mental health risks of service in a combat zone is among the priorities of the joint VA-DoD campaign on mental health for service members, Veterans and families.

    Various studies show a large incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder occurs during the lifetime of many combat Veterans. A final report following the summit will summarize policies, programs and practices that show promise for enhancing the well-being and care for individual service members, Veterans, and their families. VA and DoD view mental health in returning service members and Veterans as a matter of public health and an opportunity to engage in a broad response throughout America. VA operates the largest mental health program in the nation. VA has bolstered its mental health capacity to serve combat Veterans by adding thousands of new professionals to its rolls in the last four years. The department also has established a suicide prevention hotline (1-800-273-TALK) and Web site available for online chat at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans [Source: VA Press Release 26 Oct 09 ++]

VA Pain Management: In the first study to look at sex-specific pain prevalence in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans, researchers from the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and the Yale University School of Medicine found women Veterans had a lower prevalence of pain than male counterparts returning from the conflicts. Approximately 60% of OEF/OIF Veterans were assessed with pain during the study period. Full details of the study appear in the OCT 09 issue of Pain Medicine, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the International Spine Intervention Society. Sally Haskell, M.D. and colleagues set out to evaluate the difference in the prevalence of overall pain, moderate-severe pain, and persistent pain between male and female Veterans. The study sample was derived from U.S. military personnel listed on the Veterans Administration (VA) OEF/OIF roster who were discharged between 1 OCT 01 and 30 NOV 07. Researchers limited the sample to 153,212 Veterans (18,481 female; 134,731 male) who had 1 year of observation after their last deployment.

    Results indicate that for those Veterans evaluated for pain, 43.3% reported any pain, 63.2% of those with pain reported moderate-severe pain, and over 20% of those with pain scores recorded over 3 months time reported persistent pain. Researchers found no significant difference in the probability of pain assessment by sex. According to the study, female Veterans were less likely to report any pain (38.1% F vs. 44.0% M). In Veterans with any pain, researchers found female Veterans were more likely to report moderate-severe pain (68.0% vs. 62.6%) and less likely to report having persistent pain (18.0% vs. 21.2%) than male colleagues. "We were surprised by the lower pain prevalence in women Veterans which is contrary to studies conducted in civilian populations," noted Dr. Haskell. Past studies in civilian populations indicate women more commonly report specific pain syndromes including migraine headaches, oral-facial pain, fibromyalgia and abdominal pain. Women also report more severe and longer lasting pain than men.

    Researchers hypothesize that the lower pain prevalence in women Veterans may reflect differences in exposure to combat trauma and injury between male and female soldiers. Though women do not serve in direct combat roles, they have supportive roles that may put them in harms way making it difficult to assess the true injury risk for female Veterans. Related studies also indicate women are more reluctant to seek VA treatment and report more barriers to seeking treatment which could result in lower rates of reported pain in female Veterans. In 2008 the Department of Defense listed 1.4 million active duty military personnel with 200,337 of those women. The number of women in armed service is expected to continue to increase. "As the VA plans care for the increasing numbers of female personnel a better understanding of the prevalence of pain, as well as sex-specific variations in the experience and treatment of pain, is important for policy makers and providers who seek to improve identification and management of diverse pain disorders, "concluded Dr. Haskell "The VA national office of Women Veterans Health recognizes the pain management needs of women Veterans. This office is working with the VA national office of Pain Management to build a research program that informs both the development of clinical services for women with chronic pain conditions and the training needs of providers," says Pain Medicine Co-Guest Editor Robert Kerns, who is also a co-author of the paper. [Source: ScienceDaily (22 Oct 09 ++]

VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 26: Jimmy Doyle Jenkins, of Waco, was sentenced to five years probation on 21 OCT after he admitted he misappropriated almost $50,000 in veteran's benefits from the U.S. Government. Doyle was ordered to repay the $49,520 in benefits he received but he told Federal District Judge Walter Smith he was unable to do so because his wife had taken all the money. Court documents indicate Karen Jane Jenkins was indicted by a federal grand jury for an aggravated felony assault causing serious bodily injury after she allegedly tried to poison her husband. She was to be arraigned 22 OCT on that charge in federal magistrate court. The case background summary states Jimmy Jenkins applied for and accepted veteran's benefits without disclosing other income that would have disqualified him from those payments. He admitted in court on Wednesday his wrongdoing and told the judge he would pay the funds back but his wife, Karen, had taken those funds from his bank account and he would now be unable to do so. The charging document for Karen Jenkins states while Jimmy Jenkins was a patient at an area VA hospital, she placed a "toxic chemical substance" in his drinking water in an effort to poison him. [Source: KWTX.com report 23 Oct 09 ++]

