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
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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
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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
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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
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or
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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a message via
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or http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=12603596
or http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=12607551
or http://capwiz.com/trea/issues/alert/?alertid=12710751
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.
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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
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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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a message via
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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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a message via
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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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a message via
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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 ++] |