Category Archives: Veterans Benefits

Politics, Veteran Legislative Update, Veteran Pals, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Tuition Waivers For Wounded Veterans Long Time Coming: Antenori Breaks Through

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“Those without vision perish.” That is not the case for Arizona State Representative Frank Antenori, and his colleagues who had the vision and courage to penetrate decades of denial of benefits to disabled veterans that have been granted in many States for 40 years.

House Bill 2350: Tuition Waivers For Wounded Veterans, was signed by Governor Brewer on Friday. But with all the hoopla and circus of the Immigration Bill, the advocacy and diligence it took to get this fine piece of legislation pass the Board of  Regents, has remained in the shade. Ironically that is often the way with Veterans Affairs. We give lip service to supporting veterans of war, but so seldom are there substantive results.

Antenori’s bill will mandate that Arizona community colleges and universities must provide tuition waiver scholarships to veterans whose wounds left them with a 50 percent disability rating, and a purple heart.  These benefits could then be transfered to either ones spouse or children under the age of 30.

“These veterans are economically challenged with their disabilities, and their chances for working our going to be limited,” Antenori said.

For years, easily the past three decades, Arizona legislators, including the Board of Regents, and their administrative counterparts at all three major universities; Arizona State, Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona have either blocked like kind legislation and or never allowed it to get out of committee.  All of our fraternal organizations, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, AmVets, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, combined, have never been able to penetrate this veil of shame, even though all three of the universities take federal monies.

Three of the largest military installations in the United States are in Arizona, and we have not been able to take care of our vets the way this legislation proposes. Congratulations Antenori and company! This is the very reason we need more veterans in elected office.

And how did I learn of this bill that so many of my pals have worked to accomplish for most of their adult life?  By an accidental conversation with a Vietnam Veteran who was recently elected as a vice president of the local chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America; Chapter #106. David Alegria, a Purple Heart recipient and the current President of the Purple Heart Association shared with myself and a couple of Iraq vets the exact modus operandi of getting this past the naysayers.

It is well known that the employees and their spouses get free tuition at our State Universities. Their dependents get a 75% discount on tuition. Juxtapose this with veterans who have signed over their life and soul for our country and it looks a bit silly to not grant the same perks. Especially when one proclaims they will publish a list of all those who get those benefits, including part time employees who are of great financial substance.

I know of these folks. One time while hobnobbing in the VIP room at a Football game, I meandered out to the terrace for a Pepsi. I was startled to see a very wealthy real estate developer working the booth. “What in the world are you doing here,” I asked. He stated with great pride of forethought that he took the job to get free tuition for his kids. I was floored! I later inquired about one of these jobs, anticipating the same financial foresight for my children, as this real estate maven had arranged. I soon discovered that this was a rather exclusive clan and that I would probably have to wait a very long time for one of those jeweled positions.  Even a family President Club membership would not move me up in the ranks of the select.

To place this favored status on the table next to our veterans of war, who insure the very existence of higher education, was a stroke of genius on the part of  Antenori and Alegria.

Too bad this never made the evening news.  You all know that story.

Politics, Veteran Legislative Update, Veteran Pals, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends/ On The Hill

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Here is some of the current legislation that could use some positive energy sent to your elected representatives in the Congress and Senate.

H.R. 2254 Agent Orange Equity Act: Clarifies presumptions relating to the exposure of a population of veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.

You will note the word “vicinity.” Yes that means Navy ships and Air Force installations wherein personnel handled 55 gallon drums of Dioxin, known as Agent Orange.

The DOD acknowledged nearly 7 years ago that we dropped twice the amount of defoliant as was first reported.  This problem will dog the Vietnam Veteran to the grave.  Imagine the fact that ALS/ Lou Gehrig Disease was linked to service-connected claims  for World War ll veterans in 2008!  65 years later!

H.R. 1377/ S 404–Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act: To expand veterans eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veteran Affairs  for the emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility.

Pretty important stuff for rural areas. We often forget the folks that do not live in the cities.

H.R. 2573 Atomic Veterans Relief Act: To revise the eligibility for the presumption of service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during military service.

I know two men here in Tucson who attended ABC School; Atomic, Biological, Chemical Warfare school, who have been fighting for their benefits for 15 years! It is clear that that the DOD does not want to create damaging case law.

H.R. 4045: To increase burial benefits for veterans.

Alternative Care, Health, Politics, Uncategorized, Veteran Legislative Update, Veteran Pals, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Events, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Legislative Updates

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WASHINGTON REPORT

Caregivers Bill Goes to President

Thursday evening, the Senate passed by unanimous consent S. 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act and sent it to President Obama for his signature.  On Wednesday, the House had passed the bill by a vote of 419-0 but had amended it so it was returned to the Senate for approval of the changes.  The bill now heads to the President for his signature into law.

Some of the more important provisions of the bill would;

  • Fulfill VA’s obligation to care for the nation’s wounded veterans by providing their caregivers with training, counseling, supportive services, and a living stipend.
  • Provide health care to the family caregivers of injured veterans under CHAMPVA.
  • Require independent oversight of the caregiver program.

The bill also establishes a permanent program to support the caregivers of wounded warriors, improve health care for veterans in rural areas, help VA adapt to the needs of women veterans, and expand supportive services for homeless veterans.

NAUS Note: While we are very appreciative of this bill and know it will go a long way in helping those family caregivers who need the extra assistance, NAUS believes it should be extended to include the many veterans of Persian Gulf War, Vietnam, Korea and WWII and other conflicts whose family caregivers also deserve the extra assistance in this bill.  We sincerely hope that Congress will expand the scope of the bill in the very near future to include all veterans and their families.

More Work Needed to Correct the PPACA

This week on the House floor House Veterans’ Committee Ranking Member Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) spoke with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in regards to fixing the recently passed new healthcare law to protect two VA healthcare programs.  They are the very important program called Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA (CHAMPVA), which provides health care coverage for widows and survivors, and the program which includes the spina bifida affected children of Korea and Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.

The Senate has already taken action on providing explicit protection, in law, by passage of S. 3162, introduced by Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI).  However, the legislation has yet to be considered in the House despite Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Filner’s introduction of an identical bill (H.R. 5014).

During House floor discussion, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi told Rep. Buyer that Filner’s bill had been referred to the Ways and Means Committee but, the Speaker said, the House would soon take up the legislation.  She said, “We will bring it together in a bipartisan way in the spirit that we owe our veterans.” NAUS Note:  NAUS looks forward to conclusion of this important matter and intends to continue its press for correction of the “drafting error” in the original bill.

One Exonerated, Two to Go

In Bagdad on Thursday, a U.S. military jury cleared a Navy SEAL of failing to prevent the beating of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding a 2004 attack that killed four American security contractors.

Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas, 28, of Blue Island, Ill., was found not guilty by a six-man jury of charges of dereliction of duty and attempting to influence the testimony of another service member.  The jury spent only two hours deliberating the verdict.

