Veterans

November 02, 2009 -- (Oklahoma City) -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry is urging fellow Oklahomans to support a privately funded effort that helps World War II servicemen and other veterans travel to Washington, D.C., to visit the national monuments and memorials dedicated to their service.

At a State Capitol news conference today, the governor announced that Oklahoma has become an official state hub of Honor Flight Network, Inc., a national non-profit organization that raises private funds to organize and finance trips to the nation’s capital at no cost to the veteran. The hub designation, Oklahoma Honor Flights, allows the state chapter to raise funds to help pay the costs of Oklahoma veterans who are able to participate in the program.    » read more »

Fund Would Provide Greater Aid to Military Families Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 4, 2009 -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will endorse a bill that would provide aid to military families in all branches of the armed services at a National Press Club Newsmakers press conference at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2009. The press conference will be in the Zenger Room on the 13th floor of National Press Building, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20045.    » read more »

VA Secretary unveils plan at DC homeless summit

November 3, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today praised a plan released by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Erik Shinseki to end homelessness among veterans by marshalling the resources of the government, business and the private sector. According to the VA, the comprehensive plan includes preventive measures like discharge planning for incarcerated veterans re-entering society, supportive services for low-income veterans and their families, and a national referral center to link veterans to local service providers.    » read more »

Two Montanans scheduled to testify during November 5 hearing

October 30, 2009 -- (BIG SANDY, Mont.) – At the request of Senator Jon Tester, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing next week to address better health care for American Indian veterans.

Those testifying at the November 5 hearing will include Kevin Howlett, Director of Tribal Health for Montana’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Buck Richardson, Minority Program Coordinator at Ft. Harrison.

Tester—a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee—requested the hearing last month.    » read more »

Senator's New Requirements Will Help Returning Soldiers, Prevent Needless Tragedies

October 28, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus joined President Obama today for the signing of his legislation to provide medical screenings to returning combat troops to help identify and treat post-combat related behavioral health issues. Baucus’ measure was included in the final version of the Department of Defense Authorization Bill that the President signed into law.    » read more »

10/19/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Zack Space (OH-18) today applauded the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for their decision to fast track the application process for Vietnam veterans suffering from Parkinson’s disease, B-cell leukemia, or ischemic heart disease as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.

“This is the right decision for veterans across Ohio and the nation,” Space said. “It will expand access to medical care for millions of our men and women who served in uniform, and it will provide many of our veterans long overdue care for the conditions contracted as a result of their service. “    » read more »

Says All Facility Reviews Must Be Made Public

October 16, 2009 -- MEDIA, PA -- Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) submitted a bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to publish and make publicly available inspections of Veterans Administration (VA) facilities within 30 days after the completion of a review.    » read more »

Shares stories of local veterans, urges action

10/16/09 -- Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) submitted testimony to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs describing the state of the new GI Bill in South Florida in order to bring attention to the experiences of local veterans.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic and Republican Members of Congress joined representatives from Veterans Service Organizations for a photo opportunity on the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act this afternoon in the Speaker’s Office. The legislation, a top priority for Veterans Service Organizations and Congress, authorizes appropriations for Veterans Affairs Department medical care programs one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year, beginning in 2011.

At the event, Speaker Pelosi signed the legislation, which will now be sent to President Obama for his signature. Below are the Speaker’s remarks:    » read more »

Measure Allows Congress Two-Year Budget Authority to Prevent Funding Lapses

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC– With the support of Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), the Senate approved a bill on Tuesday evening to secure timely funding for veterans’ health care delivered through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 allows Congress two-year budget authority to prevent lapses in funding for services.

In 19 of the past 22 fiscal years, final VA appropriations have been enacted several months late and have frequently required supplemental appropriations to sustain VA health care.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2009 – The Veterans Affairs Department continues its efforts to provide the best support possible to the nation’s military veterans, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told a House committee here today.

“We have been busy putting into place the foundation for our pursuit of the president’s two goals for this department: transform VA into a 21st-century organization, and ensure that we provide timely access to benefits and high quality care to our veterans over their lifetimes -- from the day they first take their oaths of allegiance until the day they are laid to rest,” Shinseki said in his written statement provided to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.    » read more »

10/14/09 -- Washington, DC – Just days after meeting with local veterans who have been struggling to obtain benefits under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) is asking for answers from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

At a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning, Secretary Shinseki told Congressman Nye and others that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had anticipated that there would be delays in administering the tuition benefit program, but that they had underestimated the magnitude of the problem.    » read more »

Historic Bill will Provide Advanced Appropriations for the VA

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-Dover) that will provide advanced appropriations for veterans' health care for the first time in history is on its way to being signed into law by President Obama. H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, provides funding one year in advance for veterans medical programs.

The legislation, which Congressman Hall is an original co-sponsor of, passed the House in July. Yesterday, the Senate passed a final version of the legislation. Historically, funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been late in reaching its many critical programs.    » read more »

10/13/09 -- Washington, DC – Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) today applauded the announcement that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki has decided to establish a service-connection for Vietnam veterans with Parkinson’s disease, hairy-cell leukemia or ischemic heart disease. Veterans with these conditions, along with twelve other previously-recognized diseases, will no longer have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service.    » read more »

Bipartisan Bill Will Modify Homebuyer Tax Credit for Overseas Military Personnel

October 8, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) voted in favor of the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act (H.R. 3590), which will make changes to home-buying provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to benefit active-duty servicemen and women currently, or soon to be, deployed overseas. The bipartisan legislation passed by a vote of 416-0.    » read more »