Sarasota County Veterans Commission

Time to Reinstate Compulsory Military Service in America

2010-07-31T16:39:00.006-04:00

I have received numerous e-mails about embattled Democrat Congressman Charlie Rangel's bill to reinstate compulsory military service in America. I would like everyone to look past who Charlie Rangel is, a crook who used his office for personal gain, and consider reinstating the draft based upon its merits.

I was in the Army when we made the transition from an military force based upon drafting able bodied men and women to serve, to an all volunteer force. I was against this move. However, politics and a knee jerk reaction by those who were against the Vietnam War led to the elimination of the draft. This was the wrong decision forced upon our military.

A calling to the nation's defense is the first responsibility of all American citizens since Bunker Hill.

Today, the military service hand picks those who will serve using criteria that set a high bar for entrance. That is good. The down side is many of our youth now consider service to the nation as secondary to their personal aggrandizement. Today's youth take advantage of the freedoms and liberties protected by our military. The American youth have no sense of service above ones' self. They have no skin in the game, so they play war games on their Wii and X-Boxes, when a real war is raging overseas and in the homeland. While our soldiers are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, most Americans are going to the mall. Sad but true.

Here are the three reasons why I believe we must reinstate the draft and compulsory military service for all Americans:

America and the American dream are based upon sacrifice in service to the nation. Other countries understand that service above one's self interests creates a bond between the individual and the America whose bounty gives so much to so many from so few. Today less than one-percent of all Americans serve in our uniformed services. This one-percent is defending with their lives the other ninety-nine percent. That is not what being an American is all about. Service to protect and defend this nation is part and parcel of being an American citizen. Our military takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic. Until you raise your right hand and so swear you will not understand what service really means. The military instills a sense of duty, honor and country in all who serve.
The military creates an understanding of team work, loyalty to ones comrades, and leadership. Few other organizations can make the same claim. Unlike the private sector, pledging one's life to be part of an elite group of military men and women transcends the ordinary world of work. However, leadership skill sets learn in the military easily transfer to the private sector and enhance the overall quality of our workforce and work place. Core values like showing up to work on time, dressing properly and addressing your superiors in a respectful manner are instilled during military training. While the American military has rules it also encourages independent decision making in the face of danger. Soldiers learn how to think on their feet. Something sorely lacking today.
Finally, the military provides training in a vast variety of careers. From driving a truck to flying billion dollar aircraft. From being a medic to commanding a hospital. Job expertise of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines makes a difference in the workforce. The technical job skills learned as a baker, butcher, or candlestick maker carry over to our businesses with the added bonus of free on-the-job training provided by our military. A win-win for our society.

As Dan Senor, author of Startup Nation, points out it is Israel's compulsory military service that in large part has led to it being a startup nation. Everyone in Israel serves and has directly led to it being so successful and having so many entrepreneurs. As Dan points out it is the military experiences of Israeli youth that solidifies the idea that, " Israel is not just a country, but a comprehensive state of mind." That is what compulsory military service does, it creates a "comprehensive state of mind" that serves that nation well.

Time to reinstate compulsory military service in America and regain that which has been lost - our collective comprehensive state of mind.

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Questions and Answers for New PTSD Rule (VA Office of Field Operations July 9, 2010)

2010-07-25T06:29:00.001-04:00

I heard that VA has changed the regulations for PTSD claims. What has changed? VA has amended its rules for processing disability compensation claims for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new rule eliminates the requirement for corroborating evidence of the claimed in-service stressor if it is related to the veteran’s “fear of hostile military or terrorist activity”.

What are the new requirements of this change? This new rule now requires that the following be demonstrated to establish service connection for PTSD: the claimed stressor is consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of the veteran’s service; A VA psychiatrist or psychologist, or contract equivalent, confirms that the claimed stressor is adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD; and the veteran’s symptoms are related to the claimed stressor.

When does this new rule take effect? The new rule is effective on July 13, 2010. The rule is applicable to all PTSD service connected claims, including appeals, that are: pending before VA, or received on or after, July 13, 2010; pending before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals; or pending before VA on or after July 13, 2010, because the Veterans Court vacated and remanded a Board decision.

I claimed PTSD before and was denied. If I reopen now, will VA go back to when I first claimed PTSD? If service connection for PTSD is granted under the amended regulation, the effective date will be no earlier than July 13, 2010, the date the new rule went into effect.

I currently have a PTSD claim (or appeal) for service connection pending at the regional office and am waiting for a decision. What do I have to do? Nothing. This new rule will be applied to any pending claim (or appeal) involving service connection for PTSD.

Should I still provide proof of my combat medals? You should always submit any evidence that would support your claim.

I claimed PTSD. Will I be scheduled for a VA exam? Your claim will be reviewed and, if a VA exam is necessary, you will receive a separate notification letter with reporting instructions.

My private physician has already diagnosed me with PTSD. Do I have to report for a VA exam? A private report or diagnosis is not adequate for establishing service connection for PTSD; therefore, a VA exam will be required. You should submit this supporting evidence from your doctor, or we can request those for you. (PCR must offer VA Form 21-4142 and document evidence on VA Form 21-0820. Refer VA Form 21-0820 to SOJ.)

I have been denied service connection for PTSD in the past. How do I reapply? We will have to reopen your claim. (PCR must take claim on VA Form 21-0820 and refer to SOJ.)

Does this change regarding PTSD apply to any Veteran? Yes. This change applies to all veterans, regardless of when they served.

VA Simplifies Access to Health Care and Benefits for Veterans with PTSD (VA News Release July 12, 2010) WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced a critical step forward in providing an easier process for veterans seeking health care and disability compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with the publication of a final regulation in the Federal Register.

By publishing a final regulation in the Federal Register to simplify the process for a veteran to claim service connection for PTSD, VA reduces the evidence needed if the trauma claimed by a veteran is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and is consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of the veteran’s service. This science-based regulation relies on evidence that concluded that a veteran’s deployment to a war zone is linked to an increased risk of PTSD.

Under the new rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA doctor confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a non-combat veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. This final rule simplifies the development that is required for these cases.

VA expects this rule making to decrease the time it takes VA to decide access to care and claims falling under the revised criteria. More than 400,000 veterans currently receiving compensation benefits are service connected for PTSD. Combined with VA’s shorter claims form, VA’s new streamlined, science-based regulation allows for faster and more accurate decisions that also expedite access to medical care and other benefits for veterans.

PTSD is a medically recognized anxiety disorder that can develop from seeing or experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury to which a person responds with intense fear, helplessness or horror, and is not uncommon among war veterans.

For additional information, go to www.va.gov or call VA’s toll free benefits number at 1-800-827-1000.

Charlotte County Veterans Council Donates Computer

2010-06-23T16:32:00.000-04:00

The Charlotte County Veterans Council will present a dedicated computer to the Military Heritage Museum on behalf of Don Moore, a longtime military affairs writer, Saturday, June 26 at 1 p.m., during the “Village and Verse: Taste of the Village” literary/culinary festival at Fishermen’s Village.

Terry Lynn, President of the Veterans Council, said the computer will enable veterans and visitors to the museum to read a growing cyber-collection of “War Tales,” the popular column about military men and women written by Moore which appears weekly in the Charlotte Sun.

“Freedom’s not free,” Lynn said. “Giving people access to these tales of military men and women is a way of reminding us of the sacrifices people made for this country.”

Lynn praised Kim Lovejoy, Executive Director of the Museum, for her vision.

“Kim understands technology, and the importance of blending the displays and artifacts at the museum with the latest computer advances,” Lynn said. “That means we’re sure she’ll find a way to combine our gift with existing displays to present a dynamic picture of our veterans.

Moore, who is working to archive the thousands of “War Tales” he has collected, was surprised but pleased to hear of the gift.

“I’m just doing my job in telling these stories, but I’d love to find a way to get them all available for research or whatever,” he said.

Moore, who has published two volumes of his “War Tales” columns, will be available to autograph copies of his books. The ceremony will take place at the Military Heritage Museum, located just inside Fishermen’s Village.

All veterans and the general public are invited to attend the ceremony.

Don't Ask About Homosexuality, Don't Tell About Its Negative Impacts On Our Military

2010-05-26T12:21:00.004-04:00

President Obama, Senator Levin and Speaker Pelosi are forcing a vote on the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell legislation that has served us well. They are doing so without the benefit of a report from the Department of Defense (DOD) on the impact of repealing this law on our readiness and sustainability of the all volunteer force.

But why?

It is because when the DOD studies an issue they really study it. Their report will have great credibility and a major impact on how homosexuality is viewed, not only in our military, but in our society. If the DOD report shows that having homosexuals in the military negatively impacts our combat readiness, the health, morale and welfare of our forces, and presents long term risks to the sustainability of the force, then the barriers to looking at homosexuals in our society will be broken down. President Obama, Senator Levin and Speaker Pelosi cannot let that report get out to the public because support for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell will collapse.

People will begin to say well if homosexual behavior negatively impacts our military does it not also negatively impact our society?

The federal government has not seriously studied the long term impacts of homosexual behavior on the individual, their partners and society as a whole. This DOD report could open the way for further studies by other government agencies like Health and Human Services on homosexuality. Researchers would feel emboldened to study the impacts of homosexuality on our healthcare system, businesses and social policy. It will open a Pandora's box that President Obama wants to keep the lid on.

I have written about the negative health aspects of homosexuality here, and here. It is critical that the DOD report be completed and released to Congress and the American people before any legislation repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell is considered.

Here is a video from FRC Action on what our generals think about repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell:

Related articles:

Veterans Groups and House Armed Services Leaders Oppose President’s DADT Plan

Rush to Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell an Insult to Military Personnel and Their Families

What has Allah ever done for you? | Red County

2010-04-13T09:01:00.000-04:00

What has Allah ever done for you? | Red County

Legislative Update - July 2009 by LTC Lee F. Kichen

2009-07-13T09:52:00.006-04:00

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY: Federal Legislative Update

VFW State Commander Tells Congress to Leave VA Health Care and TRICARE Alone-In a letter to the Florida delegation of the United States Congress, Department Commander Stephen Surface urged the Senators and members of the House of Representatives leave VA health care and TRICARE out of a national health care reform package. Surface wrote: “Military health benefits provide an essential offset to the extraordinary demands and sacrifices inherent in a military career. Unique and specialized VA programs acknowledge special government responsibilities to those who incur service-caused injuries and illnesses. Each is critical in sustaining a career all-volunteer force, and subjecting them to taxation would be a major erosion of benefits that would undermine recruiting, retention, and national security.” We believe that VA health care should continue as stand alone and untaxed programs rather than be absorbed by some ill-defined national health care system. To do so would fail to recognize the government’s special responsibility to the active, reserve and retired military members and veterans and their families.

Advanced Funding for VA Health Care Continues to Make Progress-Advanced funding for the Veterans Affairs Department moved a big step forward, when the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MILCON/VA) while considering the 2010 appropriation agreed to set aside $48 billion for 2011 veterans’ health care costs.

This action represents the latest step towards achieving the VFW number one legislative priority of ensuring predictable and continuous funding for veterans’ health care. Only once in the last nineteen years has The Congress completed this all important appropriation on time. Before advanced funding becomes a reality, lawmakers must work-out final details like how much money needs to be set aside to cover a budget one year in advance including cost estimates and a procedure for making adjustments if the estimates are wrong.

In other action, the MILCON/VA subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., approved a $133.8 billion funding bill on Monday, including $23 billion for military construction, $53 billion for veterans’ health care and administrative programs and $55.8 billion in mandatory spending, such as veterans’ benefits. The 2010 spending is about $440 million more than the Obama administration had requested.

“We have done our best to address both the needs of the military and our veterans in this legislation,” Johnson said in a statement. “I remain committed to keeping our promises to our veterans and honoring them by ensuring they receive the care they deserve and require.”

Advanced funding includes $37.1 billion for medical services, $5.7 billion for medical facilities and $5.3 billion for medical support, money that would become available on Oct. 1, 2010, which is the first day of fiscal 2011.

The House version of the 2010 veterans funding bill includes a placeholder for a 2011 advanced appropriation but does not provide a specific number while waiting on the Obama administration to make 2011 budget estimates.

House Adopts “Light” Concurrent Receipt Measure-When the House Armed Services Committee did its “mark-up” of the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act we were very disappointed to learn that it did not include the Obama’ Administration’s proposal to expand Concurrent Receipt of Military Retirement Pay and VA Disability Compensation to disabled military retirees with less than 20 years of service.

However, after considering through nearly 70 amendments, the House voted overwhelmingly (389-to-22) on June 25 to approve its version of the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Bill (HR 2647). With respect to Concurrent Receipt there is “good news” and “bad news”. One of the most important floor amendments was offered by Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO), to phase out over five years the disability offset to military retired pay for service members retired for disability (Chapter 61).

The first three years of the five-year phase-out would end the offset for more severely disabled Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service:

On January 1, 2010, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 90% or 100%, or who are deemed “unemployable” by the VA, would become eligible.
On January 1, 2011, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 70% or 80% become eligible.
On January 1, 2012, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 50% or 60% become eligible.

Over the following two years, the offset would be eliminated for all remaining Chapter 61 retirees:

On January 1, 2013, Chapter 61 retirees with a VA rating of either 30% or 40% will become eligible.
On January 1, 2014, Chapter 61 retirees with any VA rating become eligible.

The bad news is that House leaders were able to identify funding only for the first increment in 2010. Congress would have to come up with additional funding by Oct 1, 2010, or the program would expire. In reality there is little chance of Congress letting this high-profile initiative (which was generated by President Obama) lapse.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, expressed his support of the bill but said the House “could have done so much more.” We couldn’t agree more with Mr. Wilson.

TALLAHASSEE TALES: State Legislative Update

Veterans of Foreign Wars Adopts State Legislative Priorities for 2010-The 2009-10 Department Council of Administration met for the first time immediately after this year’s convention in Orlando on June 21 and adopted, on a voice vote, the following legislative priorities:

1. Legislation asking the people to amend Article VII, Section 6 (e) of the Florida Constitution eliminating the pre-service Florida residency requirements for the “Combat Related” ad Valorem tax exemption. Last year, the COA adopted similar language as well as language seeking an Ad Valorem exemption for members of the Armed Forces receiving hostile fire or being in imminent danger. The 2009 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature adopted a resolution amending the Florida Constitution allowing an Ad Valorem exemption to all service members deployed overseas. This resolution will require approval by 60% of the voters in the November 2010 General Election. Senator David Aronberg (D-West Palm Beach) and Representative Doug Holder (R-FL)

2. Legislation authorizing charitable organizations to utilize electronic or other mechanical devices to dispense “Instant Bingo” cards. During the Regular Session of the 2009 Florida Legislature, we secured language authorizing machines in the Senate version of a gambling bill. However, the House did not have language authorizing the use of machines. We expect Senator Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) to once again sponsor this bill in the upper chamber, we should work the House leadership to gain support for this measure.

3. Legislation providing for the sale of a Veterans of Foreign Wars distinctive license plate with the proceeds of sales accruing to the Department of Florida VFW Foundation. House Transportation Committee Chairman, Representative Rich Glorioso, late last session invited the VFW to submit language for his review. Attached hereto is a copy of that language.

4. Legislation granting Congressionally Chartered veterans service organizations an exemption from the Department of Agriculture administrative solicitation fees. Last session we were unable to gain any support for this legislation given the fact the Legislature looked at raising most state fees as a means of raising revenue.

5. Legislation granting equal treatment for wartime veterans in the state retirement system. Senator Aronberg intends to reintroduce this legislation in 2010. A potential House sponsor is Representative Maria Lorts-Sach (D-Delray Beach). Ms. Sachs was the driving force behind the VFW Legislative Priority expanding veteran’s preferences for State and Local jobs.

Recommended County, Municipal and School District Legislative Priority

Local ordinances establishing preferences for disabled veteran owned businesses bidding on county, municipal and school district contracts.

Vets Funding Passed!

2009-06-24T07:13:00.001-04:00

Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation that provides guaranteed funding for health care programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The House approved a bill (H.R. 1016) by a 409-1 vote. H.R. 1016 would provide for two-year advance funding for certain Department of Veteran Affairs health care programs, prosthetics and Internet technologies. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1016, and a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am very pleased that the House took action to help protect the funding of important VA health care programs.

In addition, the House also passed a few other bills related to veterans. I have summarized those bills below:

• H.R. 1211 would require the VA to study the barriers and services for women veterans; it would provide staff training to better treat sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); it would establish a child care pilot program for certain veterans receiving care; and it would allow the VA to provide care for a newborn of a woman veteran receiving VA maternity care. The House passed this bill with a 408-0 vote.

• H.R. 1172 would allow the VA to post a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors on its website. The House passed this bill with a 411-0 vote.

• S. 407 amends the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans and will codify increases equal to that of the cost of living adjustment of Social Security, and make it retroactive to December 1, 2008. The House passed this bill with a 403-0 vote.

I hope that this legislative update is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact either my Sarasota Office (941-951-6643) or my Bradenton Office (941-747-9081) on a veterans issue or with any other concern that you have.

Sincerely,

Vern Buchanan
Member of Congress

Legislative Update - June 2009 by LTC Lee F. Kichen

2009-06-15T11:50:00.000-04:00

Federal Legislative Update:

Bill to Ease PTSD Burden of Proof Goes to Committee-A bill designed to make it easier for veterans to receive benefits and immediate care for post-traumatic stress disorder moved to the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday and is expected to be voted on by the committee this month. This bill if it becomes law will, in essence, relax the requirement to prove a “combat stressor”. H.R. 952 would clarify that “combat with the enemy” is defined as duty in a combat theater during a time of war or against a “hostile force during a period of hostilities” for those seeking service-connected benefits for disabilities. According to the bill’s sponsor Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y, it “essentially establishes service in combat as a presumptive stressor for the incurrence of PTSD. No longer should veterans have to leap high hurdles and battle with VA in order to receive urgently needed benefits”. If a veteran did not possess an award for valor or Purple Heart or badge denoting combat such as a Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Action a veteran can substantiate a stressful event by witness letters from commanders or fellow service members to verify that they had been exposed to a traumatic event. In some cases, those people were difficult to find; some had died. In other cases, the veterans gave up because asking for the letters forced them to relive experiences they were not ready to talk about. Those not in infantry or other combat-related positions — including all women — also have had a difficult time proving combat status.

Bill Introduced Granting Benefits to Certain World War II Groups-HR 2270 would extend $1,000-a-month benefits to several World War II groups not covered by the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the World War II GI Bill of Rights, but, who were provided veteran status under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 — was forwarded to the House Veterans Affairs Committee. That bill was introduced by Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., and came in response to HR 23, which provided monthly payments to Merchant Marines who served during World War II. Buyer said veterans such as the Flying Tigers — only 18 of whom are still alive — and the United States Cadets Nurses Corps should also receive benefits.

House Committee Marks up Vet Bills: Several other VFW-supported bills cleared their respective subcommittees this week. All of the bills now move to the full committee for consideration.

HR 1037 would authorize $10 million annually to implement a five-year pilot program to expand work-study activities for veterans on campuses.

HR 1098, The Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009 would increase educational assistance for veterans pursuing internships or on-the-job training. It also increased the monthly training assistance for eligible veterans and their dependents under the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance program.

HR 2180 would waive housing loan fees for veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active duty.

HR 1821, The Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009 would extend VA's Vocational Rehabilitation program to 15 years following discharge or release from active duty. It also authorizes single parents participating in the program up to $2000 a month for child care services.

Benefits Bill for Women Veterans Cleared: A comprehensive bill that will improve health care for female veterans cleared the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health this week. HR 1211, The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act is a VFW priority goal. The bill as passed would:

· Authorize $4 million to VA to study barriers women face in accessing care and another $5 million for an assessment of the VA's health care services and programs provided to female veterans.

· Create a new program to offer graduate medical education, training and certification to mental health professionals who provide counseling, care and services for veterans suffering from sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

· Authorize $1.5 million in 2010 and 2011 for a pilot program to provide child care to veterans who are receiving mental health or other intensive care services at VA facilities.

· Provide health care services for the newborns of female veterans, who delivered at VA facilities, for 7 days after birth.

Last month, the Senate VA Committee passed similar legislation in a large health care bill. VFW thanks both Senator Patty Murray and Representative Herseth-Sandlin for their leadership on this most important bill.

No COLA for 2010-Military retirees, disabled veterans and others receiving inflation-adjusted federal benefits should not expect to see any increase this year, according to a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate. According CBO projections Social Security recipients will not receive a COLA. Since military retired pay, VA disability compensation and survivors’ benefits are linked to Social Security there is little possibility of an increase this coming year.

Social Security, military and federal civilian retirement and some other federal benefits automatically increase each Dec. 1 based on the Consumer Price Index, a measurement of the cost of goods and services maintained by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Largely due to falling energy and transportation expenses, the CPI shows consumer prices are lower today than one year ago. The May 15 report shows costs today are 0.7 percent lower now than one year ago. Continuing drop in CPI will not result in any reduction in benefits as there is no provision under the law that would trigger a reduction in benefits if the CPI falls below the previous year.

Administration Proposes Widening Eligibility for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) -In an earlier article we indicated that we would possibly see some liberalization of the eligibility criteria for CRDP. This past month we saw the Obama White House proposal to expand concurrent receipt to service members who were medically retired, sometimes referred to as Chapter 61 retirees.
Under the Administration’s proposed Defense budget, all Chapter 61 retirees will become eligible for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) over a five-year period starting in January 2010. The expansion will come in two phases.

The first three years of the five year phase-in opens CRDP eligibility to the more severely disabled Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service.

On January 1, 2010, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 90% or 100% become eligible.
On January 1, 2011, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 70% or 80% become eligible.
On January 1, 2012, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 50% or 60% become eligible.

The remaining two years of this phase-in extends CRDP to Chapter 61 retirees, regardless of years of service, with a VA rating of less than 50%.

On January 1, 2013, all Chapter 61 retirees with a VA rating of either 30% or 40% will become eligible.
On January 1, 2014, all Chapter 61 retirees with any VA rating become eligible.

Unfortunately some disabled retirees will still be left out of the “concurrent receipt calculus” Once this plan is completed, the only disabled retirees ineligible for CRDP will be non-medical retirees with 40% or lower VA disability ratings. The 10-year cost of the expansion is estimated to be $5.8 billion.

While this new initiative represents a 180-degree turnabout from the positions of all previous Administrations, Republican or Democrat, it still is not “full and immediate concurrent receipt of military retired and VA disability compensation” which has been our long standing goal. Regardless of the time served whether it was twenty years or some period less the economic and quality of life impact of a disabling condition is the same. If the Administration doesn’t want to go “the final mile”, maybe our friends in The Congress can drag them over the finish line and provide concurrent receipt for all disabled retirees.

TALLAHASSEE TALES: State Legislative Update

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Goes to the 2010 Ballot-The Department of Florida, Veterans of Foreign Wars at the conclusion of 2008 adopted two legislative priorities calling for legislation which would grant an Ad Valorem tax exemption for active personnel serving in combat operations. Additionally, we called on the legislature to expand eligibility for the “combat related” Ad Valorem tax discount. The Florida Legislature heard us. At the conclusion of the session, the Legislature adopted the resolution which places on the ballot an amendment to the Florida Constitution to provide an additional property tax exemption for members of the United States military or its reserves, the United States Coast Guard or its reserves, or the Florida National Guard who receive a homestead exemption and were deployed in the previous year on active duty outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of military operations. Although our original proposal was limited to veterans serving in combat operations we applaud the sponsors and cosponsors for doing the right thing. Our number one mission in 2010 is to get the voters to approve this amendment. State Senator Dave Aronberg (D-27) and State Representative Doug Holder assured us that they will lead the effort to pass a resolution broadening eligibility for the “combat related” Ad Valorem discount to veterans with combat related disabilities who are now homesteaded in Florida and entered the Armed Forces from other states.

Instant Bingo Machine Bill Killed in the House-Just when we thought we were going to get legislation authorizing instant bingo machines, the House of Representatives backed away from the Senate bill. Our friends in the Florida Senate have pledged to introduce a bill in 2010; our job will be to get the House to agree to a Senate bill.

Governor Crist Signs Legislation Favorable to the Military and Veterans Communities

Senate Bill 316, High School Diplomas/Vietnam War Veterans – This legislation recognizes the enormous commitment and sacrifice veterans of the Vietnam War made to serve their country during war time. This bill, sponsored by Senator Lee Constantine, authorizes the Commissioner of Education to award Vietnam veterans who were honorably discharged with a Florida high school diploma. This bill is similar to existing legislation that awards diplomas to veterans of World War II and the Korean War.

House Bill 509 State Veterans Benefits– Sponsored by Representative Juan Zapata and Senator Mike Fasano, this legislation will improve the lives of Florida’s veterans and their families for generations to come by accomplishing several important goals:

· Waives building and permitting fees for safety and accessibility residential renovations for Florida’s 20,000 veterans permanently and totally disabled as a result of their military service.

· Removes the cap on certain military and veteran license tag fees to help fund Florida’s Veterans Nursing Home Trust Fund.

· Incorporates Title 33 of the United States Code into Florida law, allowing the implementation of the New GI Bill, or Post 9/11 GI Bill, which goes into effect August 1, 2009.

House Bill 685, Educational Dollars for Duty Program – This bill, sponsored by Representative Bill Proctor and Senator Mike Fasano, makes significant improvements to the Florida National Guard’s Education Dollars for Duty Program (EDD). The following changes to Florida law have been made to increase the program’s effectiveness and to increase its usefulness as a recruitment and retention tool:

· Expands eligibility to guard members seeking a master’s degree, to those with more than 15 years service, and to those who have not completed basic military training.

· Extends the program to include Florida’s accredited nonpublic postsecondary education institutions and vocational-technical programs.

· Clarifies that the EDD program is available for active members and requires members to complete their enlistment or reenlistment contract, instead of serving only three years after the exemption is granted.

· Authorizes the program to include college-preparatory courses.

The legislation also ensures fairness and equitability to the members of the Air National Guard.

House Bill 635, Military Affairs – This legislation adds significant legal protections for Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen on active duty while they are serving the State of Florida. Sponsored by Representative Michael Scionti and Senator Charlie Justice, this bill enhances re-employment rights and adds protective measures against discrimination of military members by employers. It also creates a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation.

Under Pressure from the Major Veterans Service Organizations, President Obama Withdraws Plan to Charge Private Insurance for Treatment by VA

2009-03-23T10:51:00.003-04:00

I have been writing this newsletter for over ten years on a monthly basis. As a result of my trip last week to Washington, DC, it is appropriate that I write a special edition which is really a follow-up to my earlier piece criticizing President Obama’s proposal to seek third party payment from private insurance veterans receiving treatment from VA for the service connected conditions.

This issue came to a boil last Monday, when the leaders of the major veterans’ service organizations met with President Obama and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Our leadership made it very clear that this proposal was a non-starter. Going into that meeting, the VFW’s position was clear. Previously, Commander in Chief Glen Gardner stated that "It is unconscionable to pass along the costs of war to wounded and disabled veterans. This is one policy proposal that the VFW will work hard to defeat because it breaks a sacred trust that veterans have with their government.

A joint letter from the major veterans’ service organizations unambiguously staked out our position by stating:"This proposal ignores the solemn obligation that this country has to care for those men and women who have served this country with distinction and were left with the wounds and scars of that service. The blood spilled in service to this nation is the premium that service-connected veterans have paid for their earned care.” This same letter asked for a meeting with the President, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki and Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orzag.