Huertas is the first of three SEALs to face a court-martial for charges related to the abuse incident.  All three SEALs could have received only a disciplinary reprimand, but insisted on a military trial to clear their names and save their careers.

NAUS Note: It is very good to witness a jury of his peers see what prosecutors obviously did not; that actions in war or combat cannot be treated as civil infractions.  Now we hope the same verdicts for the remaining two SEALS.

Nomination for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs

On Wednesday, President Obama nominated Dr. Jonathan Woodson to serve as assistant secretary of defense for health affairs (ASD/HA).  This position has been vacant since Dr. Ward Casscells departure nearly a year ago.

Dr. Woodson is an associate professor of surgery and associate dean at Boston University School of Medicine and a senior attending vascular surgeon at the Boston Medical Center.  He chairs the Boston University Medical Center Institutional Review Board for Human Research and is an adjunct assistant professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

He also holds the rank of brigadier general in the Army Reserve and is currently assigned as Assistant Surgeon General Force Management, Mobilization, Readiness & Reserve Affairs and deputy commander of the Army Reserve Medical Command.  His official military biography can be viewed here.

As assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, Dr. Woodson would be responsible for the overall supervision of the health and medical affairs of the department of defense, advising the secretary of defense on department of defense health policies, programs, and activities, as well as overseeing all department of defense health resources.  His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation at a yet to be determined date.

Senators Subpoena DoD and DOJ on Fort Hood Investigation

Sen. Joe Liberman (I-CT) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) served subpoenas on Attorney General Eric Holder and DoD Sec. Robert Gates requesting disclosure of information on the investigation of the attack at Fort Hood.

In a six-page letter to the Administration officials, the Senators outlined five months of effort to secure documents and related materials on the investigation of the attack.  According to the Senators, however, all efforts have proved unproductive despite four formal letters to DoD, two to DOJ and lengthy discussions with the Administration.  The Senators also state that their most recent efforts to gain critical information was met with an April 12 response refusing to cooperate.

NAUS continues to focus on corrections to the policies and procedures that contributed to the murderous attack at Foot Hood.

Impact of the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

Much of America and the world are acutely aware of the tremendous impact the recent eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland has had on civilian aviation.  Air travel across the north Atlantic and most European domestic flights were curtailed for several days stranding millions of travelers on both sides of the ocean.

Military flight operations in and around Europe were impacted as well; and in particular, Air Force aeromedical evacuations (AE) that would normally be routed from combat theaters in Iraq and Afghanistan to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, then on to the U.S. within a few days.

For the past few days AE missions have been flying directly from the Central Command Area of Responsibility (CENCTOM AOR) to the U.S without the intermediate stop in Germany.  This effort requires up to two air-to-air refuelings per mission, but Air Force officials stress it’s worth it to get patients to the care they need.

In addition to adjusting AE flight routing, AE crews and Critical Care Air Transportability Teams, which normally stage at Ramstein Air Base, have been temporarily sent to forward staging locations in CENTCOM.  This temporary basing ensures the Air Force has the right medical personnel in-place to care for wounded warriors as they are evacuated to receive further medical care.

We highlight the level of effort taken by the Air Force to raise a point.  Without the proper funding that enables them to adapt to all contingencies, which includes natural disasters such as the volcano eruption, these types of contingency operations would not be possible.  The same holds true for the other branches of the Uniformed Services.  Our military forces are, and will only continue to be the best in the world as long as Congress and the President provide the funding necessary.

HEALTH CARE NEWS

TRICARE Extends Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration

Raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents a unique set of challenges for parents, especially paying for expensive specialized care.  To provide continued financial assistance to active duty service members who have a child with an ASD, TRICARE has extended the Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration to March 14, 2012.

This special program allows reimbursement for applied behavior analysis (ABA) rendered by providers (tutors) who are not otherwise eligible to be reimbursed by TRICARE for ABA services.  Providers of ABA collect data on a child’s behavior and use that information to teach the child positive behaviors while suppressing harmful or undesired ones, and improve their social and communication skills.

The demonstration is open to beneficiaries in the United States and the District of Columbia who are registered in TRICARE’s Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) and diagnosed with an ASD.  Click on the links provided if you would like to learn more about TRICARE’s ECHO Program or the Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration.

Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month—a national health observance to raise awareness of alcohol abuse and encourage people to make healthy, safe choices.  Click on the link provided to learn more. 

ACTIVE DUTY NEWS

2010 Army Soldier Show

From its base at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, the current edition of the Army Soldier Show is in intense rehearsals.  The 2010 U.S. Army Soldier Show, an “entertainment for the soldier, by the soldier” song-and-dance production, and this year’s edition revolves around current social-media phenomena.  The 2010 Soldier Show schedule features 101 performances at 53 venues, including eight stops in Germany.  As always, the show’s troops will deliver several genres of music and dance, complete with soldier-musicians on guitar, bass, keyboard and drums.  For more information, including a link to the show’s tour schedule, visit the U.S. Army MWR website.

Navy Leave Chits Going On-Line

The Navy announced plans to begin phasing out traditional paper leave chits, replacing them with a new electronic leave request system.  The new system, called Self-Service Electronic Leave (E-Leave), is a Web-based program that sailors can access through their Electronic Service Record.  The new method is also meant to allow sailors to electronically route leave chits through their chain of command for approval.  It automates the command’s leave control log and ensures pay and entitlements are properly credited.  Shore-based implementation of E-Leave is scheduled to begin in August.  An afloat version will be phased in over the next 24 months as shipboard Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System servers are upgraded.

Air Force Announces Uniform Policy Changes

Late last week, Air Force officials announced several policy modifications resulting from recent Air Force Uniform Board decisions.  These include: tucking of trousers into boots on utility uniforms will remain optional; the green fleece watch cap is approved for wear with some items; and the women’s the side-slit mess dress skirt can continue to be worn as an optional item.  Additional information on uniform policy changes can be obtained through your chain of command or by calling the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102.

VETERANS NEWS

DFAS to Begin Recouping Separation Pay – DFAS Press Release

Recouping military retirees’ Voluntary Separation Incentive, Special Separation Benefit and other separation payments by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will resume in August.

These separation payments and others, such as severance pay, were offered to active-duty service members to reduce manpower in certain career fields, primarily during the 1990s.  Because federal law prohibits service members from receiving both separation and retirement payments for the same period of service, provisions of these programs included repayment should an individual join the Ready Reserve or return to active duty and earn status as a military retiree.

On June 1, 2009, in response to retirees’ concerns, DFAS officials temporarily stopped deducting these repayments from retirement pay while the DoD conducted a formal review of the recoupment program.  Before the review, the federal statutes governing these programs did not allow the DoD or DFAS to alter repayment rates or provide alternative repayment plans regardless of the financial hardships a retiree may be experiencing.

The DoD review is complete, and Congress has amended Sections 1174(h) and 1175(e) of Title 10, United States Code, to help limit the financial strain on military retirees as they repay their outstanding balances.  The new statutes allow DFAS more flexibility to accommodate for financial hardship and modify payment plans.

