Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 11-11-09

HAPPY VETERANS DAY AND THANK YOU VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY

What’s Inside Today’s Local News for Veterans 

1. Obama, Shinseki To Mark Veterans Day At Arlington. 
2. Two VA Employees Killed, A Third Wounded In Fort Hood Shootings. 
3. Congress, Obama Focused On Employment Opportunities For Veterans. 
4. Iraq Vet Confident Problems With New GI Bill Benefits Will Be Resolved. 
5. Sestak Looking To Make Sure Incarcerated Vets Receive Proper Medical Treatment. 
6. Lawmakers To Get Explanation About Problems At Marion VAMC. 
7. Government, Family Of Deceased Iraq Vet Settle Lawsuit. 
8. Another Lawsuit Filed Over Burn Pits In Iraq.
9. Hundreds Displaced By Hurricane Katrina To Mark Last Veterans Day In DC. 
10. Tentative Agreement Averts Cloture On Veterans Caregiver Bill. 

1.      Obama, Shinseki To Mark Veterans Day At Arlington.  The Hill‘s (11/9, O’Brien) "Blog Briefing Room" noted that on Wednesday, President Barack Obama "will mark" the "Veterans Day holiday with a wreath-laying and speech" at Arlington National Cemetery. He will deliver his speech at Arlington’s amphitheater, "where he’ll be introduced" by Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. The Hill added, "Earlier in the day, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will join Vice President Joe Biden and his wife for a Veterans Day breakfast at the White House. After marking" the Federal "holiday at Arlington," the President "will later huddle with his national security team as part" of his "ongoing process to decide how to proceed in Afghanistan and Pakistan." 

2.      Two VA Employees Killed, A Third Wounded In Fort Hood Shootings.  In continuing coverage, the Army Times (11/11, Jowers, 104K) reports, "Two of the 13 people slain at Fort Hood on Thursday were military reservists who worked for the Veterans Affairs Department as civilians, VA officials said. A third VA employee," 47-year-old Army Reserve Capt. Dorothy Carskadon, a social worker and "team leader at the VA Vet Center" in Madison, Wisconsin, "was seriously wounded." The Times notes that the two deceased victims were 51-year-old Army Reserve Capt. Russell Seager, who in civilian life "led a mental health team" at the VA medical center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 55-year-old Maryland National Guard Lt. Col. Juanita Warman. As a civilian, Warman "was a nurse practitioner at the VA medical center in Perry Point, Md."
      The Racine (WI) Journal Times (11/10, Won, 28K) said, "Those who knew him describe…Seager as a healer who was drawn to the ‘broken and shattered.’ That’s why he was on the military base at Fort Hood…during the deadliest shooting rampage on an American military base Thursday afternoon." The 51-year-old Capt. Seager, "a nurse practitioner who specialized in helping veterans suffering from mental health problems, was preparing for deployment overseas," but on Thursday, he "was one of 13 killed…in the Fort Hood shooting." The Journal Times spoke to Fran Petrick, who "worked with Seager" before he took a "job in primary care" at the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Milwaukee, "where he helped veterans reintegrate into society. Petrick described her former co-worker as a man who was not only good at his job, but also a patient advocate."
      WDJT-TV Milwaukee, WI (11/10, 10:06 p.m. CT) aired a report in which it also noted Seager’s VA ties, while the WBAL-TV Baltimore, MD (11/10) website said the "shootings at Fort Hood last week were particularly shocking for staffers at the Perry Point Veterans Administration Hospital in Perryville when they realized one of the victims was a former co-worker," Juanita Warman, who "was at Fort Hood on Thursday getting ready to deploy to Iraq when she was killed." Christina Watlington, a doctor at the hospital, "remembered her friend fondly when she spoke with 11 News on Tuesday. ‘When she came on board, she expressed an interest to work with returning service members. She and I began to work very closely together very quickly.’" Watlington "said they grew close when they were working together to help returning veterans deal" with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