Wisconsin Vet Homes Update 01: A panel of state lawmakers has voted to go ahead with an audit of Wisconsin's Department of Veterans Affairs. The audit comes as the Department of Justice is investigating $743,000 worth of spending by the agency that was not authorized by the legislature. Green Bay Republican Senator Robert Cowles says it's the legislature's duty to protect the integrity of the veterans’ agency. He says something will have to be cut in the veterans’ agency to meet the budget, they won’t be able to come to the legislature and find more money. Cowles and others directed the state's audit bureau to focus on Wisconsin's veterans homes in King and Union Grove. The commandant of the King Home was recently replaced.
[Slource: Wisconsin Public Radio Shawn Johnson report 22 Oct 09 ++]

VA Burial Benefit Update 06: The Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee voted 21 OCT in favor of legislation that would allow parents of certain deceased veterans to be buried with their loved ones in U.S. military cemeteries. The bill, the Corey Shea Act (H.R.761), was introduced earlier this year by Congressman Barney Frank in response to a request made by Denise Anderson of Mansfield, whose son Army Specialist Corey Shea was killed in Mosul, Iraq during NOV 08. Congressman John Hall, chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, moved the legislation forward quickly, holding a hearing 8 OCT, and putting the bill to a vote 21 OCT. The legislation passed the subcommittee by a unanimous vote. “I am grateful to Chairman Filner and Subcommittee Chairman Hall for moving this legislation quickly,” said Frank. “I will work with leadership to help bring this bill to a vote on the House floor. This legislation is a testament to the devotion of Mrs. Anderson, whose personal commitment will help veterans’ families across the country.”

    According to current law, only spouses or minor children of deceased veterans may be buried in the same plot as their loved ones in national military cemeteries, unless special permission is granted by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Shea lost his life at the age of 21, leaving behind no surviving spouse or minor children. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs denied the request of Shea’s mother to be allowed to be buried with her son in Bourne national cemetery. Anderson asked Frank if he would help change the law to allow parents of deceased veterans to be interred with their adult children if the veteran has no living spouse or minor children. Earlier this month, Anderson traveled to Washington, D.C. to testify in favor of the bill before the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee. The bill passed by the subcommittee grants parents of deceased veterans the right to be buried with their children if the veteran has no living spouse or minor children. The legislation stipulates this does not cause any veteran to be displaced. The bill covers veterans who died in battle or in preparation for battle, and it includes either biological or adoptive parents. The legislation will next come before the full Veterans Committee for a vote and, if the bill passes, will move to the House floor.

[Source: Mansfield News and Enterprise staff report 21 Oct 09 ++]

VA Burial Benefit Update 07: Hmong and Laotian war veterans could secure treasured burial spots in U.S. national cemeteries under legislation now being drafted by California San Joaquin Valley lawmakers. Prompted by the natives of Laos who fought side by side with U.S. Special Forces and CIA officers during the Vietnam War, the region's House members are seeking support for the burial benefit. Supporters call this fair compensation for those who sacrificed much. "We helped the United States fight that war," said Wangyee Vang, president of the Fresno-based Lao Veterans of America. "We deserve to have this." In a letter circulating among congressional colleagues, Reps. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, are rallying additional support for the Hmong burial bill. The bill will be introduced once more co-sponsors are gathered. "This bill is written narrowly enough so as not to grant these individuals full veterans status, just internment benefits in national cemeteries, which they so richly deserve," states the letter, initiated by Costa's office.

    Traditionally, the Hmong have resided in the mountains of Laos. Beginning in the early 1960s, Vang and others were recruited by U.S. personnel to assist in a largely covert theater of the broader war in Southeast Asia. Tens of thousands of Hmong and Lao are estimated to have died. After the war, with Laos fallen into communist hands, many emigrated to this country. Presently, an estimated 130,000 Hmong and Lao live in California, with many in the San Joaquin Valley. Along with the lowland Lao, the Hmong have lobbied in recent years for various immigration and other benefits. Until now, though, they have not explicitly sought burial rights in U.S. national cemeteries. Politically, it is easier to ask for one benefit at a time rather than an outright declaration of veteran status. Steve Robertson, legislative affairs director for the American Legion, said 28 OCT that extending the burial benefits to Hmong and Lao veterans is "in the realm of possibility," though the veterans advocacy organization has not taken a formal position. "In general, we've been very, very supportive of assisting that group of veterans," Robertson said. Still, it's rare for anyone other than U.S. military veterans and their immediate family members to win burial rights in one of the 130 Veterans Administration national cemeteries.