Affected retirees will receive notification letters at least 90 days before recoupments resume.  If they feel the rate of recoupment will create a financial hardship, they may request a more lenient repayment plan by providing financial information on the Financial Statement of Debtor form included with the notification letter.

This monthly recoupment may also affect former spouses who receive Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act payments from such retirees.  Former spouses affected by this action will also will receive a notification letter before the resumption of recoupments.

Foster Homes for Veterans

The VA Medical Foster Home (MFH) program finds a caregiver in the community who is willing to provide a veteran with 24-hour supervision and personal assistance.  This would be a long-term commitment, where the veteran may live for the remainder of their life. Veterans who enter MFH all meet nursing home criteria.  The veteran pays the caregiver $1200 to $2500 per month to provide this care. This includes room and board, 24-hour supervision, assistance with medications, and any personal care.  For more information, visit VA’s Medical Foster Home webpage.

American Freedom Festival

The American Freedom Foundation is bringing Nashville to San Diego for their first annual American Freedom Festival San Diego Saturday, May 29 on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum.  The event will feature country superstar and legend, Ronnie Milsap. Tickets are available at here and the American Freedom Foundation website.  Discounted tickets for service members will be available at military bases throughout San Diego County and at the USS Midway Museum box office.  Proceeds from the Festival will go to Veterans Village of San Diego, Big Brother Big Sisters of San Diego County – Operation Bigs Program, San Diego Armed Services YMCA and other local San Diego charities supporting our military.

National Volunteer Week

During National Volunteer Week, VA salutes the thousands of citizens, ordinary and famous, who serve veterans as VA volunteers.  Celebrities often visit patients in VA hospitals, but just one visit convinced Bill Daily to become a regular volunteer at the Albuquerque VA Medical Center.

Daily starred as Major Roger Healey on television’s “I Dream of Jeannie.”  The series about two astronauts and a beautiful genie in a bottle began in 1965 and ended in 1970, after which Healy was a regular on “The Bob Newhart Show” from 1972 to 1978.  These days, the 82-year-old actor makes Albuquerque his home and continues to make his fans laugh every Wednesday when he visits veterans at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center.  Daily’s warm heart and gift of gab keep patients laughing.

A Korean War Army Veteran, Daily said he can’t remember jokes, but he loves to talk.  “I have story about everything,” he said, “and the veterans all want to hear about ‘Jeannie’.”

NAUS NEWS

NAUS on the Road

This will be a very busy weekend for NAUS at various Retiree Appreciation Day activities around the country.  Saturday is the day for all of the below listed appearances:

NAUS President MG Matz and his wife Linda will be at the Ft. Jackson RAD in Columbia, SC.

NAUS Garden State Chapter (NJ-2) President Bob Ellis will be at the McGuire AFB, NJ RAD.

NAUS Northeast Regional Vice President Tom Quinlan, Southwestern New England Chapter (MA-3) President Robert Picknally, and Groton Chapter (CT-1) President Paul Dillon will be at the Hanscom AFB RAD in Bedford, MA.

Come by and meet your NAUS representatives and bring a friend to join.
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NAUS Directory Coming Soon!

Eager to connect with other NAUS members and network with the larger NAUS community?  You’ll be pleased to hear that NAUS is helping you do just that with our partner Harris Connect.  A new Association Membership Directory – a first for NAUS – is now in production and will include up-to-date contact information of thousands of your fellow NAUS members.  Please take a few moments when you receive your postcard notice in the mail and call Harris Connect at 1-800-726-2836 to verify your directory listing information.  There is no cost to be listed in the directory, though members may purchase a directory if desired.  NAUS receives a small royalty on the sale of each directory, so your participation helps your Association financially too!
Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen stand in harm’s way around the globe to defend our nation and our cherished liberties. NAUS asks you to please pray for their continued strength and protection—and pray as well for their families, who daily stand in support of their spouses, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters.

GODBLESSAMERICA
National Association for Uniformed Services®
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Springfield, VA 22151
1-800-842-3451
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God Bless
Jose M. Garcia
National Executive Director
Catholic War Veterans,USA
josegarcia4@sbcglobal.net
Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.
In God We Trust

Politics, Veteran Pals, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Programs of Marine Corps League

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PROGRAMS OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
MARINES HELPING MARINES – WOUNDED MARINES PROGRAM
The program was created to support injured Marine Corps personnel located
at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Walter Reed
Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, Brooke Army hospital in San
Antonio, as well as the Naval Hospitals at Balboa, Camp Pendleton and
elsewhere. The Wounded Marines Program works closely with the Wounded
Warrior Regiment. The scope of support encompasses; financial support,
visits from Marine Corps League members, off site day trips to include family
outings, dinners, short trips in support of the individual Marines’ needs and
professional sporting events as tickets and opportunities present themselves.
U. S. MARINES YOUTH PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM
The League developed and administers a program that provides a physical
fitness regimen that promotes a healthy, drug free life style for elementary
and high school students.
YOUNG MARINES OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
A youth program emphasizing honesty, courage, respect, industry, loyalty,
dependability, and a sense of devotion to God, country, community and
family. The Young Marines program receives funding from Congress and the
United States Marine Corps primarily because of their drug interdiction focus
on drug education and prevention.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Members of the Marine Corps League fund scholarships through donations
from individual members and subordinate units of the Marine Corps League
and Auxiliary. Children and former Marines are eligible for academic
scholarships for attendance at accredited colleges and universities.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
The Marine Corps League is a member of The Military Coalition and
participates in National and State legislative issues that affect military
readiness, benefits and entitlements of active duty personnel as well as
Veterans Benefits programs effecting former and retired Marines.
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM
The National Headquarters retains a full-time staff member who assists
veterans in adjudicating claims against the government as a result of active
duty service. Claims are processed through the Department of Veterans
Affairs or other appropriate agencies of the federal government.
VETERANS AFFAIRS VOLUNTARY SERVICE PROGRAM (VAVS)
Marine Corps League members contribute thousands of man-hours each
year supplementing staffs at VA Hospitals and facilities in providing morale,
comfort and assistance to institutionalized veterans.
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MARINE CORPS LEAGUE AUXILIARY
organization of the Marine Corps League. The Auxiliary was formed: To
Preserve the traditions and promote the interests of the United States Marine
Corps; To maintain true allegiance to American institutions; To hold sacred
the history and memory of the men and women who have given their lives to
this Nation; To perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and
by fitting acts, to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular
interest to Marines; To create a bond of comradeship between the Auxiliary
and the Marine Corps League; To aid voluntarily and to render assistance to
all Marines and former Marines as well as to their families; To help decorate
the graves of all deceased Marines whenever and wherever possible; To
strive for the passage of legislation favorable to the Marine Corps League,
Inc. and to the United States Marine Corps and its personnel; To always
foster love of Honesty, Loyalty and Truth, and a reverence to our God, Our
Country, Our Family and Our Home.
MILITARY ORDER OF DEVIL DOGS
The fun and honor society of the Marine Corps League.
TOYS-FOR- TOTS
Marine Corps League Detachments in nearly every community take part
annually in the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys-For-Tots campaign
to raise funds and collect and distribute toys to needy children. In communities
where there is an existing Marine Corps Reserve Unit, the League works
hand in hand supporting their campaign. In other communities, the Marine
Corps League takes the lead, ensuring a successful campaign.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
The Marine Corps League has long regarded the program of the Boy Scouts
of America as in support of the Preamble of the Constitution of the League.
The League supports the Boy Scouts of America as they promote traditional
family values to America’s youth. The Marine Corps League participates in
Scouting through assistance with units, districts, and councils, in community
projects, merit badge programs, and special recognition of Eagle Scouts.
MARINE-4-L1FEIINJURED MARINE SUPPORT PROGRAM
The League works very closely with the Marine Corps’ M-4-L program,
providing mentors nationwide. In areas of the country where there is no
Marine Corps “point of contact”, the League works directly with M-4-L
Headquarters to provide services to transitioning Marines.
ANNUAL CONVENTIONS
Members find the State and National Conventions of the League ideal vacation
venues for themselves and family members. Held in a different city each
year, many families attend year after year and particularly enjoy the many
planned activities and tours related to these get-togethers.

