Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 3-25-09

What’s Inside Today’s Local News for Veterans

1. Stimulus Package Funds To Benefit VA Facilities.  
2. House Committee To Mark Up Three Veterans-Related Bills.  
3. Shinseki Adviser To Speak At Women Veterans Conference.  
4. American Legion National Commander Visits Large Post.  
5. VA Urged To Conduct Burn-Pit Toxins Study.  
6. Obama Urged To Order Shinseki, Gates To Improve Care For Vets, Active Duty Service Members.  
7. Obama Targeting Military Procurement System.  
8. Rule Said To Create Problems For Some Vets Seeking PTSD Benefits.  
9. Milwaukee VA Offering Services To Iraq Vets.  
10. Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Speaks At VA Hospital. 

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HAVE YOU HEARD?
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has made several improvements to the TV Converter Box Coupon Program that will help consumers prepare for the shut off of analog broadcasts by June 12, 2009, and is continually monitoring for instances of misconduct. Individuals or organizations assisting a consumer in the application process should be aware of the following program guidelines:
— Coupon applications are free and available to any U.S. consumer at no charge.
— The only personal information required on the TV Converter Box Coupon Program application is a name, address, signature, whether or not any TVs in the household are connected to pay service, and how many coupons – 1 or 2 – are being requested. Consumers do not need to provide a phone number, social security number or any other personal information on the application.
— TV Converter Box Coupons are available free of charge and will be mailed directly to the applicant’s home address.
For additional information about the TV Converter Box Coupon Program please visit www.DTV2009.gov.

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1.      Stimulus Package Funds To Benefit VA Facilities.   In continuing coverage, the AP (3/24) reported, "Federal authorities are setting aside $79 million in stimulus money for veterans facilities in Illinois. Congressional leaders say it’ll go to six VA hospitals, three extended-care facilities and seven VA cemeteries." The "Hines VA Hospital outside Chicago will receive the largest single payout of nearly $30 million," which will "be used for upgrades and repairs. The VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville will get more than $13 million. Among the cemeteries that will receive money is the Danville National Cemetery," which will "get around $800,000."
      The Tucson (AZ) Citizen (3/24) said the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System "will receive $20 million from the federal stimulus package," US Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) said Monday. Approximately "$18 million of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan money will go for construction of a 180-bed unit for extended care programs. Another $2 million will go for facilities renovation, fire sprinklers installation, and energy and water conservation programs at the 3601 S. Sixth Ave. campus."
      The Honolulu Advertiser (3/24) noted that VA "projects in Hawaii will receive more than $1 million" in Federal funds "from the economic stimulus package," US Sens. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) and Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) said Monday "in a news release. The Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center at Tripler Army Medical Center will get $800,000, the Matsunaga VA Medical Center Energy Project $50,000 and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific $192,574." The AP (3/24), the KITV-TV Honolulu, HI (3/24) website, and the Pacific Business News (3/24) published similar stories.
      The Rome (NY) Sentinel (3/24) reported, "Nearly $2 million in federal stimulus money will pay for improvements at the Air Force Research Laboratory" and the Veterans Affairs clinic "in Griffiss business park." Slightly over "$1 million will be spent" on the VA facility "for building renovations and modernization, and air handling unit upgrades and replacements." The clinic "has approximately 55 employees, according to Gordon Sclar, VA spokesman at the Syracuse VA Medical Center." According to US Rep. Michael A. Arcuri (D-NY), the VA "received a total of $1.4 billion dollars through the Recovery Bill to stimulate the economy by making improvements to existing veterans’ programs, facilities and services. In addition, the VA will make a one-time payment of $250 to eligible veterans and survivors to mitigate the effects of the current economy."
      On its website, KTVO-TV Ottumwa, IA (3/24) noted that on Monday, US Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) "announced $4,265,000 in funding from the Department of Defense…and the Department of Veterans Affairs." These funds "are available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act." KTVO noted that "Iowa City VA Hospital

 will receive funding to make repairs and improvements to its inpatient surgical ward and other areas throughout the hospital."
      The Tacoma (WA) News Tribune (3/24) reported, "The Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Medical Center in Walla Walla will receive $3.1 million in stimulus funding to pay for improvements at the center," US Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) announced Friday. Megan Streight, "public affairs officer for the VA’s Northwest Health Network, said the network hadn’t received information about the stimulus money coming to the state’s facilities."
      The KIRO-TV Seattle, WA (3/24) website said VA hospitals in Washington State will receive "about $23 million in federal stimulus money," with $10.2 million dollars going to the VA hospital in Seattle. The funds "will be used on renovation and repairs."

