Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 10-21-09

What’s Inside Today’s Local News for Veterans

1. First Lady Praises VA Employees.
2. VA Engineer, Some Local Residents Differ On Need For Security Upgrades At VA Hospital.  
3. VA To Call Students, Ask About Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits. 
4. VA Announces Grave-Locator Service For Mobile Devices. 
5. US Military’s Handling Of Camp Liberty Shooting Criticized. 
6. Obama Asked To Review Personality Disorder Discharge System. 
7. VA Hospital Involved With Disability Employment Awareness Forum. 
8. Former Pro Football Player In Charge Of Constructing VA Hospital. 
9. Hall Discusses VA’s PTSD Proposal With "Generally Supportive" Vets. 
10. Homeless Veterans Assistance Vouchers Awarded In Colorado.

1.      First Lady Praises VA Employees.  The AP (10/21, Superville) reports, "As her husband debates whether to send more" US "troops into Afghanistan," First Lady Michelle Obama "told Department of Veterans Affairs employees Tuesday they are doing vital work." Mrs. Obama "said President Barack Obama is mindful of the fact that his efforts are only as strong as the people on his team. ‘So it’s just important for you to know that the President and I are proud of you, just as proud as we are of the men and women who serve this country, the people that you serve,’ she said. ‘And we just urge you to keep it up.’"
      In a column for the Washington (DC) Examiner (10/21), Wamara Mwine notes that VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "said the First Lady’s visit ‘symbolizes…the bond that exists between our Commander–in–Chief and the 298,000 VA employees who are privileged to bring to life his vision for this department.’" Mwine adds, "On Thursday, President Obama is set to sign…into law" the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which "will increase spending in the VA’s medical budget."
      The Christian Science Monitor‘s (10/20, Cook) "The Vote Blog" said Mrs. Obama’s trip to the VA headquarters in Washington, DC, was the 12th stop on her "gratitude tour of Federal operations," although when he introduced the First Lady, Shinseki "mentioned that an earlier scheduled visit by Mrs. Obama was postponed so the President himself could call on the VA’s workers in March." Later, during her remarks, "Mrs. Obama was interrupted by repeated laughter as she said, ‘I was supposed to come earlier and my husband bumped me, which happens all the time.’"

 2.      VA Engineer, Some Local Residents Differ On Need For Security Upgrades At VA Hospital.  In continuing coverage, the AP (10/20) said the Asheville Citizen-Times has "reported…that the Charles George Veterans Affairs Hospital is building a $750,000 fence around the hospital’s perimeter to prevent a suicide bomber from attacking the hospital." Security "improvements at the hospital started…after a 2004 Department of Homeland Security report suggested that the hospital’s ‘aged’ six-foot perimeter fence should be replaced. The new fence is part of the second phase of security upgrades," the first phase of which "cost more than $500,000. Some Asheville residents think" money for security upgrades could be spent elsewhere, but the
"VA’s chief engineer," Robert Cornell "said if the hospital is attacked, security precautions will be the first question." A related letter to the editor of the Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times (10/21, 45K) says the wall is a good idea. 

3.      VA To Call Students, Ask About Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits.  In continuing coverage, the Air Force Times (10/21, Maze) reports, "If you are a student-veteran using the Post-9/11 GI Bill and someone calls to ask if you have questions about your education benefits, it’s not a hoax – that really is the Veterans Affairs Department on the phone, and it really is trying to help." Representatives of the VA "will be phoning randomly selected veterans to see if they are getting all the benefits they deserve and if they have any questions about" the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, which "has suffered a number of glitches in its young history." VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "said in a statement that VA is trying to head off more problems. ‘Instead of making people wait to hear from us, we’re reaching out to veterans, so they can get the money they need to stay in school,’ Shinseki said."
      The Canandaigua (NY) Daily Messenger (10/21, Sherwood) reports, "To protect the personal identity of veterans, VA representatives making calls will not ask for any personal information such as birth dates, or bank account or social security numbers." They may, however, "ask family members for information to contact veterans who are away at school."
      Iraq Vet Upset By Payment Delays.  Illinois’ Northwest Herald (10/20, Sutschek) said the US VA "has reported that it had been overwhelmed by post-9/11 GI Bill claims, causing…delays." The Herald added, "By visiting any Federal Veterans Affairs regional office with a copy of their class schedule and photo ID, veterans who are students can receive emergency payments of $3,000, said Sabrina Miller, spokeswoman" for the Illinois VA. But, while Matt Hanks, who "served two tours" in Iraq, "said he understood that there were a large number of applicants," he also "said that it should have been anticipated before the bill went into effect. ‘You did everything you were told to do" in the military, "Hanks said," adding, "The least you could do is get your money on time." 