Veteran Legislative Update, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Nighthawk 72 Detachment of Marine Corps League/ Mission Statement

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I was recently asked what the function of  a Marine Corps League Detachment is and what  purpose they serve. Good question. Since this one is so new, I thought I would just let you read for yourselves, the mission statement from the powers that be.

The Marine Corps League is a charter member of The Military Coalition, The
National Marine Corps Council, Ad Hoc Committee, Navy and Marine Corps
Council, the National Veterans Day Committee, and is represented on
countless committees and programs serving the military and veteran
community.
The League participates in patriotic functions such as the National Memorial
Day Parade and the National 4th of July Parade in Washington as well as
countless statewide and community parades around the country. We provide
representation to the U.S. Congress in legislative matters affecting the United
States Marine Corps, national security and veteran’s benefits through our
National Legislative Committee. Most importantly, Marine Corps League
Detachments are actively involved in Community based programs throughout
the country.
Once A Marine … Always A Marine!
Interesting in becoming a member?
Contact:
Don LaVetter
dontfg@cox.net
520-623-7471
J
THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
Mission Statement
Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and
fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the
interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding together those who are
now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been
honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote
the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and
rendering assistance to all Marines, FMF Corpsmen and former Marines
and FMF Corpsmen and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the
history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the
anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.
History
The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines
and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle,
globe and anchor of the Corps. It takes great pride in crediting its founding in
1923 to World War I hero, then Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune.
It takes equal pride in its Federal Charter, approved byAn Act of the Seventy-
Fifth Congress of the United States of America and signed and approved by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The League is the only
Federally Chartered Marine Corps related veterans organization in the country.
Since its earliest days, the Marine Corps League has enjoyed the support
and encouragement of the active duty and Reserve establishments of the U.
S. Marine Corps. Today, the League boasts a membership of more than
76,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty, Reserve Marines,
honorably discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen
and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in
its membership each year.
The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant,
with 14 elected National Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National
Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 48 department, or state, entities
and the activities of over 1000 community-based detachments located
throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of
the League are under the control of the National Executive Director with the
responsibility for the management and direction of all programs, activities,
and affairs of the Marine Corps League as well as supervising the National
Headquarters staff.
The prime authority of the League is derived from its Congressional charter
and from its annual National Convention held each August in different major
U.S. cities throughout the nation. It is a not-for-profit organization within the
provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code 501 (c) (4), with a special
group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps
League, its Auxiliary and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor.

Politics, Veteran Legislative Update, Veteran Pals, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Poignant Letter From Fellow Blogger Jim Sandefer

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The Honorable Jon L. Kyl
United States Senate
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0304
Re: Pass Medicare/TRICARE Payment Fix Now
Senator Kyl:
I am writing to ask you to pass H.R. 4851 now to correct the 21% cut in Medicare/TRICARE payments to doctors that took effect on April 1, 2010.

Unless Congress acts now, millions of seniors and military beneficiaries risk having their doctors stop seeing them. I have already experienced the loss of two doctors that have served as the foundation of my medical care. This situation leaves me without a reliable provider with whom I’m comfortable and is aware of my medical condition involving a diagnosed rare disease.

For the longer term, Congress must find a way to end this intolerable monthly health care threat to tens of millions Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries. Your health care program has not been upended and remains intact, so you have the luxury of knowing your care is available whenever you need it from a provider that is familiar with your medical history. You insist that you represent us, your constituents, but your actions imply that your primary interest was ensuring your health care needs were protected. This is one of many reasons your constituents are frustrated, disappointed, and considering other candidates who might prove to be more pro-active in standing up for us with the same tenacity as you’ve taken care of yourselves. I vote, and will be listening and watching your actions closely between now and November. Take care of us in the same manner as you care for yourself and you get my vote. Otherwise, I’ll find an alternative candidate who will.

Pass H.R. 4851 now, and do everything in your power to ensure Congress provides a long-term fix for this outrageous situation upon return from recess. The clock it ticking and the November election isn’t that far away.
Politics, Veteran Legislative Update, Veteran Pals, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

TRICARE AFFIRMATION ACT

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*** NEWS RELEASE ***

Congress Passes TRICARE Affirmation Act

Springfield, Virginia (4/13/10) – The Senate unanimously passed legislation championed by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) to fix a flaw in the recently passed health care reform law.  The legislation, called the TRICARE Affirmation Act, passed the Senate without objection last night and follows successful House passage of the bill before the Easter recess.  The bill now heads to the President for signature into law.

The Webb legislation explicitly states that all TRICARE plans are now considered as minimal acceptable coverage under the new health care law. Defining TRICARE under law is important because it exempts its enrollees from the required purchase of additional coverage beyond what they already have.

Unfortunately, the new health care bill, called the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act, did not clarify that the earned coverage of TRICARE programs for servicemembers and military retirees under age 65 provided minimum acceptable coverage. NAUS continued to work toward “explicit protection” and is pleased to see that the NAUS-endorsed Webb bill clarifies these programs and makes sure that they are explicitly included in law under this definition.

“Senator Webb greatly appreciates the National Association for Uniformed Services’ active engagement and support of the troops and their families on this matter in recent weeks,” NAUS was told in the Senator’s announcement of the successful passage of this TRICARE protection measure.

NAUS President Bill Matz said, “The National Association for Uniformed Services congratulates Senator Webb on his success in the passage of legislation that explicitly states in law that TRICARE meets requirements under the new health care bill. The men and women who serve our country in uniform deserve complete assurance that their earned health care benefits are fully protected and this legislation will do just that.”