           Fort Hood Visit Said To Underscore Secretary’s VA-Modernizing Mission.  The Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram (11/11, Vaughn) also notes that Shinseki attended the memorial, as does the New York Times (11/11, A21, Dao, Shanker, 1.09M), which says the Secretary visited Fort Hood to "pay tribute to two" VA "employees who died" in last week’s shootings. Shinseki’s visit to the base, however, "also underscored" his "current mission: to modernize his problem-plagued agency, which was struggling to care for aging veterans even before the flood of young ones from Iraq and Afghanistan began. For months," Shinseki "has been crisscrossing the country as President Obama’s pinstriped evangelist for veterans’ care, raising concerns about a coming tide of post-traumatic stress cases, traumatic brain injuries and other physical and psychological scars of battle." The Times goes on to say that since he took over the VA, Shinseki has, among other things, "pledged to streamline" a "backlog-plagued disability compensation system." He is also "pushing to revamp an archaic computer system so electronic records track a veteran from enlistment to death. Perhaps most ambitious is his goal of getting 131,000 homeless veterans off the street in six years." But "as much as anything," Shinseki "talks about bringing ‘a change of culture’ to the department. Widely viewed as indifferent or obstructionist by veterans’ groups, it needs to become more of an advocate for the people it serves, Mr. Shinseki says."
      Following Injury In Iraq, Duckworth Joins Effort To Overhaul VA.  The Washington Post (11/11, A4, O’Keefe, 684K) reports disabled veteran Tammy Duckworth, an assistant VA secretary, has "moved from the battlefields of Iraq to the halls of power in Washington, becoming part of a team headed by VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, a former Army chief of staff, and Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould, a Navy veteran, that is trying to overhaul an agency" which has "been called moribund and out of touch." Paul Rieckhoff, "executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America," said Duckworth is the "face of the new generation." He added, "Iraq and Afghanistan veterans aren’t old white guys."
      VA, DOD "Increasingly Recognizing" Veterans’ Needs.  In an editorial, the Los Angeles Times (11/11, 776K) says treating the "invisible wounds — mental disorders, substance abuse and traumatic brain" injuries – suffered by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans "will take many decades," and to "their credit, the Defense Department and the VA are increasingly recognizing this. Last week," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "laid out an ambitious plan to end homelessness among veterans, mostly by improving medical services, including mental health care. The Pentagon," meanwhile, "has nearly doubled its budget for psychological and brain-injury treatments over the past year and created a new program, Real Warriors, aimed at reducing the stigma many soldiers feel in seeking treatment for PTSD. And yet so much more needs to be done." But, in a "glimmer of good
 news, Shinseki announced last week a groundbreaking agreement with two nonprofit groups in Los Angeles… to allow two buildings at the Sepulveda VA center in North Hills to be converted into a housing and treatment complex for veterans only."
      NYTimes: Shinseki "Will Need A Lot Of Help" Carrying Out His Plans.  An editorial in the New York Times (11/11, A30, 1.09M) says Shinseki’s "national drive to end veteran homelessness in the next five years" is "an especially tall order for an unwieldy bureaucracy, one with a notorious backlog of 400,000 disability claims." Shinseki, however, "says a renewed Veterans Affairs Department must, and will, address that problem. We believe he has the mettle to pull this off," but he "will need a lot of help from the White House, Congress and communities across the country."
      Lawmaker Calls Veterans’ Homelessness A "National Disgrace.  " On its website, KYTX-TV Tyler, TX (11/10) reported, "The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey noted" Tuesday "at a Senate subcommittee hearing on the subject. ‘Veterans’ homelessness is a national disgrace,’ he said," adding, "The current system of dealing" with homeless veterans’ "’needs is being overwhelmed.’ The VA is on track to spend approximately $3.2 billion on programs for homeless veterans this year, claimed Peter Dougherty, who heads up the VA’s programs addressing homelessness." KYTX added that VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "recently outlined a five-year program designed to eliminate homelessness among veterans."
      VA Offering More Assistance To "Growing Contingent" Of Younger Homeless Vets.  The Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat (11/10, Hay) said 24-year-old Jake Saltzman is "one of hundreds of homeless veterans in Sonoma County and one of a growing contingent of younger homeless veterans." The VA, however, "pledged $3.2 billion over the next five years to getting veterans off the streets and preventing them from falling into homelessness." Meanwhile, bills "working their way through Congress…would increase the number of housing vouchers for veterans and focus on helping veterans returning from current conflicts get into housing more quickly." And on Monday, "35 housing vouchers – issued through" the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development "became available to Sonoma County veterans. It was the first time veterans in Sonoma County have had access to the so-called VASH vouchers, said Kym Valadez, a social worker at the Santa Rosa VA Clinic. Vouchers were also released in Marin and Mendocino counties."
   
      Murder Of Veteran Seen As Highlighting Larger Homelessness Issue.  The Westminster (MD) Community Times (11/11, Ingram) reports, "Police say they have no suspects or new information in the Nov. 2 shooting death of Grayson Edward Kenney Jr., 46, a former Marine who was found dead in a driveway in the 3500 block of Tulsa Road in Lochearn." However, his "living situation and circumstances of his death may highlight the plight of veterans in this country who are homeless." The US VA estimates that "131,000 homeless veterans nationally on any given day, which is down from an estimated 195,000 in 2003." The Times notes that at the recent National Summit on Homeless Veterans, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "said that although veteran homelessness is decreasing, more needs to be done." 

