VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY

VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY

In This Issue

1. Guard/Reserve Access to VA
2. 2. Agent Orange Bill

1. Guard/Reserve Access to VA: The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing this week on Guard and Reserve access to VA benefits. The hearing focused on a recent VA audit report on outreach and transition assistance programs to veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the IG report – entitled "VBA: Transition Assistance for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom Service Members and Veterans" – VA is not meeting its obligation to inform new veterans of the benefits they may have earned, and more than half of those left out are Guard and Reserve veterans. Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) relayed his concerns to the VA panel and other witnesses, and asked them to look into why Guard and Reserve members are not receiving the same level of support from VA. Panelist Sgt. Roy Meredith, Maryland National Guard, offered his personal insight and told senators that to be effective in providing Guard and Reservists with information and access to their benefits; a formal and defined program with proper oversight at the state level is critical.

A copy of the IG report is at http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2008/VAOIG-06-03552-169.pdf
Hearing information is at http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=16&release_id=11732&view=all

2. Agent Orange Bill: VFW attended a Wednesday press conference held by House Veterans Affairs’ Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA). The press event introduced VFW-supported legislation HR 6562, "The Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008." The bill would clarify the laws related to VA benefits provided to Vietnam War veterans suffering from Agent Orange exposure. Currently, VA requires Vietnam veterans to prove "foot on land" in order to qualify for the presumptions of service-connection for herbicide-exposure related illnesses. If enacted, this bill will make it easier for VA to process Vietnam War veterans’ claims for service-connected conditions that scientists have linked to toxic exposures during the Vietnam War. It will also provide coverage and compensation to "Blue Water Navy" veterans and those who flew within Vietnamese airspace.

For more, go to http://veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=288