God Bless
Jose M. Garcia
National Executive Director
Catholic War Veterans,USA
josegarcia4@sbcglobal.net
Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.
In God We Trust

Politics, Uncategorized, Veteran Legislative Update, Veteran Pals, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

VA Recognizes "Presumptive" Illness In Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans

1 Comment

The following is for your information and distribution to your members.
Subject: Gulf War, VA seeks to make getting benefits easier for vets

VA Recognizes “Presumptive” Illnesses in Iraq, Afghanistan
March 18, 2010

Decision Makes It Easier for Gulf War Veterans to Receive Benefits

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today
announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to
make it easier for Veterans to obtain disability compensation for
certain diseases associated with service in the Persian Gulf War or
Afghanistan.  This will be the beginning of historic change for how VA
considers Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses.

Following recommendations made by VA’s Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Task
Force, VA is publishing a proposed regulation in the Federal Register
that will establish new presumptions of service connection for nine
specific infectious diseases associated with military service in
Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War, or in Afghanistan on or
after September 19, 2001.

“We recognize the frustrations that many Gulf War and Afghanistan
Veterans and their families experience on a daily basis as they look for
answers to health questions, and seek benefits from VA,” said Secretary
Shinseki.

The proposed rule includes information about the long-term health
effects potentially associated with the nine diseases:
Brucellosis
Campylobacter jejuni
Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
Malaria
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Nontyphoid Salmonella
Shigella
Visceral leishmaniasis
West Nile virus

For non-presumptive conditions, a Veteran is required to provide medical
evidence that can be used to establish an actual connection between
military service in Southwest Asia or in Afghanistan, and a specific
disease.

With the proposed rule, a Veteran will only have to show service in
Southwest Asia or Afghanistan, and a current diagnosis of one of the
nine diseases.  Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the
next 60 days.  A final regulation will be published after consideration
of all comments received.

The decision was made after reviewing the 2006 report of the National
Academy of Sciences (NAS), titled, “Gulf War and Health Volume 5:
Infectious Diseases.”  The 2006 report differed from the four prior
reports by looking at the long-term health effects of certain diseases
determined to be pertinent to Gulf War Veterans.

The 1998 Persian Gulf War Veterans Act requires the Secretary to review
NAS reports that study scientific information and possible associations
between illnesses and exposure to toxic agents by Veterans who served in
the Persian Gulf War.

Because the Persian Gulf War has not officially been declared ended,
Veterans serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom are eligible for VA’s new
presumptions.  Secretary Shinseki decided to include Afghanistan
Veterans in these presumptions because NAS found that the nine diseases
are prevalent in that country.

Noting that today’s proposed regulation reflects a significant
determination of a positive association between service in the Persian
Gulf War and certain diseases, Secretary Shinseki added, “By setting up
scientifically-based presumptive service connection, we give these
deserving Veterans a simple way to get the benefits they have earned in
service to our country.”

Last year, VA received more than one million claims for disability
compensation and pension.  VA provides compensation and pension benefits
to over 3.8 million Veterans and beneficiaries.  Presently, the basic
monthly rate of compensation ranges from $123 to $2,673 to Veterans
without any dependents.

Disability compensation is a non-taxable, monthly monetary benefit paid
to Veterans who are disabled as a result of an injury or illness that
was incurred or aggravated during active military service.

For more information about health problems associated with military
service during operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and
Enduring Freedom and related VA programs go to
<http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/>  or go to
<http://www.va.gov/>  for information about disability compensation.
————————————————————————
———–

VA seeks to make getting benefits easier for vets
<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDTMFc36iJeT3Ld-G20KE
uRPLyhwD9EH60L80>
By KIMBERLY HEFLING (AP) – 20 hours ago

WASHINGTON – The Veterans Affairs Department took steps Thursday to make
it easier for veterans of the Iraq or Afghanistan wars to get disability
benefits. To qualify for the new streamlined status, they must have
malaria, West Nile Virus or one of seven other diseases.

The VA has proposed a regulation change that lets veterans qualify for
benefits by showing only that they served in the recent conflicts, or in
the Gulf War, and have a diagnosis of any of nine diseases. Called
“presumptive status,” it’s easier to prove an illness stems from war
service.

Such status had been given to veterans from earlier eras with certain
diseases, but this is the first time veterans from the recent conflicts
qualified.

“We recognize the frustrations that many Gulf War and Afghanistan
veterans and their families experience on a daily basis as they look for
answers to health questions and seek benefits from VA,” Veterans Affairs
Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a statement.

Shinseki made the decision after a recommendation by the agency’s Gulf
War Veterans Illnesses Task Force.

The seven other diseases are brucellosis, campylobacter jejuni, coxiella
burnetii, mycobacterium tuberculosis, nontyphoid salmonella, shigella
and visceral leishmaniasis.

<http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2010-03-18-2010-5980>

DATES: Comments must be received by VA on or before May 17, 2010.
Federal Register /Vol. 75, No. 52 /Thursday, March 18, 2010 / Proposed
Rules

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through
http://www.Regulations.gov;

by mail or hand delivery to
Director, Regulations Management (02REG),
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave., NW., Room 1068,
Washington, DC 20420

or by fax to (202) 273-9026.
(This is not a toll free number).

Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to
”RIN 2900-AN24-Presumptions of Service
Connection for Persian Gulf Service.”

Copies of comments received will be available for public inspection in
the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room 1063B,
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except
holidays).
Please call (202) 461-4902 for an appointment. (This is not a toll free
number.)
In addition, during the comment period, comments may be viewed online
through the Federal Docket Management System at
http://www.Regulations.gov.

Politics, Veteran Legislative Update, Veterans Benefits, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Standards For Mental Health Coverage In Emergency Rooms