3.      Congress, Obama Focused On Employment Opportunities For Veterans.  A front page story in the Washington Post‘s (11/11, C1, Montgomery) "Style" section says the US House of Representative’s Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program is "designed to give injured veterans a chance to work for Congress, and to serve as a reminder to corporate America that veterans can be excellent workers." After noting that a "smaller program" offers "internships in Senate offices to wounded service members," the Post says, "Finding work and building résumés remain a challenge for veterans, despite many initiatives across government and the service branches to support returning personnel." This week, however, President Barack Obama "announced the creation of a Council on Veterans Employment…to raise veterans’ employment" in the Federal government.
      In his "Federal Diary" column, the Washington Post‘s (11/11) Joe Davidson notes that the council was created this week when Obama signed an executive order "designed to facilitate the hiring of veterans" in the Federal government." Davidson praises the move, arguing that by "establishing an interagency council and requiring that progress be tracked and reported back to the president, the executive order created a mechanism with teeth. ‘This is a very definite step forward in what veterans can take advantage of,’" said "Clarence E. Hill, the American Legion’s national commander," who "attended the signing."
      Similarly, Government Executive (11/10, Parker), said, "Veterans groups and some managers praised Obama’s order." The American Forces Press Service (11/11, Garamone), meanwhile, notes that the Council on Veterans Employment "will be chaired by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki." In addition to creating the council, the order "calls on agencies to work with the Defense Department" and the VA "to develop and apply technologies designed to help disabled veterans."
      In a related editorial, the Washington Post (11/11, 684K) says current "veterans are much honored and better cared for than in the past," but "their unemployment rate is higher than that of the rest of society, and the difficulties of readjustment to everyday life still trouble many of them. These are concerns that go beyond the reach of government to the understanding and commitment of individuals and entire communities, with the hope being the same one that
 inspired creators of the GI Bill 65 years ago: providing veterans the opportunity to better themselves and their country." 

4.      Iraq Vet Confident Problems With New GI Bill Benefits Will Be Resolved.  The Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger (11/11, Schillaci) reports, "Fairleigh Dickinson University senior Jeff Dunn, a West Caldwell native who served two tours in Iraq during his seven years in the Army, is one of more than 277,000 recent veterans to…take advantage" of a new GI Bill since the Department of Veterans Affairs "began accepting applications in May." The Star-Ledger goes on to say that while the new benefits afford students "educations they would otherwise struggle to finance," the popularity of such benefits "has led to some delays in payment, leading" VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "in September to order $3,000 emergency payments to students who had not received their benefits." The Star-Ledger added, "Despite the initial problems, Dunn said he was confident the program would sort itself out. In the meantime, he is trying to find other veterans and let them know about their options for post-secondary learning. ‘They don’t know what they’re eligible for,’" he said.
      VA, Schools Taking Steps To Improve Situation.  In a related, online editorial, the Christian Science Monitor (11/10, 48K) said applicants for new GI Bill benefits "have overwhelmed" the VA’ "old technology and bureaucracy, delaying delivery" of checks. The "backup has forced some veterans to choose work over school and drop classes for lack of funds. ‘I’m here to say we’re sorry,’ said Tammy Duckworth, the assistant VA secretary, at the University of Missouri in St. Louis last month. More than that, the VA has hired 700 people to help process claims and is sending out $3,000 emergency checks to tide over veterans." Many colleges and universities, meanwhile, "are showing flexibility with delayed payments," and "gearing up to serve this special population." 

5.      Sestak Looking To Make Sure Incarcerated Vets Receive Proper Medical Treatment.  The Delaware County (PA) Times (11/11, Logue, 38K) reports, "Looking to combat growing problems of homelessness, substance abuse and crime among veterans," US Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) "is trying to make sure incarcerated vets with service-related injuries and impairments receive proper medical treatment while behind bars. The congressman wants Veterans Administration doctors to communicate and share records with physicians at local, state and Federal prisons who are charged with the care of veterans who were disabled as a result of their military service." Sestak sent an "open letter to Gen. Eric Shinseki, secretary of Veterans Affairs," arguing in favor of his request. He also "met with members Shinseki’s staff about his proposal last week and said the response was positive. ‘The general has already stated his goal of eradicating homelessness among veterans in the next five years and I think what we’re trying to accomplish goes hand in hand,’ he said."