By the time of the Monday meeting, this issue was getting some play in the main stream media and the White House was not looking for any adverse publicity. At the conclusion of the Monday meeting, the President stated that the Administration wouldn’t go through with its proposal if the organizations remained opposed. Surprisingly, it took more than forty-eight hours and a major lobbying effort on Capitol Hill before the White House withdrew the proposal. On Wednesday, March 18, 2009 Commander in Chief, Glen Gardner presented the VFW’s legislative priorities to a Joint Hearing of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committee. Gardner opened his remarks by stating the White House’s “…proposal would lead to disabled veterans subsidizing their own injuries through increased premiums and fees as insurance companies try to find ways to pass along the added expense," testified Gardner, a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas.

"It could also make it harder for veterans to obtain and maintain private health care insurance, and it is entirely possible that this proposal could impair a veteran’s ability to obtain a job." This issue clearly resonated with the members of the Veterans Affairs committees, the Chairmen, Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Representative Robert Filner (D-CA) and the Ranking Members Senator Richard (R-SC) and Representative Steve Buyer (R-IN) made it clear that this proposal had no support in The Congress. Chairman Akaka stated the Obama plan was “dead on arrival”, while Chairman Filner remarked, this committee “…will not authorize such a plan…”

This was clearly a lesson in Civics 101 for the Obama Administration. America’s veterans when working together represent an incredibly strong interest group. Additionally, the President can only propose, it is The Congress that disposes. What is troubling is that the Administration’s bean counters have little respect for America’s veterans by believing that veteran’s would willingly assume the burden of paying for a disability resulting from selfless service to this country. Lastly, where was VA Secretary Shinseki? Did he or did he not raise a caution flag on this proposal? Will the man described as soldier’s soldier, really be a veteran’s veteran?

Echoing the concerns of many veterans, Mr. Gardner asked if veterans can trust VA after the revelation that 16,000 pieces of mail were shred at one Regional Office. The Commander in Chief also addressed the need for advanced funding of the VA, further traumatic brain injury research and treatment, suicide awareness and prevention, women veterans' healthcare needs, seamless transition, new GI Bill implementation, vocational rehabilitation program enhancements, military Tricare, homeless veterans and survivor benefits, among others. For a complete copy of the testimony go to http://www.vfw.org/PR/Legislative/H&STestimony3.18.pdf.

The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment

2009-03-17T06:43:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.

"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it."

The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, "This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ' to care for him who shall have borne the battle' given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America's veterans!"

Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The group's early afternoon conversation at The White House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the President earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Commander Rehbein and the heads of ten colleague organizations, read, in part, " There is simply no logical explanation for billing a veteran's personal insurance for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide. While we understand the fiscal difficulties this country faces right now, placing the burden of those fiscal problems on the men and women who have already sacrificed a great deal for this country is unconscionable."

Commander Rehbein reiterated points made last week in testimony to both House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. It was stated then that The American Legion believes that the reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate that VA treat service-connected injuries and disabilities given that the United States government sends members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered. Additionally, the Legion is concerned that private insurance premiums would be elevated to cover service-connected disabled veterans and their families, especially if the veterans are self-employed or employed in small businesses unable to negotiate more favorable across-the-board insurance policy pricing. The American Legion also believes that some employers, especially small businesses, would be reluctant to hire veterans with service-connected disabilities due to the negative impact their employment might have on obtaining and financing company health care benefits.

"I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted," said Commander Rehbein, "is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President's financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.

"I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining," concluded the Commander.

SOURCE The American Legion

South West Florida Blue Star Mothers

2009-03-11T20:39:00.003-04:00

The first meeting of the new South West Florida Blue Star Mothers is this Saturday - March 14th, 2009 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Please join us at this historic meeting!!

This month we will sign our Charter and by becoming a Member this Saturday, you will have the opportunity to be a Charter Member!

The meeting place is located at:

Sarasota County Fire Station, Arlington Park,
2070 Waldemere, Sarasota, FL, 34237

Meeting from 2:00-4:00 p.m. with refreshments

Here is the link to the National Association: http://www.bluestarmothers.org/

We are currently preparing to work on our own website and look forward it's launch once our chapter is Chartered.We gather here to serve and support our local families of active military solders and veterans!

Lets stay in touch and don't hesitate to call me or Deb Marquis anytime.

Deb Marquis, pending President 941-379-3619

Susan Chandler, pending V.P. 941-812-1551

Your with caring support,

Susan Chandler

Veterans Legislative Update - March 2009

2009-03-11T19:50:00.002-04:00

Federal Legislative Update

Is President Obama’s Proposed Budget Good News or Bad News Veterans?

The Administration last week unveiled a preview of its budget for Fiscal Year 2010. The good news is that the Obama Administration is calling for a twenty-five million dollar increase in appropriations for the VA for the next five years. This outlay assumes enrolling approximately one half million non-disabled veterans in the VA health care system. However, the bad news is that disabled veterans will be the bill payers for this largesse. The FY 2010 budget request for VA includes a proposal that would bill veterans with private insurance for their service-connected disability treatments. The budget calls for about a $1 billion dollar increase in collections from FY 2009. We believe that the revenue projections for the proposal make up the bulk of the third-party collections increase. The Veterans of Foreign Wars vehemently opposes any attempt to pass healthcare costs on to wounded and service-connected disabled veterans. Billing a veteran's private insurance could lead to higher premiums and make it difficult for veterans and their families to obtain or retain their health insurance, as well as discourage employers from hiring disabled vets.

The VFW is asking all members as well as all Americans to contact their congressional delegations and urge them to stop this proposal from becoming a reality. This is a classic case of double speak, President Obama is calling for a national health care system which contains costs for families. Health care for disabled veterans is not a gift it was earned by their very blood, pain and suffering. We find it absolutely unconscionable that disabled veterans should bare the costs of care for non-disabled veterans. To send a message to Senator Nelson, Martinez or your member in the House of Representatives to: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=12844211. To read the VFW Press Release, go to: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4952.

President’s Budget Calls for Expanded Concurrent Receipt of Military Retired Pay and VA Disability Compensation-It has been a long standing goal of the VFW and the veterans' service organizations and military associations to gain full and immediate concurrent receipt. At the end of the Clinton Administration we gained some small relief under the Special Compensation for Severely Disabled Military Retirees. We made significant progress during the Bush Administration when The Congress authorized Combat Related Special Compensation and then Concurrent Disability Pay.

While these benefits were quite generous, not all disabled military retirees are eligible for concurrent receipt. Left out of the mix are those whose non-combat related disabled retirees with VA disability evaluations between 10% and 40%. For the first time in the more than twenty years we have been fighting for concurrent receipt, a President actually addressed this issue in his budget submission to The Congress. According to President Obama’s budget release, it would expand coverage to currently ineligible medically retired members who are highly disabled. No specifics are available yet, but that could mean authorizing concurrent receipt for medical retirees with less than 20 years and at least a 50% VA rating. We’ll need the details to be sure, but any expansion is encouraging news for the disabled retiree community. Having learned a long time ago, there is no free lunch, there will be a bill payer. More likely than not, the bill payer will be the reduction or curtailment of some weapon system.

Senator Bill Nelson Introduces Legislation to End Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset to Survivors’ Benefits Payments-Senator Nelson (D-FL) introduced his bipartisan bill, “The Military Retiree Survivor Equity Act” (S. 535), which would repeal the law that requires deduction of VA survivor benefits from military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. The reduction can be up to $1,154 per month and affects 57,000 survivors. Please also urge your U.S. representatives to cosponsor the House companion bill H.R. 775 sponsored by Reps. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) and Henry Brown (R-SC).

Floridian Members of United States Congress are Slow to Support Bills dealing with TRICARE and VA Health Care-We have been urging the Florida delegation in the United States House of Representatives to cosponsor H.R. 816 “Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act” which prohibits the Department of Defense from increasing TRICARE enrollment fees and co-payments. We are gratified that Representative C. W. “Bill” Young (R-FL10) and Representative Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL24) have joined in this bipartisan effort, however, we are extremely disappointed that the names of the other twenty-three members of Florida’s delegation are conspicuously absent from this bill. The VFW’s number legislative priority this year is H.R. 1016 “Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009”. If H.R. 1016 becomes law it basically establishes a two year funding stream for VA’s health care accounts thus providing VA health care a sufficient, predictable and timely appropriation to meet the needs of America’s disabled and sick veterans. We are pleased that the following Floridians are cosponsoring this bill: Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL13), Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL19) and Representative Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL24). If your representative is not one of the above three, please contact them and tell them to support Florida’s veterans by co-sponsoring H.R. 1016.

TALLAHASSEE TALES

State Legislative Update

VFW’s Number State Legislative Priority Gains Support-At last year’s State Convention, the Council of Administration called for legislation which would grant an Ad Valorem tax exemption for active personnel serving in combat operations. Additionally, we called on the legislature to expand eligibility for the “combat related” Ad Valorem tax exemption. Since the last “At Your Service”, we have gained significant support for these priorities. Senators Dave Aronberg (D-27) and Mike Fasano (R-11) have introduced Senate Joint Resolution 1550 and 1934 and Representative Doug Holder (R-70) is sponsoring House Joint Resolution 1155. See the Florida VFW Action Corps Alert 5 below and take action today.

FLVFW Action Corps Alert #5

Issue: Ad Valorem Property Tax Relief for Florida’s active duty service members and veterans.

Background: This week the 2009 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature convenes. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives will consider bills which will grant a 100% Ad Valorem tax exemption to active duty service members and mobilized National Guard members and reservists while they are receiving hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay. Additionally, these bills will expand eligibility for the “Combat Related Disability” Ad Valorem tax.

Why is this important? Many of our mobilized Guard members and reservists often see their income reduced when they serve on active duty, thus, jeopardizing their ability to maintain a mortgage and pay property taxes. The proposed resolution and constitutional amendment eliminates property taxes for those service members who are in combat. In 2006 the people approved a constitutional amendment granting a discount on property taxes to veterans who have one or more combat related disabilities if they were over age 65 and entered service from the State of Florida. Our proposed legislation abolishes the pre-service residency requirement.

Action Needed: Contact your State Representatives and State Senator and tell them that those young men and women in harm’s way fighting the Global War on Terrorism deserve a property tax exemption while in combat. Additionally, our oldest veterans with combat related disabilities should receive a property tax discount. Urge them to support HJR 1155 and S.B. 1934/1550. For a by county listing of the members of the State Senate and the State House of Representatives click on these two sites http://www.flsenate.gov/legislators or http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx

If you have any questions, please call Legislative Chairman Lee F. Kichen at 727-319-7483.

Instant Bingo Machine Bills Introduced-When the Florida Legislature authorized “Instant Bingo” it neglected make legal the machines used to dispense “Instant Bingo” cards. We are urging you to contact your state law makers and ask them to support H.B. 1351 and S.B. 1326 which fixes this oversight.

BUCHANAN WORKS TO IMPROVE VETERAN’S HEALTH CARE

2009-03-11T19:27:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) has written to Veterans Administration (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki urging him to work with Congress on legislation to improve health care for veterans by advance funding the VA budget.

“The VA has only received one on-time budget in the past 12 years,” wrote Buchanan. “Unpredictable and inadequate funding of health care for our veterans is simply unacceptable. The solution is to advance fund the VA’s budget, requiring Congress to approve a budget a year ahead of time to ensure a smooth operation of the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system.”

Buchanan has cosponsored the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R. 1016) to provide advance appropriations and ensure the 97,000 veterans in Florida’s 13th District receive the best quality health care they have earned and deserve.

“As you know, all too often in the past, funding for the VA has been approved so late in the appropriations process that it has jeopardized the delivery of quality care to our veterans,” wrote Buchanan. “HR 1016 would give the VA enough time to plan how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions.”

Membership Application

2009-02-25T09:12:00.004-05:00

To apply for membership please contact our Vice President Andy Hooker at andyhooker1@aol.com. Andy will e-mail you the Sarasota County Veterans Commission membership form.

Sarasota County Veterans Commission By-laws

2009-02-25T08:39:00.001-05:00

BYLAWS OF THE
SARASOTA COUNTY VETERANS COMMISSION
SARASOTA COUNTY, FLORIDA

ARTICLE I: ESTABLISHMENT

The Sarasota County Veterans Commission, Inc., (SCVC) was originally organized under the laws of the State of Florida on January 25, 1982 and is a not for profit corporation governed under Chapter 617, Laws of the State Florida.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSES

The purposes of the SCVC are to:

Section 1: represent the Sarasota County veterans organizations, military and patriotic associations and their auxiliaries providing solidarity in communicating the veterans view points and as a means of disseminating information on issues before local, state, and national legislative bodies which affect veterans, active military, reserve and national guard personnel, their families, surviving spouses and orphaned children.

Section 2: plan, cooperate and coordinate with local authorities, government officials, and other interested parties on matters of patriotic commemoration.

Section 3: plan, coordinate and implement any other programs to serve the best interests of the personnel cited in Section 1 of this article and any welfare agencies that support said personnel.

ARTICLE III: TERMS AND USAGE

Section 1: Whenever used in this document, the word “organization” shall be construed to denote a post, chapter, unit, branch or similar component of a larger group of veterans, military or patriotic association.

Section 2: The term “commissioner” shall refer to an elected officer of the SCVC; the term “commission” shall refer to the commissioners and all representatives of member organizations.

Section 3: Historically the terms “chairman” and “chairmen” are not gender specific. The proper way to address a female chairman is “Madam Chairman.”

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Membership shall be open to Sarasota County based congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organization (VSO) units, posts, chapters, and their auxiliaries. To be considered for Commission membership an organization must submit a membership application to the Membership Committee and agree to pay the membership dues as stated in Articles IV and V. Current members of the Commission will be grandfathered in as members under Section 1.

Section 2: The representation of the above shall be in two categories:
a. One delegate and one alternate from each represented organization. The President, Chair, Commanders or presiding officers of each member organization shall appoint in writing to the commission one delegate and one alternate. Those so appointed shall serve until replaced on written notice from the appointing authority.
b. Ex-officio members shall include all the Past Presidents of the Commission, the Sarasota County Veterans Service Officer; the Commission may designate the Director of the Sarasota Veterans Center and Director of US Department of Veterans Affairs Sarasota Outpatient Clinic, Director of the Sarasota National Cemetery, Commander, HHB 3rd Battalion 265th Air Defense Artillery, FLARNG, and such others as appropriate.

Section 3: Honorary Members. The Commission may vote to grant Honorary Membership to individuals in recognition of their outstanding service to the Nation, to the State, to Active and Reserve forces, and to veterans. Normally, an individual eligible for regular or auxiliary membership is not eligible for this type of membership. Honorary members pay no dues and have no voting rights.

Section 4: Associate Members. Associate Members are categorized as non-congressionally charted VSOs who have an interest in patriotic, military and/or veterans’ affairs. These organizations will pay no dues and will have no voting rights before the SCVC. However, any associate member may request to make a presentation to the SCVC or ask for consideration requiring a SCVC vote, but only Commission members may move or vote on such matters. Associate Members are:

Military Oriented Organizations: Sarasota based National Guard, Reserve, ROTC, Civil Air Patrol, and JROTC units.

Government Agencies: Sarasota government agencies with veterans, Guard or Reserve personnel or a substantial interest in veterans’ issues.

Industries/Companies. Sarasota County based commercial/private companies with veterans, Guard, or Reserve personnel or a substantial interest in veterans’ issues.

ARTICLE V: DUES

Section 1: Dues for member organizations shall be set annually and published by the Commission. Dues are to be received by the Treasurer no later than December 31st of any given calendar year.

Section 2: Ex-officio members shall be exempt from paying dues.

Section 3: Any organization not paying their dues by the December 31st cut off date will be dropped from the Commission roles but may be reinstated upon payment of dues.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

Section 1: The regular meetings of the Commission shall be held at a time and place designated by the Commission President. The meetings of the Commission shall be open to veterans, their families and the public.

Section 2: The Commission shall meet at least once monthly, 12 months of the year, unless extenuating circumstances make this infeasible.

Section 3: The President may call special meetings whenever deemed necessary or when requested to do so by the membership. The purpose of any such meeting shall be stated by the President and announced by mail, electronic means, or by telephone sufficiently in advance of any such meeting to give members time to react.

Section 4: Executive sessions by the Commissioners are strictly prohibited unless the subject matter is so sensitive or of a highly personal nature wherein the membership should not be involved.

Section 5: All meetings will be conducted using the latest Robert’s Rules of Order, which shall govern this Commission in all applicable cases.

Section 6: The President shall preside at all regular and special meetings. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside. In the absence of the President and Vice President, the Secretary then the Treasurer shall preside.
Section 7: All SCVC meetings will be smoke free regardless of the facility in which the meeting is held.

ARTICLE VII: VOTING RIGHTS

Section 1: Commissioners have one vote each on any item; the President may vote only in the case of a tie.

Section 2: Member organizations will have one vote each, to be cast by the primary or alternate member. If both the primary and alternate are present, the “one organization one vote” rule still applies.

Section 3. Ex-officio members will have one vote.

Section 4: Any member of any organization cited in Article II, and the public in general, are both welcome and encouraged to attend meetings. Anyone may give a presentation to the Commission for their cause, however, only members of the Commission may make motions for any action and only Commission members may vote on any motion before the Commission.

Section 5: The Secretary will maintain a roster of all registered organizations and their appointed voting representatives and may be called upon during any meeting to verify the credentials of any person casting a vote.

Section 6: Proxy voting will not be allowed. Each person present shall cast only one vote, e.g. one individual may not represent multiple organizations or cast multiple votes.

Section 7: Liaison officers from other county veteran’s commissions or counsels will not be eligible to vote.

Section 8: A simple majority of 51% or more is sufficient to pass any proposal with the exception of the changes to the Bylaws, which will require a two-thirds majority vote of members present. (Refer to Article XII, Section 2).

ARTICLE VIII: OFFICERS AND DUTIES

Section 1: The elected officers of the Commission shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and shall perform their duties as prescribed by these bylaws or as directed by the membership. The President may appoint at his discretion a Sergeant-At-Arms and a Chaplain and other positions as deemed appropriate (e.g. SCVC Newsletter Editor, SCVC Web Master).

Section 2: The duties of the President are to:
a. Act as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, and as an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominations Committee.
b. Appoint chairmen of standing and special committees.
c. Make a decision pending approval of the membership in case of doubt as to the duties and responsibilities of any officer or committee chairman.
d. Appoint a replacement to fulfill the duties of any elected official for anyone who might resign or become unable to fulfill their duties. This appointment must be verified or rejected by the membership at the second regularly scheduled meeting after the appointment is made. See Article X, Section 9.
e. Preside at all meetings and assure that the Commission operates within the parameters established in these bylaws.
f. Set goals and objectives for the Commission, including but not limited to membership, programs, financial matters, and communication with the membership and public.
g. Oversee and manage the Commission's Internet presence, member e-mail lists, and newsletter.
h. Maintain liaison with other veterans’ organizations in the area and other organizations impacting upon the Commission.
i. Represent the Commission at Veteran’s Day services, Memorial Day ceremonies, and any other appropriate commemorative occasion.
j. Present awards and citations
k. Participate in the observance of the death of a member, such as a visitation at a wake or attendance at the funeral, as may be appropriate.
l. Act as final arbiter for all interpretations of the meaning/intent of these bylaws.
m. Undertake other duties as the position of President may require or as voted upon by the membership.

Section 3: The duties of the Vice President are to:
a. Fill the vacancy of the office of the President, should the President become incapacitated, until the next regular election of officers of the Commission.
b. Assume the duties of the President at any function wherein the President is unable to attend.
c. Attend all Commission meetings.
d. Attend any special events in the absence of the President.
e. Undertake additional activities as assigned by the President.

Section 4: The duties of the Secretary are to:
a. Record, prepare, and submit minutes of all meetings for correction, deletions, additions, and approval by the Commission.
b. Maintain official Commission files, to include approved minutes, the Commission’s newsletters, presidential and secretarial correspondence, and memorial records.
c. Conduct a roll call or monitor a sign-in sheet of delegates and organizations at each meeting.
d. Maintain an up-to-date list of organizations, delegates and alternates as certified by the member organizations.
e. Originate correspondence for the Commission.
f. Act as custodian of the Commission’s Bylaws.
g. Ensure that copies of all correspondence, records, minutes, etc., are maintained in the official file of the Sarasota County Veterans’ Commission office, and will ensure that adequate measures are taken to protect those historical documents.

Section 5: The duties of the Treasurer are to:
a. Establish and maintain a checking and/or savings account in a recognized, insured banking facility acceptable to the Commission.
b. Maintain records of all receipts, deposits, and expenditures.
c. Collect dues from member organizations.
d. Submit a written report monthly of the financial status to the Commission.
e. Participate in an annual audit of the accounting system, which will be completed within 30 days of the end of the fiscal year. The fiscal year will run from October 1 to September 30.
f. Disperse funds only by check with authorization by vouchers signed by the President or Vice President or as authorized in the minutes of meetings.
g. Notify the Secretary in the case that any organization is in arrears in the payment of their annual dues.
h. Allow the President to expend up to $50.00 without prior approval for necessary incidental expenses of the Commission. The President will provide the Treasurer with back-up documentation in the way of receipts, etc.

Section 6: The duties of the Commission Sergeant-At-Arms are to:
a. Be responsible for the security at all scheduled monthly meetings of the Commission.
b. Be responsible for the security at all candidate forums and special meetings called by the President.
c. Appoint, as needed, additional Sergeants-At-Arms to fulfill the duties of the Sergeant-At-Arms’ office.
d. Be the Chair of the Security Committee, which may be called together at the discretion of the President or Sergeant-At-Arms. The Committee will be made up of all appointed Sergeants-At-Arms and other members as deemed appropriate by the Sergeant-At-Arms
e. Establish, as needed, a Color/Honor Guard.

Section 7: The duties of the Commission Chaplain are to:
a. Give the prayer at all scheduled monthly meetings of the Commission
b. Give the prayer at all candidate forums and special meetings called by the President.
c. Be available to represent the Commission by giving the prayer at special occasions, as needed.
d. Keep the President informed of illnesses of members of the Commission.

Section 8: Any elected or appointed officer failing to attend three consecutive Commission meetings shall be removed automatically from office unless the absences are excused and acceptable to the Commission. Insofar as is reasonably possible, elected and appointed officers are encouraged to notify the President in advance of any planned absence.

ARTICLE IX: COMMITTEES

Section 1: The Standing Committees of the Commission shall be the Audit Committee, Bylaws Committee, Patriotic Observance Committee, Nominating Committee, and Membership Committee. The President may appoint special committees as required, such as the Veteran of the Year, special events, investigations, assistance in preparing position statements, etc., as deemed appropriate.

Section 2: The President will serve as an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominations Committee. Committee Chairmen shall have the authority to appoint additional members to their committees as required.

Section 3: The Audit Committee shall make an annual audit of all financial records. Upon approval by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee shall submit its report, with its findings and any recommendations, in writing, to the Commission for final approval. The report will be given at the first Commission meeting after the conclusion of the audit.

Section 4: The Bylaws Committee will meet at least once annually during the first quarter of each calendar year. The committee will review the Bylaws and recommend any changes. Such changes will be published at least 30 days prior to any meeting where the acceptance of any Bylaws changes is to occur. (Refer to Article XII, Section 1, for details).

Section 5: The nominations Committee will meet in May of each calendar year and prepare for the nominations process in June. (Refer to Article X for details).

Section 6: The Membership Committee will meet at least annually or when an application for membership is received. The Committee is responsible for membership recruitment and retention. Organizations wishing to become a member of the Commission will submit a completed and signed application to the Membership Committee. A copy of the organizations by-laws, charter, mission statement and 501(c) documentation status or other incorporation documentation with the Division of Corporations of the State of Florida will accompany the application. Upon submission the Membership Committee will review the application in detail. After review the Membership Committee will report to the Commission at its next scheduled general meeting with a recommendation to approve or disapprove the application for membership. A motion will be made by a Commission member in good standing and seconded to accept or reject the Membership Committee recommendation. The Commission will then vote on the application. The vote of the Commission is final.

ARTICLE X: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1: The Nominations Committee will consist of at least three members, none of whom may be elected Commissioners. Anyone may recommend a nominee to the Nominations
Committee. At the July meeting, the slate of nominees will be announced and any further nominations may be accepted from the floor. The floor nominated nominee may be accepted. At this point nominations will close.

Section 2: A candidate must be a member in good standing in their parent organization, and that organization must be a member in good standing of the Commission.

Section 3: A candidate must be present and accept the nomination or have submitted a letter of acceptance in advance for the office at the time of nomination.

Section 4: No person may hold more than one elective office in the Commission at the same time, however, only if necessary and upon approval of the Commission, the offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined, but this is discouraged.

Section 5: The annual election of officers shall be held in September of each year, with a term of office beginning on October 1 and continuing until their successors are elected.

Section 6: All voting for officers shall be by secret ballot. Absentee voting is prohibited. However, in the event that all elected officers have agreed to serve for another term, if this is agreeable with the Nominations Committee, and there are no nominees to vie for any office, then a motion may be entertained for an election by acclamation, which will be duly recorded by the Secretary.

Section 7: The Nominations Committee Chairman will preside over the conduct of any election. The Secretary will verify the qualifications of all delegates and alternates who are to cast a vote.

Section 8: There are no term limits for elected officers. As long as an officer is willing, able, and indeed carrying out the duties of their office in an exemplary manner, then the Commission should give serious consideration for allowing them to continue.

Section 9: A vacancy in any elected office, except for the office of the President, may be temporarily filled by appointment by the President. At the next Commission meeting, the Commission may entertain nominations for the vacated position with an election at the following meeting. No one is to be nominated and elected at the same meeting. The person elected will serve for the remainder of the term to which the vacated officer was initially elected.

Section 10: Note the time between the nomination of officers and election as cited in Sections 5 and 9 of this Article. This is to allow each nominee time to meet with the Commission delegates, prepare a resume, and otherwise make their qualifications and positions known to the voting Commission members.

ARTICLE XI: POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

Section 1: The officers, delegates, and alternates of the Commission are prohibited from using this Commission or its name on behalf of any political party or candidate. The Commission will aggressively maintain a position of non-partisanship in all of its dealings.

Section 2: Candidates seeking political office may not distribute campaign literature, posters, signs, hats, shirts, etc., at any Commission meeting.

Section 3: Persons holding elected office are encouraged to address the Commission concerning matters of interest to the veterans/military community and the Commission. However, their appearance cannot be in conjunction with any reelection effort, and their appearance will in no way constitute a political endorsement of them or their positions by the Commission.

Section 4: During election years, the Commission may conduct candidate forums wherein all candidates for a given office are offered the opportunity to be present and engage in presentations and/or debates. Herein political activities will be allowed outside of the forum building, but must not in any way disrupt the orderly and dignified participation by the candidates.

Section 5: These Bylaws do not prevent the Commission from supporting or endorsing, or stating opposition to, any local, county, state, and federal legislation or actions that would have an impact upon the interests of the Commission.

ARTICLE XII: EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1: These Bylaws may be amended or revised only after having been considered by the Bylaws Committee. Any proposed change(s) must be submitted to the Bylaws Committee, whose members will give the recommendations(s) due consideration. The Committee will then make their recommendation(s) known and such recommendation(s) will be published at least 30 days prior to any meeting when a vote of acceptance or rejection is to be held.

Section 2: At the voting meeting, the Bylaws Committee Chairman will preside over the Bylaws portion of the meeting. The recommendation(s) will be read, discussion will be called for, and a vote taken after the Secretary has verified the qualifications of the persons to cast a vote. A vote to change the Bylaws must be by a two-thirds majority of the members present when the vote is taken.