4.      VA Announces Grave-Locator Service For Mobile Devices.  Federal Computer Week (10/20, Lipowicz, 90K) noted that the Veterans Affairs Department "has announced a new locator service to make it easier for family members and friends to locate the graves of 6.7 million veterans. The Nationwide Graveside Locator service is available on handheld devices with Internet capability." According to Federal Computer Week, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki commented on the service, saying it "continues VA’s commitment to use the latest technology to provide veterans and their families with information they need." 
 

5.      US Military’s Handling Of Camp Liberty Shooting Criticized.  The AP (10/21, Santana, Carter) says that on Tuesday, it obtained a report on the US military’s "worst soldier-on-soldier violence in six years." The report resulted from an investigation into a "shooting…at Camp Liberty" in Iraq, which resulted in the arrest of 44-year-old Sgt. John M. Russell. Prior to the shooting, Russell, who faces "five murder counts," went "to four counseling sessions," but the report "concluded that while the soldier had received assistance, there were key lapses in how the military monitored him and how authorities responded once the shooting began." The AP adds that the Camp Liberty shooting "has highlighted the issue of combat stress as troops increasingly serve multiple combat tours because the nation’s volunteer army is stretched thin by two long-running wars." 

6.      Obama Asked To Review Personality Disorder Discharge System.  McClatchy (10/21, Goldstein) reports, "In the Senate, Barack Obama fought for better" mental healthcare for "troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that he’s president, some" of Obama’s "former colleagues want him to pick up the gauntlet once more and make sure troops are getting the benefits they deserve." Democrat Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, along with "Republicans Charles Grassley of Iowa, Kit Bond of Missouri and Sam Brownback of Kansas," wrote a "letter this week asking Obama for a report to Congress" on whether or not the military is following its personality disorder discharge system. That system was set up in the wake of a 2007 Government Accountability Office report which "found that the Pentagon often failed to meet all the necessary criteria" for such discharges. 

7.      VA Hospital Involved With Disability Employment Awareness Forum.  On its website, WVNS-TV Bluefield, WV (10/20, Staunton) said the Veterans Affairs medical center "in Beckley is teaming up with the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Disability Employment Awareness Forum," which will be held at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. A social worker with the VA hospital "says more than 50 vendors will showcase the services and technologies that are available to help individuals with disabilities, especially as it relates to finding a job."  

8.      Former Pro Football Player In Charge Of Constructing VA Hospital.  In continuing coverage, the WKMG-TV Orlando, FL (10/20) website noted that on Monday, ground "was broken…Central Florida’s first" Veterans Affairs hospital. The "$665 million medical center will be part of the medical city in Lake Nona." Rocky Bleier’s "construction company is in charge of the project, which has special meaning to the former Pittsburgh Steeler," who "was injured during battle in Vietnam and could barely walk." He "beat the odds," however,
"and not only learned to walk, but to run as well. He helped the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories."  

9.      Hall Discusses VA’s PTSD Proposal With "Generally Supportive" Vets.  In continuing coverage, the Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal (10/20, Lee-Adrian, 33K) reported, "Local veterans and their advocates are generally supportive of a proposed rule by the Department of Veterans Affairs to make it easier for those" with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) "to receive benefit payments. Since the public has until Friday to comment on the proposal," US Rep. John Hall (D-NY) "held a roundtable discussion with veterans Monday at Victor L. Bracone Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5913 in Wappingers Falls and another in Warwick, in Orange County. He will take comments back to the VA." The Journal added, "The proposed rule is a good first step, Hall said." The lawmaker, however, "said he has heard concerns that the proposal only allows VA psychiatrists and psychologists to diagnose veterans, instead of including private physicians." Hall also "said the language should include more PTSD symptoms, besides fear of a hostile environment, that would allow veterans to get compensation." 

10.    Homeless Veterans Assistance Vouchers Awarded In Colorado.  The Grand Junction (CO) Free Press (10/21, 15K) reports, "The Grand Junction Housing Authority has been awarded 35 vouchers to provide permanent, supportive housing for homeless veterans. The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded these" Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) "vouchers…to provide rental assistance specifically targeted to assist homeless vets. Applicants for the VASH Program must receive an eligibility referral from the VA." The Free Press adds, "The Grand Junction Housing Authority will have more info at their booth at this Friday’s Veterans Stand Down 2009, which is being held from 9 a.m. to noon at the old City Market warehouse on the corner of First and Colorado." Also "at the Stand Down will be the traveling Mobile Vet Center, which offers counseling and therapy to deal with veteran issues such" as post-traumatic stress disorder "and adjustment to civilian life. The Mobile Vet Center will also be set up Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Safeway, 2901 F Road."