Archive for January, 2009

New Sec of Veterans Affairs

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009


WASHINGTON (Jan. 21, 2009) – Retired Army Gen. Eric K. Shinseki took the
oath of office today as the Nation’s seventh Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, assuming the leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs
following Tuesday’s confirmation by the Senate.

“The overriding challenge I am addressing from my first day in office is
to make the Department of Veterans Affairs a 21st century organization
focused on the Nation’s Veterans as its clients,” Shinseki said.

Shinseki plans to develop a 2010 budget within his first 90 days that
realizes the vision of President Obama to transform VA into an
organization that is people-centric, results-driven and forward-looking.

Key issues on his agenda include smooth activation of an enhanced GI
Bill education benefit that eligible Veterans can begin using next fall,
streamlining the disability claims system, leveraging information
technology to accelerate and modernize services, and opening VA’s health
care system to Veterans previously unable to enroll in it, while
facilitating access for returning Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.

Shinseki, a former Army Chief of Staff, takes the reins of a
284,000-employee organization delivering health care and financial
benefits to millions of Veterans and survivors under a $98 billion
budget authorized this year through networks of regional benefits
offices and health care facilities from coast to coast.

Born in 1942 on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Shinseki graduated from the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1965.  He served two
combat tours and was wounded in action in Vietnam.  He served with
distinction in Europe, the Pacific and stateside, eventually becoming
the Army’s senior leader from June 1999 to June 2003.

Retired from military service in August 2003, Shinseki’s military
decorations include three Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

Shinseki succeeds Dr. James B. Peake as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

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New House Committee Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009


The Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives has announced the membership of House Committees for the Legislature’s new session (2009-10)

 

The Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee and contact information is attached.

 

The House Appropriations Committee has been named but the assignments to Sub-Committees has not yet been made. I will forward that information when it becomes available.

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Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing with Secretary of Defense Gates – Jan 27, 2009

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Senator Carl Levin’s opening remarks

http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=307339

Sec of Defense  Robert Gates opening staement to the Senate committee

http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2009/January/Gates%2001-27-09.pdf

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VFW Weekly Jan 27, 2009

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009


1. Senate Confirms Two Key Cabinet Members
2. Committee Assignments Begin
3. VFW Says Closing GITMO Not Prudent

1. Senate Confirms Two Key Cabinet Members: The Senate signed off on many of President Obama’s cabinet members this week.  Among those confirmed were VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  Shinseki has promised to begin work on several high priority items during his first days in office. Among them is the implementation of GI Bill benefits, streamlining disability claims, and modernizing the delivery of benefits, to include working with DOD on seamless transition for newly discharged veterans.

2. Committee Assignments Begin: Congress began organizing committees and naming members for its 111th session.  The House VA Committee chairman and ranking member remains the same — Bob Filner (D-CA) and Steve Buyer (R-IN), respectively.  Likewise, the Senate VA Committee retained Daniel Akaka (D-HI) as its chairman and Richard Burr (R-NC) as the ranking member.  The Senate Armed Services Committee leadership stayed the same with Carl Levin (D-MI) as chairman and John McCain (R-AZ) as its ranking member.  The only change was in the House Armed Services Committee.  Ike Skelton (D-MO) is still chairman, but John McHugh (R-NY) takes over as ranking member after the retirement of California’s Duncan Hunter.  Subcommittee chairmanships for all of the committees including the Military/VA Appropriations have yet to be named.

