Senate Passes Veteran Bill S 1315

The Senate recently passed S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007, by a vote of 96 - 1. The act includes provisions to: (1) establish a new program of insurance for service-connected disabled veterans; (2) expand eligibility for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance; (3) increase the maximum amount of Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance that a service-connected disabled veteran may purchase; (4) provide individuals with severe burn injuries specially adapted housing benefits; and (5) extend the monthly educational assistance allowance for apprenticeship or other on-the-job training to two years. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives.

S 1315 Details: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:3:./temp/~c110EgN6Ji::::

YOUR HELP NEEDED TO PASS URGENT LEGISLATION!

The U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives are currently considering H.R.1585, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which contains many provisions beneficial to our wounded warriors. Unfortunately, this vitally important piece of legislation is in danger due to an UNRELATED and CONTROVERSIAL provision expanding hate-crime laws.

If this provision is included, the NDAA may not be passed, and our wounded warriors will continue to suffer.

It is vital that Representative Pelosi and Senator Reid hear from you on this urgent issue.

Please call and strongly urge them to pass H.R.1585 as soon as possible:

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives
202-225-0100

Senator Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader
202-224-2158

Don't let our wounded warriors suffer another day!

RAO Bulletin Update ~ 15 October 2007

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
VA Physician Quals ---- (Hiring system validity questioned)
Marine Reserve Bonus ----------------------------- (Expanded)
Overseas Holiday Mailing 2007 -------------- (mailing dates)
VA Obesity Initiative [02] ------------ (Epidemic of diabetes)
VA Flu Shots --------------------------------- (2007/08 Season)
VA Health Care Funding [11] --------------- (IL referendum)
West Virginia Vet Cemetery ------------ (Funded by Lottery)
VA Polytrauma Rehab Centers ------------ (Not up to speed)
VA Clinic Indianapolis IN ---------------------- (Fund source)
VA VistA [01 ----------------- (Outage cripples patient care)
Check/Money Order Scams --------- (Consumers easy prey)
Funeral Honors [03] --------------- (Customs and Traditions)
Arlington National Cemetery [01] -------- (Good thru 2060)
VA Facility Expansion [10] -------------- (Chicago VA-DoD)
MA DPL Data Breach ------------- (450,000 SSN’s released)
SBP Basics [02] -------------------------- (Good or Bad deal?)
Tricare Reserve Select [08] -------- (Continuation coverage)
CT Vets Wartime Service Medal ------ (270K Vets Eligible)
VA CWT & IT ------------------------ (Change in Tax Status)
VDBC [22] ------------------------- (25% Disability Pay Hike)
VDBC [23] ------------------------ (Action delayed until 2008)
Medicare Rates 2008 --------------------- ($2.90 Increase/mo)
NDAA 2008 [09] ------------------------- (Senate Bill Passed)
VA Polytrauma Care [01] -------------- (5th PRC Announced)
Medicare Part D [16] ---------- (Closing the Doughnut Hole)
Canadian Nat Mil Cemetery --------- (Available to U.S. Vets)
Military Related Job Fairs [01] -------------- (15 thru 31 Oct)
Veteran Legislation Status 30 SEP 07 ---- (Where We Stand)

For details on these topics click on the title above.

Legislative Update

VFW Washington Weekly,April 3, 2006
In This Issue:
1. House Budget Committee Actions
2. Military Funeral Legislation Introduced
3. Veterans’ Champion Evans to Retire
4. Hearing Held on Cemetery Funding

1. House Budget Committee Actions
The House Budget Committee rejected the administration’s plan to charge Category 7 and 8 veterans a $250 enrollment fee and to raise prescription co-payments from $8 to $15, but the committee left alive a proposal to increase healthcare premiums for some military retirees under age 65.
On a 22-15 party-line vote, the committee rejected an amendment by Rep. Chet Edwards, D-TX, which would have blocked Pentagon plans to double and triple Tricare premiums for working-age military retirees. There is still time to join the VFW’s fight against the Tricare increases by sending a message to your Congressional representative today.
Click here to send a message: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=8585061&type=CO
The bill now moves to the floor of the House. The budget resolution is just a blueprint for spending in the fiscal year. The Appropriations Committees have the final say of how the money is actually spent.

2. Military Funeral Legislation Introduced
VFW-supported Legislation that would severely restrict protests during Military funerals at national cemeteries was introduced last week by Representative Mike Rogers (R-MI).
HR 5037, The Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act would ban all demonstrations one hour before, during, and after a military funeral at a national cemetery. It would impose a 500-foot separation restriction, and would allow for fines and/or jail time for violations. It also encourages the states to enact similar bans for public and private cemeteries, as well for funeral home services.
We ask all VFW members and veterans’ advocates to contact their legislators and urge them to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 5037 and to fully support its enactment into law.
For the VFW Press Release go to:http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=3058

3. Veterans’ Champion Evans to Retire
Senior Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs’ Committee, Lane Evans (D-IL) announced his retirement last week due to health reasons. Evans suffers from Parkinson’s disease but plans to finish out the rest of his current term in the 109th Congress.
VFW Commander-in-Chief James R. Mueller lauded the Congressman for his many tireless years as a strong advocate for veterans. “For 24 years in Washington, Congressman Evans never failed to put the best interests of veterans and those who continue to serve ahead of partisan politics,” said Mueller.
Evans is also credited with being at the forefront of Agent Orange compensation, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Gulf War syndrome research, and the nation’s commitment to account for the 88,000 Americans who remain missing in action.
For more see the VFW Press Release at:http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=3034
4. Hearing Held on Cemetery Funding
House Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing on operational issues and FY 2007 funding for Arlington National Cemetery and the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).
Arlington National Cemetery is operated by the Department of the Army and ABMC is an independent agency of the executive branch that operates and maintains American military cemeteries overseas, as well as numerous federal monuments, memorials, and markers. The Veterans’ Affairs Committee has oversight responsibility for both.
The hearing was the second part of the subcommittees’ oversight on Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration and State Cemetery programs.
For more on the hearing go the Committee’s website at:http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/index.html