The American Legion Washington DC Office HOT ISSUES Wednesday, March 12, 2014 ACTIONS – Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission On Wednesday March 12, Staff will participate in an Executive Session round table discussion with MCRMC members as well as other MSO/VSO representatives regarding the future of the military retirement and benefits system. The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission was established to conduct a review of military compensation and retirement systems and to make recommendations to modernize such systems. The Commission is tasked to submit a report, containing a comprehensive study and recommendations, by May 1, 2014 to the President of the United States and Congress. The report will contain detailed findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions it may consider appropriate in light of the results of the study. POW/MIA On Friday March 14, Staff will attend a meeting at the Pentagon with Mr. Michael Lumpkin, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC), to continue our discussion on DoD’s review of the joint POW/MIA accounting community. Secretary of Defense Hagel has directed Mr. Lumpkin to develop a plan to reorganize the Departments POW/MIA accounting effort. He is offering this face-to-face meeting to update us on his in-progress review, receive our feedback, and address any questions we may have. DoD Budget/Navy The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday March 12 at 10am to review the FY15 Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of the Navy Witnesses include General James F. Amos, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations; and The Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy. armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/hearings-display?ContentRecord_id=7A87BE30-C537-463A-B9F2-81FB4426CE69 On Tuesday, March 11, the Veterans Employment & Education Division met with Senator Tim Kaines (VA) office is discuss updates, policy, and legislative issues regarding our credentialing and education priorities. Follow-up meeting to discuss potential credentialing amendments to the 2015 NDAA. On Wednesday, March 12, the Veterans Employment & Education Division attended the 2014 U.S. Army Womens Foundation Summit on Capitol Hill. Speakers included: Col. Ellen Haring, USAR, Senior Fellow, Women in International Security; BG Linda Singh, USA, Maryland National Guard; Cynthia Thomsen, Ph.D., Principal Researcher, Consortium on Health & Readiness of Service Women; SMA Raymond Chandler; and SMA Kenneth Preston, USA (Ret), AUSA. The U.S. Army Women’s Foundation is the premier center for educational excellence, the national network for today’s Army women and a dynamic advocate for telling the history of Army women. This week planning continues on our Hiring our Heroes – Hiring Events in Louisville and Philadelphia. On Monday March 3, 2014, The American Legion’s TBI and PTSD veteran survey that began on February 3, 2014 officially closed with 3,116 veterans who completing the survey. The survey was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of TBI and PTSD care, treatments, and therapies that veterans are receiving, and to see if they are benefiting from Complementary and Alternative Treatments. The American Legion partnered with Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) in Washington, D.C. to develop and evaluate the survey. On Thursday, March 6, 2014, it was reported that the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is putting together legislation to give autonomy back to the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses that was been stripped of its independence over the past year. The legislation would give the Committee independent budget control and would require that its members be appointed by congressional veterans committees. In the past year, the VA has: Notified the advisory committee members that all but one of them would be replaced, ended the tenure of Jim Binns, a Vietnam veteran and former principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, as chairman of the board, removed its charge to review the effectiveness of VA research, and moved back toward looking at stress as a cause of Gulf War illness, rather than following up on evidence that it is caused by environmental exposures, such as to insect repellent, anti-nerve agent pills and Sarin gas, as recent studies have shown. The American Legion plans to meet with Dr. Robert L. Jesse, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, as well as the designated federal officer for the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses, to discuss the status of the Committee. The American Legion is also drafting a resolution on the issues faced by the Committee. usatoday/story/news/nation/2014/03/05/congress-asks-for-autonomy-for-gulf-war-illness-board/5984215/ On Monday, March 10, 2014, The American Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force is hosting a Town Hall Meeting at 7pm at American Legion Post # 205 2102 Highland Avenue in Augusta, GA for veterans to discuss the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center. During the meeting, the Task Force will focus on the VAMC’s steps taken to address 4,500+ delayed GI consults, as well as the quality of care offered at the Charlie Norwood VAMC. The American Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force will also be hosting a Town Hall Meeting at 7pm at American Legion Post 421 22001 Brook Park Road in Fairview Park, Ohio for veterans to discuss the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. During the meeting, the Task Force will focus on VA’s accomplishments and progress over the past ten years, current issues and concerns as well as VA’s five-year strategic plan for several program areas, such as: campus