    The closest parallel to the Hmong's request came several years ago when Congress extended the cemetery benefits to Filipino soldiers and guerrilla fighters from World War II. A few other groups have likewise won national cemetery burial rights, including World War II merchant mariners and officers with the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The available burial areas overseen by the VA's National Cemetery Administration range from the 322-acre San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella to the four-acre Sitka National Cemetery in Alaska. Separately, the Department of the Army oversees the world famous Arlington National Cemetery. Many facilities have been swamped with demand, particularly as veterans from the World War II and Korean War generation age. "We've got a lot of cemeteries that are already maxed out," Robertson noted. Verification of service is one potential hurdle, accentuated because of the covert nature of the war in Laos. Unlike U.S. military veterans, the Hmong were not provided a DD-214 form that attests to their service. Previous bills aiding the Hmong typically required proof such as affidavits signed by superior officers. The Hmong burial benefits bill will leave verification standards up to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

[Source: McClatchy Newspapers Michael Doyle article 28 Oct 09 ++]

Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2010 Update 01: Despite a strong push from The Military Coalition (TMC), the American Medical Association (AMA) and others, the Senate failed to muster enough votes this week to repeal the flawed statutory formula that will impose a 21% cut in Medicare and Tricare payments to doctors this coming January unless the law is changed. Earlier this week on 20 OCT, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) President VADM Norb Ryan Jr. (USN-Ret) was one of three major association leaders invited by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to speak at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol building to highlight the importance of passing Stabenow's bill to protect against repeated cuts in 2010 and subsequent years. Speaking at the press conference Ryan said, "The current flawed formula for Medicare doctor payments puts every military beneficiary at risk, because military Tricare payments are tied to Medicare's. Access to health care already is the single biggest problem for military beneficiaries of all ages. The 21% cut to Medicare and Tricare payments called for under current law would make that problem exponentially worse by causing large numbers of doctors to stop seeing elderly and military patients. The last thing troops in combat should have to worry about is whether their sick spouse or child can find a doctor to treat them." Ryan noted that MOAA members had generated more than 16,000 messages in the space of four days urging their legislators to support Stabenow's legislation.

    Current law requires not only a 21% payment cut in 2010, but a cumulative 40% cut over the next six years. Stabenow said she introduced her bill "Medicare Physician Fairness Act" (S.1776) to get Congress "to rethink how we look at physician care and physician payments. She said Congress has acted to stop such cuts seven times in the past, but most have only been one-year fixes that necessitated reversing even bigger cuts the following year. "We need to stop the band-aid approach, be honest about [future budgets], and lay a foundation for real physician payment reform." Ryan signed MOAA letters to every senator on 20 OCT, urging them to vote for S. 1776, but the vote failed after several senators expressed concern about how to pay for the bill, which would cost $250 billion over the next 10 years. After the failed vote, Senate leaders pledged to find a way to approve and fund at least a one-year fix before the end of December to ensure the 21% cut in Medicare and Tricare payments won't go into effect. The problem with this approach is that current law requires compounding annual cuts - forcing a 26% payment cut in JAN 2011 - so putting off a permanent fix only increases the cost of doing that later.

    On 30 OCT House Democrats introduced H.R.3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009, which would repeal Medicare’s ineffective Sustained Growth Rate (SGR) formula and replace it with a more reliable system. The SGR is used to determine physician reimbursement rates for doctors providing services in Medicare and TRICARE programs. First established in 1997 to constrain healthcare costs, the SGR sets spending caps for the entire Medicare program each year, and if overall spending exceeds that level (which it has, every year, since 2002), physician reimbursement rates are cut to bring expenditures in line with established targets.

[Source: MOAA Leg Up 23 Oct 09 ++]

VA Health Care Funding Update 22: President Barack Obama signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act in a ceremony at the White House. The new law requires advance funding for the VA health-care system. “We have made the biggest commitment to veterans with the largest percent increase in the VA budget in more than 30 years” Obama said. “So we’re keeping our promise to make real progress for our vets.” In short the president said VA advance funding “promotes accountability at the VA, it ensures oversight by Congress, and it ensures that veterans health care will no longer be held hostage to the annual budget battles in Washington.” The president made his remarks in the East Room of the White House joined by VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Sen. Daniel Akaka, chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the bill’s sponsor.