4 Comments

Department of Veterans Affairs VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
Veterans Health Administration
Washington, DC 20420 February 22, 2010
STANDARDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND URGENT CARE CLINICS IN VHA FACILITIES
1. PURPOSE: This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive provides policy to ensure the provision of safe and secure mental health services during all hours of operation for Emergency Departments (EDs) and Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) in VHA.
2. BACKGROUND
a. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes the importance of providing emergent and urgent mental health services to patients seeking or requiring acute psychiatric care in VHA EDs and UCCs. It is estimated that 50 percent of behavioral emergencies requiring acute intervention in hospitals occur in the ED and UCCs.
b. In the interest of safety for patients and staff, emergent and urgent psychiatric care needs to be routinely available in all VHA EDs and UCCs. Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) needs to be considered an integral part of ED and UCC services and be readily available to improve safety and expedite handling of these complex and potentially difficult cases. NOTE: The majority of patients who present to EDs and UCCs with mental health problems are not violent. Patients determined to present a danger to self or others need to receive priority treatment by the ED and UCC physician and the psychiatric consultative staff, with disposition accomplished as expediently as possible.
c. Facility police must be available when requested by the ED staff to provide standby assistance or intervention for the management of any patient who presents a danger to themselves or others, who is potentially violent, or who exhibits violent or agitated, unpredictable behavior.
d. ED staff and facility police must follow current VHA policy regarding the use of breathalyzers when addressing intoxicated Veterans who are attempting to leave the ED and UCC. Specific attention is to be paid to the assessment of level of intoxication, mode of transportation, and withdrawal risk.
e. Suicidality must be treated as a life-threatening condition and needs to take priority as in any other life-threatening condition. Patients presenting with suicidal ideation are to be placed on one-to-one observation by clinical staff and evaluated immediately. One-to-one observation needs to remain active up until the time the patient is no longer deemed a risk by the ED physician or psychiatric consultant, or until the patient is transferred to another appropriate setting. Patients who exhibit highly agitated, disorganized, aggressive, or violent behavior require one-to-one surveillance while in the ED. For patients who are discharged from the ED, referral for mental health assessment and follow-up appointment must be completed prior to discharge.
THIS VHA DIRECTIVE EXPIRES FEBRUARY 28, 2015
VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
February 22, 2010
2
f. It is recognized that patients seeking or requiring treatment may be identified as being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This limits the ability of mental health staff to perform an appropriate evaluation.
(1) Care must be used to establish and promote a clinical relationship of trust and compassion providing for an opportunity to engage the patient in further clinical assessment and appropriate follow-up with clinical services.
(2) In the case of suspected overdose, the patient, if medically stable, must be referred for further mental health assessment and follow-up to include direct assessment of substance use behavior. The referral for mental health assessment and follow-up must be completed regardless of the perceived intent of the overdose (accidental or intentional).
g. Facilities may consider using metal detectors (magnetometers) to screen patients for weapons upon entering the ED and UCC. Metal detectors provide some, but not absolute, assurance of safety with respect to metal weapons. When metal detectors are used, they are to be used for all individuals entering the ED and UCC and are not to be used selectively for psychiatric patients. VA policy requires that two VA facility police officers be assigned to a magnetometer station for the safety of the officers and the public. NOTE: A protocol needs to be established for the management of patients screening positive when using a metal detector. Persons found to be in possession of weapons or other contraband during metal detector screening are subject to arrest and prosecution (see VA Directive and Handbook 0730, and successor documents which address specific requirements for the use of metal detectors).
h. Creating national standards for psychiatric ED and UCC space is a challenge considering the variations existing in size, age, and existing design of facilities. Still, a system cannot function well without a sense of the requirements for an ideal design that would foster smooth functioning and be acceptable to Veterans, their families, and staff. Space design needs to take into account control of opportunities to exit, and access of patients to potentially hazardous medical equipment and other environmental objects which may be used as weapons or for self injury.
i. The Mental Health Environment of Care Checklist from the VHA National Center for Patient Safety found at: http://vaww.ncps.med.va.gov/guidelines.html (This is an internal Web site and is not available to the public) provides guidance in designing space used for the evaluation of patients presenting to EDs and UCCs with psychiatric issues. New construction need to take into account the requirement to care for both male and female Veterans, as well as the need to provide separate restroom facilities for men and women. NOTE: Some facilities have introduced the concept of a Psychiatric Intervention Center within the ED and UCC specially designed to assess and meet the initial needs for care of those outpatient Veterans experiencing emotional, behavioral, or psychosocial problems.
j. It is recognized that the training, quantity and quality of staff and the policies guiding their functions can overcome many design barriers. Good design alone cannot compensate for administrative and staff deficiencies.
VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
February 22, 2010
3
k. VHA has a computerized warning system available for patients who have been assessed to be at “high risk for violence.” The Patient Record Flag (PRF) system has been shown to dramatically reduce violence in the ED. PRFs are also used for patients at high risk for suicide (see current VHA policy on National Patient Record Flags).
l. Definitions
(1) Emergency Care. Emergency care is the resuscitative or stabilizing treatment needed for any acute medical or psychiatric illness or condition posing a threat of serious jeopardy to life, serious impairment of bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
(2) Emergency Department (ED). The ED provides resuscitative therapy and stabilization in life-threatening situations; it is staffed and equipped to provide initial evaluation, treatment, and disposition for a broad spectrum of illnesses, injuries, and psychiatric disorders, regardless of the level of severity. Emergency care is provided in a clearly defined area dedicated to this function, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7).
(3) Urgent Care. Urgent care is unscheduled ambulatory care for an acute medical or psychiatric illness or minor injuries for which there is a pressing need for treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition or impairment to possible recovery.
(4) Urgent Care Clinic (UCC). An UCC provides ambulatory medical and psychiatric care for patients without a scheduled appointment who are in need of immediate attention for an acute medical or psychiatric illness, or minor injuries. UCCs can exist in facilities with or without an ED. In either case, UCCs are not designed to provide the full spectrum of emergency medical care. Urgent Care is to be provided in a clearly-defined area dedicated to this function and according to defined hours.
(5) Waiting Area (Rooms). The waiting area is a room where patients and families can wait until they can be seen. It needs to be a sufficiently spacious room with seating arranged so that patients do not feel crowded. It must be organized so that staff may observe any disturbed behavior. This may include direct observation (preferred) or by video camera.
(6) Psychiatric Intervention Room. A psychiatric intervention room is a room where seriously disturbed, agitated, or intoxicated patients may be taken immediately on arrival. It provides an environment suitable for the rapid medical and psychiatric evaluation of dangerously unstable situations and the capacity to safely control them. When possible, it should be away from the waiting area and near the nursing station. While it is not a seclusion room, it should meet the standards for seclusion room construction outlined in the Mental Health Environment of Care Checklist (found at: http://vaww.ncps.med.va.gov/guidelines.html ) NOTE: This is an internal Web site and is not available to the public.). If possible, all VHA EDs and UCCs need to have one room meeting these requirements in the ED or UCC.
(7) Interview Rooms. Interview rooms are where space is provided so that a psychiatric interview can take place with privacy, comfort, and safety. Such rooms need to be arranged so
VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
February 22, 2010
4
that assistance may be summoned rapidly if needed to deal with a dangerous situation; it needs to be equipped with a panic alarm system. They need to be large enough to accommodate at least three persons without feeling crowded. Interview rooms need to meet the standards for staff offices outlined in the Mental Health Environment of Care Checklist found at: http://vaww.ncps.med.va.gov/guidelines.html NOTE: This is an internal Web site and is not available to the public.
(8) Observation Rooms
(a) Observation rooms need to allow for patients to be observed for up to 23 hours and 59 minutes, contain a bed where a patient can sleep, and allow crisis stabilization and brief treatment to take place. Examples of appropriate patients for observation rooms include those with drug or alcohol intoxication; those found to be a potential suicide risk, where the precipitant needs to be clarified; and those suffering from an acute situational disturbance that time or brief intervention may remedy. NOTE: This room does not have to meet the requirements for a Psychiatric Intervention room.
(b) Some large facilities provide observation using a small unit adjacent to the ED staffed by nurses, social workers, and psychiatry staff. Other facilities provide this function by having a similar unit within the ED itself or by utilizing some of their regular unit beds to serve in this capacity when needed. When present, the observation area needs to meet the standards for patient rooms contained in the Mental Health Environment of Care Checklist (found at: http://vaww.ncps.med.va.gov/guidelines.html NOTE: This is an internal Web site and is not available to the public).
(9) One-to-One Observation. One-to-one surveillance is defined as the constant observation of the patient by staff. Any staff member has the ability to initiate one-to-one surveillance, but only the ED attending physician or the psychiatric consultant can discontinue it. While under one-to-one surveillance, the patient is not to be allowed to leave the room for smoking or snacks; any restroom visit requires an escort who can visually monitor the patient for suicidal behavior. Such restrictions on the Veteran’s freedom must be consistent with statutory and regulatory authority.
3. POLICY: It is VHA policy that EDs and UCCs have mental health coverage by an independent licensed mental health provider (i.e., a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse) during all hours of operation, either on-call or on-site; however, Level 1a facilities must provide ED-based on-site mental health coverage from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
4. ACTION
a. National Director for Emergency Medicine. The National Director for Emergency Medicine is responsible for providing national guidance to ensure a standardized approach for the provision of safe, quality care within VHA’s EDs and UCCs; this includes policy and directions for the delivery of safe and secure mental health services during all hours of operation.
VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
February 22, 2010
5
b. Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Director. The VISN Director is responsible for ensuring that all EDs and UCCs within the VISN are providing mental health coverage during operational hours.