      Lawmaker Notes Efforts By Administration, Congress To Help Veterans.  In an Allentown (PA) Morning Call (11/10, 104K) op-ed, Sestak, the "highest-ranking veteran elected to Congress," wrote about the importance of Veterans Day, saying "we must always take care that our gratitude — as a people, society and country — extends beyond symbols and words." Sestak is "certain" that President Barack Obama "selected the right person in Gen. Eric Shinseki as his Veterans Affairs secretary to lead the necessary reforms in this organization," which has had a "history" of problems. After stating that he "strongly" supports the "plan by President Obama and Gen. Shinseki to end homelessness in our veteran population," Shinseki took note of efforts in Congress to help veterans, including the approval of the "largest increase in funding in VA history." 

 6.      Lawmakers To Get Explanation About Problems At Marion VAMC.  In continuing coverage, the Southern Illinoisan (11/11, 27K) reports, "Illinois lawmakers will get an explanation Thursday from officials of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion about lingering problems at the facility." The debriefing "is a follow up to a session Illinois congressional delegation members had with VA Secretary Gen. Eric Shinseki Nov. 4 regarding reports of continued failures in patient care filed recently by the Office of the Inspector General."  

7.      Government, Family Of Deceased Iraq Vet Settle Lawsuit.  The AP (11/11) reports the Federal government "has agreed to pay $218,500 to settle a lawsuit over the fatal drug overdose" Randen Harvey, a 24-year-old "Michigan veteran who served" as a US Marine in Iraq. Harvey "died in 2006 at his father’s home. His family had accused the Department of Veterans Affairs of failing to keep him in a hospital or commit him to a mental health facility." The AP adds, "Assistant US Attorney Steven Croley (CROW’-lee) says the government considered the settlement a ‘reasonable resolution’ given the cost of a trial. It admitted no liability."  

8.      Another Lawsuit Filed Over Burn Pits In Iraq.  The AP (11/11, Barrouquere) reports a "veteran and a one-time contractor who served in Iraq are suing military contractors Halliburton Co. and KBR Inc., accusing the companies of exposing them to toxic fumes by burning everything from human remains to tires in massive open-air pits. The lawsuit," filed in US District Court "in Louisville on Monday by former Air Force Sgt. Sean Alexander Stough and ex-contractor Charles Hicks," is the "latest on behalf of former military members and contract workers who claim they were exposed to toxins from burning waste in the warzone. At least 32 suits over burn pits have been filed in 32 states. The suits have been merged for pretrial proceedings under" US District Judge Roger W. Titus "in Greenbelt, Md. Burke expects the Kentucky suit to be transferred there as well." The AP adds, "Earlier this year, several members of Congress asked Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to investigate potential burn pit hazards. Shinseki said his agency is conducting a health study of 30,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and noted the VA ‘has learned important lessons from previous military conflicts’ as it deals with environmental exposure questions." 
 

9.      Hundreds Displaced By Hurricane Katrina To Mark Last Veterans Day In DC.  McClatchy (11/11, Recio) reports, "Hundreds of residents who were evacuated from Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina destroyed it are looking at their last" Veterans Day in Washington, DC. For "almost all of them, it couldn’t come too soon. In four years, they’ve adapted – or not – to life at the beautiful Washington campus of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. With 10 months to go before the rebuilt facility reopens on the Mississippi Coast, however, the veterans talk of little else but getting back to Gulfport.". 

10.    Tentative Agreement Averts Cloture On Veterans Caregiver Bill.  In continuing coverage, CQ (11/11, Oliveri) reports, "Senate Democratic leaders reached a tentative agreement with Tom Coburn, R-Okla., on Tuesday night that averted the necessity of filing cloture on a veterans’ health care omnibus measure and could lead to passage of the bill early next week. A spokesman for Daniel K. Akaka," chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, "said the Hawaii Democrat had not yet received the text of an amendment Coburn wishes to offer, but would take Coburn’s word that one is coming and would put off seeking unanimous consent on the floor to bring up the bill (S 1963). Earlier in the day, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would file for cloture on the omnibus measure if Republicans continued to block efforts to bring the bill up and pass it quickly." After noting that S 1963 "focuses on caregivers of…severely injured" Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, CQ adds, "On Monday, Coburn said he objected to the bill because its five-year, $3.7 billion cost was not offset."
      Politico (11/11, Sherman, 25K), which completed its story prior to the agreement being struck, notes Reid had "called Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) ‘illogical’ for holding up" the bill, "criticizing the Oklahoma Republican for supporting war funding while blocking health care funding for veterans."