Section 3: These Bylaws are hereby approved and accepted this 18th day of August, 2008.

Signed by:

Dr. Richard M. Swier, President
Andrew Hooker, Vice President
Gen Fowler, Secretary-Treasurer

Veterans Legislative Update - February 2009

2009-02-10T06:49:00.001-05:00

Can We Really Believe in Change? - After many years observing the political landscape, I have learned that it is easier to campaign for a political office than to govern from that office. Campaigns are an exercise in making promises, while governing means delivering on those promises. President Barack Obama, during his run for the White House, made many promises to veterans and members of the Armed Forces and their families. Many of us who attended the VFW National Conventions in 2007 and 2008 heard him deliver those promises. Most of these promises were later captured in an interview with Isaac D. Pacheco, in the “American Veteran”, Winter 2009. The following is a list of those promises with a short analysis of each. A year from now, in this space, we will discuss how well the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress deliver on those promises.

VA Appropriation-Obama: “As President, I will fully fund the VA so it has all the resources to serve the veterans who need it…I also support proposals being introduced in Congress to pass the VA budget two years in advance to minimize disruptions and VA certainty”

Analysis-I suggest Mr. Obama read the constitution, Presidents no matter how well intended don’t fund anything. The President may propose a budget for an agency but it is The Congress that appropriates funding for the agency. Former President Bush learned that each budget cycle. Annually, his submissions to the Congress under funded VA, while the Congress always added money to the Bush requests.

At this writing, there are no bills dealing with advanced funding. More troubling, VA Secretary Erik Shinseki during the his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee was an enthusiastic supporter of the concept of advanced funding for VA. In a more recent hearing before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Secretary Shinseki was less than enthusiastic. His statement may indicate that the Administration’s support of advance funding is softening after less than a month in office. Shinseki said, “My preference would be a timely budget”, referring to getting the VA appropriation done before the new fiscal year. Shinseki went on to say, “If that is not possible, I am sure there will be a discussion about other options.” Not exactly an about face on his earlier testimony, it is more like a left face.

Concurrent Receipt of Military Retirement Pay and Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation-Obama: “I support immediately and completely ending the disability tax and providing full and concurrent receipt of retirement pay and disability compensation.

Analysis-We certainly support the President’s position. Previous administrations, both Democratic and Republican, for more than twenty years opposed the concept of concurrent receipt. It was the Republican dominated Congress in 2002 and 2003 that forced partial concurrent receipt on the Bush Administration in the form Concurrent Disability Retirement Pay and Combat Related Special Compensation. The occupant of the Oval Office may have changed but the “bean counters” in the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) remain. Sadly, the Congress missed the boat by adding this one to the economic stimulus package. Our quick review of the House and Senate stimulus bills show exactly nothing which will directly benefit the military community.

TRICARE Fees and Copayments Increases-Obama: “I will ensure that America keeps the sacred trust we made with the men and women who devote their careers to military service….I was proud to consistently oppose President Bush’s plan to dramatically increase fees for military retirees using TRICARE”

Analysis-It is clear that the new President wasn’t well briefed on this issue. The so-called “sacred trust” was broken long ago when military retirees, after being told that in exchange for twenty or more years of service they and their dependents would receive free health care, found themselves paying for their “free” healthcare in the form of TRICARE enrollment fees and co-payments. While we applaud President Obama’s campaign rhetoric we’ll see if his “Green Eye Shade” guys in OMB get the word or continue to recommend draconian increases to TRICARE enrollment fees and co-payments. The Congressional Budget Office has already indicated that increases to TRICARE fees and co-payments are “options” for Congressional consideration.

Opening VA Healthcare to Non-service Connected Veterans-Obama: “I am committed to ending the unfair ban on healthcare enrollment of certain groups of veterans, including Priority 8 veterans, who often earn modest incomes. I have voted to end the unfair policy, which has resulted in the VA turning away nearly one million veterans since 2003.

Analysis-Unlike military retirees who served twenty or more years, no one ever promised a non-service connected veteran free or low cost health care. In 1996, when the Congress enacted the Veterans Health Care Reform Act, it established a system of priorities for health care. The bill provided that if there was insufficient funding to treat non-service connected veterans, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs had the authority to deny enrolled non-service connected veterans healthcare. Former Secretary Principi exercised that authority in 2003 by not enrolling new Priority 8 veterans. President Obama claims he voted to end the “unfair policy” – not completely true, he only voted for last year’s appropriation which allows only certain Priority 8 veterans to enroll in VA Healthcare.

While we are committed to ensuring veterans receive the healthcare they need, we are concerned that a sudden influx of non-service connected veterans will result in degradation of care needed by service connected disabled veterans. Not all Priority 8 veterans “earn modest incomes”. Priority 8 includes the wealthiest veterans; who can certainly afford to pay co-payments and an enrollment fee. Lastly, does President Obama envision VA as the test bed for a National Health Care System?

VA’s Disability Claims Backlog-Obama: “There are currently more than 800,000 claims pending within the Veterans Benefits Administration. VA error rates have grown high. Over 100,000 cases contain significant errors. In the Senate, I voted to increase funding to hire additional claims staff. As President, I will hire additional claims workers and convene our leading veterans groups, employees and managers to develop an updated training and management model that will ensure…decisions are rated fairly…”

Analysis-We hope this isn’t “A Bridge Too Far”. When former President George W. Bush took office, he tasked his first VA Secretary, Anthony Principi, with the mission of fixing this problem. Eight years and billions of dollars after a VA Secretary said he will fix the problem, America’s veterans and their surviving spouses are waiting. Given the current Global War on Terrorism and the elderly World War II and Korean War population and the herbicide related diseases afflicting Vietnam veterans, the hiring of new personnel alone will not reduce the backlog. Someone hired by VA today, will not be able to competently rate claims for three years. Money alone is not the fix, the problem is systemic and requires a major restructuring of the Veterans Benefits Administration how it transition people from active military status and a complete revision of the rating schedule.

President Obama set the bar high for his administration. Let’s see how well he delivers on these promises. With the Administration and The Congress of the same party, they have the political high ground to deliver on those promises. The President while he speaks eloquently of a “sacred trust”, must understand that for those who willingly placed themselves between this nation and its enemies “sacred trust” is more than a phrase, it represents payment for a lifetime of sacrifice in the service of our nation.

Bipartisan Bill Introduced on TRICARE - Reps. Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Walter Jones (R-NC) this week jointly reintroduced their Military Retirees' Health Care Protection Act (H.R. 816) which would bar the Defense Department from unilaterally increasing military TRICARE enrollment fees, co payments, and other fees.

Under their legislation, only Congress would have that authority. Edwards and Jones have championed this legislation for several years, and have been joined by hundreds of their colleagues who signed on as cosponsors of their bill. Their effort, along with the resistance of top Armed Services Committee leaders, is a big reason why Congress has rejected repeated Pentagon proposals to double or triple TRICARE fees for retirees under age 65 and increase pharmacy copays for all beneficiaries who purchase medications through TRICARE's retail or mail-order pharmacy systems.

"I hope the new administration will not request the same premium increases as the last, but this legislation will allow us to remove any temptation," Edwards said in announcing the newly reintroduced bill. "We cannot attract the best and brightest to fight our war on terrorism in the years ahead if they see us breaking faith with those who served in years past."

"This legislation is about offering protection for the men and women who are willing to protect our nation from its enemies, and keeping promises to those who have promised to put themselves in harm's way when called upon," Rep. Jones agreed. "The families of our armed forces deserve consistent health care benefits."

We in the Veterans of Foreign Wars have long appreciated the support of Representative Edwards and Jones fore veterans, military retirees, active and reserve members of the Armed Forces. We are gratified that Mr. Edwards, last year’s recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Organization’s Congressional Award, has taken a critical leadership role on this issue. We also appreciate the work that Representative Jones is doing to reform the Reserve Component Retirement System.

More Quality of Life Legislation - Although the focus in Congress is on the passage of an economic stimulus package we are gratified that some members have filed bills which address a number of our legislative priorities.

H.R. 775 (Rep. Ortiz, D-TX) would repeal the requirement to deduct VA survivor benefits from military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities.

H.R. 613 (Rep. Jones, R-NC) would allow a survivor to keep the entire retired pay for the month in which a service member dies. Current practice requires the government to recoup the money and pro-rate it based on the date of death.

H.R. 593 (Rep. Smith, D-WA) would better protect against deduction of VA disability compensation from military disability severance pay in instances of combat- or operations-related disabilities. A narrow interpretation of the recent law change on this topic covers only injuries occurring in a combat zone - excluding those which incurred in combat training or other operations-related accidents.

TALLAHASSEE TALES
State Legislative Update

Proposed Ad Valorem Tax Changes-The Department of Florida, VFW adopted legislative priorities. which if approved, will benefit some veterans who are homeowners. The first requires that counties provide a 100% ad valorem exemption to active service members for the period in which they are serving in combat zones. The other priority calls for removing the pre-service residency requirement for those veterans seeking an ad valorem exemption based on service connected disabilities deemed combat related. Currently. to qualify for the Combat Related Ad Valorem exemption, the veteran must be at least 65 years old and must have entered active duty as resident of Florida.

At this writing, we are lining up sponsors for these bills in both the Florida Senate and House of Representatives. Assuming passage of these bills, the people of Florida will have to approve these changes through referenda during the General Election in November 2010.

BUCHANAN RECEIVES VFW LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

2009-01-21T16:02:00.000-05:00

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Vern Buchanan has been awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars' (VFW) legislative achievement award by the Florida VFW for his service to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

"It is an honor for me to receive this award," said Buchanan. "I applaud the Florida VFW for their efforts to assist disabled and other needy veterans and their families. I value their input and I am humbled to receive this award. I will continue to work with the VFW and others to ensure that our nation's veterans get the health care and benefits they have earned."

David L. Harris, Commander of Florida's Veterans of Foreign Wars presented the award to Buchanan during the VFW Celebration of Achievement Event in Orlando.

"We are deeply indebted to Congressman Buchanan for his work on legislation improving the quality of life of active and reserve service members, military retirees, veterans and their families," said Harris.

Harris noted Buchanan's support for the Post 911 G.I. bill that guarantees the newest generation of veterans a quality college education. The commander also hailed the Congressman's efforts to pass legislation to modernize the reserve retirement system and his successful efforts to secure federal funding for the construction of the Jacksonville and Sarasota National Cemeteries.

The 13th District Congressman is a veteran of the Air National Guard. He was recently sworn in to his second term in Congress and currently serves on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee on Health.

Legislative Update - January 2009 by LTC Lee F. Kichen

2009-01-13T13:13:00.000-05:00

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY
Federal Legislative Update

Representative Vern Buchanan to Receive Legislative Achievement Award - David L. Harris, Commander of Florida’s Veterans of Foreign Wars announced the selection of United States Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL13) as the recipient of its Legislative Achievement Award. In announcing this selection, Mr. Harris, Vietnam War veteran, lauded Mr. Buchanan’s service to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families. “We are deeply indebted to Congressman Buchanan for his work on legislation improving the quality of life of active and reserve service members, military retirees, veterans and their families. We are especially gratified that as freshman member of Congress that he sought a seat on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Last year, our number one legislative priority was the passage of a new GI Bill. We are gratified that not only was Mr. Buchanan an early and active supporter of the Post 9-11 GI Bill; he worked tirelessly to get his more senior colleagues to support this critical legislation. This bill guarantees the newest generation of veterans a quality college education. As a veteran of the Air National Guard, understands the challenges facing Guards members, Reservists and their families. We appreciate his efforts in working towards the passage legislation modernizing the reserve retirement system. Mr. Buchanan led the effort to secure an early appropriation for the construction of the Jacksonville and Sarasota National Cemeteries which will now open two years ahead of the original schedule.”

VA to Begin Enrolling Category 8 Veterans - One of the VFW’s legislative goals was secure sufficient fund to reopen VA Health Care to non-service connected veterans with incomes higher than $29,000. The VA announced plans this week to begin partially opening up the health care system to new Category 8 veterans by increasing the income threshold by about 10 percent. New Category 8 veterans -- those with incomes above a geographically adjusted amount of approximately $29,000 -- have been prevented from enrolling in the VA system since January 2003. Last year after an intense lobbying effort on the part of the VFW National Legislative Committee, the 110th Congress gave VA an extra $375 million in funding to begin opening up the system. VA is expected to begin enrolling these veterans in June.

Reserve Retirement Bill Introduced - Another long standing priority of the VFW has been reform of the Reserve Component Retirement System. It has been our position that given the essential role played by members of the Reserve and National Guard, they should receive credit for all active service in the Global War on Terrorism. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced H.R. 208 on Tuesday to amend Title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Reserve Components who have served on active duty -- or performed active service since 9/11 in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations -- receive credit for such service in determining their eligibility for early receipt of retired pay. This measure will expand the provision included in the FY08 National Defense Authorization Act that allows members to receive retirement pay earlier than the normal age 60 by three months for every 90 day served on active duty after Jan. 28, 2008. The VFW resolution addressing this issue can be found at http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=caphill.levele&eid=4047. Action Needed: Contact you members of Congress and ask them to sign on as a cosponsor of H.R. 208. To contact your elected official, go to: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/.

Who is Going to Pay for the Bailout? - In previous editions, we have talked about the current economic situation and its impact on the active and reserve troops, veterans and retirees and families. As we see what could be trillions upon trillions of dollars going towards bailouts and economic stimulations some of our most important benefits could be threatened. A document published by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in December 2008 is reason for concern. At the present time, this document is nothing more than what we used to call in The Pentagon a “What If Drill”. Nevertheless, this paper this ‘think piece’ “Budget Options: Volume 1, Health Care” provides “115 options for reducing (or, in some cases, increasing) federal spending on health care, altering federal health care programs, and making substantive changes to the nation’s health insurance system.”

Those options range from authorizing private sector workers to purchase coverage under the federal civilian health plan to raising the Medicare eligibility age to 67 and raising Medicare Part B premiums by 40 percent.

Many of the proposed courses of action merit vigilance:

• Authorize a $500 annual health care allowance for active duty families but charge them 10 percent of the cost of care and impose a fee for them to use military hospitals and clinics.
• Change TRICARE For Life so it would not cover the first $525 of Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries annual cost-share and cover only half of the next $4,725. This option also would impose charges for those who use military hospitals and clinics.
• Raise TRICARE fees for military retirees under age 65 to more than double the current rates. Annual enrollment fees for TRICARE Prime would be $550 (single) and $1,100 (family). TRICARE Standard deductibles would be raised to $350 (single) and $700 (family) plus an annual enrollment fee of $50 (single) and $100 (family), plus additional charges for those who use military facilities.
• End VA health care eligibility for veterans in categories 7 and 8 (nondisabled vets above certain income levels).
• Reopen VA health care enrollment to category 8 veterans for five years.

This is not a new drill, both CBO and at the White House Office of Management and Budget have had TRICARE in their cross hairs for years. In the past, the Congress killed any changes to TRICARE whether they were recommendations from the Administration or internal, i.e., CBO. However, this year the calculus is different, if the Democrats accept unconstrained deficit spending to pay for "New Deal II", we are ok. If not, we will have a battle. Historically, we have never lost a benefit previously granted, but, we were never operating in this type of economic environment.

The guy we have to watch is Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Tom Daschle whose mission will be the development and enactment of some form of National Health Care. Obviously, he will have to sell this one to The Congress which shouldn't be hard task, because, the Democrats ran on the health care issue. My forecast is that under some form of National Health Care, the only folks that will remain as TRICARE beneficiaries will be active duty personnel and mobilized reservists. TRICARE/TRICARE for Life will effectively go away for retirees and dependents.

We are going to have play good defense during the 111th Congress. I see little expansion of benefits. The VA Appropriation will probably be a flat line. There will be zero growth or worse in DoD quality of life accounts. Forget about anymore movement on the concurrent receipt or SBP/DIC fronts for the near term.

A basic message to President-elect Obama and the Congress is that this country is at war and that the burden of this war and conflicts past are borne the veterans and military communities. We didn’t create this economic train wreck should we pay the bill for the excesses of Wall Street and poor public policy that created this mess.

TALLAHASSEE TALES
State Legislative Update

Special Session of the Florida Legislation Grappling State Budget Shortfall - At this writing the Florida Legislature is working to balance the 2009 budget as mandated by the Florida Constitution. It is anybody’s guess as to how this effort will impact Florida’s budget. Next month, we discuss this the Special Session and our legislative priorities for the Regular Session of the 2009 Florida Legislature.

Legislative Update from Lee F. Kichen, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.)

2008-12-11T09:58:00.000-05:00

INSIDE THE BELTWAY
Federal Legislative Update

President-elect Obama Names VA Secretary-President-elect Barack announced that he will send the name of former Chief of Staff of the Army, General (Ret) Eric K. Shinseki to the Senate for confirmation as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. General Shinseki has first hand knowledge of the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces. As a young officer in Vietnam he was twice wounded and had to overcome the amputation of a foot to forge a successful career. He has commanded soldiers at every level from platoon to theater Army. He is a product of the United States Military Academy and embodies that institution's creed of Duty, Honor and Country. Beyond his unquestionable physical courage, he has the moral courage to tell his bosses the unvarnished truth as evidenced when he testified before Congress in 2003 that we would not have enough troops to successfully complete the mission in Iraq.

General (Ret) Shinseki faces enormous challenges. He and his team along with their counterparts in the Department of Defense need to achieve seamless transition for service members transferring from the Armed Forces to Department of Veterans Affairs programs. VA and DoD have for too long failed to develop an integrated electronic medical records system which travels from military duty station to military duty station and ultimately to VA. VA must improve transition benefits which insure that America's newest veterans have viable training, employment and education leading to productive careers. The first order of business for Secretary-designate Shinseki is ensuring that VA is ready to administer the Post 9-11 GI Bill when it comes on line in August 2009. We are concerned that once again the backlog of claims for VA disability compensation and survivors' benefits is growing. The new leadership at VA must ensure that OIF/OEF veterans receive the treatment appropriate for their unique conditions.

Economic Crisis Means Train Wreck for Defense Spending-Although, Robert Gates will stay on as Secretary of Defense, the Administration and the new Congress will have to grapple with budget issues that could have profound impact on the military's personnel programs. Complicating matters is the decision of the outgoing Bush Administration decision not to submit a formal budget for FY 2010; instead leaving that task to the incoming Obama Administration. There are already rumbles that the 111th Congress is seriously looking to scale back the planned increases in the end strength of the Army and Marine Corps to pay for weapons systems. Maybe we ought to play for them the tapes of GEN (Ret) Shinseki's Congressional testimony in 2003 when we were at the early stages of what is now a two front war. General Shinseki warned of fighting a war requiring twelve divisions when we only had ten.

Congress is already salivating at the possibility of a "peace dividend" resulting from troop draw downs in Iraq. The post Cold War "peace dividend" left us with an Army far two small to deal with the realities of the Global War on Terrorism. None other than Representative John Murtha (D-PA) chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee that controls the Pentagon's budget predicts an austere future for defense spending. Given his power over defense appropriations his predictions are really self-fulfilling prophecies. Not surprisingly, he has personnel programs in his cross hairs.

The Army and Marine Corps are increasing in size, but to attract and retain recruits in wartime, they are spending $2 billion on bonuses, Murtha said. And the percentage of recruits who have graduated from high school has slipped from 94 percent to 82 percent. Murtha said the military is now spending $153 billion a year on personnel, and that cuts into spending on new weapons. "You can't increase personnel and increase procurement at the same time,"
Murtha suggests reducing defense spending by targeting personnel accounts:

• Stop spending $2 billion a year on recruiting and retention bonuses. "As we draw down [from Iraq] we ought to be able to get rid of the bonuses".

• Slow personnel increases in the Army and Marine Corps -- "because that's where the real money is." Apparently, Murtha is willing to continue spending on weapons systems, but, sacrifice both the quality and the size of the force while we still face all manner of national security threats.

Forget "Army Strong", the "Hollow Army" of Jimmy Carter is about to be reborn.

TALLAHASSEE TALES
Florida State Legislative Update

Florida Veterans Council Approves 2009 State Legislative Priorities

Each year the Florida Veterans' Council, which is a coalition of Florida's major veterans' service organizations and military associations, formulates legislative goals and priorities. The priorities listed below were agreed to unanimously during our November meeting. We believe these priorities address the most pressing needs of Florida's veterans and their families.

Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions for Deployed Service Members

Legislation asking the people to amend Article VII, Section 6 (e) of the Florida Constitution providing a 100% Ad Valorem tax exemption to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed in direct support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Request State legislators to pass a memorial that will ask congress to amend the Post 9/11 GI Bill

Chapter 33 of the Post 9-11 Veterans Educational Enhancement Act of 2008 needs to be modified to include non-college degree programs (NCD) such as trade schools, flight and correspondence schools, as well as apprenticeship and OJT. Other recommended improvements to the Post 9-11 GI Bill include provisions for lifelong learning and additional financial support for educational institutions providing programs and services to veterans.

Broader Eligibility Disabled Veterans Ad Valorem Discounts

Legislation asking the people to amend Article VII, Section 6 (e) of the Florida Constitution eliminating the age and pre-service Florida residency requirements.

State contributions to the Disabled American Veterans Transportation Program

Legislation Providing Repayment of Student Loans for Combat Veterans
Legislation requiring the Department of Education to repay student loans outstanding after a waiver has been granted to combat veterans if the loan was certified by a post secondary institution before receipt of combat qualifying badge or ribbon e.g. Army Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Medic Badge or Combat Action Badge, Air Force Combat Action Medal or Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon.

Cash Bonuses for GWOT, Iraqi and Afghanistan Veterans

Legislation establishing a one-time cash bonus for veterans who entered active duty from Florida and received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Legislative Update from Lee F. Kichen, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.)

2008-11-19T10:05:00.004-05:00

The American People Have Spoken - Every four years, in November, Americans go to the polls to choose a President. Presidential elections are the beginning of a peaceful transition of power culminating with the Inauguration in January. Ironically, November is the month that we also celebrate the service of America’s veterans. Since before the birth of the Republic, America’s veterans fought for and secured our freedom to peacefully choose those who govern this great nation. For veterans, active and reserve personnel, military retirees and their families the impending transition is the first in forty years during wartime.

In 1969, at what was in many respects the height of the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon succeeded Lyndon B. Johnson as Commander in Chief, the Vietnam War continued for four more years under Nixon without victory. A new administration can learn much from that transition, most importantly, there is no “Peace with Honor” unless victory has been gained on the battlefield. Forty years ago, the enemy was Communism and we successfully confronted that enemy in Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and Europe, sometimes the wars were hot, sometimes they were cold. Nevertheless, we fought that enemy far from the Homeland.

Today, we are fighting Islamic terrorism and we are taking the battle to them, we effectively defeated Al-Qaeda in Iraq and are establishing a free government in that country and given the resources and the will we can finish the job in Afghanistan. We must ensure that America is never attacked.

As we look forward to an Obama administration and the 111^th Congress it is appropriate for us to look back over the past years of what we have achieved and the work that lies ahead as we continue to serve America’s Warriors past, present and future.

Since the Bush Administration took office in 2001, the total appropriation for the Department of Veterans Affairs increased by 98%. These dramatic increases in funding for veterans’ health care were the result of three Republican and one Democratic Congresses to ensure adequate funding by increasing the appropriations over that requested by the Administration.

For nearly twenty years, we have fought for some form of concurrent receipt of military retirement pay and VA disability compensation. In 2003 and 2004, Congress acted to address this injustice by establishing Combat Related Special Compensation and Concurrent Disabled Retirement Pay.

Even before 9-11, we were working for comprehensive changes to the Montgomery GI Bill. Our position was that today’s servicemen and women deserved an education package comparable to first GI bill of 1944 which in essence provided World War II veterans a fully funded college education. This year, with the passage of the “Post 9-11 Veterans Educational Enhancement Act of 2008”, we achieved a “GI Bill for the 21^st Century” which provides a Global War on Terrorism Veteran tuition based on the most expensive public institution in his state, as well as a book allowance, living and housing stipends.

We achieved legislation to end the Social Security offset to the Survivor’s Benefits Program and reinstatement of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for those surviving spouses who remarried after the death of their first spouse, if the marriage to the second spouse ended in death or divorce. Additionally, if a surviving spouse remarries after age 57 they could retain his or her DIC.

What’s Next?-Not since 1933 at the height of the Great Depression, when Franklin D. Roosevelt and another Democrat led Congress took the reins of the federal government, has a President and Congress faced an economic crisis which could fundamentally change the fabric of American society. Falling revenues and pressures to prop up financial institutions and other business groups, potentially threaten veterans and military benefits. We must be ever vigilant and ensure that our systems of military and veterans health care, disability compensation and survivors benefits not only remain intact but are enhanced.

· We must gain legislation ensuring that VA Health continues to be adequately and timely funded to ensure that all veterans seeking care receive nothing but world class care regardless of whether he is an 88 year old World War II veteran or she is 18 year old veteran of the Global War on Terrorism. We must never again accept a late VA budget.

· We must pressure the new Congress to recognize the selfless service of Reservists and National Guard members by ensuring all mobilization service is credited towards an early retirement.

· It is time to help Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), in his effort to end the egregious “Military Widows’ Tax” by ending the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset to the Survivors Benefits Annuity.

· We must gain full and complete concurrent receipt of VA disability compensation and military retirement pay for all disabled military retirement pay.

· We must gain legislation which forbids the Defense Department from arbitrarily and capriciously increasing TRICARE fees and co-payments.

This is going to be tough fight, with each and every election the number of veterans serving in the Congress dwindles. This election is no different than earlier elections. Not all the results are in, but, we could have as few as 93 or as many as 99 veterans in the 435 member House of Representatives and depending on how some still contested races turn-out and who are appointed to fill Senators Obama’s and Biden’s seats there could be as few or as many as 29 veterans serving in the United States Senate. It will be up to the Action Corps to take the lead in education these non-veteran public servants.

September Legislative Update from Lee F. Kichen, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.)

2008-09-25T20:00:00.002-04:00

At Your Service!!!
Lee F. Kichen
September 2008

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY
Federal Legislative Update

Senate Completes a “Bare Bones” National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-Last month, in this space we criticized the Senate Democrat leadership for its failure to complete work on its version of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 09. As the legislative process unfolded this week, we fell victim to a classic example of “if you want it bad, you’ll probably get it bad.” When the Senate returned after the August recess, it was looking at over 300 amendments to the NDAA for floor consideration. Many of these amendments addressed issues we have tracked over the last twelve months. This list of amendments included proposals to expand concurrent receipt eligibility, limit TRICARE fee increases, ease Guard/Reserve retirement age restrictions, authorize TRICARE coverage for "gray area" Reserve retirees, improve benefits for military spouses, authorize a partial family separation allowance for single servicemembers assigned to remote duty, and many, many more.

On 15 and 16 Sep, the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Committee was on Capitol Hill meeting with respective Members of Congress calling for the passage of both the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations and National Defense Authorization Acts before the scheduled end of the month adjournment. On Wednesday, 17 Sep, the Senate abruptly passed the NDAA without considering any of the 300-plus amendments. The only amendment in the final version of the bill of interest to us is Senator Bill Nelson’s (D-FL) language calling for the end of the VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset to DoD’s Survivor Benefits Annuity, thus abolishing the so-called ”Widows’ Tax”. Only time will tell if Senator Nelson’s amendment will survive Conference committee reconciliation of the differences between the House and Senate versions of the NDAA.