2.      House Committee To Mark Up Three Veterans-Related Bills.   In continuing coverage, CQ (3/25, Johnson) reports the House Veterans Affairs Committee "will meet Wednesday to mark up a trio of measures that aim to insure, house and make payments to qualified" veterans. One bill, HR 1377, "would provide auxiliary health insurance to veterans who received coverage from a private insurance company for non-service-related wounds but who still have unpaid expenses for emergency treatment." The legislation "was amended last week in the Health Subcommittee to make the bill effective on the date of enactment, while allowing the VA secretary to provide reimbursement for emergency treatment provided at a non-department facility at any time before the date of enactment. A second bill (HR 1171) slated for a vote would reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal 2010 through 2014." The committee "will also consider the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) bill (HR 1513) for veterans and their family members who receive disability, dependency and indemnity compensation payments." In a related story, CQ‘s (3/25) "Today at a Glance" column notes that the committee is scheduled to mark up the three bills at 10 a.m. in 334 Cannon.

3.      Shinseki Adviser To Speak At Women Veterans Conference.   The Las Cruces (NM) Sun News (3/25, Ramirez) reports Irene Trowell-Harris, "the primary adviser on women veterans issues" to US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, "will be the featured speaker" at "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Proudly She Serves, a conference for women veterans on Saturday at the Ramada Palms de Las Cruces, 201 E. University Ave." Also, "representatives from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in El Paso" will "be there to talk more about available veterans medical benefits and services."

4.      American Legion National Commander Visits Large Post.   The Delmarva’s Cape Gazette (3/25, Evans) says that during his recent luncheon visit to "American Legion Post 28, Oak Orchard-Riverdale," the "country’s third largest American Legion post," American Legion National Commander Dave Rehbein "honored veterans, delivered news and asked the organization’s troops to work toward yet higher levels of community involvement." Rehbein "said during a stop" in Washington, DC, "earlier in the week, he spent an hour with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, a retired Army general. ‘It was a very open and honest discussion.’" Rehbein added, "We have some things that we disagree about, but we disagree respectfully."

5.      VA Urged To Conduct Burn-Pit Toxins Study.   In continuing coverage, an editorial in the Navy Times (3/25) says, "Tens of thousands of troops have been exposed to burn-pit toxins in Iraq and Afghanistan, and concerns are mounting that many may be at risk for serious health consequences." Eric Shinseki, "newly installed secretary of veterans affairs, says the Department of Veterans Affairs is conducting a health study of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and working with the Pentagon to obtain

‘all relevant exposure data.’" The VA is "also…evaluating the need for an independent assessment of burn-pit toxins by nongovernmental, scientific experts." The Times urges the VA to do so.

6.      Obama Urged To Order Shinseki, Gates To Improve Care For Vets, Active Duty Service Members.   Veteran Doug Rokke, in an opinion piece entitled "Stop VA ‘Nonsense,’" says in a letter to the editor of the Army Times (3/25) that it "is time for President Barack Obama to order Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to stop the nonsense and provide prompt and optimal medical care" to members of the US military and US veterans.

7.      Obama Targeting Military Procurement System.   The AP (3/25) reports, "President Barack Obama says he can save money on defense and veterans programs by targeting the way the military buys its equipment." Obama "says too often in recent years, returning veterans haven’t been given what they need in such areas as treatment for post-traumatic stress and serious brain injuries." Obama "told reporters at a Tuesday evening news conference that he’s already targeted $40 billion in procurement savings, and that he’ll continue to look for ways to reduce wasteful spending on multibillion-dollar weapons systems."
      President Notes Funding Increase For Veterans Services.   Stars And Stripes (3/25, Baron), which publishes a similar story, notes Obama "said returning wounded veterans did not get the service they needed during the Bush administration, and that his budget proposes the largest increases for veterans services in 30 years." The President added, "A number of the increases…in our" budget "directly addresses the issue of homeless veterans." But the White House recently "swung and missed on veterans issues when" it "proposed a plan to bill veterans’ private insurance companies when they are treated for their combat injuries at VA hospitals. Veterans’ organizations protested," and the "White House removed the idea from the table."
      Ed O’Keefe noted in his "Federal Eye" blog for the Washington Post (3/24) that during Obama’s press conference, the author of the Stars And Stripes story, Kevin Baron, asked "about the administration’s ability to find savings in the budget" at the Department of Defense and the VA "despite potential political objections." The "Political Hotsheet," a CBS News (3/24, Levi) blog, published a similar story.