3. VFW Says Closing GITMO Not Prudent: VFW National Commander Glen Gardner said yesterday’s presidential decision to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay is not a prudent course of action during a time of war because the facility is a valuable tool in the fight against terrorism that provides useful intelligence information and keeps our enemies off the battlefield.  President Obama’s executive order will begin an immediate case-by-case review of 245 remaining detainees, and close the detention facility within a year. The decision is being applauded by human rights organizations and criticized by the families of 9/11 victims, who know that admitted 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed is one of the detainees.  Gardner, who traveled to Guantanamo in November 2007 to witness a trial as an objective observer, wants the administration to thoroughly examine its real options, because the executive decision generates more questions than answers.  Some of the questions concern how and where will remaining detainees be kept while awaiting trial, how to make convictions stick, and how to ensure those released do not return to the battlefield.  To read the VFW press release, go to: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4896

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VISN’s to receive funds toimprove health care in rural areas

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009


WASHINGTON (January 9, 2009) — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
has provided $21.7 million to its regional health care systems to
improve services specifically designed for veterans in rural areas.
“This special allocation is the latest down payment on VA’s
commitment to meet the needs of veterans living in rural areas,” said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “VA will take to our
rural veterans the health care services they have earned.”
Within the last year, VA has launched a major rural health
initiative.  The Department has already created a 13-member committee to
advise the VA secretary on issues affecting rural veterans, opened three
rural health resource centers to better understand rural health issues,
rolled out four new mobile health clinics to serve 24 predominately
rural counties, announced the opening of 10 new rural outreach clinics
in 2009 and launched a fleet of 50 new mobile counseling centers.
The extra funding is part of a two-year VA program to improve the
access and quality of health care for veterans in geographically
isolated areas.  The program focuses on several areas, including access
to health care, providing world-class care, the use of the latest
technology, recruiting and retaining a highly educated workforce and
collaborating with other organizations.
More specifically, the new funds will be used to increase the
number of mobile clinics, establish new outpatient clinics, expand
fee-based care, explore collaborations with federal and community
partners, accelerate the use of telemedicine deployment, and fund
innovative pilot programs.
The new funds will be distributed according to the proportion of
veterans living in rural areas within each VA regional health care
system, called VISNs, for “Veterans Integrated Service Networks.”
VISNs with less than 3 percent of their patients in rural areas
will receive $250,000.  Those with population of rural veterans between
3 percent and 6 percent will receive $1 million each.  And VISNs with
more than 6 percent of their veterans population in rural areas will
receive $1.5 million.

 

Special VA Funding for Rural Health
(By VISN number and VISN Headquarters)

 

#1. Bedford, Mass., $1 million
#2. Rochester, N.Y., $1 million
#3. New York, N.Y., $250,000
#4. Wilmington, Del., $1 million
#5. Baltimore, Md., $250,000
#6. Durham, N.C., $1.5 million
#7. Atlanta, Ga., $1.5 million
#8. Bay Pines, Fla., $1 million
#9. Nashville, Tenn., $1.5 million
#10. Cincinnati, Ohio, $1 million
#11. Ann Arbor, Mich., $1 million
#12. Chicago, Ill., $1 million
#15. Kansas City, Mo., $1.5 million
#16. Jackson, Miss., $1.5 million
#17. Arlington, Texas, $1 million
#18. Mesa, Ariz., $1 million
#19. Denver, Colo., $1 million
#20. Vancouver, Wash., $1 million
#21. Palo Alto, Calif., $1 million
#22. Long Beach, Calif., $250,000
#23. Lincoln, Neb., $1.5 million

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Public Service Annoucement – Know Your Representative

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009


Marines

New sessions of US Congress and State begin this week, the newly elected will be setting up offices and learning the process.  Are you ready?  Do you know who is representing you?  Are you ready to give them your opinion?  As veterans our fellow veterans and those currently serving count on us to help voice opinions on legislation that effects them.

Keep in mind that less than 3% of all elected officials are veterans, many cannot relate or may not completely understand issues relating to veterans.  As veterans and members of the Marine Corps League, American Legion, VFW or any other veteran organization we must be like lobbyists and explain why they should support or not support specific legislation.  Beyond veteran issues they also need to know how you feel about any number of issues.  Are you in favor of more taxes, nationalized healthcare?  As the congress debates these issues in the coming weeks and months make sure your voice is heard.

I have attached a work sheet to help with “Knowing your representative” and how to contact them.  Remember to contact them whether they are in the same political party as you or not.  You are their constituent and need to hear from you regardless of your party affiliation.

Let your voice be heard.

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