The work of one senator blocked the passage of many the 300 amendments. With the Congress heading towards adjournment at the end of the month, a bipartisan group of senior members of the Armed Services Committee had already agreed on a list of more than 90 amendments they would propose to approve by "unanimous consent" - which allows bypassing of the normal votes unless some senator objects. Additionally they intended to add several dozen more - including the TRICARE and concurrent receipt provisions.

In spite of a bipartisan agreement, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) took a hard line position against $5 billion in so-called "earmarks" in the NDAA - specific provisions calling for spending on programs that were above and beyond what the Pentagon had requested. He also refused to support any unanimous consent request for any other amendments unless he got a vote on his amendment to drop the earmarks provision - which wasn't going to happen, especially in an election year.
This political brinksmanship, combined with the lack of time left on the Congressional calendar and the pending vote on the financial “bail-out” package effectively kills, in the Senate, those quality of life measures important to many VFW members and their families. In all fairness, even if the Senate bill included all the amendments we supported, it was probable that during the reconciliation process with the House, the conferees may have stripped out many of those amendments.

What is the current status of the “quality of life” issues?

TRICARE Fees. The House-passed bill would bar any TRICARE fees through the end of the next fiscal year. We had hoped to get the Senate to approve some permanent rules to restrict the Pentagon's ability to impose fee increases as well, but it now looks probable that Congress will approve the House version, and we'll face another battle when that freeze expires next year.
Concurrent Receipt. Absent something truly extraordinary, hope for further concurrent receipt progress this year probably went out the window with the loss of Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-NV) amendment. If so, this would be the first year in the last six without at least some forward movement.

Guard/Reserve Retirement Age. Under current law, Guard/Reserve members can cut three months off the Reserve retirement age (60) for each consecutive 90 days served on active duty since January 2008. Sen. Saxby Chambliss' (R-GA) amendment to credit all active duty service since 9/11/01 is nowdead, since there was no similar provision in the House bill.

Military Pay Raise. The House-passed bill calls not only for a 3.9% pay raise for 2009 (vs. the 3.4% proposed in the Pentagon budget), but would also add one-half percentage point to the military raise each year for the next five years. The Senate bill has the 3.9% for 2009, but no plus-up for the out years.

Survivor Benefit Plan. The House bill would make only modest adjustments - including authorizing payment of the new $50 special monthly payment to qualifying survivors whose sponsors died on active duty. The Senate bill, thanks to our own Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), includes the full repeal of the VA benefits deduction from SBP, so that's at least still in play.
MILCON/VA Appropriation and Veterans Benefits Bills Remain on Hold-As reported last month, the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriation still remains stalled in the Senate. In all likelihood, unconscionable delays by The Congress will result in this very important funding bill dying when Congress adjourns the end of this month forcing VA to operate under a Continuing Resolution until the new Congress takes action. This inaction effectively funds VA at current year’s level, precludes new hiring and establishing new programs until Congress approves the FY 09 appropriation.

In addition to not completing a VA funding bill, Congress appears to be on the verge of abandoning major veterans’ issues in a rush to leave town to run for re-election. Partisan disagreements are preventing The Congress from passing major veterans’ health and benefits bills last year, and the situation appears to be repeating this year. Veterans’ benefits legislation is tied up over a dispute about whether to increase pensions to Filipino Scouts and provide monthly stipends to World War II Merchant Marines. Health care legislation is bogged down, in part, over gun-ownership restrictions for veterans diagnosed with or being treated for mental health issues. While Congress has passed a veterans’ cost-of-living adjustment bill and a “GI Bill for the 21st Century”, it has failed to pass legislation to improve mental health programs, expand health care for women veterans, improve diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries, and help families who are caring for severely disabled veterans. The Senate passed S. 1315 which included more generous benefits for Filipino Scouts, the House Veterans Affairs Committee has not cleared H.R. 760. In a compromise that could end the contentious debate over whether the U.S. still owes a debt to Filipinos who served alongside American troops in World War II, the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved a plan September 17 for a one-time payment to surviving veterans instead of an annual pension. But if veterans were to take the payments spelled out in H.R. 6897 — $15,000 for U.S. citizens and $9,000 for non-citizens — they would waive the right to ever receive another pension for their World War II service if the federal government were to someday pass a more generous bill. About 18,000 Filipinos would qualify for payments under the bill, according to estimates prepared by the Congressional Budget Office. With Congress heading towards a September 26th adjournment, the odds of veterans’ benefits bill passing are not good.

VFW National Legislative Committee Sets Priorities for 2009-The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Committee convened in Washington, DC for its annual priority setting session 13-16 Sep 08. Department of Florida Legislative Chairman Lee F. Kichen, National Legislative Committee members A.E. “Gene” Hall and Al Wallace joined fellow VFW National Legislative Committee members in formulating the following priorities for the 111th Congress:

VA Health Care
The VFW calls on Congress to pass a sufficient budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs so that it can properly care for all of America’s sick and disabled veterans.

The VFW urges funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs to be sufficient, predictable and timely, ending the trend of the last decade wherein VA’s budget has been delivered months late.

Congress must ensure that the unique health care and benefits challenges of OEF/OIF veterans are met, to include increased funding for Traumatic Brain Injuries and other related disabilities, as well as improved access to care, especially for veterans suffering from mental illness and for the growing number of women veterans accessing the system

The VFW calls on Congress and VA to increase priority given to women veterans by providing adequate services by hiring specialized health care providers and by providing training in gender-specific issues to help address shortfalls in gender-specific care and mental health care services for PTSD, Military Sexual Trauma and other needs.

The VFW urges the Department to improve outreach so that all veterans are aware of the range of health care services and benefits available to them, especially with female, minority and rural veterans, who may be less aware of their rights than other groups of veterans.

VA Benefits and Compensation
The VFW asks Congress to provide adequate resources to enable the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to reduce the current backlog of claims.

To protect the needs of current and future veterans, the VFW opposes any changes to the current definition of “line of duty,” structural changes to the programs for disability and survivors’ benefits, or curtailment of veterans’ or beneficiaries’ rights of entitlement or to appeal benefit decisions.

Seamless Transition
The VFW demands a truly seamless transition for those men and women serving in uniform who are transferring from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs. We envision a system with a truly integrated electronic medical record that travels wherever the service member is stationed eventually to VA where it follows the veteran to wherever he or she receives health care.

The VFW urges Congress and the Administration to improve the transition services and benefits provided to our veterans to ensure a steady and safe return to civilian life, including viable training, employment and education programs that address the realities of the current and future job markets to provide meaningful careers and not just temporary jobs.

Military Quality of Life
The VFW calls on Congress to fully fund all programs that enable our troops to succeed in their mission. We must ensure our active duty, guard and reserve members are provided increased pay, affordable health care, and adequate housing and work facilities for themselves and their families.

Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars Push for VA Appropriation Reform-The inability of Congress to pass on time either a Veterans Affairs funding bill or Defense authorization presents a clear and present danger to America’s warriors past and present and their families. Every year we castigate the Congress for its slow roll on these two important bills. While attending the this year’s fall Legislative Committee meeting, Past Department Commander Gene Hall, Department Legislative Chairman Lee F. Kichen and former Department Political Action Committee Al Wallace were able to meet with twenty members of the Florida Congressional delegation or members of their staff. Hall, Kichen and Wallace emphasized the importance of passing an on time MIL/VA Appropriation Bill.

The National Organization of the VFW and the other major organizations comprising the Partnership for VA Health Care Budget Reform are proposing a simple solution to the problem of late VA appropriation bill. Our proposal calls for a one year advanced appropriation of VA health care. This proposal has the support of the Chairmen of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees, Senator Daniel Akaka and Representative Bob Filner filed companion bills that will, hopefully, lend timeliness and predictably to funding VA Health. In our discussions with Congresswomen Corrine Brown (D-FL3), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL5), Kathy Castor (D-FL11), Congressmen Gus Bilirakis (R-FL9), Vern Buchanan (R-FL13), and Cliff Stearns (R-FL6) we sensed a real enthusiasm for this proposal.

Mr. Bilirakis suggested that we seek out the support of C.W. “Bill” Young (R-FL10) Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee. Ms. Castor indicated that she will discuss this proposal with Chet Edwards (D-TX17), Chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. While we acknowledge that there is virtually no chance of this bill passing this year, we will full court press this measure when the 111th Congress convenes in January 2009.

August Legislative Update from Lee F. Kichen, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.)

2008-08-13T10:20:00.003-04:00

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY

Federal Legislative Update

United States Senate Walks Away from Two Key Bills

Senate Democrat Leadership Delays 09 Defense Authorization Act-Once again Congress delays two bills that are crucial to active and reserve service members, veterans, military retirees and their families. Due to the usual partisan bickering Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) pulled the FY 09 National Defense Authorization Act from the floor. Ironically, the House of Representatives finished its version of this bill in May.

The authorization bill is the key vehicle for nearly all military personnel changes, and the Senate is scheduled to consider amendments to prevent undue TRICARE increases, ease compensation penalties for disabled retirees and military widows, plus up military pay raises, and fix Reserve retirement inequities, among others. All issues discussed in earlier “Battling Inside the Beltway” columns.

But it's hung up in the Senate because some senators won't agree to limit amendments to defense-related issues. The single biggest issue is that some Republicans insist on being able to add amendments to expand oil-drilling. But Sen. John Warner (R-VA), the elder statesman and former chairman of the Armed Services Committee, isn't among them. Warner voted to move on with the defense bill and limit amendments to defense issues. But that effort gathered only 51 votes...9 short of the 60 needed to end the debate and move on. While we recognize that Congress has the responsibility to produce some meaningful energy legislation, we don’t believe that this important bill should be delayed because of partisanship.

Given that Congress will adjourn early in October to allow members to return to the District to campaign, it is a safe bet that this bill will not be done before adjournment. Unless there is a post election lame duck session, it is likely that this bill won’t be finished until next year.

The nightmare scenario is that the oil-drilling fight could delay Senate action so long that Senate leaders feel compelled to drop nearly all defense bill amendments -- including some that military people really need -- just to get the bill passed and go home. Some fear it could scuttle the defense bill altogether -- an unthinkable scenario in time of war. These amendments include the one sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) which would end the so-called “Widow’s Tax” by abolishing the prohibition against the concurrent receipt of both the Survivors’ Benefits Annuity and VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) is also a cosponsor of this important amendment.

Senate Allows Veterans Affairs Funding Bill to Languish-To quote that great American philosopher Yogi Berra, “…it must be déjà vu all over again…” The Senate also left the FY 09 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriation on the table as it blew out of The Capital for the August recess. On August 1, the full House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, H.R. 6599, with a nearly unanimous vote of 409 to 4. The 2009 bill builds on the historic increases for veterans and troops passed into law last year, and, if signed into law, it would be the largest funding increase in the 78-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

For the VA, the bill would provide $47.7 billion in health and other discretionary funding, $4.6 billion above 2008 and $2.9 billion over the Administration's request. These funds would provide substantial relief in improving veterans' medical care, hiring more claims processors, conducting new research, expanding VA efforts to combat homelessness, and helping VA make improvements to its facilities. The Veterans Health Administration estimates VA will treat more than 5.8 million patients in 2009 including more than 333,275 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan (40,000 more than 2008).

The Senate Appropriations Committee has reported a separate funding bill, S. 3301 but was not scheduled for a vote before the summer recess. Please write your U.S. Senators to urge them to schedule a vote on veterans funding for fiscal year 2009 immediately after they return to Washington in September. It is intolerable that as VA expects to care for over a third of a million injured and ill veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus continues to care for millions of sick and disabled veterans of prior military service, that yet another year would begin without full VA funding. Unless the Senate acts quickly, then conferences with the House, this new funding for veterans will be in jeopardy and at minimum will be significantly delayed, perhaps as long as March 2009.

House Votes on Key Veterans’ Program Bills-At least the House of Representatives completed work on some important bills before the summer recess. Although hope is not a method, let’s hope the Senate will get to work on these bills before next St. Patrick’s Day. These important bills address disability, financial, tax, reemployment, and health care protections for veterans and military families.

VA Disability System Reform: H.R. 5892 would implement a number of recommendations of the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission. The bill would require the VA to provide immediate payment for unquestioned disabilities such as amputations rather than holding up claims until all conditions are evaluated. It would also require a plan to modernize the VA disability rating schedule and address quality of life issues, change evaluator incentives to improve processing quality, and require the VA to establish special offices to assist survivors and dependents. In addition, it would allow a survivor or dependent to proceed with a VA claim if the veteran dies before it is adjudicated.
Mortgage Foreclosure Protections: H.R. 3221 would prohibit foreclosure on property owned by a servicemember for nine months (vs. 90 days) following deployment. It would also increase, through the end of 2008, the maximum guaranty amount for mortgages backed by the VA.
VA Health Care and Counseling: H.R. 6445 would exempt vets who have catastrophic, non-service-connected disabilities from paying copayments for hospital or nursing home care and loosen restrictions on counseling for those vets' family members
Reemployment Rights: H.R. 6225 would strengthen protections for reservists denied reemployment benefits by state or private employers
Armed Forces Student Rights: H.R. 6225 would limit interest on loan debts to 6% for members on active duty. It would also require colleges to refund tuition and fees for students forced to leave school because of military orders and reinstate those students on return with the same academic status held prior to service
Cellphone Contracts: H.R. 6225 would let servicemembers terminate or suspend personal services contracts (e.g., cellphone or cable TV) entered into before being notified of PCS or deployment orders and penalize providers who violate the law
Spouse Domicile: H.R. 6225 would let spouses of active duty members maintain the same state of domicile as the servicemember for state taxation purposes and voter registration
Roth Thrift Saving Plan (TSP): A provision in H.R. 1108 would allow servicemembers and federal workers a "Roth TSP" option, entailing taxable deposits into the federal retirement savings plan and tax-free withdrawals in retirement
In-state Tuition: H.R. 4137 would require all states to continue in-state college tuition rates for a military dependent previously granted such rates if the military parent is re-assigned outside the state.

Pacifism, militarism, patriotism

2008-07-12T15:49:00.005-04:00

This article was brought to my attention by Marj Baldwin of Sarasota, FL. Marj is a WW II veteran of the Woman's Army Air Corps. Article written by Jeff Watson - THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE.

Some Americans live with a curious kind of courage. Convinced that violence, retaliation, and war are always wrong, some pacifists put their lives on the line for peace—sometimes in a war zone. Others believe that war is never wrong. Endorsing armed conflict as a necessary evil, some militarists in our culture sensationalize the drama and technology of combat.

In between these moral end-zones is 100 yards of playing field. For many, the playbook of life includes the possibility of a “just war” and of warriors with integrity. That is how Joshua saw it, when he barked out commands: “Do not be afraid …. Be … courageous … the Lord your God fights for you.” Even the Carpenter’s Son surprised people when he said: “[I]f you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”

It was his love of country that pushed Jacklyn Lucas toward the volcanic island of Iwo Jima. According to Flags of Our Fathers, the North Carolinian: “…[F]ast-talked his way into the Marines at 14…. Assigned to drive a truck in Hawaii … he stowed away on a transport out of Honolulu … landed on D-Day without a rifle … grabbed one lying on the beach and fought his way inland …. Jack and three comrades were crawling through a trench when eight Japanese sprang in front of them … his rifle jammed. As he struggled … a grenade landed at his feet. He yelled a warning … rammed the grenade into the soft ash. Immediately, another rolled in …. Lucas, 17, fell on both grenades …”

Surviving 21 surgeries, Lucas would be forgiven his desertion in Hawaii and become the nation’s youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Pragmatism: finding common ground
According to the American Jewish Historical Society, the battle for Iwo Jima lasted five weeks non-stop. Among the 70,000 Marines who would raise the lag over Suribachi, 1,500 were Jewish—including the first Jewish chaplain ever appointed to the Corps: Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn.

Caring for the fearful and fallen of all faiths, Gittelsohn earned three decorations for his ministry under enemy fire. On that tragic rock, the nation would suffer 25,000 casualties and lose 6,000 of its beloved sons.

To dedicate the massive cemetery on the island, the division quickly organized a joint ceremony. Assigned to deliver a nondenominational sermon, the Rabbi began his preparations. To the surprise of his superiors, the majority of Christian chaplains objected. To save further embarrassment, the rabbi suggested three services.

Delivering his same eulogy to a smaller assembly, this son of Abraham was heartened to spot three Christian chaplains in his audience; one borrowed his meditation and privately distributed it throughout his regiment. Copies were soon traveling home with heartfelt letters from lonely GIs. Unknown to the rabbi, his shunned remarks were soon carried across the wire services, in Time magazine, and even in the Congressional Record.

“Here lie men who loved America because their ancestors … helped in her founding, and other men who loved her with equal passion because they … or their own fathers escaped from oppression to her blessed shores. Here lie officers and men, Negroes and Whites, rich men and poor … together. Here are Protestants, Catholics, and Jews together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith or despises him because of his color. Here there are no quotas …. Among these men, there is no discrimination. No prejudices. No hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy …. Whosoever of us lifts his hand in hate against a brother, or who thinks himself superior to those who happened to be in the minority, makes of this ceremony and the bloody sacrifice it commemorates, an empty, hollow mockery. To this … as our solemn duty … do we … now dedicate ourselves: to enjoy the democracy for which all of them have here paid the price …”

The Twelve Myths about War by LTC Ralph Peters, U.S. Army (Ret.)

2008-07-12T08:41:00.000-04:00

The following are excerpts from a November 2007 article in the American Legion Magazine by Ralph Peters, a retired Army officer, military expert and author. He lists the twelve myths about war. It is time to re-read what Colonel Peters said then and apply his wisdom to today's reality of victory over Al Qaeda in Iraq. For the full article go here.

Myth No. 1: War doesn't change anything. This campus slogan contradicts all of human history ...We need not agree in our politics or on the manner in which a given war is prosecuted, but we can't pretend that if only we laid down our arms all others would do the same. Wars, in fact, often change everything. Who would argue that the American Revolution, our Civil War or World War II changed nothing? Would the world be better today if we had been pacifists in the face of Nazi Germany and imperial Japan?...But of one thing we may be certain: a U.S. defeat in any war is a defeat not only for freedom, but for civilization. Our enemies believe that war can change the world. And they won't be deterred by bumper stickers.

Myth No. 2: Victory is impossible today. Victory is always possible, if our nation is willing to do what it takes to win. But victory is, indeed, impossible if U.S. troops are placed under impossible restrictions, if their leaders refuse to act boldly, if every target must be approved by lawyers, and if the American people are disheartened by a constant barrage of negativity from the media...In the timeless words of Nathan Bedford Forrest, "War means fighting, and fighting means killing." And in the words of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, "It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it."

Myth No. 3: Insurgencies can never be defeated. Historically, fewer than one in 20 major insurgencies succeeded. Virtually no minor ones survived...The good news is that in over 3,000 years of recorded history, insurgencies motivated by faith and blood overwhelmingly failed. The bad news is that they had to be put down with remorseless bloodshed.

Myth No. 4: There's no military solution; only negotiations can solve our problems. In most cases, the reverse is true. Negotiations solve nothing until a military decision has been reached and one side recognizes a peace agreement as its only hope of survival. It would be a welcome development if negotiations fixed the problems we face in Iraq, but we're the only side interested in a negotiated solution. Every other faction - the terrorists, Sunni insurgents, Shia militias, Iran and Syria - is convinced it can win. The only negotiations that produce lasting results are those conducted from positions of indisputable strength.

Myth No. 5: When we fight back, we only provoke our enemies. When dealing with bullies, either in the schoolyard or in a global war, the opposite is true: if you don't fight back, you encourage your enemy to behave more viciously. Passive resistance only works when directed against rule-of-law states, such as the core English-speaking nations. It doesn't work where silent protest is answered with a bayonet in the belly or a one-way trip to a political prison. We've allowed far too many myths about the "innate goodness of humanity" to creep up on us. Certainly, many humans would rather be good than bad. But if we're unwilling to fight the fraction of humanity that's evil, armed and determined to subjugate the rest, we'll face even grimmer conflicts.

Myth No. 6: Killing terrorists only turns them into martyrs. It's an anomaly of today's Western world that privileged individuals feel more sympathy for dictators, mass murderers and terrorists - consider the irrational protests against Guantanamo - than they do for their victims...Want to make a terrorist a martyr? Just lock him up. Attempts to try such monsters in a court of law turn into mockeries that only provide public platforms for their hate speech, which the global media is delighted to broadcast. Dead, they're dead. And killing them is the ultimate proof that they lack divine protection. Dead terrorists don't kill.

Myth No. 7: If we fight as fiercely as our enemies, we're no better than them. Did the bombing campaign against Germany turn us into Nazis? Did dropping atomic bombs on Japan to end the war and save hundreds of thousands of American lives, as well as millions of Japanese lives, turn us into the beasts who conducted the Bataan Death March? The greatest immorality is for the United States to lose a war.

Myth No. 8: The United States is more hated today than ever before. Those who served in Europe during the Cold War remember enormous, often-violent protests against U.S. policy that dwarfed today's let's-have-fun-on-a-Sunday-afternoon rallies. Older readers recall the huge ban-the-bomb, pro-communist demonstrations of the 1950s and the vast seas of demonstrators filling the streets of Paris, Rome and Berlin to protest our commitment to Vietnam. Imagine if we'd had 24/7 news coverage of those rallies. I well remember serving in Germany in the wake of our withdrawal from Saigon, when U.S. soldiers were despised by the locals - who nonetheless were willing to take our money - and terrorists tried to assassinate U.S. generals. The fashionable anti-Americanism of the chattering classes hasn't stopped the world from seeking one big green card. As I've traveled around the globe since 9/11, I've found that below the government-spokesman/professional-radical level, the United States remains the great dream for university graduates from Berlin to Bangalore to Bogota. On the domestic front, we hear ludicrous claims that our country has never been so divided. Well, that leaves out our Civil War. Our historical amnesia also erases the violent protests of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the mass confrontations, rioting and deaths. Is today's America really more fractured than it was in 1968?

Myth No. 9: Our invasion of Iraq created our terrorist problems. This claim rearranges the order of events, as if the attacks of 9/11 happened after Baghdad fell. Our terrorist problems have been created by the catastrophic failure of Middle Eastern civilization to compete on any front and were exacerbated by the determination of successive U.S. administrations, Democrat and Republican, to pretend that Islamist terrorism was a brief aberration.

Myth No. 10: If we just leave, the Iraqis will patch up their differences on their own. The point may come at which we have to accept that Iraqis are so determined to destroy their own future that there's nothing more we can do. But we're not there yet, and leaving immediately would guarantee not just one massacre but a series of slaughters and the delivery of a massive victory to the forces of terrorism.

Myth No. 11: It's all Israel's fault. Or the popular Washington corollary: "The Saudis are our friends." Israel is the Muslim world's excuse for failure, not a reason for it...Even if we didn't support Israel, Islamist extremists would blame us for countless other imagined wrongs, since they fear our freedoms and our culture even more than they do our military.

Myth No. 12: The Middle East's problems are all America's fault. Muslim extremists would like everyone to believe this, but it just isn't true. The collapse of once great Middle Eastern civilizations has been under way for more than five centuries, and the region became a backwater before the United States became a country...And we need to work within our community and state education systems to return balanced, comprehensive history programs to our schools. The unprecedented wealth and power of the United States allows us to afford many things denied to human beings throughout history. But we, the people, cannot afford ignorance.

Ralph Peters is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, strategist and author of 22 books, including the recent "Wars of Blood and Faith: The Conflicts That Will Shape the 21st Century.

It's official! Vietnam War hero is now a true American

2008-07-11T09:49:00.003-04:00

New York Daily News, Wednesday, July 9th 2008, 9:26 PM

With his combat medals on his chest, Vietnam War hero Rudy Thomas Sr., takes citizenship oath Wednesday at Brooklyn Federal Courthouse. This disabled Vietnam veteran paratrooper with three Purple Hearts is no longer a man without a country. Wednesday, 40 years after limping home from Vietnam, Rudy Thomas, 64, a Trinidadian immigrant, took the Oath of Citizenship in the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse.

Now he is an official American hero.

'For the last 40 years I thought of myself as a proud American,' Thomas was saying yesterday, waiting in the large courtroom on the 2nd floor with 250 new citizenship applicants from 40 countries to be sworn in by Federal Judge Nina Gershon.

'I came home. My discharge papers said I was an American citizen. For the past 30 years I worked as a counselor at the State Department of Veteran's Affairs. My first American-born son, Rudy Jr., became a New York City police officer. He was shot dead on the Fourth of July in 1993...'

When you fight in the uniform of the U.S. Army's Airborne and stain the soil of a foreign land with your blood and then lose a police officer son in the war back home you kinda think you've earned a place setting at the American table.

'When I was in Vietnam the only thing I ever thought about was going home,' he said. 'Home to me was not Trinidad, which I left when my grandparents brought me here when I was a little boy. Home was Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.'

And typical All-American Brooklynite that he is, Rudy Thomas saluted the flag as he buried his son, and got on with his heartbroken American life.

He sired two more, named Rudolph Pierre III, 13, and Isaiah, 10, and worked and paid taxes and never traveled anywhere outside of America again.

'A few years ago my grandfather died and I applied for my first passport to go back to Trinidad for the funeral,' he says, tapping his spit-shined shoes and adjusting his combat vest covered in battle medals.

'That day a clerk at the passport office told me that I was an illegal alien, that I was not a citizen of the U.S.A. I was crushed. Told him it was a mistake. That the Army told me back before they sent me to Vietnam the first time that the military had naturalized me as a citizen, allowing me to fight in a foreign war. I showed him my discharge papers that said I was a citizen...'

His passport was denied. He was the only member of his family unable to attend his grandfather's funeral. Rudy Thomas, with his three Purple Hearts earned in defense of an ungrateful nation, was marked down as an illegal.

Already walking with a limp from his war wounds, and officially disabled with post traumatic stress disorder, Thomas began the slow, agonizing battle with the federal bureaucracy, trying to win back his dignity in the skittery paranoia of post-9/11 America.

Everywhere he turned he was stung by friendly fire.

'It was like a third tour of 'Nam,' he says. 'First I fought for my country. Now I was fighting with my country.'

Thomas, part of a New York Vietnam Veteran's Exhibit still running at the Brooklyn Historical Society, reached out to organizer Phil Napoli, a history professor at Brooklyn College. Napoli suggested Thomas contact this reporter. When he did. Rudy Thomas told his story in this space on June 5.

By 10 a.m. that day Sen. Chuck Schumer's office took up Rudy Thomas's cause and expedited a clear path through the bureaucratic jungle to yesterday's swearing in.

'I want to thank Professor Napoli and the Daily News and Senator Schumer who got me here today,' Thomas said yesterday.

'There was a point when I was starting to give up hope. I was afraid I was going to be deported by the country I fought for. I could hardly sleep last night in fear that I wouldn't be here on time this morning.'

But here he was in the courtroom yesterday, sitting with Napoli, and fellow 173 Airborne Vietnam vet Lucian Vecchio, himself a federal administrative judge, and Rudy's two proud sons sitting across the room when Judge Gershon climbed the steps to the bench.

Everyone in the room rose.

'Welcome new citizens,' Judge Gershon said. 'This is a very happy day for all the families here today. But first I want to say we do have a military veteran taking the oath today.' She motioned for a startled Rudy Thomas to stand, which he did with the help of his cane. 'Mr. Rudy Thomas was awarded three Purple Hearts in his service in Vietnam and today we are delighted to
welcome you to citizenship and we thank you for your service.'

A tear escaped down Rudy Thomas's face as the entire room of newly minted American citizens exploded in applause.

'I wish my son Rudy were here for this,' Thomas said.

'Believe me, he is,' said fellow vet Vecchio, giving him a comrade-in-arms hug.