c. Facility Director. Each facility Director is responsible for:
(1) Determining the need for on-site or on-call coverage at the facility.
(2) Ensuring the presence of appropriate mental health staff in the ED and UCC areas:
(a) All VHA EDs and UCCs must have mental health coverage available during all hours of operation either on-site or on-call. This coverage is to be provided by an independent licensed mental health provider (i.e., a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse). Psychiatric residents or post-doctoral psychologists may also be used with appropriate supervision.
(b) For VHA complexity Level 1a facilities (those facilities that have higher utilization, higher-risk patients, specialized intensive care units, and research, educational, and clinical missions), mental health coverage must at a minimum be on-site (based in the ED) from
7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. At other times, it may be on-site or on-call. Mental health providers covering on-site from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. may participate in activities throughout the medical center; however, they must not undertake any medical center activities that would prevent them from coming immediately to the ED if called. Psychiatric residents and psychology postdoctoral fellows, where available, may provide ED coverage. If that coverage is on-site, the psychiatry or psychology supervising attending must also be present in the ED. Psychiatry resident or psychology fellows who are on call and respond to requests for ED consultation are expected to contact their supervising practitioners while the patient is still in the ED, in order to discuss the case and to develop and recommend a plan of management. For other facilities, coverage may be either on-site or on-call at all times.
(c) When a VHA ED has on-call coverage for mental health, this requires a telephone response within 20 minutes and the ability to implement on-site evaluations within a period of time to be established on a facility-by-facility basis. Psychiatric residents and psychology postdoctoral fellows, where available, may provide ED coverage; when on-call and responding to requests for ED consultation, they are expected to contact their supervising practitioners while the patient is still in the ED in order to discuss the case and to develop and recommend a plan of care management.
(d) All VHA facilities with EDs are required to have resources that allow for extended observation or evaluation for up to 23 hours and 59 minutes.
(3) Ensuring all ED and UCC staff including receptionists, nurses, nurse extenders, and physicians receive training in Suicide Prevention and Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB). NOTE: PMDB is VHA’s accepted training in verbal de-escalation, personal defense, and safety/ physical containment for managing disruptive and potentially violent patients.
VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
February 22, 2010
6
(4) Ensuring refresher training in all aspects of PMDB and routine drills are available on an annual basis.
(5) Providing a safe and secure area where patients seeking or needing mental health services can be evaluated and observed.
(6) Ensuring VA medical center police are trained and available to provide standby assistance when requested by ED and UCC staff. Facility police are to be available when requested by the ED staff to provide standby assistance or intervention for the management of any patient who presents a danger to self or others, who is potentially violent, or who exhibits violent or agitated, unpredictable behavior. Patients who have been determined by clinical staff to be a threat (or danger) to themselves or others, are not to be allowed to voluntarily leave the ED or UCC until a discharge plan is in place. In these situations, facility police are to prevent their departure, consistent with applicable statutes, regulations, or departmental policies. Whenever this occurs, the facility police are to use the minimum amount of force determined necessary to control the situation.
(7) Determining that the level of mental health services provided by the ED and UCC is congruent with the capabilities, capacity and function of that facility.
(8) Ensuring appropriate employees receive training in recognizing and responding immediately to the presence of all PRFs.
(9) Ensuring mental health providers in the ED and UCC are equipped with reliable cell phones or pagers.
(10) Ensuring the advice of the VA General or Regional Counsel, and the local U.S. Attorney’s Office, is sought concerning the applicability of Federal, state, or local laws regarding weapon possession by a psychiatric patient. Such advice must become a part of the local facility’s established policy and procedures.
d. The Chief of Staff, the Nurse Executive, and the Mental Health Care Line Manager. The Chief of Staff, the Nurse Executive and the Mental Health Care Line Manager are responsible for:
(1) Providing sufficient support services to the ED and UCC to ensure necessary and appropriate care is consistently delivered in a timely fashion.
(2) Mandating on-site or on-call mental health coverage for ED and UCCs during their hours of operation by an independent licensed mental health provider (i.e., a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse) or appropriately supervised psychiatric residents or postdoctoral psychologists. If the ED and UCC are not open 24/7, the telephone system must direct patients to the nearest ED that is able to provide appropriate emergency mental health service, and to provide the National Suicide Hotline number,
VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
February 22, 2010
7
1-800-273-8255. Similarly, patients who arrive at UCCs when they are closed must be directed by appropriate signage to an ED that will best serve their needs; this signage is to include the National Suicide Hotline number.
(3) Ensuring that patients presenting with acute psychiatric emergencies, such as severe agitation, active psychosis, suicidal, or homicidal ideation receive priority treatment by the ED and UCC physician and the psychiatric consultative staff. This disposition must be accomplished as expediently as possible. If the patient with suicidal or homicidal ideation becomes highly agitated, assaultive, or attempts to leave and staff intervention is unable to stabilize the situation, the VA medical center police must be summoned to intervene, using only the minimum amount of force determined necessary to control the situation.
e. Facility Chief of Police. The facility Chief of Police is responsible for ensuring that:
(1) Local VA police standard operating procedures include legal guidance from the VA Regional Counsel and the United States Attorney’s Office regarding the handling of appropriately committed patients. Such guidance needs to address state commitment laws and define when the movement of committed patients may be restricted.
(2) VA police officers receive recurring in-service training on topics directly relating to dealing with psychiatric patients. Patients who have been determined by clinical staff to be a threat (or danger) to themselves or others are not allowed to voluntarily leave the ED or UCC until a discharge plan is in place. In these situations, VA police must prevent their departure, consistent with applicable statutes, regulations or departmental policies. Whenever this occurs, VA police are to use the minimum amount of force determined necessary to control the situation.
f. ED and UCC Directors and Managers. ED and UCC Directors and Managers are responsible for ensuring that:
(1) Staff has received requisite training in the initial evaluation, treatment, and stabilization of acute emergent and urgent psychiatric patients.
(2) A physician is physically present in the department 24/7 if the facility has an ED, and on-site during hours of operation of the UCC.
(3) All patients presenting to the ED and UCC are screened at some point during the visit for suicide and homicide risk. Patients recognized on screening as being at-risk for suicide or homicide or who exhibit disruptive, aggressive, or violent behavior require one-to-one observation while in the ED and UCC until the time they are no longer deemed a risk by the ED and UCC attending physician or a psychiatric consultant. Immediate treatment of life-threatening conditions always take precedence over this screening process.
(4) All patients admitted to the ED have appropriate physical and laboratory examinations to diagnose medical conditions that could be responsible for their psychiatric condition. As part of that diagnostic process, patients are asked to wear a hospital gown or pajamas and an inventory of their belongings must be carried out by clinical or nursing staff. These items must be safely
VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
February 22, 2010
8
placed in a bag, separated from the patient. If during this process, weapons or contraband are discovered, facility police must be notified. NOTE: The question of whether a weapon found in the possession of a psychiatric patient can be returned to that patient is subject to Federal and state laws (see subpar. 4c(10)).
(5) A policy is in place for appropriate transfer of the patient after stabilization to a facility that can provide a higher level of care, or provide an involuntary admission if it is deemed necessary and not available at the VHA facility. Transfers need to comply with applicable provisions of Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, § 489.24 that implement the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). NOTE: While not technically subject to EMTALA and the regulations implementing the Act issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), VHA complies with the intent of EMTALA requirements regarding the transfer of acute patients among health care facilities.
(6) Patients who are or who appear to be intoxicated as evidenced by a breath or blood alcohol level greater than the legal limit (typically .08) or who are manifesting behavioral signs of intoxication and who indicate any verbal or non-verbal intent to operate a motor vehicle are encouraged, or assisted in making other arrangements for transportation. These patients may also remain at the facility for an extended period of time until additional follow-up indicates that the patient is no longer showing signs of intoxication. Should a patient elect to leave the ED or UCC, this patient must be informed, in the presence of a witness, of safety concerns and advised not to operate a motor vehicle, and informed that the facility police will be contacted due to concerns for public safety. This information must be documented in the medical record.
NOTE: For local procedures for notification of VA police in such situation see subparagraphs 4c(10) and 4e(1) and (2).
(7) In those patients for whom there is a reasonable likelihood that the presenting complaint may be related to a substance abuse problem, ED and UCC staff are to appropriately screen for alcohol, drug abuse, and dependence. Specifically, screening would be indicated in patients presenting with reported suicidal ideation and among trauma patients given the likelihood of increased risk and co-occurrence evident with these two patient populations. In all cases where there is reasonable likelihood to suspect that a patient may have a substance use disorder, referral for further evaluation and treatment, if appropriate, must be completed. Veterans who are at risk for withdrawal from a substance are to be referred for withdrawal management to a designated bed section as determined by local medical center policy.
(8) The facility Suicide Prevention Coordinator is informed of any patient presenting to the ED with suicidal ideation.
VHA DIRECTIVE 2009-008
February 22, 2010
9
(9) For patients who are discharged from the ED, referral for mental health assessment and follow-up appointment is completed prior to discharge.
(10) Transfer agreements are developed in advance with local and regional health care partners.
5. REFERENCES
a. Mental Health Environment of Care Checklist, VHA National Center for Patient Safety, Department of Veterans Affairs, Version 4-21-2008.
b. VHA Handbook 1160.01.
c. Deputy Under Secretary for Operations and Management Memorandum on Mental Health Care in VHA Emergency Departments, dated July 2008.
d. 2008 Joint Commission Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (CAMH), The Joint Commission.
6. FOLLOW-UP RESPONSIBILITY: The Office of Patient Care Services (11), Medical-Surgical Services (111) is responsible for the contents of this Directive. Questions may be referred to the National Director for Emergency Medicine at (202) 461-7120.
7. RESCISSIONS: None. This VHA Directive expires February 28, 2015.
Robert A. Petzel, M.D.
Under Secretary for Health
DISTRIBUTION:
E-mailed to the VHA Publications Distribution List 2/23/2010