alignment, staffing, enrollment/outreach, hospital programs (e.g. mental health, intensive care unit (ICU), long-term services and support, homelessness programs) information technology and construction programs. From March 11-12, 2014, The American Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force is conducting a site visit of the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. During the visit, the Task Force will focus on the VAMC’s steps taken to address 4,500+ delayed GI consults, as well as the quality of care offered at the Charlie Norwood VAMC. From March 11-12, 2014, The American Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force is conducting a site visit of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. During the visit, the Task Force will focus on VA’s accomplishments and progress over the past ten years, current issues and concerns as well as VA’s five-year strategic plan for several program areas, such as: VA’s budget, campus alignment, staffing, enrollment/outreach, hospital programs (e.g. mental health, intensive care unit (ICU), long-term services and support, homelessness programs) information technology and construction programs. On Monday, March 10, 2014, an article from The Buffalo News explained that archaeological tests (required because of Native American artifacts buried on the Town of Pembroke’s property) have delayed the development of a National Cemetery in Western New York. The VA has an agreement to buy 132 acres in Genesee County for the cemetery, which would be located about halfway between Buffalo and Rochester and would serve the 180,000 veterans who live in those areas. The VA is hoping to close on the purchase this spring, but cautioned that design and construction of the cemetery will take an additional four or five years, and Congress still must appropriate the money for the project. buffalonews/city-region/veterans/va-has-yet-to-close-on-long-delayed-western-new-york-cemetery-20140309 Staff appeared on Fox and Friends to discuss The American Legion’s efforts to reduce the VA claims Backlog: video.foxnews/v/3329179310001/american-heroes-in-a-waiting-game-for-government-benefits/#sp=show-clips On Tuesday, March 11, staff from the Legislative and Veteran Employment and Education divisions met with staff from Senator Tim Kaine’s (VA) office to discuss amendments to the NDAA which would make Tuition Assistance GI Bill funds available to servicemembers and veterans respectively for tests which result in civilian credentials. On Wednesday, March 12 Legislative Division staff will attend a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees. A number of veterans’ service organizations presented their legislative agendas for fiscal year (FY) 2015. On Thursday, March 13 The American Legion will submit written testimony for the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on the President’s proposed FY 2015 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Members of the Legislative staff will attend the hearing. Also on March 13, members of the Legislative staff will attend a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on the President’s proposed FY 2015 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Also on March 13, Legislative staff will attend a briefing hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, the Foreign Policy Initiative, and The Heritage Foundation. The topic is “Do Defense Plans and Budgets Add Up? The Quadrennial Defense Review in Context.” Representative Randy Forbes of the House Armed Services Committee is a featured speaker. Also on March 13, Legislative staff will attend a briefing featuring Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno, who will discuss the future of the US Army as it grapples with the effects of 12 years of war and fiscal constraints, the Army’s role in U.S. defense strategy and how it will be achieved with a smaller force and tighter budget. Ø Veterans Benefits– VA Claims backlog according to March 3, 2014 Monday Morning Workload Report: · 647,943 claims pending (368,829 have been pending over 125 days) · Average days a claim is pending: 164.5 days · Accuracy of adjudications: 91% (3-month period) · Total number of appeals: 273,721 The American Legion’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals statistics (week ending 2/28/14): · Granted claim: 70 (39.3%) · Remanded claim: 78 (42.6%) · Denied claim: 32 (17.5%) Finalizing details associated with Department Service Officers School/Washington Conference. On Friday, March 7, 2014, staff attended the Mesothelioma Applied Research Symposium in Alexandria, Virginia. On March 6, 2014, at the bi-weekly VSO meeting, discussion regarding a standard approach for VSOs to contact VA regarding VA Regional Office visits. VA requested that VBA is notified 30 days prior to a visit. TAL staff advised VA that occasionally we are requested by Congress and USB to conduct visits with relative short notice. VA assured TAL that on a case-by-case basis VA will allow for variances to the 30-day request. Hearings as February 26, 2014: March 12, 2014. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a joint hearing to receive the legislative presentations of Veterans Organizations: PVA, IAVA, GSW, WWP, FRA, AFSA, NCAO, AXPOW. March 13, 2014. HVAC, Full Committee, “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2015.” March 25, 2014. SAC-MILCON-VA FY15 Budget Hearing. March 25, 2014. SVAC, Full Committee, “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2015.” March 26, 2014. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a joint hearing to receive the legislative presentations of The American Legion. March 27, 2014. HAC-MILCON-VA FY15 Budget Hearing.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:05:50 +0000
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