'A grown man isn't supposed to cry,' said Thomas, wiping his eyes.

'If you've been to 'Nam he does,' said Vecchio.

THEN the ceremony was over, he was given his certificate of naturalization #30435522 and he was surrounded by friends and family, and other beaming new Americans lining up to shake his hand.

And then Rudy Thomas went home with his kids, at long last an official American hero.

A Navy Seal's Funeral

2008-07-08T14:14:00.002-04:00

PO2 Mike Monsoor was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq, giving his life to save his fellow SEALs.

During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his casket was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the casket moving up the center. As Mike's casket passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the walnut casket.

The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the casket arrived at graveside, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero.

Legislative Update from Lee F. Kichen, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.) - July 2008

2008-07-07T06:16:00.011-04:00

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY

Federal Legislative Update

GI Bill for the 21 Century is a Done Deal- On June 30, President George W. Bush signed the Wartime Supplemental Funding bill which contained the GI Bill language for which the Veterans of Foreign Wars championed for nearly ten years. This bill represents the most significant improvement in veterans’ education benefits since World War II. Below is a recap of the provisions of this bill.

Basic Benefit: Initial average of $1,450 a month, actual payments will cover full tuition and fees up to the cost of the highest in-state tuition for a four year public college or university in each state. Basic benefit will be indexed to increase in tuition costs.

Veterans will receive a monthly payment equal to the local Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents. Currently BAH for an E-5 averages about $1,100 per month.

Books and Equipment: Each full time veteran-student will receive up to $1,000 annually.

Veterans needing special tutoring will receive $100 monthly, with a maximum total payment of $1,200.

There is a one time payment of up $2,000 for this purpose.

Longer Delimiting Time: Increases the time veterans have to use this benefit to 15 years after separation from the current 10 years

Transferability: Service members with six years of service who extend their obligation for four more years can transfer full benefits to spouses. Members who serve 10 or more years can transfer benefits to children

Abolishes Enrollment Fee: The $1,200 member contribution required by the old Montgomery GI Bill is part of this new package:

The Department of Florida, Veterans of Foreign Wars congratulates those Floridians in the Congress who supported this incredibly important bill. We strongly urge that you send a short note to Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Mel Martinez (R-FL) for supporting this bill. Additionally, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL9) Corrine Brown (D-FL3), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL5), Vern Buchanan (R-FL13), Kathy Castor (R-11), Ander Crenshaw (R-FL4), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL21), Mario Diaz (R-FL25), Tom Feeney (R-FL24), Alcee Hastings (D-FL23), Ric Keller (R-FL8), Ron Klein (D-FL22), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, (R-FL18), Tim Mahoney (D-FL16), John Mica (R-FL7), Jeff Miller (R-FL1), Cliff Stearns (R-FL6), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL20), Robert Wexler (D-FL19), and C.W. Bill Young (R-FL10) were cosponsors of one or the other or in some cases both of the two House of Representatives versions of this bill. Unfortunately, Representatives F. Alan Boyd (D-FL2), Connie Mack (R-FL14), Kendrick Meek (D-FL17). Adam Putman (R-FL12), and Dave Weldon (R-15) failed to cosponsor either of the two House bills.

Senate Moves Vet Bills: The Senate Veterans Affairs committee marked up several veterans' bills before the 4th of July recess. Among the bills discussed were the annual cost-of-living adjustment and two large health and benefit-related bills that would improve options for veterans and their families. Among the provisions in the benefits bill is language that would change the definition of "engaged in combat with the enemy" to all people who receive combat pay for purposes relating to VA compensation. It would also allow for new and better home loan refinancing options and a temporary increase in the maximum loan guaranty amount for veterans. The Committee also moved VFW-supported legislation that would expand and improve upon the health care services provided to women veterans. The bill would put special emphasis on providing mental health coverage, and requires several studies and assessments as to VA's capacity for care for women veterans and their future needs. For more about the bills, visit the Senate VA Committee website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/.Departments of Defense Veterans Affairs Fail to Implement Law Change Designed to Help Disabled Veterans - The Congress in the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act included language in Section 1646 of that bill ending the requirement of service members injured in combat or performing tasks relating to combat such as training from having to repay any military disability severance pay before becoming eligible for disability compensation pay from VA. In a moment of absolute arrogance David S.C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness sent a memo to the military departments instructing only those injured in a combat zone or as direct result of armed conflict as being exempt from the repayment of severance pay. The Chu memorandum removes the hazardous service, conditions simulating war and instrumentality of war clauses for the definition of “combat relatedness” Ironically, section E3.P5.1.2 of Defense Department Instruction 1332.28 includes actual combat as well as hazardous service, conditions simulating war and instrumentality of war in its definition of “combat relatedness”. It is this same document DoD uses to determine whether or not a military retiree is eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation. Our contention is that a disabling injury incurred during training, hazardous duty, or the result of instrumentality of war has no less of an economic or quality of life impact then one resulting from combat with the enemy.

DoD Does Comply with Other FY 09 National Defense Authorization Act Mandate- In a classic example of selective compliance with Congressional mandates, the Pentagon will conduct a Congressionally mandated review of disability ratings. Service members given a disability rating of 20 percent or lower during their medical evaluation boards since Sept. 11, 2001, may have their cases reviewed by a new Defense Department board.

The Physical Disability Board of Review was a creation of the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act after a number of studies revealed between differences in the average amounts of disability benefits awarded. For example, in a study conducted by the Military Times an enlisted airmen averaged much higher monthly disability payments — $926 — than did enlisted Marines at $770 a month. And all the services tended to award more officers than enlisted personnel ratings of 50 percent or higher.

“The purpose of the [board] shall be to reassess the accuracy and fairness of the combined disability ratings assigned service members who were discharged as unfit for continued military service,” wrote David S.C. Chu, undersecretary for personnel and readiness, in a memo dated June 27. “The [board] shall operate in a spirit of transparency and accountability, and shall impartially readjudicate cases upon which review is requested or undertaken on its own motion.” Evidently, the Undersecretary insists on “transferability and accountability” when it is convenient while it still disregards the Congressional mandate to end the policy or recouping military disability severance pay before a veteran can receive VA compensation.

The new policy is effective immediately. According to the 2008 authorization act, the board was supposed to be set up by the end of April. It is shameful that the machinery to implement this policy is not yet in place. It was clear from the work of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, last year, that DoD would be mandated to undertake these reviews.

We are very concerned the Undersecretary’s directive will limit the scope of these reviews. “Only the medical condition(s) determined to be specifically unfitting for continued military service, as previously determined by the Military Department [physical evaluation board], will be subject to review by the [board].”

According to an Army Times article, “Retired Army Lt. Col. Mike Parker, who has worked as an advocate for service members going through the physical evaluation board process, said that in the past, a person might have been looked at for three conditions. For example, the first condition, perhaps asthma, might be an unfitting condition that would rate at 10 percent for retirement purposes. The second, perhaps for sleep apnea, might be unfitting but rated at zero percent. The third, perhaps diabetes, could be found to be unfitting but pre-existing, so the service member would not be eligible for benefits. That last condition might be the one the service member was discharged for, even though the regulations state service members should be rated for all unfitting conditions. Parker said that’s exactly the kind of unfair treatment the new board was intended to correct.”

‘They’ve been cherry-picking which unfitting condition to use,’ Parker said. According to Chu’s directive, the board may still only look at that one condition rather than the three that should have been rated in the first place, Parker said. ‘In some cases, an injury, such as the thousands of traumatic brain injuries that went undiagnosed in the first few years of the war in Iraq, may not have been properly diagnosed in time to be included in a medical retirement board.’” According to the Army Times, the Air Force will serve as executive agent for this and will nominate someone to lead the program as well as set up guidance as to how it will be run. We would urge that the Air Force select recently retired Officers and Noncommissioned Officers from all military departments to sit on these boards. We believe that retired Officers and NCOs would not be subject to undue command influence and work in the best interest of those whose cases they were reviewing.

Any former service member who was not found eligible for medical retirement, including lifetime medical benefits, but who was still separated from the military may have his or her case reviewed. However, after they receive a recommendation from the new review board, service members will not be eligible for review by the Board for the Correction of Military Records, according to the Defense Department. Service members will have to sign a statement saying they understand they lose that right. We are concerned by the provision denying further review by the Board of Corrections Military Records if service member chooses review by the Physical Disability Board of Review. Historically, the Board of Corrections has impartially and compassionately served to balance the interests of the service member and the military departments.

“The [Physical Disability Board of Review] has no greater obligation to our wounded, ill and injured service members and former service members than to offer fair and equitable recommendations pertaining to the assignment of disability ratings,” Chu said in a Defense Department release. We hope that Dr. Chu will also consider that Defense Department, when considering who should be exempt from repaying disability severance pay to receive VA disability compensation, will act fairly and equitably and ensure all ill and injured former service members retain both severance pay and disability compensation.

Republicans, Democrats, the Congress and the President Blow Off Medicare Recipients and TRICARE Participants-The Honorables had at least six months to work out a relatively simple deal to prevent a 10.6% cut in Medicare payments from taking effect on July 1 and to prevent cutting off Medicare coverage for hundreds of thousands of Medicare-eligible speech and physical therapy patients on that date.

The usual political bickering and intransigence prevented a fix before Congress took a week's vacation over Independence Day and promised to fix things when last week, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a fix (H.R. 6331) that would have stopped the payment cuts, substituted a small increase for doctors seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients, and prevented the therapy cutoff. The vote was a veto-proof 355-59.

But Senate Republicans and President Bush didn't approve of the funding source for that fix (cutbacks in some Medicare Advantage programs that pay doctors up to 17% more than regular Medicare does), and pushed an alternative bill. After the overwhelming House vote, Senate leaders tried to bring the bill up for a vote anyway. But when Republicans objected, they needed 60 votes to overcome the objection. They got 59. Not enough to even get a vote, let alone override a threatened presidential veto.

This isn't the first time Congress has failed to stop a Medicare payment cut. In 2006, Congress missed the deadline, but approved a fix within a few weeks and made it retroactive. That caused doctors and Medicare administrators lots of headaches in the interim, but in the end, the lost payments were made up. And TRICARE patients were never affected, because Congress fixed the rates before TRICARE got around to implementing the cuts. That's the best-case scenario now - if Congress can act quickly after July 4 to approve a fix the president will sign. But the risk remains that some number of fed-up doctors will decide not to accept any more Medicare or TRICARE patients.

In this instance the Pentagon has acted responsibly. Shortly after the Senate vote, OSD has announced that TRICARE claims will continue to be processed under pre-July rates at least through the end of the summer. The law gives TRICARE the flexibility to do that. The Pentagon's assumption is that Congress will act reasonably shortly to reverse the cut, so there's no sense processing rate changes now if they're going to be reversed soon. Unfortunately, Medicare doesn't have quite that much flexibility, but has announced that Medicare claims for service since July 1 will be held until July 15, giving Congress eight days to act once they return to work on July 7. Whatever Congress does after the recess it could have done before July 1 and prevented this train wreck. If the President, the House, the Senate, Republicans, and Democrats had been willing to compromise -- just a little -- health care access for our seniors and military beneficiaries need not have been put at risk in this irresponsible way.

TALLAHASSEE TALES

State Legislative Update

Veterans of Foreign Wars Adopts State Legislative Priorities for FY 2009-The 2008-09 Department Council of Administration met for the first time immediately after this year’s convention in Orlando on June 22 and adopted, on a voice vote, the following legislative priorities.

1. Legislation providing for the sale of Veterans Service Organization (VSO) distinctive license plates with the proceeds of sales being divided between the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and the VSO.

2. Legislation granting equal treatment for wartime veterans in the state retirement system.

3. Legislation establishing a cash bonus for veterans who entered active duty from the State of Florida and received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

4. Legislation establishing tuition exemptions for veterans enrolled in Florida public institutions of higher learning who entered active duty from the State of Florida and received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

5. Legislation calling for a Constitutional Amendment granting a 100% Ad Valorem tax exemption for service members deployed and participating in operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

6. Legislation requiring the Department of Education to repay student loans outstanding after a waiver has been granted to a combat veteran if the loan was certified by a postsecondary institution and awarded before receipt of a combat qualifying badge or ribbon, e.g. Army Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Combat Medic Badge, Army Combat Action Badge Navy/Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

7. Legislation granting Congressionally Chartered veterans service organizations an exemption from the Department of Agriculture administrative solicitation fees.

Recommended Priorities County, Municipal and School District Legislative Priority

Local ordinances establishing preferences for disabled veteran owned businesses bidding on county, municipal and school district contracts.

Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) Votes To Expand Education Benefits for Veterans

2008-07-06T09:51:00.003-04:00

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Vern Buchanan voted last night for a bipartisan bill to expand veterans’ education benefits. Buchanan is an original cosponsor of the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act” (H.R. 5740) to provide U.S. service men and women who have served in active duty since September 11, 2001 with additional education benefits similar to those provided in the original post-World War II G.I. Bill.

“Since World War II, the G.I. bill has helped veterans readjust to civilian life and get a college education when they returned home,” said Buchanan. “But the current program does not cover today’s cost of a college education. Furthermore, it doesn’t give members of the National Guard and Reserves, many of whom have served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, with equal benefits. This bill brings the G.I. bill into the 21st century by expanding educational benefits available to enlisted men and women as well as citizen soldiers.”

The “Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act” (H.R. 2642) increases education benefits to provide veterans who enlisted after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 with tuition, books, fees, and other trainings costs and provide Florida veterans with a monthly stipend of $1,309. Veterans, including members of the Reserve and National Guard who have served at least two years of active duty would qualify for the benefit. Furthermore, the bill allows qualified military personnel to transfer unused GI education benefits to their spouses or children.

The supplemental funding bill also gives our troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan the resources they need to succeed in their mission and return home safely. Furthermore, it requires that federal funding for the reconstruction of Iraq be matched dollar for dollar by the Iraqi government.

“We have brave men and women who are serving at great sacrifice,” said Buchanan. “They deserve the support of the American people. But Iraq should use its oil revenues to pay for the U.S. military presence and improvements to Iraq's infrastructure.”

Buchanan is a cosponsor of H.Res. 1108 expressing the sense of the House that future Iraq reconstruction should be paid for by the Government of Iraq.

Finally, the supplemental funding bill provides a 13-week extension of unemployment insurance for all states.

Independence Day 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq

2008-07-05T18:15:00.001-04:00

General David Petraeus re-enlists 1,215 US soldiers at Al Faw Palace, Baghdad. July 4, 2008. What have you done for your country today?

Reflections on the American Flag - July 4, 2008

2008-07-04T17:53:00.003-04:00

I just returned from a naturalization ceremony conducted by the Department of Homeland Security at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL. We took a friend there to be with her at her naturalization ceremony. Her husband could not because he is in the Merchant Marine and on a Navy ship in the Pacific.

At this first of two ceremonies scheduled in Tampa for today, July 4th, 709 men and women from 90 different countries took the oath to "support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic". One was from Iraq. It was a moving and patriotic ceremony. I sat behind a woman who became an American today who was born in China. I sat next to another woman who became an American from Brazil. There were hundreds and hundreds of flags at the ceremony.

I pass on this story because we still have those who do not believe in the American flag as a symbol of liberty and freedom. Some, especially in the media as so sadly reflected below, do not believe in displaying our flag, even today.

ABC News Bans Flag Lapel Pins

Yesterday [September 12, 2001], the brass at ABC News issued orders forbidding reporters to wear lapel pin American flags or other patriotic insignia. Their reasoning was that ABC should remain neutral about 'causes'.

"We cannot signal through outward symbols how we feel, even if the cause is justified," said ABC spokesman Jeffrey Schneider. "Overseas, it could be perceived that we're just mouthpieces for the U.S. government, and that can place our journalists in danger."

Watch your favorite local or national news program today, tomorrow or the day after. Look to see if the newsman or woman are wearing a flag pin. If not I ask that you call or e-mail the station and ask simply, "Why not?" See what you get for an answer.

The newest Americans I met today in Tampa certainly would not understand why any American would not wear or display our flag proudly.

We must never forget 9/11 and what our troops are doing today to keep us safe and protect our liberty. Always remember: "Freedom is not Free".

Freedom is not free, thank a veteran! by Brigadier General (Ret.) Jerry Neff, FLARNG

2008-07-03T14:18:00.005-04:00

On our nation's birthday, remember . . . freedom isn't free.

It's that time of year again when Americans from coast to coast celebrate the founding of our country. There are barbecues, fireworks and parades almost everywhere as people take one day out of the year to remember the high cost of freedom and the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have served and continue to fight to preserve our freedoms since 1775. But is one day a year enough to demonstrate our appreciation for having the privilege to live in such a great country? Personally, I don't think so and decided to do something about it.

About two years ago, I learned about the U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute program. The U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute program allows anyone to thank discharged Army veterans for their selfless service to our nation. Additionally, the program provides soldiers - active duty, National Guard and Reservists - the opportunity to recognize their supporters with a Freedom Team Salute Commendation.

As a citizen of this great country, I have made it my duty to thank Army veterans who have sacrificed so much, so that I can celebrate our nation's freedom on the fourth of each July as well as every day in between.

If you would like to thank an Army veteran, visit www.freedomteamsalute.com. Army veterans will receive an official U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute Commendation Package, which includes a certificate of appreciation and a letter signed by the secretary and chief of staff of the Army; a customized U.S. Army lapel pin; and U.S. Army decals.

So, this Independence Day, celebrate our freedom and remember the brave men and women that have made it possible. If you want more information on the U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute program, visit www.freedomteamsalute.com or call me directly at (941) 795-3050.

Jerry L. Neff, Volunteer Ambassador,
U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute program
Brigadier General, (Ret.), Florida Army National Guard, U.S. Army
Bradenton, FL

STATE CREATES FLORIDA VETERANS FOUNDATION

2008-07-02T10:08:00.004-04:00

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is pleased to announce the inauguration of the Florida Veterans Foundation, Inc.

Established by Florida Statute on July 1, 2008, and incorporated as a tax-exempt public organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the foundation is dedicated to supporting the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs and to providing assistance and services to Florida veterans and their families.

The Florida Legislature authorized the foundation in statute during its 2008 legislative session as the Direct Support Organization of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

“I am grateful to Governor Crist and other members of the Cabinet, the Florida Legislature and Florida’s Veteran Service Organizations for supporting this initiative,” said FDVA Executive Director LeRoy Collins Jr. “This foundation will help us expand our mission of veterans’ advocacy, especially with our state’s returning veterans from the Global War on Terror.”

The work of the foundation will be supported by a combination of entrepreneurial initiatives, agreement with participating businesses, contributions from veterans, philanthropic foundations, corporations and private citizens.

A voluntary Board of Directors, selected by the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, will meet as necessary to set and implement policies and programs. The nine-member board is composed of veterans, business owners and community leaders.
Board members are:

1. Lt. Gen. Robert Milligan, U.S. Marine Corps (ret), Chairperson, Tallahassee
2. Roderick Petrey, Esq., Miami
3. Maj. Gen. Fred Raymond, U.S. Army (ret), Wesley Chapel
4. Robert Creger, D.B.A., Fort Myers
5. Lt. Col. Anthony Armbrister, U.S. Marine Corps (ret), Fort Lauderdale
6. Col. Sharon Richie-Melvan, Ph.D., U.S. Army (ret), Inverness
7. Maj. John Haynes, U.S. Marine Corps (ret), Monticello
8. Frank Ryll, Tallahassee
9. Michael Coker, Ocala

The board will have its first meeting July 9 in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is a state agency responsible for assisting, without charge to the claimant, Florida’s veterans, their families and survivors in improving their health and economic well-being through quality benefit information, advocacy, education and long-term health services. The department operates five veterans’ nursing homes and one assisted living facility through the State Veterans’ Homes Program. For more information on FDVA and Florida’s veterans’ homes, visit www.FloridaVets.org.

Saturday, June 21st is Destroyer Escort Day by Ed Eastman

2008-06-19T15:16:00.004-04:00

Did you know that the third Saturday in June is Destroyer Escort Day in Florida every year? I approached Governor Jeb Bush at the Groundbreaking for the Veterans Administration Douglas T. Jacobson State Nursing Home in Port Charlotte, FL. Gov. Bush promised me that if he won reelection that Fall, he would have a Resolution drawn up and signed by himself and his Cabinet to declare the third Saturday in June every year as Destroyer Escort Day. Gov. Bush was as good as his word. We display the Resolution at the Military Heritage And Aviation Museum at Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda.

The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association will observe DE Day at the Inner Court at Fishermen's Village on 21 June 2008 at 1100 hours. The National President, Thomas L. Kidd, will be officiating. The program will be emphasizing the War for the North Atlantic, honoring American, Canadian, and British sailors who were involved, some making the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

The Color Guard will be provided by the Charlotte High School Naval JROTC. Representatives of the Navy and Coast Guard DE Sailors will provide the Wreath Ceremony, at which, the wreath will be cast upon the waters in memory of those who sacrificed their lives, and those of our DE Veterans who have crossed over the bar.

The Military Heritage And Aviation Museum will have a display of DE Sailors' artifacts.

Destroyer Escort Day will be observed in several States upon the same day. DESA has a Destroyer Escort berthed at Albany, NY. It is better known as the USS Slater DE 766 Museum. It is being restored meticulously to it's WW II condition. The Slater's website is:
www.ussslater.org.

A Japanese film company is in preparation of making a movie in which the USS Slater plays a prominent part.

Article by Ed Eastman.

Veterans Launch National Education Effort on Illegal Immigration

2008-06-15T10:24:00.002-04:00

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, April 28, 2008 - Crime, terrorism and dependency on scarce government dollars are some of the major reasons why the nation's largest veterans organization is concerned about illegal immigration. So concerned, in fact, that The American Legion today began a nationwide outreach to alert Americans to the dangers posed by illegal aliens and the government's reluctance to seriously address the issue.

Through a radio spot campaign, news releases from posts across the country, letters to newspaper editors and a concerted outreach to America's leading media pundits, at both the national and local levels, The American Legion will offer a free booklet about illegal immigration that not only discusses the far reaching problems it is causing but also provides a cogent strategy to address the issue.

"American Legion members have served in the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the world so that Americans can feel safe at home," said Marty Conatser, national commander. "We have seen Third World countries. We have seen poverty, political instability, disease and war. Today we see the threat that open borders present to our homeland.

"With more than 14,000 posts and 2.7 million members, I am asking Legionnaires everywhere to start the national dialogue that needs to happen now," Conatser said. "As a nation at war with operatives sworn to kill Americans, our government must shut down our open borders and take decisive action to address a crippling national problem."

The booklet, "A Strategy to Address Illegal Immigration in the United States," is available for download at www.legion.org/bulletins. A free hard copy can be requested by sending an email to acy@legion.org. Conatser has asked Legionnaires to obtain a media kit, visit radio stations and offer the public service spot package of six 60-second radio spots that addresses various problems with illegal immigration and offers the booklet free to listeners.

"The American Legion is very much in support of legal immigration," Conatser added. "Indeed the ancestors of countless Legionnaires immigrated here from around the world. However, we are a nation of laws and since we all swore to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States when we donned our uniforms, we believe strongly that the security and sovereignty of our nation must be our highest priority through stringent enforcement of our immigration laws."

Happy 233rd Birthday - U.S. Army

2008-06-14T16:10:00.002-04:00

This video is a fitting tribute to our Army, to our troops, their families and their love for our flag and nation. God Bless our Army!

A tribute to our troops

2008-06-13T16:35:00.003-04:00

Please watch this moving video tribute to our troops. It puts things in perspective.

Legislative Update - June 2008 by LTC (Ret.) Lee Kichen

2008-06-12T10:01:00.001-04:00

At Your Service!!!

Lee F. Kichen

June 2008

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY

Federal Legislative Update

To Be a GI or not to Be a GI Bill?-Apologies to William Shakespeare, but, at this writing, Congress has not yet completed final action on the Wartime Supplemental Funding appropriation which contains the GI Bill. With The Pentagon transferring monies from Navy and Air Force accounts to pay Army bills, there is less urgency to pass an emergency war spending bill. Last month, both the House and Senate included major improvement in GI Bill benefits in the now stalled supplemental appropriation. The House version would pay for it by increasing income taxes on millionaires by one-half of one percent. The Senate version offered no specific costs offsets for it.

The administration and The Pentagon claim the GI Bill provisions (which enjoy overwhelming bipartisan support in both House and Senate) are so good that they'll hurt retention by luring troops to leave service for school. They prefer a lower-end, cheaper version. There have been some reports that White House may agree to GI Bill legislation if Congress adds an even more costly provision to let service members transfer GI Bill benefits to family members. If this reports are valid this could be a major reversal of the White House’s usual objections to high cost military and veterans quality of life programs.

In all likelihood, the GI Bill provisions will probably stay as is, and Sen. John Warner (R-VA) will offer the transferability plan as an amendment to the FY09 Defense Authorization Bill coming up for Senate action later this month. More likely than not, the Senate will reject the House plan for ½% surcharge on millionaires to pay for the GI Bill. Our view is that we may have a better chance for a cleaner GI Bill if it is included in the National Defense Authorization Act instead in the more contentious wartime supplemental bill.

Last month, we were extremely critical of Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) for not supporting the more generous education package contained in S. 22. Senator Martinez heard our concerns and voted for the S. 22 language. We are incredibly pleased with Senator Martinez’s vote and appreciate his bipartisanship. Jack McDermott, VFW State Commander called the United States Senate passage of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, “One of the most important actions in the past fifty years to improve veterans benefits. This is a milestone in bipartisanship. The fact that 72 Democrats and Republicans came together on a ‘GI Bill for the 21^st Century’ is testimony to the fact that veterans issues can serve to transcend party lines. I am extremely gratified that Senator Mel Martinez joined his fellow Floridian Senator Bill Nelson in voting for this bill. It took a lot of moral courage for Senator Martinez to break with the White House and support this bill. Senator Martinez, after listening to our position recognized that America’s veterans who served selflessly are deserving of an education package comparable to the one received by World War II veterans. Senator Martinez really came through for the newest generation of veterans. It is clear to us that Senator Martinez and Senator Nelson understand that, like the World War II GI Bill, this bill will pay dividends for many years to come.”

Buchanan Tabbed for Veterans Health Subcommittee-

House VA Committee Reviews Health Bills- Last week, VFW provided testimony to the House Veterans Affairs' Subcommittee on Health. The Committee reviewed five health-related bills designed to improve and enhance health care options for veterans using VA. VFW supported the following bills:

H.R. 4463 "The Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act," would enforce and ensure higher uniformed professional standards as well as addressing recruitment and retention among health care professionals within VA.

H.R. 5888, a bill that would allow veterans to be reimbursed for emergency medical treatment provided them outside VA facilities.

H.R. 6114, legislation that would simplify and update National standards for HIV testing within VA.

H.R. 6122, "The Veterans Pain Care Act of 2009" would direct VA to implement comprehensive policies on pain management for veterans seeking care in VHA.
To read our testimony or for more on the hearing visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/

Senate Holds Hearing on Current VA outcomes for PTSD-The Senate Veterans Affairs' Committee held a hearing to discuss VA's response to veterans seeking help for mental health issues related to their service. Members of the Committee are concerned that VA has not remained focused on balances between care and compensation with regard to mental healthcare. Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) asked the panel members ( all VA witnesses) how VA is ensuring that best practices for dealing with PTSD, both in VHA and VBA, are in place throughout the system. Others wanted to make sure that the issues or problems regarding PTSD or other psychological problems related to service, receive accurate diagnoses from VA, proper care, and appropriate benefits. For more on the hearing visit the Senate VA website at: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/

TRICARE Bill for Reserve Retirees Introduced: The VFW attended a press conference yesterday and offered its strong support for the "TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2008." The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH). This legislation would provide TRICARE Standard coverage for "Gray Area" retired Reserve members and their families. These are retired members who are qualified for a non-regular retirement but who have not yet reached 60 years of age. The full cost of premiums would be the responsibility of the beneficiary. A bill number should be assigned within the next few days.

