VA

Union Representing VA Workers Urge Elected Officials Not to Privatize Veterans’ Health Care

May 13, 2008 -- (WASHINGTON) - The American Federation of Government Employees today launched a nationwide radio ad campaign urging Congress to provide full, mandatory funding for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. In the ad (attached), AFGE urges presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to support full funding for the VA.    » read more »

April 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, called for the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Mental Health Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, following reports that Dr. Katz was involved in efforts to cover up the number of veterans attempting suicide. Akaka sent his request by letter to Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Under Secretary for Health.

US Army Soldier clears palm groves in Buhriz, Iraq: Photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall    » read more »

$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide; $9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans

April 16, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide.

A homeless veteran in New York City: Photo by Jonathan Greenwald (CC)    » read more »

March 28, 2008 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have a long history of partnering to achieve more cost-effective use of health care resources. Their partnerships have evolved to include joint ventures--joint efforts to construct or share medical facilities. VA has maintained eight joint ventures with DOD across the country. VA has also developed partnerships, or affiliations, with university medical schools to obtain health care services for veterans and provide training to medical residents. VA has not entered into a joint venture with an academic affiliate to date. However, several proposals for such joint ventures have surfaced in the last decade.    » read more »

March 28, 2008, WASHINGTON -- A new edition of the popular handbook Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) updates the rates for certain federal payments and outlines a variety of programs and benefits for American veterans.

Most of the nation's 24 million veterans qualify for some VA benefits, which range from health care to burial in a national cemetery. In addition to describing benefits provided by VA, the 2008 edition of the 153-page booklet provides an overview of programs and services for veterans provided by other federal agencies.    » read more »

- Women Vets Have Earned “Benefits, Respect, Thanks” – Peake
- Fourth National Summit on Women Veterans Issues Begins June 20

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2008 -- Recognizing the valor, service and sacrifice of America’s 1.7 million women veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created a comprehensive array of benefits and programs.

“Women who served this country in uniform -- whether veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the current Global War on Terror or peacetime service -- have earned our respect and thanks,” said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “They have also earned the full range of VA programs offered by a grateful nation.”    » read more »

Peake: VA Reaches Out to Vets, Families in Need

March 18, 2008 -- WASHINGTON -- To support veterans and their families during major emergencies, especially natural disasters, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun to deploy mobile pharmacies that will provide vital medicine when patients are unable to fill their prescriptions. VA will also open up the facilities to help communities during major disasters and other emergencies.

“The mobile pharmacies give VA the ability to provide critical medications to veterans when disaster strikes,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “VA is committed to ensuring our veterans receive their care and prescriptions as soon as possible during an emergency.”    » read more »

Peake: Grant Upholds Commitment to Honor Veterans Service

March 19, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today the award of a $1.3 million grant to complete construction of the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North in Williamstown.

“By awarding this second grant to Kentucky, we are closer to making the state cemetery a reality,” said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “This grant and others provided to Kentucky will establish final resting places for the Commonwealth's veterans that meet the standards of a national shrine.”    » read more »

James Peake: VA Research Will Benefit Veterans, Others

March 13, 2008, WASHINGTON – A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research project, which may lead to development of a vaccine to prevent Salmonella poisoning, was aboard the NASA space shuttle that launched March 11.    » read more »

Following a Town Hall Meeting, Feingold Continues to Pressure VA to Implement Year-Old Law

February 29, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, are leading a group of senators in urging the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to implement a year-old health care law that will greatly benefit over a thousand veterans. In 2006, Congress enacted legislation requiring the VA to reimburse veterans and/or state veterans’ homes for care provided to certain veterans with service-related disabilities.    » read more »

James Peake: Honoring Commitment to Newest Combat Veterans

February 26, 2008, WASHINGTON – Military veterans who served in combat since Nov. 11, 1998, including veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, are now eligible for five years of free medical care for most conditions from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This measure increases a two-year limit that has been in effect nearly a decade.    » read more »

James Peake: We’re Bringing Care Closer to Veterans

February 20, 2008, BIILLINGS, Mont. – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake today announced the creation of a special “Rural Health National Advisory Committee” to advise him and the senior leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about health care issues affecting veterans in rural areas.    » read more »

February 14, 2008 -- In 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) paid about $3.5 billion in means-tested pension benefits to over 500,000 veterans and survivors. GAO was asked to review the management of VA pension program.    » read more »

February 14, 2008 -- The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, House Veterans' Affairs Committee, asked GAO to present its views on the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) disability claims process.    » read more »

Peake: Members Represent “Diversity of America”

February 12, 2008, WASHINGTON – The Secretary of Veterans Affairs has announced the appointment of six new members to the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, an expert panel that advises him on issues involving minority veterans.

“These new members are veterans who represent the diversity of America and are recognized authorities in areas pertinent to the needs of our veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.    » read more »