Politics, Veteran Legislative Update, Veteran Pals, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Global, Veterans' Spouses, Partners & Families

Veterans Administration Legislative Report

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The following is for your information and distribution to your members.  The following Legislative Report was compiled 18 March 2010.

Of the 4841 House and 3099 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 (if any) are new additions to this summary, titles in orange have either passed either the House or Senate and been passed to the other for consideration or been incorporated into another bill, and those highlighted in blue have become public law. 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.

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] (intro 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.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 (18)

Committees: House Armed Services

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

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.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 (124)  Committees: House Armed Services; House Veterans’ Affairs

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

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

H.R.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 (44)

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 http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12918951&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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 (324)   Companion Bill S.535

Committees: House Armed Services

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

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

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 (55)

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]

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 (74)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009 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=13303636&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id

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.

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 (123)

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

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.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 www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=1805

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 (40)

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.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.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.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.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 (14)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

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

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 (6)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 1/28/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-418. 9:30 a.m.

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.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12833716&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 (82)

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.

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=12986021&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.1752 : Parkinson’s Disease VA Compensation. A bill 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: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 10/5/2009)      Cosponsors (1)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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 (249)

Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs

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

To support this bill and/or contact your legislators send a message via http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=13301656&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

S.1939 : Vet Presumptive Exposure in Vietnam. A bill 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, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] (introduced 10/27/2009)      Cosponsors (15)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

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.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 (7)

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.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.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.

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.1779 : Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009.  A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide health care to veterans exposed in the line of duty to occupational and environmental health chemical hazards, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Bayh, Evan [IN] (introduced 10/14/2009)      Cosponsors (7)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

S.1518 : Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune.

Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 7/27/2009)      Cosponsors (15)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

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.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.

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.

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.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.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 (26)   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.

S.2743 : Cold War Service Medal Act of 2009.  A bill 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: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 11/5/2009)      Cosponsors (6) Related bill: H.R.4051

Committees: Senate Armed Services

Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

S.1556 : Veteran Voting Support Act of 2009.  A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] (introduced 8/3/2009)      Cosponsors (6)

Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Major Action: 10/21/2009 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.
God Bless
Jose M. Garcia
National Executive Director
Catholic War Veterans,USA
josegarcia4@sbcglobal.net
Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.
In God We Trust