TALLAHASSEE TALES

State Legislative Update

2008-09 BUDGET IMPROVES CARE FOR VETERANS TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2008-09 budget provides strong support for Florida’s military veterans and their families. Florida has the fastest growing veteran population in the United States.

“The $59.7 million veterans’ affairs budget reinforces the state’s commitment to our more than 1.7 million veterans,” said FDVA Executive Director Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr., U.S. Navy Reserve (Ret.). “Despite the challenges of a lean budget year, Governor Crist and the Florida Legislature made a tremendous effort to ensure that Florida continues to be a leader in providing services to those who have honorably served our nation.”

The 2008-09 budget controls costs and improves quality of care for veterans residing in Florida’s State Veterans’ Homes. It also enhances education opportunities for children and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans. The Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget includes the following:

Authorizes the transfer of funding of $8.3 million from contracted services to state salaries and benefits, which enables the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs to in-source certified nursing assistants and food service workers to establish a single staffing model for the State Veterans’ Homes Program. Currently, FDVA contracts these positions at three of its homes. Research indicates that the department can better control costs and provide a higher quality of care and food to residents by having in-house staff perform the services.
Provides $1.3 million for major repairs and maintenance of buildings and fixed equipment at Florida’s State Veterans’ Homes.
Provides an increase in funding from $1.1 million to $1.9 million for Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans and Service members.

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is a state agency responsible for assisting, without charge, Florida’s veterans, their families and survivors in improving their health and economic well-being through quality benefit information, advocacy and education. FDVA also provides long-term health care services through five veterans’ nursing homes and one assisted living facility.

National Security Briefing on Radical Islam

2008-06-09T20:20:00.019-04:00

The below series of videos is a special National Security Briefing hosted by the Sarasota County Veterans Commission and the Florida Security Council on May 22, 2008. This briefing contains information on the current threat from radical Islam targeting the United States, Israel, and the West.

The distinguished panel members are Tom Trento, Director of the Florida Security Council, Dr. Terri K. Wonder Islamist Expert and Security Analyst, Stu Senneff former FBI Special Agent and expert on terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and Lieutenant John Kost Commander, Sarasota County Sheriff's Homeland Security Unit and member of the regional FBI Terrorism Task Force. The host of the meeting is Dr. Rich Swier, President of the Sarasota County Veterans Commission.

The briefing contains a short version of the award winning documentary, "Obsession: Radical Islam's war against the West". To obtain a copy of the documentary "Obsession" go here.

This video is Part 1 of the briefing (32 minutes long). It contains the introduction of the distinguished panel members, a short welcome address by Florida Representative Adam Hasner, majority leader in the Florida House of Representatives, comments on the documentary by Tom Trento, and showing the first half of the award winning documentary "Obsession: Radical Islam's war against the West".

This video is Part 2 of the briefing (40 minutes long). It contains the second half of the documentary Obsession and comments by the distinguished panel members on the threat in the United States, Florida and in Sarasota County. It includes comments on the terrorist threat by Stu Senneff, former FBI Special Agent and terrorism expert, Dr. Terri Wonder Islamist Expert and Security Analyst, and Lieutenant John Kost, Commander Sarasota County Homeland Security Unit and member of the FBI Terrorism Task Force.

This is Part 3 of the briefing (1 hour long). This part contains comments by Tom Trento on Radical Islamism. It includes the Question and Answer portion of the briefing. Questions are asked about the threat, the history of Islam, the nature of Radical Islam and what you and I can do to address this national security issue.

This video is Part 4 of the briefing (5 minutes long). This part contains the very end of the Q & A session and the powerful closing statement and call to action by Tom Trento, Director of the Florida Security Council.

For more information about this briefing or to schedule a similar briefing for your company, organization, church, mosque or synagogue in Florida contact Dr. Rich Swier at rswier@comcast.net or call (941) 923-2541.

VFW State Commander Praises Senate Vote on New GI Bill

2008-05-28T14:51:00.002-04:00

Jack McDermott, VFW State Commander called the United States Senate passage of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, “One of the most important actions in the past fifty years to improve veterans benefits. This is a milestone in bipartisanship.

The fact that 72 Democrats and Republicans came together to make a ‘GI Bill for the 21st Century’ a reality is testimony to the fact that veterans issues can serve to transcend party lines. I am extremely gratified that Senator Mel Martinez joined his fellow Floridian, Senator Bill Nelson, in voting for this bill. It took a lot of moral courage for Senator Martinez to break with the White House and support this bill.” The administration supported a far less generous education package and criticized the bill that passed as being too difficult for the VA to administer and that it would cause an unacceptable level of servicemen and women to choose to leave the military to attend college.

McDermott went on to say, “Senator Martinez, after listening to our position, recognized that America’s veterans who served selflessly are deserving of an education package comparable to one received by World War II veterans. Senator Martinez really came through for the newest generation of veterans. It is clear to us that Senator Martinez and Senator Nelson understand that, like the World War II GI Bill, this bill will pay dividends for many years to come. We are gratified that the Senate will enable a service member who chooses to stay in the military to transfer this valuable educational benefit to a spouse or child.” McDermott acknowledged the major hurdle is still ahead in the form a presidential veto. “We in the VFW find it absolutely inconceivable that President Bush is threatening to veto this bill as being too costly and that is doesn’t belong in the Iraq war supplemental spending bill. We have supported the President in the conduct of the Global War on Terrorism and all we ask is that he supports this newest generation of veterans.

The White House is plain wrong when it says that a bill directly benefiting young veterans and their families and indirectly serving as an economic stimulus is not a wartime expenditure. That is an absolutely indefensible position for a wartime president. Ironically, President George W. Bush is denying this generation of service members the same educational benefit that was available to President George H. W. Bush when he returned home after World War II.”

Memorial Day 2008 - Let is never forget that Freedom is not Free

2008-05-25T12:06:00.000-04:00

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and orphaned children of those who have given the "last full measure" of devotion to this the greatest nation on God's green earth.

Take a moment to view this poignant video in tribute to our fallen warriors. They were American soldiers - honor them.

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” — G. K. Chesterton

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - George Orwell

National Security Briefing on Radical Islam - May 22, 2008

2008-05-01T18:26:00.005-04:00

The Sarasota County Veterans Commission will host a National Security Briefing on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Board of County Commission Chambers located on the first floor of the R. L. Anderson County Administration Building, 4000 S. Tamiami Trial, Venice, FL.

We will host the National Security Briefing on radical Islam in partnership with the Florida Security Council in lieu of our regular meeting. The public is welcome.

The event will include the showing of the award winning documentary “Obsession: Radical Islam's war against the West” followed by a panel discussion of the threat. The panel will be made up of experts on radical Islamists and terrorism in Florida, the United States and globally.

The distinguished panel members are:

Thomas A. Trento – Director of the Florida Security Council. Tom holds a Masters Degree in the Philosophy of Religion, from the Denver Seminary, Denver, CO. Tom has extensive professional involvement in management, advertisement, political action, education, with emphasis in public communication including, print, video, TV, and radio. He is President of Street America Group, LLC in Delray Beach, FL.

Dr. Terri K. Wonder – Dr. Wonder has a Masters Degree and Ph. D. from the University of South Florida. Terri has studied at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She is an intelligence analyst for a private security agency’s anti-terrorism unit charged with protection of critical infrastructure (e.g., power plants), including special investigations of suspicious activity tied to extremist networks in Tampa Bay and other regions. She does strategic intelligence estimates for a private defense contractor on potential reaction by jihadist adversaries to changes in armed forces doctrine.

Stuart A. Senneff, CPP, CFE, FCI - FBI Supervisory Special Agent and Instructor with 20 + years of service. Stu provides Security Vulnerably Assessments, Analysis and Surveys, Case Development, Consulting, and Investigations in Civil, Criminal, Law Enforcement and Security matters, Executive Protection and Exposure Analysis, and Expert Witness Testimony. Stu is an Adjunct Instructor, Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction, Texas A&M, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He provides Instruction throughout the U. S. for government agencies.

We have assembled this outstanding panel of experts to present local insights and a world view of the threat of radical Islamists.

Please make every effort to attend with your family and friends. This important event is open to the pubic.

Legislative Update - April 2008 by Lee F. Kichen

2008-04-18T06:32:00.003-04:00

At Your Service!!!

Lee F. Kichen

April 2008

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY

Federal Legislative Update

Congress Moving Towards GI Bill Improvement-A long standing legislative priority of the Veterans of Foreign Wars has been the enactment of the “GI Bill for the 21^st Century”. We have gained a key supporter for this effort. As a result of our meeting in March with Senator Bill Nelson’s staff he agreed to cosponsor S.22 the Post 9-11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2007. Senator Nelson joins Congresswomen Corrine Brown and Ginny Brown-Waite as well as Congressmen Vern Buchanan, Tim Mahoney and Robert Wexler in cosponsoring H.R. 2702, the House version of this bill. Each and every member of the Department of Florida should contact Senator Mel Martinez and the other twenty-two Floridians in the House of Representatives who are not cosponsoring this legislation and urge them to do so. In addition to these two bills, two other veterans’ education bills, H.R. 5684 are H.R. 5740 are pending committee consideration. Although these bills are less generous than S. 22/H.R. 2702, they represent a major improvement over the current Montgomery GI Bill. We believe that with a lot of grass roots support we will see legislation improving educational opportunities for our youngest warriors. These young men and women who are coming home with the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal are the future of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; it is our sacred duty to work on securing this benefit.

Congress Approves Changes to Combat Related Special Compensation & Concurrent Disability Retirement Pay-It was through the work of freshman Congressman Gus Bilirakis that Congress included language in the FY 08 National Defense Authorization Act expanding Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) to military retirees who retired under Chapter 61 as a result of combat related disabilities and served less than twenty years. To be eligible for this tax exempt benefit the military retiree should be receiving VA disability compensation in lieu of retirement pay and their service connected disability must be adjudicated by the military department as being combat related. This is not an automatic benefit, the military retiree must apply to their military department. In the same bill, Congress did the right thing by approving language granting full Concurrent Disability Retired Pay (CDRP) retroactive to January 2005. Originally Congress ramped up this benefit over a ten year period with full CDRP in 2014 and two years ago Congress made the effective date of full CDRP 2009. Many thanks to Congressman Bilirakis for his leadership on these issues.

FY 09 Budget Issues-The Senate and House Budget Committees began marking up their FY 2009 Budget Resolutions, a non-binding measure that sets spending limits for the federal government. Both resolutions expressed support for rejecting the administration’s TRICARE fee increases for military retirees under age 65. However, rejecting those increases is contingent on finding funding offsets that don’t run up the deficit. Both resolutions rejected the White House plan to increase VA copayments. This is the fifth year in a row that Congress has countered the administration’s call for foisting more health care on the backs of veterans. In addition to rejecting increased VA copayments, each budget resolution provides an additional $3.2 billion more to the Department of Veterans Affairs than in the Presidential budget request submitted in February. This additional funding is targeted to expediting claims for compensation and pensions and health care for veterans with mental health conditions including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as those suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury.

TALLAHASSEE TALES

The Florida Legislature is entering the final two weeks of its 2008 Regular Session. Below is a status on the legislative priorities adopted by the State Veterans Planning Group:

Legislation establishing preferences for businesses owned by Disabled Veterans bidding on state contracts. S.B. 108/H.B. 687 filed. House version passed Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, the Governmental Efficiency and Accountability Council; next step floor action by the House. Senate version passed Governmental Operations and pending in Governmental Appropriations.
Legislation protecting FDVA Trust Fund revenues by adding an additional $100,000 to the Grants and Donations Trust fund for the sale of new stamped license plates bearing “Operational Enduring Freedom” and Operation Iraqi Freedom”. S.B. 1606 awaiting floor action, H.B. 1027 pending final approval by Economic and Infrastructure Council.
Legislation adding a voluntary contribution check box onto vehicle registration forms. See 1606/H.B. 1027 above.
Legislation deleting the requirement that a wartime veteran must work for the State prior to 1 Jan 87 to be eligible to purchase military time when enrolling in the state retirement system. No bills pending.
Legislation establishing a cash bonus for veterans who entered active duty from Florida and received either the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or the Iraqi Campaign Medal or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. No bills pending.
Legislation defining proper display of the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag on state owned buildings. No bill pending.
Passage of the Governor’s Legislative Budget Request for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. Total appropriation should be in the neighborhood of $51 million. We expect some debate as to whether or not certified positions in the SVNH will be converted from contracted positions to state employee positions.
Legislation establishing a tuition exemption at State Universities, Colleges and Community Colleges to honorably discharged veterans who received a Campaign or Service Medal denoting service in combat theatre of operation. S.B. 620/H.B. 347 filed, however, given revenue shortfalls these bills will not be heard in committee.

Other actions we are tracking.

Sergeant First Class Paul B. Smith Act if enacted will establish a Direct Support Organization for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. The major veterans service organizations negotiated an amendment to the bill which will provide grants to the service organizations. H.B 861/863 pending in the Policy and Budget Council. SB 1462/1464 cleared all committee stops, not yet on Senate calendar.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment granting Ad Valorem exemptions to deployed, homesteaded service members. House passed HJR 7003, Senate version SJR 2384 will probably die in committee.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor - American Hero

2008-04-02T14:02:00.001-04:00

Navy SEAL, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military tribute.

Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on Sept. 29, 2006:

Monsoor was part of a sniper security team in Ramadi with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers, according to a Navy account. An insurgent fighter threw the grenade, which struck Monsoor in the chest before falling in front of him.
Monsoor then threw himself on the grenade, according to a SEAL who spoke to The Associated Press in 2006 on condition of anonymity because his work requires his identity to remain secret.

"He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," said a 28-year-old lieutenant, who suffered shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him."

Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 feet to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. Monsoor, from Garden Grove, Calif., was 25 at the time.

Monsoor, a platoon machine gunner, had received the Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for his actions pulling a wounded SEAL to safety during a May 9, 2006, firefight in Ramadi.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his sacrifice in Ramadi.

Monsoor's heroism did not surprise Patrick Barnes, one of Monsoor's best friends;

That's just the kind of guy he was.

Monsoor's family will receive the medal during a White House ceremony April 8.

Documentary of the Media's distortion of the Vietnam War - narrated by Charlton Heston

2008-03-29T11:36:00.003-04:00

This is a must watch video for all veterans. Does this seem like deja vu all over again?

Freedom Never Cries

2008-03-24T19:57:00.000-04:00

This is a must watch video. Freedom is not free.

What's really going on in Iraq

2008-03-24T10:06:00.002-04:00

Five years ago this week 170,000 American and coalition soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines launched Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). When they commenced their attack they were outnumbered nearly three to one by Saddam Hussein’s military, yet it took U.S. troops just three weeks to liberate Baghdad. No military force in history has ever gone further, faster or with fewer casualties.

Despite a lightning-fast victory over the dictator’s Army, Republican Guards and Fedayeen, the challenge of leaving Iraq better than we found it proved to be daunting and dangerous. Unfortunately, few Americans know what their countrymen in uniform have accomplished in the Land Between the Rivers...

Thankfully America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines have generally ignored the press and the politicians. Instead, they have been busy fighting a vicious adversary -- and winning. Here are some inconvenient facts about why they believe they can -- and must -- finish the job in Iraq:

** Despite how they have been portrayed, today’s all-volunteer U.S. military is the brightest, best educated, trained and equipped armed force ever fielded by any nation. More than 1.6 million American military personnel have served in Iraq. Notwithstanding the perception that our armed forces are stretched beyond the breaking point, reenlistments have never been higher and every service is exceeding its recruiting goals.

** Iraq’s police, military and security forces, widely depicted as ineffective or worse, have grown by more than 100,000 in the past year and have assumed responsibility for 9 of 18 provinces.

** In the last 12 months the Interior Ministry has opened 13 new training facilities, the Iraqi military now has 134 active combat, infrastructure and Special Operations battalions with a total of nearly 647,000 Iraqis who have volunteered to serve in uniform.

** After we first reported on the “Al-Anbar Awakening” in December, 2006, the “Sons of Iraq” movement has crossed the Sunni-Shia sectarian divide and now has 91,000 members. In the same time-frame, attacks against Iraqi civilians and coalition forces have dropped by more than 70 percent.

** Since 2004, more than 4,000 civil reconstruction projects -- including 325 for electrical distribution and 320 water treatment facilities have been completed. More than 3,000 schools and 75 hospitals, clinics and health care facilities have been renovated or built from the ground up while nearly 3,200 primary health care providers and physicians were being trained.

** There are now more than 100 privately owned radio stations, 31 television stations and 600 newspapers published in Iraq -- a nation just slightly larger than California.

** In February, crude oil production exceeded 2.4 million barrels per day and this year the Iraqi economy is projected to grow by 7 percent.

In the half decade since OIF began, our FOX News War Stories team has made nine trips to Iraq -- spending months in the field embedded with more than 30 U.S. combat units -- from “shock and awe,” to the “thunder runs,” to gunfights in “bloody Anbar,” to “the surge.” The brave Americans we have documented deserve better than what they have gotten from the mainstream media and far too many of our politicians.

Oliver North, Human Events

Supporting our Marines in Berkley, CA

2008-03-23T08:15:00.002-04:00

Berkeley hosted a decidedly different kind of protest today when about 400 flag-waving, leather-clad, pro-troops bikers roared into town to show their support for an often besieged Marine recruiting center in the city.

“I’m here because I support my Marines,” said Steve Bosshard, a retired San Francisco police officer who came from Santa Rosa. “I don’t like what Berkeley’s done. They don’t realize the effect it has on the troops.”

The center was criticized by the Berkeley city council and is often the target of protests.

Today’s demonstrators, most of whom are military veterans, said they were protesting the Berkeley city council decision in February to waive the amplified-sound permit fees and provide reserved parking in front of the Marines’ office for Code Pink, an anti-war group that stages protests at the recruiting center.

The Marine supporters gathered at the recruiting station and sang the Marine Corps hymn and national anthem, revved their motorcycles and waved flags. A small contingent from Code Pink stood on the fringes, having mostly peaceful conversations with their pro-Marine counterparts.

The pro-Marine demonstrators said they plan to boycott Berkeley businesses until the council is recalled, apologizes or grants free permits to a pro-troop group.

The group that organized today’s protest, Eagles Up, had to pay for their permit.

Legislative Update - March 2008

2008-03-18T19:48:00.002-04:00

At Your Service!!!

Lee F. Kichen

March 2008

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY

Federal Legislative Update

Florida’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Takes the Battle Inside the Capital Beltway-The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative and Community Service Conferences met March 2-5, 2008 in Washington, DC. Department of Florida Commander Jack McDermott and Auxiliary President Jodi Nierney led a delegation of Comrades and Auxiliary members to this very important event which culminated in meetings with members and their staffs of the Florida Congressional Delegation and National Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki’s testimony to a Joint Session of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees. We were able to meet with a majority of the 27 members of the Congressional Delegation or their staff.

VFW Commander in Chief Testifies Before a Joint Session of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committee- VFW Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki presented the VFW's legislative priorities on March 4 before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees. Lisicki called on the members to provide full funding for VA healthcare and benefits for veterans of all generations, and to fully support current legislation that would create a 21st Century GI Bill. Other major issues included the VFW's strong opposition to the Dole/Shalala Commission recommendation that would compensate veterans with similar injuries differently based on their age, opposition to prescription copayment increases and enrollment fees. Commander-in-Chief Lisicki also decried the inordinately high error rate VA has in adjudicating claims for compensation and pensions. Lisicki said, “The VFW is greatly concerned with the accuracy of VA’s claims ratings decisions. VA’s own quality measurements show that VA makes a significant error in over 100,000 cases each year. This is grossly unfair to our sick and disabled veterans. After waiting months for a single ratings decision, they are too frequently left with an incorrect decision. We cannot accept this. The poor quality of these decisions only exacerbates VA’s problems. In most cases, a veteran will file an appeal, adding to the swollen backlog. This clearly could have been avoided had the case been resolved accurately in the first place. Of special concern to the VFW, however, is the number of veterans who give up out of frustration.” To read the entire testimony or to view the taped hearing, go to: http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=16&release_id=11533&view=all

Heard on the Hill-The Commander-in-Chief’s testimony and our visits with members of Congress and their staffs elicited open and frank dialogue on a myriad of issues we are following:

Health Care Funding-Both Senate VA Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Ranking Member of the House VA Committee Steve Buyer (R-IN) indicated that Congress will increase health care funding over the level requested by the White House. Senator Akaka sees a $4.6B increase while Rep. Buyer spoke of a $3.8 B increase over the Administration’s numbers. As this is an election year it is certain that we will see the Congress appropriate at far higher levels than those requested by the President. House VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-IN) states that he supports sufficient funding to reopen the VA Health Care System to Priority 8 veterans.

Veterans Education-Both political parties apparently support some reforms to the current GI bill and it is reasonably certain that we will see some movement this session towards that end. The fact that Senator John Warner (R-VA) is now supporting Senator Jim Webb’s bill S. 22 Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007 will now attract even greater bi-partisan support. However, it is now clear the Administration will oppose this bill. One Defense official, who declined to be named, described the bill as a "retention killer" for the all-volunteer military. Defense officials believe enhanced post-service education benefits, particularly if enacted while troops face multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, could trigger an exodus severe enough to put the viability of the volunteer military at risk. DoD’s position a realistic GI Bill for the 21^st Century would result in many young service members, trained at great expense, to voluntarily separate after completing their initial service obligation to go college fulltime.

The Defense official said that World War II was a different era when the government was worried about long-unemployment lines from millions of returning draftees. A robust GI Bill now would make it difficult to keep careerists. "Why would anybody stay for another deployment when they can go out on a four-year free ride, with guaranteed rent and utilities at the E-5 standard, which by long-standing DoD policy is a two-bedroom townhouse?" This is an absurd turn around on the part of DoD, in the eighties and the nineties, during the “Be All You Can Be” days the Army and the other services used as educational benefits as a major recruiting incentive.

Dole/Shalala Disability Compensation Recommendations-Both Senate VA Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) and House VA Committee Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-IN) have introduced legislation which could lead to implementation of the recommendations of Secretary Shalala and Senator Dole. We are still looking at S. 2674 and

H.R. 5509, however, while purporting to streamline the transition of wounded and injured service members, these bills apparently call for revamping of the disability system that has worked well since World War II and it includes language which precludes this new cohort of medically retired service members from receiving Combat Related Special Compensation.

Copayments and Enrollment Fees-The White House in its budget submission once again called for increased copayments and enrollment fees for non-service connected veterans desiring VA health care. The Administration also wants to raise the current TRICARE Prime enrollment fee of $460 to $2,000, increase the TRICARE Standard from $300 to $1270 annually and establish a $120 enrollment fee for TRICARE for Life on top the current Medicare premium. Virtually every Member of Congress or the staffers tell us that these copayment and fee schedules are a ‘no-go’ this year. Nevertheless VFW will continue to get our Senators and Representatives to support either S. 604 or H.R. 579.

Senator Bill Nelson’s Co-Sponsorship of Veterans Education Legislation-Upon learning that Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) agreed to co-sponsor S. 22, Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007, VFW State Commander Jack McDermott said: “Senator Nelson clearly understands that the current GI bill is a vestige of the Cold War and that we need educational benefits meeting the reality of the Global War on Terrorism. The current package of educational benefits pays only $9,000 a year while the national average cost of tuition is $12,000 a year which does not include the cost of books, food and housing. We have asked service members, both active and reserve, to make immeasurable sacrifices since 9/11. We owe them more than a pat on the back. We owe them a GI bill equal to that given to veterans of World War II”.

If enacted into law this bill would increase educational benefits for members of the military serving on active duty since September 11, 2001. Veterans will receive funding for tuition and fees and a monthly stipend of $1,000. Under the existing Montgomery GI Bill a veteran has only 10 years to use his or her educational benefits while H.R. 2702 will give the veterans 15 years to use this benefit. It will also allow officers who graduated from the Service Academies or were commissioned through the ROTC program to attend graduate school. Additionally, it will also refund the $1,200 active duty members paid to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill.

McDermott went on to say “Once again, Senator Nelson has shown himself to be a true veterans’ advocate. He understands that by improving education benefits, the military improves its ability to recruit a quality of the force.”

Representative Buchanan Cosponsors H.R. 579 “Military Retiree Health Care Protection Act” -After learning that Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL 13) agreed to sponsor H.R. 579, VFW State Commander Jack McDermott, State said, “We are gratified that Mr. Buchanan is on record in opposition to the Defense Department’s proposals to make thousands of military retirees pay up to $2,000 more each year for their military health care and pharmacy coverage. Even allowing for inflation since the current fees were established, these proposed increases would far outstrip annual retired pay increases and greatly erode retired compensation values. Congress knew enacting TRICARE for Life (TFL) would be expensive. Forcing large fee increases on retirees to help pay for it would be wrong. The Congress believed in 2001 that TFL was earned by military service, why is the Defense Department now insisting on raising fees during a war?” Retirement benefits are the main incentive for a military career. Shifting a greater share of the cost of health care on military retirees would be penny wise and pound foolish when recruiting is becoming more difficult and an overstressed force is facing greater difficulty retaining service members.

TALLAHASSEE TALES

State Legislative Update

VFW State Legislative Priorities Gain Critical Sponsors-State Senator Mike Bennett (R-21) and State Representative Mike Grant (R-70) at the Sarasota County Veterans Commission meeting February 28, 2008 indicated that they would cosponsor S.B. 108/H.B. 687 the Disabled Veteran Owned Business Preferences in State Contracting Bill and S.B. 620/H.B. 347 Veterans In-State Tuition Exemption Bill. State Representative Maria Sachs (D-86) who recently received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Florida’s Legislative Achievement Award is also a co-sponsor of H.B. 687 and is cosponsoring H.B. 59 which would also expand tuition exemptions for veterans attending Florida’s colleges and universities. We truly appreciate the support of these legislators who are always willing to champion veteran’s issues in Tallahassee.

Legislature Considering Establishment of a Veterans Direct Support Organization (DSO)-The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking legislative approval of a not for profit corporation with the purpose of raising funds from private donors to support its mission. Although the Veterans of Foreign Wars opposed this concept, we asked State Senator Charlie Dean (R-3) and State Representative Ron Reagan sponsors of their respective chamber’s versions (S.B. 1462 and H.B. 861) of this bill to amend them to allow veterans service organizations such as the VFW to share the revenues accrued to the proposed DSO.

Congressman Vern Buchanan Works to Extend Higher Mortgage Limits to Veterans

2008-03-11T12:15:00.006-04:00

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL 13) cosponsored legislation today to extend higher mortgage limits to loans guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The economic stimulus package raised the maximum mortgage limits in high-cost areas for other federally guaranteed loans. The “Veterans Mortgage Stimulus Clarification Act” (H.R. 5561), extends the same increased mortgage limits to VA-backed loans.

“This bill fixes a huge oversight by adding veterans to the groups of homebuyers who will benefit from lower borrowing costs,” said Buchanan. “It will also help get the local real estate market moving again.”

In Florida’s 13th District, home sales have decreased and foreclosures have increased causing excess inventory.