8.      Rule Said To Create Problems For Some Vets Seeking PTSD Benefits.   In continuing coverage, the AP (3/25, Hefling) reports, "Veterans advocates told Congress on Tuesday that a World War II-era law requiring proof of participation in combat in order to receive certain benefits creates an unnecessary hurdle for veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but not on the front lines. There is particular concern, they said, that the rule interferes with disability benefits for veterans" with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as truck drivers, "whose trauma may not be documented by the military." Rep. John Hall (D-NY), "chairman of the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee, which held Tuesday’s hearing, said the law should be updated to define a combat veteran as any veteran who served in a combat theater of operations or in combat against a hostile force." But Bradley Mayes, "director of Veterans Benefits Administration’s Compensation and Pension Service, told the subcommittee that changes have been made to make it easier for veterans with PTSD to qualify for disability compensation."
      VA Hiring Former Vets As Outreach Specialists.   In a related story, the AP (3/25) says Derek Graner, who developed PTSD in Iraq, is "one of 100 former service members hired nationally by the Department of Veterans Affairs as outreach specialists to help get Iraq and Afghanistan veterans into programs aimed at easing their transition back to civilian life." The "goal is to persuade" those struggling to adjust "to visit one of 230-plus vet centers nationwide, which are operated by the VA." The centers "offer free services from job hunting assistance to marriage and mental health counseling. Experts applaud the effort to actively search for veterans who may need help," but some advocates, like Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, "say the program should be much bigger."
      Class Part Of US Military’s Efforts To Halt "Epidemic Of Suicides."   USA Today (3/25, Gomez) reports, "In Maj. Thomas Jarrett’s stress management class," US troops "are urged not to accept" PTSD "as an inevitable consequence of war." Instead, during a "90-minute presentation entitled ‘Warrior Resilience and Thriving,’" Jarrett "tells them to strive for ‘post-traumatic growth’" by transforming traumatizing events into learning or "even empowering" experiences. The class "is part of an urgent initiative aimed at halting an epidemic of suicides, which has killed almost as many American troops this year as combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan combined."
      Army Psychiatrist Has Been Treating PTSD Sufferers For Years.   Stars And Stripes (3/25, Robson) profiles 73-year-old US Army Col. John Follansbee, "a psychiatrist at the Grafenwöhr Health Clinic" in Germany, "where he helps soldiers deal" with PTSD, something he has done for "PTSD sufferers from the Gulf War," along "with British Iraq and Afghanistan veterans at civilian hospitals in Northampton, England."

9.      Milwaukee VA Offering Services To Iraq Vets.   On its website, Milwaukee Public Radio (3/24, Toner) reported, "It’s been six years since the start of the Iraq War, and it has impacted people in Wisconsin." Some "local veterans…came home years ago" but they "continue to struggle with physical and mental health problems," so they receive care at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Milwaukee. They "agree with national reports that conclude the VA system of care is not perfect, but is improving." Milwaukee Public Radio added, "The VA in Milwaukee has served nearly 4,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. And its services are becoming so comprehensive, that it recently held a career fair" to "help service men and women tackle another big problem – finding work in this deepening recession."

10.    Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Speaks At VA Hospital.   The Tomah (WI) Journal (3/24, Medinger) noted that on Thursday, Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson "spoke to a crowd of over 100 that had assembled" at the Veterans Affairs hospital "in Tomah for her speech on Women’s History Month." The Federal Women’s Program, "a group of 10 female VA employees that sponsor events throughout the year, invited" Abrahamson to speak. While at the VA, Abrahamson "also spoke with VA personnel involved with the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom program. Some in the VA are looking into formalizing a program to better evaluate cases of veterans in the court systems for possible treatment options of returning veterans who may be involved with courts. While the VA does such work" on an "individual case basis, there is no formal program in Wisconsin. Abrahamson thanked those involved with the effort before beginning her speech."