    Representatives from veterans service organizations and members of Congress who played key roles in passing the legislation were part of the crowd that witnessed the signing. “No longer will VA and the veterans in its care have to suffer from the ‘check’s in the mail’ syndrome”, American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill said. “Now the VA will know a year in advance what resources will be available to it so plans can be made accordingly. Advance appropriations will go a long way toward minimizing compromises in the delivery of the high-quality VA health care our veterans expect and deserve.”

    Obama thanked several members of Congress for their efforts in getting the advance funding bill passed noting that it was an example of what Democrats and Republicans can do when they join forces to do right by our veterans. " Let me say that I take special pride in this legislation”, Obama said. “Because as a senator, I was a proud co-sponsor of this legislation, I served on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and in the campaign last year you all remember I had promised to pass it and today as president I’m fulfilling that promise.” Obama told the audience that with the new legislation veterans medical care will be funded one year in advance. “For VA this means timely, sufficient, and predictable funding from year to year. Most of all for our veterans it will mean better access to doctors and nurses and the medical care that they need.” Akaka introduced the VA advance funding bill in Congress on 12 FEB, guided it through committee hearings, and gathered 56 co-sponsors. On 13 OCT the Senate approved the legislation unanimously. [Source: American Legion Online Update 22 Oct 09 ++]

Bariatric Surgery Update 02: Veterans classified as super obese and those with a higher chronic disease burden appear more likely to die within a year of having bariatric surgery, according to a report in the OCT issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Currently, 165,000 veterans who use Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities have class III obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, according to background information in the article. Evidence suggests bariatric surgery is one of the few interventions that can help morbidly obese individuals lose enough weight to significantly improve their health and quality of life. The risk of death associated with bariatric surgery is thought to be low, but most previous studies have involved younger women rather than the older male population that typically uses VA facilities. The number of bariatric procedures performed in approved VA medical facilities more than tripled between 2000 and 2006; however, the surgery is being performed on only approximately 0.1% of all veterans who meet BMI criteria. "Whether the volume of the VA bariatric surgery program should be expanded in the coming years largely depends on the impact such operations have on long-term health outcomes," the authors write.

    David Arterburn, M.D., M.P.H., of Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, and colleagues examined patient factors associated with the risk of death among 856 veterans who underwent bariatric surgery in any of 12 VA bariatric centers from 2000 to 2006. The patients had an average BMI of 48.7 and an average age of 54 years; 73% were men. Overall, a total of 54 patients (6.3%) died during the follow-up period; 1.3% of the patients died 30 days after surgery, 2.1% died 90 days after surgery and 3.4% had died after one year. In statistical models performed by the researchers, the patients who were classified as super obese (having a BMI of 50 or higher; 36% of the sample) and those with a higher score on a measure of costs related to co-occurring diseases (8% of the sample) had an increased risk of death. Super obese patients (who accounted for 30 deaths) had 30-day, 90-day and one-year death rates of 2%, 3.6% and 5.2%, whereas those with a higher comorbidity (i.e.presence of one or more disorders/diseases in addition to a primary disease or disorder) cost score had rates of 1.5%, 5.8%and 10.1%.

    Several possible explanations exist for the increased risk of death among the super obese, the authors note. Bariatric procedures are technically more difficult in these patients because of their abdominal fat; they may be at greater risk for wound complications and blood clotting; and they are likely to have more obesity-related illnesses. "The results of this study should inform discussions with patients with regard to the potential risks and benefits of bariatric surgery," the authors conclude. "These findings also suggest that the risks of bariatric surgery in patients with significant comorbidities, such as congestive heart failure, complicated diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, should be carefully weighed against potential benefits in older male patients and those with super obesity."

[Source: ScienceDaily Journal article 21 Oct 09 ++]

Stop-loss Pay Update 01: The Defense Department said 21 OCT that it would begin paying retroactive compensation to troops who were prevented from leaving the military under the contentious policy known as stop-loss. The new payments apply to about 185,000 troops who, in the years after SEP 01, were not allowed to retire or be discharged on time because of stop-loss, an involuntary extension of active service that officials said was necessary to ensure that there were enough officers, skilled personnel and combat enlisted men for two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates said in MAR 09 that the Pentagon would phase out stop-loss, a highly unpopular policy, by early 2011, when the last unit with stop-lossed troops is to return home. Under the new payment policy, which was mandated by Congress, the department will give each eligible service member or veteran $500, which is in addition to regular pay, for every month served under stop-loss. Families of troops who died while on stop-loss are also eligible for compensation, of the same amount. There are now 5,200 troops still serving under stop-loss. They are already receiving $500 a month in extra pay.

    Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said that the compensation was long overdue and that he hoped its cost would keep the Pentagon “from abusing this policy as often as it has done in the past.” Samuel B. Retherford, director of officer and enlisted personnel management at the Pentagon, said in an interview with Armed Forces News Service, “We’re doing everything we can to discontinue the use of this authority.” Of the 185,000 troops at issue, the Army had a vast majority, 136,000 soldiers, who served an average of seven extra months, said Lt. Col. Les A. Melnyk, a Defense Department spokesman. The Air Force had the second-largest number, 39,000, followed by the Marine Corps, with 9,600. The Navy had the fewest cases of stop-loss, 250, but the extension of duty for those sailors averaged 15 months. Congress allocated $534.4 million to the program in JUN 09, but the Defense Department may need about $600 million to make all the payouts. Applicants have one year or until 21 Oct 2010 to apply for retroactive payment and must provide a servicemember’s DD-214, a copy of their contract, and proof that the individual was stop-lossed. Current and former service personnel, as well as surviving spouses, can apply for the compensation. Each service branch has set up a Web site or e-mail addresses for military personnel or families to apply for the compensation as indicated:

* Army: http://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2009/10/20/
* Navy: NXAG_N132C@navy.mil
* Air Force: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss/index.asp
* Marines: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/portal/page?_pageid=278,8649457&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

[Source: New York Times James Dao article 22 Oct 09 ++]

Vietnam Memorial Wall Update 04: Repair work was under way 21 OCT at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall as a private memorial fund took over landscaping and maintenance of 13 acres from the National Park Service. Over the next two weeks, workers are restoring the flagpole’s bronze finish and its decorative base with five military branch insignias. They will also restore the bronze finish for five stands that hold directories that help people find names on famous V-shaped memorial wall, which draws millions of visitors each year. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which built the memorial, also has repaired an irrigation system and is reseeding and sodding the grass. Last month, the group announced plans to pay for maintenance at the site because of scarce funding from the federal government. They plan to raise more than $1 million to care for the memorial and grounds, including $500,000 to buy replacement granite if sections of the wall need to be replaced in the future. “Everybody has the same goal: We want it to look good,” said fund spokeswoman Lisa Gough. “We want it to shine.” The memorial’s bronze fixtures...including the flagpole and a statue of three soldiers...will be restored for the first time since they were installed more than 25 years ago, said James Cummings, who was part of the memorial’s original architecture team the project. The fund is working to raise $100,000 to restore the statue in the next year. The bronze is worn down and has turned green on the soldiers’ noses and arms, Cummings said. The weather caused some of the damage, along with the hands of many visitors. “No one expected the memorial itself would have such an impact with the culture,” said Cummings. “There’s a plan now to take care of it.”
[Source: MarineCorpsTimes Brett Zongker article 21 Oct -09 ++]

PTSD Update 31: Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder face an increased risk for dying after surgery, even if the surgery is performed years after they have completed their service, according to a U.S. study. Researchers analyzed data on 1,792 male veterans who had major non-cardiac, non-emergency surgeries between 1998 and 2008. Of that group, 129 (7.8%) had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before their surgery. Men with PTSD were an average of seven years younger than those without PTSD...59 versus 66 years old...but were much more likely to have cardiac risk factors, the study noted. One year after surgery, the death rate among men with PTSD was 25% higher than for those without PTSD...8.5% versus 6.8%. After the researchers adjusted for age and preexisting medical conditions...including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking and depression...they found that veterans with PTSD were 2.2 times more likely to die within a year of surgery than those without PTSD.

    The findings were scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists 17-21 OCT in New Orleans. "This study is the first of its kind, with groundbreaking findings," the study's lead author, Dr. Marek Brzezinski, of the San Francisco VA Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, said in a news release from the society. "The magnitude of the detrimental effect of PTSD diagnosis on postoperative mortality is unexpectedly large...greater than that of diabetes, which is an established risk factor for patients undergoing surgery." The results highlight "the need to consider potential treatments to help reduce risk in the veteran PTSD population, "Brzezinski said. "The number of veterans returning from our current conflicts with PTSD who require surgical treatment is expected to increase in the future." PTSD affects 15 to 31% of Vietnam veterans and 20% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to background information in the news release. For more info on PTSD refer to The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health site http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

[Source: American Society of Anesthesiologists news release 17 Oct 09 ++]