“During the boom, many veterans in this region were priced out of federally backed loans. By increasing the limit for VA loans, we can show our gratitude for their service, increase homeownership and give the local real estate market a much-needed boost,” said Buchanan. “It’s all about making sure VA-guaranteed mortgages are treated fairly.”

The economic growth package temporarily reset loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration in 71 metropolitan areas to 125 percent of the metropolitan area’s median home prices, including the Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice market where the new limit is $442,500. VA Loan Guaranty limits are normally tied to Freddie Mac limits but the language in the stimulus package did not maintain that connection.

That means that unless the economic stimulus law is amended, VA-guaranteed loans will remain at the normal Freddie Mac limit of $417,000.

Congressman Buchanan is a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

Gunny "Iron" Mike Burghardt - a legend

2008-03-07T15:58:00.004-05:00

Thanks to USMC Major Jamie Purmort for sending us this story which appeared, with the above photograph, in the Omaha World-Herald.

Leading the fight is Gunnery Sergeant Michael Burghardt, known as "Iron Mike" or just "Gunny". He is on his third tour in Iraq.

He had become a legend in the bomb disposal world after winning the Bronze Star for disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1,548 pieces of ordnance during his second tour. Then, on September 19, he got blown up. He had arrived at a chaotic scene after a bomb had killed four US soldiers.

He chose not to wear the bulky bomb protection suit. "You can't react to any sniper fire and you get tunnel-vision," he explains. So, protected by just a helmet and standard-issue flak jacket, he began what bomb disposal officers term "the longest walk", stepping gingerly into a 5 foot deep and 8 foot wide crater.

The earth shifted slightly and he saw a Senao base station with a wire leading from it. He cut the wire and used his 7 inch knife to probe the ground. "I found a piece of red detonating cord between my legs," he says. "That's when I knew I was screwed."

Realizing he had been sucked into a trap, Sgt Burghardt, 35, yelled at everyone to stay back. At that moment, an insurgent, probably watching through binoculars, pressed a button on his mobile phone to detonate the secondary device below the sergeant's feet. "A chill went up the back of my neck and then the bomb exploded," he recalls. "As I was in the air I remember thinking, 'I don't believe they got me.' I was just ticked off they were able to do it. Then I was lying on the road, not able to feel anything from the waist down."

His colleagues cut off his trousers to see how badly he was hurt. None could believe his legs were still there. "My dad's a Vietnam vet who's paralyzed from the waist down," says Sgt Burghardt. "I was lying there thinking I didn't want to be in a wheelchair next to my dad and for him to see me like that. They started to cut away my pants and I felt a real sharp pain and blood trickling down. Then I wiggled my toes and I thought, 'Good, I'm in business.'

As a stretcher was brought over, adrenaline and anger kicked in. "I decided to walk to the helicopter. I wasn't going to let my team-mates see me being carried away on a stretcher." He stood and gave the insurgents who had blown him up a one-fingered salute. "I flipped them one. It was like, 'OK, I lost that round but I'll be back next week'."

Copies of a photograph depicting his defiance, taken by Jeff Bundy for the Omaha World-Herald, adorn the walls of homes across America and that of Col John Gronski, the brigade commander in Ramadi, who has hailed the image as an exemplar of the warrior spirit.

Sgt Burghardt's injuries - burns and wounds to his legs and buttocks - kept him off duty for nearly a month and could have earned him a ticket home. But, like his father - who was awarded a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for being wounded in action in Vietnam - he stayed in Ramadi to engage in the battle against insurgents who are forever coming up with more ingenious ways of killing Americans.

In Memoriam Vice Admiral Earl B. Fowler USN (RET) 1926-2008

2008-02-28T08:42:00.002-05:00

This is in memory of Vice Admiral Earl B. Fowler USN (ret) who died at sea on February 8, 2008 while on a 60th wedding anniversary cruise with his beloved wife Helen.

Earl was a distinguished leader who reached the top of his profession in both his military and civilian careers. His service to the defense of this country and his dedication to the cause of freedom are immeasurable. To those of us he left behind, he was many things —Husband --- Father --- Naval Officer --- Businessman --- Patriot --- Navy Leaguer --- Friend. He will be missed dearly and remembered well by all in whom he came in contact.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Earl B. Fowler enlisted in the Navy in 1943. He served sea duty tours aboard USS Leary (DDR- 879), USS Wright (CVL-48), USS Ranger (CV-4) and USS Columbia (CL-56). He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1946 and MIT in 1949 and held degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He also completed Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program in later career.

He retired from the Navy in 1985 after 42 years of active service. At the pinnacle of his career he served as Commander Naval Sea Systems Command and Chief Engineer of the Navy, responsible for design, development, and procurement of all Navy ships and shipboard weapons systems. This included all Navy shipbuilding and repair, eight Naval Shipyards, all Naval Weapons Stations and the largest procurement office in the world and about one third of the Navy’s budget. He had over 5,000 people in his headquarters and 115,000 in his Command.

Under his watch four battleships were activated, two nuclear carriers were authorized, the first Aegis ships were built and the Arleigh Burke Class destroyers were designed. He was in that job for over five years, the longest tenure on record. Immediately prior, he was Commander Naval Electronic Systems Command, responsible for design, development and procurement of naval communications, radar, surveillance and space systems.

Earlier tours included responsibility for construction of ships to support the Apollo Program, oceanographic research and survey ships, minesweepers and hydrofoils. Also he was responsible for material and engineering assistance to Republic of China serving with the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Taiwan. Additional tours of duty were served in Point Mugu, Pearl Harbor, San Francisco and Charleston. Acknowledged as “a sailor who built ships”, Secretary of the Navy John Lehman, in his book Command of the Seas…Building the 600 Ship Navy cited Vice Admiral Fowler as one of the “blue suiter superstars” in the success of building the 600 ship Navy.

Among his awards, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. After retiring from the Navy, Vice Admiral Fowler served as a Director of five public companies and several private ones, as well as consultant to 25 other companies.

He was CEO of what is now known as Health Net, California, TRE in Los Angeles, Miltope Corporation, Long Island, ANDAC in Arlington VA, and Inteliiworxx in Sarasota. He was Chairman of SPD Technologies, Philadelphia, CEO and founder of FPBSM Industries and founder and owner of Fowler International Group, Arlington VA. Earl served as a Board member of the Sarasota Manatee Council of the Navy League for many years, as Editor of the “Anchor Line” and provided leadership and encouragement for many Navy League events, especially fund raisers where he was often the “idea man” or prime mover. His leadership was essential to establishing the Council’s Charity Endowment and the success of the Vice Admiral Earl B. Fowler Annual Charity Golf Tournament, which is named in his honor.

He was also a member of the Military Officers Association, the Cosmos Club, Army and Navy Country Club, Sons of the American Revolution, Misty Creek Country Club of Sarasota, the New York Yacht Club, and Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota.

The Sarasota Manatee Council shares in the grief of his wife Helen and their two daughters, Mary and Joan, and offers its heartfelt condolences.

As friends and associates who knew and loved him, we will not forget his great leadership and many contributions and will miss him dearly. We commend him to the Almighty.

Newly Discovered Army Reports Discredit “Winter Soldier” Claims

2008-02-25T11:38:00.001-05:00

By Scott Swett
FrontPageMagazine.com | Monday, February 25, 2008

From March 13-16, 2008, members of the antiwar group Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will gather in Washington, DC to “testify” against the US military at a protest event called Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan. The name “Winter Soldier” is taken from the infamous 1971 event at which members of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) related gruesome stories of crimes they claimed to have participated in or witnessed. The VVAW insisted that rape, torture and murder were standard practices for the US military in Vietnam. Organizers of the new IVAW tribunal, which is supported by several former VVAW leaders, say the 1971 conference was where “a courageous group of veterans exposed the criminal nature of the Vietnam War.” In reality, it was part of a sophisticated, vicious propaganda effort designed to poison public opinion against the US military. Newly discovered records now reveal what happened when Army investigators asked VVAW activists for evidence of the hundreds of crimes they claimed to have seen.

In our book, To Set The Record Straight: How Swift Boat Veterans, POWs and the New Media Defeated John Kerry, Tim Ziegler and I trace the course of the anti-US war crimes propaganda campaign, which began in Europe with KGB-sponsored events that were organized before the first US ground troops ever arrived in Vietnam. In 1969, leaders of those conferences helped American radicals form the “Citizens Commission of Inquiry into US War Crimes in Indochina” (CCI), which set up a series of so-called investigations where US military actions in Vietnam were compared to those of Nazi Germany during World War II. The CCI soon joined forces with the VVAW, another leftist group created with financing and assistance from members of the Communist Party, USA, the Socialist Workers Party and the communist front Veterans for Peace.

The VVAW’s Winter Soldier Investigation (WSI) took place in Detroit from Jan. 31 through Feb. 2, 1971. Financed primarily by pro-Hanoi actress Jane Fonda, the event’s honorary national coordinator, WSI was the largest war crimes tribunal held in the US during the Vietnam War. Several of the discussion panel moderators were radical leaders who had previously met with top North Vietnamese and Vietcong representatives in Hanoi and Paris. Also present were leftist psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and clinicians, who pressured the witnesses to help end the war by publicly confessing their “crimes.” Former VVAW member Steve Pitkin later recalled how the civilians went from man to man, “bombarding them; laying on the guilt.” Pitkin signed an affidavit in 2004 charging that John Kerry and other VVAW leaders had coerced him into making a false statement.

WSI was the source of the allegations John Kerry presented to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in April 1971, at a hearing set up by antiwar Senators to showcase the VVAW’s atrocity tales. The highly publicized appearance launched Kerry’s political career and helped to create a lasting image of Vietnam veterans as drugged-out murderers too damaged to function in normal society. Justice was served in 2004 when a political movement led by some of the veterans John Kerry had defamed sank his presidential bid.

Investigating the winter soldiers

In 2005, I visited the National Archives at College Park, Maryland with Vietnam veteran and researcher John Boyle. Sifting through the limited material available, we found summary data for the WSI allegations the Army had investigated. The Army’s Criminal Investigative Division (CID) had opened cases for 43 WSI “witnesses” whose claims, if true, would qualify as crimes. An additional 25 Army WSI participants had criticized the military in general terms, without sufficient substance to warrant any investigation.

The 43 WSI CID cases were eventually resolved as follows: 25 WSI participants refused to cooperate, 13 provided information but failed to support the allegations, and five could not be located. No criminal charges were filed as a result of any of the investigations. The individual CID case files, which had been available to the public beginning in 1994, were withdrawn from public access around 2003, when the National Archives realized that the documents should have been embargoed until the personal information they contained could be removed, or “redacted,” as required by the Privacy Act of 1974.

Early in 2007, Boyle learned that a historian had copied the entire collection of CID war crime investigation summaries at the National Archives, including those involving the VVAW, while they were still publicly available. The historian permitted Boyle to photocopy these documents, which we have now posted at WinterSoldier.com:

Army CID Investigations of VVAW War Crimes Allegations

The CID summary reports are revealing. Most of the WSI participants refused to provide evidence to support their allegations. Some made statements that were contradicted by other witnesses, were discredited, or were not substantiated by subsequent investigation.

Several of the VVAW activists backtracked significantly on their WSI statements:

· Douglas Craig claimed at WSI that members of his battalion had fired mortar rounds each night into a local dump, intentionally killing civilians who were scavenging for food. Craig told investigators he had no direct knowledge of these events and expressed misgivings about making allegations in Detroit he could not substantiate.

· Larry Craig claimed at WSI that he watched US soldiers murder a Vietnamese civilian and, on another occasion, desecrate Vietnamese graves. Craig admitted to investigators that the man who was killed could have been Vietcong, and that the soldier allegedly digging in a cemetery could have been looking for weapons caches.

· Donald Donner claimed at WSI that Army personnel had murdered a Vietnamese male, intentionally wounded a 14-year-old Vietnamese girl, indiscriminately slaughtered livestock and failed to bury enemy dead. Donner admitted to the CID that his stories were actually lies, rumors and accounts of accidental events.

· John Lytle claimed at WSI that his unit murdered civilians by destroying villages with artillery fire without making any effort to determine who was there. However, Lytle told the CID that the villages were actually fired on because it was suspected that Vietcong occupied them and incoming fire had been received from the area.

· Robert McConnachie claimed at WSI that Army troops in a convoy threw C-ration cans at Vietnamese children with such force as to kill one or two. He also said an artillery unit had intentionally shelled a hospital and killed civilians. McConnachie backtracked when questioned by military investigators, saying that no Vietnamese children were actually killed by troops throwing C-rations. He said he now believed that the alleged killing of civilians in a hospital by artillery fire was accidental.

· Ronald Palosaari claimed at WSI that Army troops killed two children and an old lady by throwing a grenade into a bunker next to a house. He also said he saw a Vietnamese soldier cut off the ear of a NVA soldier who had just been killed. Interviewed by Army investigators, Palosaari was unable to provide specific dates, locations or the names of any individuals involved in the alleged grenade incident. He admitted that he did not actually witness the mutilation of any enemy dead.

· Donald Pugsley claimed at WSI that a helicopter gunship strafed and killed water buffalo. He admitted to investigators that no water buffalo were actually fired upon.

· Kenneth Ruth claimed at WSI to have witnessed the torture of Vietcong suspects, and told Life Magazine that he saw troops test fire weapons into a village, wounding 43 civilians. However, Ruth admitted to Army investigators that he had no personal knowledge of such an event. The CID found his torture claims unsubstantiated.

· George Smith claimed at WSI that members of his Special Forces unit had beaten enemy prisoners and placed them in small barbed-wire cages. Smith backtracked on these claims when interviewed by Army investigators, saying that the alleged acts were actually committed by South Vietnamese forces rather than American troops.

· David Stark claimed at WSI that hundreds of Vietnamese civilians were killed by indiscriminate bombing and strafing in the Saigon area during late 1968. He also claimed to have witnessed the maltreatment of prisoners. However, Stark told CID interviewers that he actually saw no bodies, was unable to identify the aircraft or military units involved in the attacks or the cleanup operation, and admitted that he had never witnessed maltreatment of prisoners, except for a single occasion when he said he saw a prisoner pushed and shoved by two South Vietnamese officers.

The only Army witness to appear at WSI whose allegations have been substantiated was James Henry. Military authorities closed Henry’s case, which had already been under review for nearly a year by the time of WSI, after “an extensive investigation did not reveal sufficient evidence to prove or disprove Mr. Henry’s allegations.” However, the CID also opened a supplemental investigation into whether a group of civilians had been killed by US troops. The results of that investigation indicate that crimes were probably committed, but no documentation of any prosecutions has been found or reported.

The Naval Investigative Service (NIS) was ordered to investigate charges made at WSI by VVAW members representing themselves as veterans of the Navy or Marines. Their reports have not been located, and it is uncertain whether they were destroyed or are lost in the vast government archives system. Historian Guenter Lewy cited a summary report by NIS in his 1978 book America in Vietnam, noting that many participants refused to provide evidence to Navy investigators, and others backtracked on their stories – the same pattern found in the newly discovered Army CID documents. Lewy also reported that several veterans told the NIS in sworn statements corroborated by witnesses that they had not been in Detroit – i.e., the VVAW activists who used their names were imposters.

It is unfortunate that the military didn’t simply release the results of the investigations as they were completed. America’s Vietnam veterans might have been spared several decades of public distrust and contempt stimulated by the leftist “baby-killer” agitprop. Unfortunately, US military leaders during the Vietnam era failed to understand that home-front psychological warfare operations pose at least as great a threat to the military’s ability to successfully complete its mission as enemy operations in the field.

The (not so) new winter soldiers

Among the VVAW retreads supporting the IVAW’s new propaganda campaign is Joe Bangert, a former Marine mechanic who claimed at WSI that he had watched while his fellow Americans casually gunned down Vietnamese children and murdered and skinned a Vietnamese woman. Bangert, a fervent supporter of America’s wartime enemies, met in 1971 with North Vietnamese and Vietcong delegations in Paris, where he proudly sang “We Will Liberate the South,” and the “Ballad of Uncle Ho” for his hosts. He later moved to join his comrades in communist Vietnam, where he lived for several years.

Members of the military with actual knowledge of crimes committed by US troops in Iraq or Afghanistan have a legal and moral obligation to report them to military authorities. The activists who will claim in Washington that they saw or participated in such crimes presumably failed to do this. What are we to make of “witnesses” who ignore crimes while in the field, but later make allegations in a venue designed to smear the military and its mission? Add the near-certainty that the charges themselves will be vague, lacking the specific details and supporting evidence that real investigations require. Perhaps this time we should assume that the troops who defend us are innocent when they are accused of unsubstantiated “crimes” by a radical movement with a long history of deceit.

In light of the new CID documents, will John Kerry admit that the war crime allegations he presented to the Senate in 1971 were largely fictitious? When the Winter Soldier documentary is shown to college students, will liberal professors now point out that it has been thoroughly discredited? Will the Washington Post reconsider its credulous 2005 film review? Can we expect the new discovery to be reported accurately on Wikipedia’s leftist-controlled Winter Soldier page? Will the IVAW radicals currently preparing their own attack on the US military be embarrassed to learn that they are emulating a fraud?

Not a chance. WSI was always about perceptions; never reality. America’s detractors will peddle the VVAW’s grisly myths for as long as people are willing to believe them.

When Veterans Retire

2008-02-24T07:19:00.005-05:00

When a good Military Veteran leaves the "job" and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what they are leaving behind, because we already know. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of
camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know that in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the "job" and merely being allowed to leave "active" duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God," and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a week.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on
the same conversation you were having the last time you met.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will kick the butt of the crowd that left you behind.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for life.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could ever dream of...

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!!" Then carry you home safely and put you to bed...

February 19th is the Sarasota County Veterans Commission's birthday.

2008-02-19T13:50:00.003-05:00

The Sarasota County Veterans Commission celebrates its birthday today. We were established on February 19, 1945 by the State of Florida and the Sarasota County Commission. We are now sixty-three years old.

Also on this date the Marines invaded Iwo Jima.

Happy Birthday to both of us!

Buchanan Pro-Vets Provisions Become Law

2008-02-15T14:08:00.002-05:00

Washington, D.C -- Congressman Vern Buchanan’s proposals to improve small business assistance programs for veterans were signed into law by President Bush this week. The president signed the “Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization Act” (H.R. 4253) on Thursday. The bill includes language from Buchanan’s “SBA Veterans’ Programs Act of 2007” (H.R. 2366), which as passed by the House in June of 2007 to provide greater resources and training to veterans hoping to become business entrepreneurs.

“Like my bill, this law will help veterans make an important transition from soldier to small business owner,” said Buchanan. “As a blue collar kid who became a successful businessman, I have lived the American dream. I want veterans who have sacrificed on our behalf to have the same opportunity. By providing veterans with grants, information services, and contact with professionals in their chosen field, these programs will help them become entrepreneurs in their own right.”

The military reservist and veteran small business reauthorization bill, which first passed the House in December of 2007 and signed today, includes provisions from Buchanan’s bill to provide veterans with the market research, financial options, and technological training important to becoming a successful small business owner. Both bills would not only expand the number and scope of Veteran Outreach Centers, they would ensure the opening of more doors and opportunities for our women veterans.

Buchanan is a member of both the House Small Business Committee and the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and Representative Adam Hasner stand up to CAIR

2008-02-14T10:08:00.003-05:00

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) met with Attorney General Bill McCollum to protest his showing of the documentary "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" to all of his 500 employees.

CAIR demanded that AG McCollum repudiate the film Obsession and stop showing it, let CAIR "re-educate" those staff who saw Obsession, and let CAIR be part of an advisory group that can help law enforcement work with Muslims.

AG McCollum categorically rejected the first two requests and accepted the third with conditions.

According to Central Florida News 13, "The [CAIR] leaders complained the [Attorney] general has given what they call a prejudicial movie more play. State House majority leader Adam Hasner said that was exactly the point.

In April 2007, Hasner held a widely-attended viewing party of his own in a Tallahassee theater.

"It starts off by saying, 'This is not a movie about all Muslims.' It's a movie about radical Islam, and so I think it's very clear it's not propaganda, and I think the groups that are making this an issue are really showing themselves to be sympathizers with radical Islam," Hasner said.

In spite of it all, McCollum said he had no regrets. Far from hosting what critics call a propaganda movie hour, he argued it was directly connected to state business.

"It's the only film that I'm likely to show like that, but if another one comes along, we'll show it," McCollum said.

We are proud of the positions taken by our Florida political leadership on the showing of a documentary that presents a true and accurate picture of the evil posed to the world by radical Islam. Just read the stories or watch TV and you will see daily examples of radical Muslims killing innocent men, women and children.

In a comprehensive article by the Counterterrorismblog.com. CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the case against the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. The Washington Times reports that since 2000 CAIR’s membership has dropped from 29,000 to 1,700. American Muslims have effectively rejected CAIR’s bid to be their leader. This speaks well for the American Muslim community and its readiness to distance itself from those linked to terrorism.

Legislative Update from Lee F. Kichen, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.)

2008-02-14T07:03:00.003-05:00

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY

Federal Legislative Update

Congress Comes Back to a Full Plate-Members of Congress come back to Washington after the holiday break to a heavy work load. Veterans, military retirees and their families have much at stake between now and the election. The veterans service organizations and the military associations have made their priorities clear through testimony before Congressional committees and letters to the Hill leadership. Much of January was devoted to cleaning up some of the left over work from the 1^st Session of The 110^th Congress. February saw the enactment of an economic stimulus package and the President sending his budget message to The Congress both of which will impact the veteran’s community.

Bush Signs FY 2008 Defense Authorization Act-In this space last month, we reported that the President vetoed this bill due to the administration’s concern over a provision that would have allowed lawsuits against the assets of Iraq for the crimes of Saddam Hussein. The veto reflected the President's strong belief that the current Iraq government desperately needs all of its assets to build a stable government and shouldn't be held responsible for the crimes of the previous regime. Shortly after The Congress returned it cleaned up the bill and sent it to the President who signed it immediately. In December and January, we provided a detailed lay down on the provisions of this bill. One provision we have been following closely is the implementation of Combat Related Special Compensation for medical retirees with less than 20 years of service. According to our contacts in DC, the military services are waiting on DoD to complete the implementing instructions.

President Bush Signs Provision Providing Additional Funding to VA-In January, President Bush signed an emergency funding bill which provides VA an additional $3.7B. This additional funding plus the $2.9B increase in the VA appropriation provides the federal government’s second largest department a $6.6B increase over last year’s funding levels.

White House Sends Budget Proposal to the Congress-Before the ink was dry on the VA emergency appropriation, VA Secretary LTG (R) James Peake, former Army Surgeon General, presented the administration’s $94 billion blueprint for FY2009 VA funding at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on February 7. The White House is requesting $41.2 billion for health care, $2.3 billion more than this year's amount. Peake said the budget would provide care to nearly 5.8 million veterans, including over 330,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The budget includes $3.9 billion to improve access to mental health care services; $1.5 billion for prosthetic equipment and sensory aids; and $762 billion to improve long-term care services for aging veterans.

Secretary Peake said this would "virtually eliminate" excessive medical appointment delays by the end of the year vs. 250,000 delays in April 2006 and 69,000 as of last month. He said this would be accomplished in part by fielding 64 new outpatient clinics this year and 51 in 2009, for a total of 846 nationwide.

The VA also plans to hire more claims workers and upgrade information technology to streamline paper-based claims procedures. If this works -- and other plans have foundered in recent years -- the VA hopes to reduce processing time to 145 days and improve accuracy of decisions to over 90% by the end of 2009. From the author’s perspective as a Veterans Service Officer, those goals may be the moral equivalent of “A Bridge to Far”.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars considers this budget blue-print to be a good start. We are concerned about the proposed $38 million reduction for medical research. These reductions will limit research on injuries and exposures of wounded warriors and substance abuse, and impose a 15% cut in mental health research. These cuts are unacceptable during a time of war and especially in light of current needs for wounded warrior care and rehabilitation.

Once again the administration is proposing enrollment fees of $250 to $750 annually for health care and a hike in pharmacy fees from $8 to $15 for Priority 7 and 8 non-service connected veterans. This proposal has been considered dead on arrival by previous Congresses and we urge this Congress to once again write the death certificate on this ill-conceived idea.

Administration Attempting to Increase the Cost of “Free” Retiree Healthcare-The Department of Defense is again proposing large increases in TRICARE fees that will force military retirees to assume more of the cost for the so-called free health care promised them if they stayed in uniform for twenty or more years. Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Ike Skelton (D-MO), attacked the department’s proposal to increase health care fees for retirees under age 65. The proposal closely tracks the recommendations of the DoD Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care, except that it does not propose an enrollment fee for TRICARE for Life. Recently, I had an opportunity to discuss this matter with Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) who assured me that the House will not favorably consider this proposal. Regardless of what these powerful players tell us now, we need to keep the heat on them.

Economic Stimulus Package-Will provide some rebates to disabled veterans who have no taxable income. We expect the checks to be in the amount of $300.00, however, at this writing we don’t know who will receive those checks. As soon as this information becomes available, we will pass it on.

GI Bill-Reforming the education benefits for veterans is the center piece of the VFW’s legislative program for 2008. Just as in 1944 when Congress enacted the first GI Bill of Rights for returning World War II, a GI Bill for the 21^st Century would be an economic stimulus which could drive the American economy for the next fifty years. The World War II educational package resulted in higher national productivity, consumer revenue and tax revenue. Every dollar spent on veteran’s education in the late 1940s and early 1950s added seven dollars to the national economy. The Congressional Research Service estimates that the World War II GI bill was an economic engine that resulted in a $5-$12 increase in tax revenue for every $1 spent on sending a veteran to college. The Veterans of Foreign Wars urges its members to contact their Senators and ask them to support S. 22 and their members of the House of Representatives and ask them to work to pass H.R. 2702 which dramatically increases veterans education benefits.

Sarasota Congressman Agrees to Cosponsor the Reserve Retirement Bill Introduced: The Veterans of Foreign Wars was extremely disappointed that the National Defense Authorization Act didn’t contain language making reforms to the Reserve Component Retirement System retroactive to 9-11. After learning that Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL 13) agreed to sponsor H.R. 4930, Jack McDermott, State Commander of Florida’s Veterans of Foreign Wars issued the followed statement: “I am incredibly gratified that Mr. Buchanan is an early cosponsor of this important bill which if enacted into law will significantly modernize the Reserve Component retirement system. Under the current system, a member of the National Guard or reserves is not eligible to receive retirement until he or she reaches age 60. Recently enacted legislation reduces the age at which a Reservist can draw retired pay below the age of 60 by 3 months for every aggregate 90 days of active service in support of a contingency operation. However, the Congress failed to make this provision retroactive to 9-11. H.R. 4930 addresses this injustice by making the changes to the system retroactive to the beginning of the war on terrorism. This is clearly the right thing to do for the over 600,000 reservists and members of the National Guard who have been mobilized in support of the war on terrorism.” Buchanan joins his Congressional colleagues, Jeff Miller (R-FL1) and C. W. Bill Young (R-FL10) in sponsoring this bill. We urge all members of the Florida congressional delegation to join Messrs. Buchanan, Miller and Young in working towards the passage of this important legislation.

TALLAHASSEE TALES

State Legislative Update

VFW State Legislative Priority Gains House Sponsor-State Representative Bill Proctor introduced H.B. 687 which if enacted into law will grant Disabled Veteran owned businesses priorities on contracts with state government. We truly appreciate Mr. Proctor’s leadership in the effort to assist entrepreneurial veterans in growing their businesses. We urge all veterans and their family members to contract their members of the Florida House of Representatives and urge them to cosponsor this important bill.

WW II Trivia

2008-02-13T19:23:00.001-05:00

The following comes from Col D. G. Swinford, USMC, Ret, and history buff.

