Archive for June, 2009
House Subcommittee Reviews Claims Process for Veterans
The 110th Congress voted to enact the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act (P.L. 110-389), which aimed to modernize the VA’s disability benefits claims processing system by, among other things, authorizing temporary ratings and claimant substitution, studying veterans’ loss of earnings and quality of life, piloting programs to expedite fully developed claims and a claims checklist, certifying and training VBA employees, and evaluating performance measures for claims adjudication. Congress set several implementation due dates that VA must meet over the course of this coming year, and implementation of the law is in process.
On April 9, 2009, President Obama, along with VA Secretary Shinseki and Defense Secretary Gates, announced that VA and the DoD will create a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record, which is to be a comprehensive system that will streamline transition of health care records between the Departments. It will eventually contain administrative and medical information from the day individuals enter military service, throughout their careers, and during the remainder of their lives as veterans if they should enter the VA system.
Books on Bases, Smiles on Faces
Blue Star Families and K.I.D.S. kicked off the inaugural Books on Bases, Smiles on Faces event as part of the White House’s summer service initiative, United We Serve. Military families attending the event were treated to activities like coloring a banner for the troops, coloring and decorating popsicle stick picture frames. There were balloon creatures to be had, temporary tattoos for everyone and cake. Lots of cake. Service members and a representative from Senator Mark Warner’s office read for the kids and BSF and K.I.D.S. gave each of the kids a book to take home.
Governor Kaine Signs Legislation On Military and Veterans Issues
Standing with representatives of the armed services, Governor Timothy M. Kaine today ceremonially signed several General Assembly bills providing assistance to military personnel and their families and honoring the Commonwealth’s veterans, demonstrating Virginia’s continued bipartisan support for active duty service members, Guardsmen and Reservists, veterans and their families.
“Virginia owes a great debt to our men and women who have served in the military,” Governor Kaine said. “These bills take important steps toward improving the lives of those who are currently serving our country, and honoring those who have served in the past.
Among the bills signed today was the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (HB 1727/Cole). The compact, which has been signed into law in at least 10 other states, will allow for the uniform treatment, at the state and local district level, of military children transferring between school districts and states, and will also address the timely sharing of their educational records. Virginia currently has more school-aged children of active duty military than any state in the nation (76,352).
Other bills signed during today’s ceremony provide tuition assistance for members of the National Guard that have a minimum of 2 years remaining on their service requirement, increase the homestead exemption for veterans with a 40% or greater service connected disability rating, and make it easier for military and overseas voters and their families to vote absentee.
Virginia is home to 156,000 active military personnel, as well as 26,000 reservists and 10,000 members of the Virginia National Guard. Additionally, 807,000 veterans call the Commonwealth home, meaning that one out of every ten Virginians is a veteran.
Connolly to Submit Bill to Help Troops
Rep. Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly will submit legislation today to help U.S. troops escape financial penalties they could face while deployed.
The Democratic congressman’s Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would allow service members to end “family plan” cell phone contracts or rental property leases early with no charge.
Current federal law allows troops to end individual cell contracts or vehicle leases with no monetary penalty, but family cell plans and real estate leases can still generate extra costs.
“That just outrages me,” Connolly said Saturday after addressing the Vietnam Veterans of America’s Virginia State Council meeting, held near Manassas.
Blinded Vets Honor Senator Webb
WTOP-FM Washington, DC correspondent J.J. Green will be honored alongside two US Senators as The Blinded American Veterans Foundation (BAVF) presents its annual Congressional Awards today (6/16).
US Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) will receive BAVF’s Gillispie Award, while Green and artist Tom Nielsen will share the Foundation’s Carlton Sherwood Award.
“We’re honored to recognize Senator Webb for his outstanding service to the residents of Virginia and support of the nation’s defense programs,” said BAVF President John Fales. “We’re equally proud to recognize J.J. Green’s exceptional security and defense broadcast coverage,” he said.
Children of Conflict
Since 9/11, more than a million kids have had a parent deployed. Their childhoods often go with them.
The Harding girls have their own name for the local Applebee’s—”the bad-news place.” The last two times their father was sent to Iraq, he took his young daughters there and broke it to them as gently as he knew how, over a sampler platter and soft drinks. “I just tell them, ‘Here’s what’s going on in the world, and this is what I have to go do’,” says Sgt. First Class Sean Harding. Since the Army doesn’t say just when a deployment is supposed to end, he offers his best guess with a three-month margin of error: “?’If everything goes right, I’ll be back sometime within these 90 days’.” He says other things, too. He tells the girls that they have to help their mother take care of the house and each other, that he may not come back, and that if he doesn’t, each daughter will get a last letter from him. He won’t discuss the contents, but in essence the letters would give his final wishes and try to say how much he loves them. “We all started crying,” says Courtney, 14. “Nobody wanted to hear that he might not come back.”
Glenn Nye Gets His First Bill Passed, To Aid New Veterans
Congressman Glenn Nye passed his first bill, the Veterans Business Center Act, which would establish business centers to help veterans get the training needed to start small businesses.
Read more at the Virginia Pilot