1. The first German serviceman killed in WW2 was killed by the Japanese ( China, 1937), the first American serviceman killed was killed by the Russians ( Finland, 1940); highest ranking American killed was Lt Gen Lesley McNair, killed by the US Army Air Corps. So much for allies.

2. The youngest US serviceman was 12 year old Calvin Graham, USN. He was wounded and given a Dishonorable Discharge for lying about his age. His benefits were later restored by act of Congress.

3. At the time of Pearl Harbor , the top US Navy command was called CINCUS (pronounced "sink us"),the shoulder patch of the US Army's 45th Infantry division was the Swastika, and Hitler's private train was named "Amerika." All three were soon changed for PR purposes.

4. More US servicemen died in the Air Corps than the Marine Corps. While completing the required 30 missions, your chance of being killed was 71%.

5. Generally speaking, there was no such thing as an average fighter pilot. You were either an ace or a target. For instance, Japanese Ace Hiroyoshi Nishizawa shot down over 80 planes. He died while a passenger on a cargo plane.

6. It was a common practice on fighter planes to load every 5th round with a tracer round to aid in aiming. This was a mistake. Tracers had different ballistics so (at long range) if your tracers were hitting the target 80% of your rounds were missing. Worse yet tracers instantly told your enemy he was under fire and from which direction. Worst of all was the practice of loading a string of tracers at the end of the belt to tell you that you were out of ammo. This was definitely not something you wanted to tell the enemy. Units that stopped using tracers saw their success rate nearly double and their loss rate go down.

7. When allied armies reached the Rhine , the first thing men did was pee in it. This was pretty universal from the lowest private to Winston Churchill (who made a big show of it) and Gen. Patton (who had himself photographed in the act).

8. German Me-264 bombers were capable of bombing New York City, but it wasn't worth the effort.

9. German submarine U-120 was sunk by a malfunctioning toilet.

10. Among the first "Germans" captured at Normandy were several Koreans. They had been forced to fight for the Japanese Army until they were captured by the Russians, and forced to fight for the Russian Army until they were captured by the Germans, and forced to fight for the German Army until they were captured by the US Army.

AND I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST....

11. Following a massive naval bombardment, 35,000 United States and Canadian troops stormed ashore at Kiska, in the Aleutian Islands. 21 troops were killed in the firefight. It would have been worse if there had been any Japanese on the island.

Good news from Iraq - February 12, 2008

2008-02-11T16:37:00.000-05:00

Top generals in Baghdad hold joint press conference

BAGHDAD - The top-ranking Iraqi general in Baghdad stood side-by-side with the commander of the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division - Baghdad to answer questions for Iraqi and western media during a joint press conference at the media center here.

Iraqi Gen. Abud Qanbar Hashim, commander, Baghdad Operations Command, and Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, a Hattiesburg, Miss., native, who is the Commanding general of the 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B, responded to queries regarding topics such as current trends in terrorist attacks and recent violence against the Iraqi population. The primary mission of both Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces is to protect the people of Iraq, said Hammond. While al-Qaeda is a determined enemy, CF and ISF remain even more determined to keep violence in the area down. "We will continue to extend our presence across Baghdad and maintain constant pressure upon the enemy," Hammond said.

The Iraqi army plans to keep expanding by adding more units, said Abud. "Terrorism cannot be solved only by an increase in military forces," said Abud. "The only hope is by increased intelligence. Iraqi Security Forces have taken the initiative in attacking al-Qaeda - not vice versa." Both leaders reiterated that they are part of one team fighting against a common enemy, united to protect the population and wipe out the threat of terrorism as the nation of Iraq rebuilds itself as an independent, self-sufficient democracy.

MND-B Soldiers bring gifts to village school children

BAYRK, Iraq - Making a positive impact on the lives of Iraqis, no matter how small, is a big part of current operations by Coalition Forces in the Fahama region. Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, made an impact by bringing presents to school children in Bayrk, a rural village in Fahama. Upon arriving at the school, the Soldiers passed out backpacks, pencils and stuffed animals to the eager children who swarmed around them.

Pfc. Dennis Romans, helped hand out the treats to the children, which he said reminded him of giving presents to his own three children. "I just like seeing them smile". "We try to bring out snacks and toys and sometimes pens," Romans said. "We're in an area where the kids don't have access to the things they need. I think they truly appreciate it." Soldiers wrapped up the gift-giving mission to Bayrk by searching for more ways to help the people.

Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 2 terror suspects, kill 3 terrorists in separate operations

BALAD, Iraq - Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two terror suspects and killed three terrorists in separate operations. In the village of Mashraf, Iraqi and U.S. Forces detained two members of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell. Near the city of Tal Afar, an Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics Team, together with U.S. Special Forces, conducted an operation to detain two suspected terrorist cell leaders. During the course of the operation, the assault force came under small-arms fire. The assault force returned fire, killing three terrorists.

Multi-National Corps - Iraq

We won militarily in Vietnam - the media and Congress lost the war

2008-02-03T13:56:00.001-05:00

This is a great article written on the 40th anniversary of the Tet Offensive. I was a young 2nd Lieutenant with the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam during Tet of 1968. My battalion took the West wall of Hue and went on to search for and destroy the remnants of the NVA and Viet Cong. We won a great military victory! America lost the war because of the media and Congress. Let us make sure this never happens again.

February 03, 2008 Forty Years of the Tet Offensive - By David Warren

Breaking the negotiated annual truce, for surprise, Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars launched the Tet Offensive, in the night of 30/31 January 1968, named for the Vietnamese lunar new year. This campaign continued in various forms through September of that year, ending in total military defeat, for the aggressors. And a brilliant propaganda victory, for the same.

Thinking back on the Vietnam War this last week. And while I was doing so, a young leftist friend wrote to me, on an entirely unrelated topic, taunting with a remark about 2008 being, “The last year of the American Empire” -- as if it started and ended with George W. Bush. He does not seem interested in the question: By whose Empire will that vacuum be filled?

My friend does not even think of himself as a leftist, only as a person with an “open mind.” We agree on that, but define “open” differently, for to my mind, a skull without a brain inside is completely open. The more brain, or more precisely, the more brain used, the more resistance it can offer to the importation of nonsense.

Forty years have now gone by, which one might figuratively characterize as the forty years of the Tet Offensive, against Western Civ. The West has done fairly well in the field: we have still not lost a purely military encounter with any of the enemies of the West. Going back farther, the French didn't even lose their battles in Algeria. Rather, Charles de Gaulle decided they were not worth fighting.

The Tet Offensive was a desperate ploy by the Communist enemy in Vietnam. Tens of thousands of his troops were flung simultaneously at more than 100 South Vietnamese towns, and into the heart of Saigon. The Communists announced a general uprising, but that did not occur. The tide was actually turned within a few days by the U.S. and South Vietnamese armies. As they re-took town after town, they discovered massacres the Communists had committed while in possession. The enemy's real object had been to decapitate a whole society.

My friend, Uwe Siemon-Netto, a German Lutheran pastor and also life-long journalist, was there as a reporter. Entering Hué as the smoke was clearing: “I made my way to university apartments to obtain news about friends of mine, German professors at the medical school. I learned that their names had been on lists containing some 1,800 Hué residents singled out for liquidation.

“Six weeks later the bodies of doctors Alois Altekoester, Raimund Discher, Horst-Guenther Krainick, and Krainick's wife, Elisabeth, were found in shallow graves they had been made to dig for themselves.

“Then, enormous mass graves of women and children were found. Most had been clubbed to death, some buried alive; you could tell from the beautifully manicured hands of women who had tried to claw out of their burial place.

“As we stood at one such site, Washington Post correspondent Peter Braestrup asked an American TV cameraman, 'Why don't you film this?' He answered, 'I am not here to spread anti-communist propaganda'.”

The Tet Offensive ended not only in a huge allied victory in the field -- some 45,000 of the Communist soldiers had been killed, and their infrastructure destroyed. It was victory after an event that showed sceptical South Vietnamese, and should have shown the world, the nature of the enemy our allies were fighting.

Walter Cronkite, the famous news anchor of CBS, led the American media reaction. After a very brief visit to Saigon, in which he got himself filmed wearing flak jackets, he returned to the United States, declaring before his huge prime time audience:

“It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honourable people who have lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could."

The media turned a tremendous victory into a tremendous defeat. Yet seven more years would pass until an America, which had by then abandoned Vietnam, and a Congress, which had cut off military supplies to the South Vietnamese, watched the helicopters removing America's last faithful servants from a roof in Saigon's old embassy compound. The South Vietnamese Army had surrendered, to another Tet Offensive, as it ran out of ammunition.

We have seen this “Vietnam syndrome” writ large, through the intervening years. We see it today in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Romans, too, had a facility for winning ground battles.

Buchanan Announces Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increase for Area Veterans

2008-01-31T17:29:00.000-05:00

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL 13) announced today that mileage reimbursement rates for eligible veterans will more than double tomorrow. The freshman lawmaker has championed the issue and helped pass the fiscal year 2008 omnibus appropriations bill, which dedicated $125 million for a mileage reimbursement increase of 17.5 cents a mile.

“This is the first increase in mileage reimbursement in 30 years,” said Buchanan. “It is long overdue.”

Buchanan noted, “Gas prices are high. We can have the best possible health care, but it is of little use if our veterans can’t afford the gas to get there. Increasing the mileage reimbursement rate will help veterans access the health care services they were promised.”

Beginning February 1, 2008, the Veterans Administration will increase the mileage reimbursement rate for eligible veterans from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile for travel to VA medical facilities. Buchanan has been working with like-minded members of Congress to increase the reimbursement rate even higher to 48.5 cents per mile.

“This is a good first step forward,” added Buchanan. “But the reimbursement rate for veterans should not be less than what any federal employee receives. I will continue to work with area veterans to bring the mileage reimbursement rate to 48.5 cents a mile.”

Area veterans praised the 13th District Congressman for successfully working to increase the mileage reimbursement rate for those who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

“In his first term, Congressman Buchanan has made good on his promise to fight for veterans and increase the gas reimbursement rate,” said retired Col. Lee Kichen of the VFW’s National Legislative Committee. “We will continue to work with the Congressman to get mileage reimbursement to a rate respectful of veterans who have sacrificed much in our defense.”

Buchanan represents more than 97,000 veterans and is a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

VFW State Commander Praises Representative Buchanan’s Co-Sponsorship of H.R. 4930 National Guardsman and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act

2008-01-30T15:49:00.000-05:00

After learning that Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL 13) agreed to sponsor H.R. 4930, Vietnam veteran Jack McDermott, State Commander of Florida’s Veterans of Foreign Wars issued the followed statement: “I’m incredibly pleased that Mr. Buchanan continues to support our Florida Guardsman and Reservists by co-sponsoring this important bill, which will significantly modernize the Reserve Component retirement system.”

Under the current system, a member of the National Guard or Reserves is not eligible to receive retirement until he or she reaches age 60. Recently enacted legislation reduces the age at which a Reservist can draw retired pay below the age of 60 by three months for every aggregate 90-days of active duty service in support of a contingency operation. However, the Congress failed to make this provision retroactive to September 11, 2001, H.R. 4930 addresses this injustice by making the changes to the system retroactive to the beginning of the War on Terrorism.

McDermott added, “This is clearly the right thing to do for the over 600,000 reservists and members of the National Guard who have been mobilized in support of the war on terrorism.”

Steve Valley, a Sergeant Major in the Army Reserve and Commander of VFW Post 12055 in Bradenton, Fla. said, “Congressman Buchanan has shown time and time again that he’s sensitive to the needs of Citizen-Warriors. I was incredibly disappointed to learn that the bill signed by the President was not retroactive to September 11, 2001, as thousands of Reservists and Guardsmen across the country have served proudly on active duty while putting their civilian careers, there families and education on hold.

Valley served as a First Sergeant in Iraq and knows first hand of the sacrifices that the families of the deployed troops pay during deployments to a combat zone. “I hope the Congress quickly passes this bill. The 10,000 Floridians in the Army Reserve and National Guard activated, including the men and women in the National Guard units in Bradenton and Sarasota, deserve no less,” Valley said.

BG Wilma Vaught events February 8 - 9, 2008

2008-01-28T15:48:00.000-05:00

Media Release: 28 January 2008
Contact: Mary McFate, 941.358.3070
marymcfate@msn.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Founder of the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery to speak at 4 venues February 8 & 9.

(Sarasota, FL) Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, one of the most highly decorated women veterans in the world will speak at 4 events next week in Sarasota & Bradenton. All events are open to the public.

BG Vaught is president of the Military Women’s War Memorial at Arlington Cemetery. The interactive site honors the two million women who currently serve and have served in the military beginning with the Revolutionary War.

[1] On Friday 8 February at 7:15 AM she will participate in the opening formation at Sarasota Military Academy, 801 N. Orange Avenue, Sarasota.

[2] At 1 PM on Friday 8 February she will address JR ROTC cadets at Lakewood Ranch High School, 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Bradenton.

[3] The Sara DeSoto Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will host a gala dinner Friday February 8, at 5:30 PM, with entertainment, for Vaught, who is a DAR member. The dinner will be held in the DAR Chapter house in Historic Pioneer Park, 1232 12th St., Sarasota. Proceeds benefit the Women’s War Memorial at Arlington Cemetery and Haley House at the James Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa. Haley is the only catastrophic spinal cord injury hospital in the South.

[4] There will be a luncheon for women veterans and their guests Saturday 9 February 11:30 at the American Legion Kirby Stewart Post 24, 2000 75th St. West, Bradenton. Congressman Vern Buchanan will introduce BG Vaught. It is estimated that there are over 5,500 women veterans living in this area.

A press kit and photo of General Vaught are available at http://www.womensmemorial.org/ Or contact Lt. Col. Marilla Cushman at: pr@womensmemorial.org

Berkley, CA wants to treat Military Recruiting offices like porn shops

2008-01-28T12:59:00.000-05:00

In response to a Marine Corps recruiting office established in Berkeley last year, local activists are trying to make it more difficult for future recruiting centers to open in the city.

If passed by a majority of Berkeley voters, a proposed initiative would require military recruiting offices and private military companies in Berkeley to first acquire a special use permit.

To obtain this permit, a business must hold public hearings and a public comment period.

If the initiative passes, recruitment offices could not be opened within 600 feet of residential districts, public parks, public health clinics, public libraries, schools or churches.

Currently, a recruiting office is held to the same standards as most other businesses, which do not require a public hearing or have limits on where offices can be established.

The author of the initiative, Berkeley-based lawyer Sharon Adams, modeled the initiative after current zoning law that restricts the location of adult-oriented businesses.

“In the same way that many communities limit the location of pornographic stores, that’s the same way we feel about the military recruiting stations,” said Phoebe Sorgen, an initiative proponent and a member of the city’s Peace and Justice Commission.

For the full story on this visit The Daily Californian.

Daughters of the American Revolution Host Gala honoring BG Wilma Vaught - February 8, 2008

2008-01-26T12:25:00.000-05:00

You are cordially invited to a gala dinner to honor Brig Gen Wilma Vaught, founder of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, at Arlington Cemetery. Friday 8 February at 1730 hrs at the DAR Chapter House in Historic Pioneer Park, on 12th Street near 41, Sarasota, FL.

There will be docented tours of the house and the adjacent Whitaker Cemetery, the first cemetery in Sarasota.

A gala buffet will be served at 1800 hrs. followed with remarks by General Vaught.

Please remit your reservation by Tuesday 5 February:

$35.00 General admission

$50.00 Silver

$75.00 Gold

$100.00 Platinum

Please make your check payable to Sara DeSoto Chapter DAR and mail to: Cynthia Colbath, 275 Woods Point Road, Osprey, FL 34229.

For more information please contact: Mary Lou McFate, Regent, Sara DeSoto Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution at 941.358.3070 or via e-mail.

Proceeds benefit The Women’s Memorial & Haley House

SALUTE TO ALL WOMEN VETERANS - American Legion Kirby Stewart Post 24, Bradenton, FL on February 9, 2008

2008-01-26T08:41:00.000-05:00

The American Legion will host a “Salute To All Women Veterans” on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at Kirby Stewart Post 24 in Bradenton, Florida. All women veterans, their guests and the public from Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Hillsborough Counties are invited to participate in this event. Men are asking if they may attend the meeting and the answer is definitely, YES. What better way is there to Salute Women Veterans?

Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught USAF Retired will be the keynote speaker. B/G Vaught is one of the most highly decorated military women in US history. Currently, she is the President of the Board of Directors for the Women in Military Service Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Sign-in will be at 11:30 followed by a light $5 luncheon at 12:00 noon. US Representative Vern Buchanan will introduce B/G Vaught. After the formal presentation, B/G Vaught will entertain questions and comments from the attendees. It is about time that the 5,500 Women Veterans in this area get recognized for all of their efforts in the service of their country.

Please confirm whether you will be available to attend by calling Harold or Elaine at 941-756-7272 or Commander Gwen Rodgers at 941-794-3489. We need a head-count to prepare lunch. We look forward to seeing you at the event. Let’s pack the house.

Harold & Elaine Crapo
Co-Chairs

Great News from Iraq - January 20, 2008

2008-01-20T10:12:00.000-05:00

Black Lions detain hospital bombing suspect BAGHDAD - Multi-National Division - Baghdad

Soldiers, acting on a tip from a local resident, detained a man on suspicion of involvement in the Jan. 3 bombing at the Furat Hospital in the West Rashid district. "Black Lions," from Task Force Dragon, arrested the alleged extremist after learning about his whereabouts from sources.

Iraqi Soldiers detain suspected militia based on threats against Concerned Local Citizens, BAGHDAD

Iraqi soldiers detained two suspected members of an illegal armed group in a raid in Baghdad's Adhamiyah district after receiving information that the suspects were planning an attack on members of the area's Concerned Local Citizens group. Numerous sources reported an impending attack on a checkpoint tokill CLC members who had not given in to their intimidation. The 11th Iraqi Army Div., which has begun working closely with the CLC group, responded quickly to prevent the attack from taking place. In remarks last week, Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, chief American military spokesman in Iraq, said the increased number of attacks against CLC members was "perhaps one of the clearest indications of the importance that these Concerned Local Citizens are having on improving the security situation in Iraq."

Concerned Local Citizens turn in large cache to Iraqi Army soldiers, BAGHDAD

Members of a Concerned Local Citizens group from the Karkh district in the Iraqi capital turned over a significant weapons cache they discovered to an Iraqi Army outpost there. Helping remove unauthorized weapons and ordnance like this cache is an example of the effectiveness of Concerned Local Citizens to combat extremists and promote an end to violence by securing their neighborhoods.

Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army team up to prevent kidnapping, save civilian, BAGHDAD

Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army soldiers teamed up to prevent an attempted kidnapping in the Karada peninsula of Baghdad saving an Iraqi civilian from potential harm or death. "Iraqi Army soldiers and Police teaming up to protect its citizens is a positive indicator of increased capability and reconciliation," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. "The Iraqi Security Forces and Concerned Local Citizens are restoring and enforcing the rule of law."

Car chase leads to two arrests near Jisr Diyala, BAGHDAD

Soldiers from Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, arrested two men following a car chase near Jisr Diyala. The two men were suspected of emplacing improvised explosive devices and are believed to be a part of an extremist group responsible for IED attacks targeting National Police and Coalition Forces.

Iraqi Special Operations Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain terrorist cell leader, BAGHDAD

Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained a suspected terrorist cell leader during a raid in Mosul. According to intelligence reports, the suspect is responsible for numerous improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. The terrorist cell that he is reported to lead, is involved in storing and emplacing IEDs and car bombs for use in attacks throughout Mosul. He is also believed to be involved in the kidnapping and murder of innocent Iraqi civilians.

Rakkasans uncover VBIED factory, BAGHDAD

A routine gathering with local leaders resulted in the discovery of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device factory near Hamid Shaban. Acting on a tip from an attendee at the meeting, Rakkasan Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), acted quickly and found what appeared to be a makeshift VBIED workshop about a mile away from the gathering. "We came up with a quick plan and headed that way," said Staff Sgt. Adam McMurray, a platoon sergeant , who provided command and control for the mission. "After the house was cleared, we noticed that the kerosene heater was still on, the Chai (tea) was still hot," McMurray said. "I mean, we had just missed these guys." The most valuable find was in front of the house - four vehicles suspected to be used as VBIEDs. One vehicle had wires running from the inside to the trunk. McMurray said it was blatantly obvious the vehicle was intended to be used as a VBIED. The Soldiers found more explosives and a homemade rocket launcher. "We feel great that we found something that could've caused a lot of damage to Coalition Forces," said Sgt. Jose Rivas. "It was a long day but it was worthwhile."

Operation Phantom Phoenix: Mosul residents reaps benefits of highway clearing operation MOSUL, Iraq

As part of the country-wide Operation Phantom Phoenix, Operation Thunder Reaper is a route clearance operation that has opened 15 kilometers of road on Highway 1 in Mosul, Iraq, in the past 30 days. The road was largely unusable, but now is quickly being used again by local citizens. "Highway 1 has seen a large increase in usage from just 30 days ago," said Capt. Adam Cannon, Iron Hawk Troop commander for 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. "In order to move across town, most vehicles were forced to take smaller, more congested neighborhood roads until recently." The Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces have been a constant presence on Highway 1 since the operation started Dec. 12. During that time they found and destroyed several dozen improvised explosive devices along the vital route. That is in addition to clearing debris and filling in craters from previous IEDs. "The most profound gain is in the movement of commerce that can be seen utilizing the road. Trucks carrying construction supplies, produce, fuel and other commodities can be spotted on the road at any time during the day," said Cannon.

Multi-National Corps - Iraq

MILITARY DEATHS FOR TWENTY YEARS

2008-01-19T17:19:00.001-05:00

Bet you didn't know the following! I surely did not. The data comes from a Congressional Research Service Report titled, "American War and Military Operations Causalities: Lists and Statistics" published on June 29, 2007.

These are some rather eye-opening FACTS. Since the start of the war on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, the sacrifice has been enormous. In the time period from the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 through now, we have lost over 3000 military personnel to enemy action and accidents.

As tragic as the loss of any member of the US Armed Forces is, consider the following statistics.

The actual annual total fatalities of military members of all types (combat deaths, accidents, suicides, murders, natural causes, etc.) while actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 through 2006:

1980 ........ 2,392
1981 ........ 2,380
1984 ....... 1,999
1988 ....... 1,819
1989 ....... 1,636
1990 ....... 1,508
1991 ........ 1,787
1992 ........ 1,293----------------------------------------------------
1993 ........ 1,213
1994 ........ 1,075
1995 .........1,040
1996 ........ 974 President Clinton 8 years @ 8,035 deaths
1997 ........ 817
1998 ........ 827
1999 ........ 796 -------------------------------------------------
2000 ....... 758
2001 ........ 891
2002 ........ 999 President Bush 7 years @ 9,550 deaths
2003 ........ 1,228
2004 ........ 1,874
2005 ........ 1,942
2006......... 1,858 ------------------------------------------------------------

If you are confused when you look at these figures, so was I.

Do these figures mean that the loss from the two latest conflicts in the Middle East are only 1,515 more than the loss of military personnel during Mr. Clinton's presidency; when America wasn't even involved in a war? The answer is yes!

Our mainstream Print and TV media report these brave men and women, who are losing their lives in Iraq, are mostly Minorities! Wrong AGAIN!

The latest census of Americans shows the following distribution by Race:

European descent (White) .......69.12%
Hispanic ............................... 12.5%
Black..................................... 12.3%
Asian .................................... 3.7%
Native American ................ 1.0%
Other ................................... 2.6%

Here are the fatalities by Race over the past three years in Iraqi Freedom:

European descent (White) ..... 74.31%
Hispanic ...............................10.74%
Black ................................... 9.67%
Asian ................................... 1.81%
Native American ............... 1.09%
Other ................................... 3%

These statistics are published in a Congressional Research Service Report that may be found here.

Future Weapons - New Military Shotgun

2008-01-13T10:48:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Don O'Nesky for passing on this video of a new military shotgun. We hope the Army and Marines adopt this weapon. It will save our soldiers lives.

I got this from a fellow Army Veteran - Aren't the Marines great!

2008-01-11T16:46:00.000-05:00

Great News From Iraq

2008-01-07T10:53:00.000-05:00

MND-Center NCOs team up to build Iraqi Army's 'backbone' FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq

"No one is more professional than I," states the U.S. Army's NCO Creed, and noncommissioned officers at Forward Operating Base Kalsu are gearing up to instill the same pride and professionalism in their Iraqi Army counterparts. The Task Force Marne NCO Academy at FOB Kalsu will welcome its first class of Iraqi Soldiers Jan. 14. "We're going to be teaching them everything - combat orders, combat medical, map-reading, mounted patrols, dismounted patrols, weapons, rules of engagement, duties and responsibilities," said Master Sgt. Michael Howle, the new training facility's commandant. "The instructors who were selected are supposed to be some of the best NCOs we have here." Training Iraqis to take over is a driving force for the NCOs running and teaching at the academy. "Over the years, it has been acknowledged that the NCO Corps is the backbone of our Army," Multi-National Division - Center Command Sergeant Major Jesse L. Andrews Jr. said. "Once the Iraqi NCOs get that, they'll get a better grip on their worth. They've got the combat experience - now they need the institutional knowledge. You've got to have both."

IA, CF Soldiers kill, capture al-Qaeda operatives BAQUBAH, Iraq

Coalition Forces and Iraqi Army Soldiers detained nine individuals and killed one enemy combatant during a joint operation in Abu Tamur. One of the detainees is a known al-Qaeda in Iraq operative wanted by the Iraqi Army for stealing weapons. Soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., were clearing the village when they were engaged with small arms fire by enemy forces. The troops returned fire, killing one enemy combatant. A cache was found in the area containing four AK-47s, six AK-47 magazines, a PKC, PKC drum and PKC ammo belt. "AQI presence (in) this area was confirmed, and I believe it validates our assessment that (the village) was an AQI safe haven from which they planned attacks," said Lt. Col. Ricardo Love. "I believe this operation will positively impact peace and security in the area."

MND-Center Soldiers capture weapons traffickerFORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq

A suspected distributor of car bombs and a weapons trafficker for al-Qaeda in Iraq was captured 25 miles south of Baghdad. The detainee is the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division's No. 1 most wanted individual. Prior to the raid, Soldiers watched the target for hours with a Predator drone and OH-58D Kiowa observation helicopters. Shortly after the individual stopped at his house, Soldiers boarded helicopters and landed in a field next to the house. Within minutes, the target was in custody.

Samarra reopens bridge to citySAMARRA, IRAQ

The Salah ad Din governor, the deputy governor, and the provincial director of police, along with other leaders from the city of Samarra attended a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the Samarra Dam Bridge. After eight months of traffic restriction, the bridge will provide passage from surrounding communities to Samarra's markets and services. For the past eight months, the entrances to the city of Samarra were essentially closed due to the levels of violence. Commerce into and within the city stopped. The re-opening of the bridge and other entry points is a direct result of improving security. "The reopening of the bridge is a positive sign for improved security, as well as an improvement of freedom for the citizens of Samarra to conduct their daily lives," said Capt. Josh Kurtzman. Captain Kurtzman is the local Coalition Force commander in Samarra.

Iraqi Security Forces detain 4 known extremists in Barrah BALAD, Iraq

Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained four known extremists Jan. 3 in an operation in Barrah. The extremists are said to be part of a counterfeiting and smuggling cell in and around villages near Barrah. They are reported to be involved in the smuggling and distribution of counterfeit U.S. and Iraqi currency, weapons and explosives, as well as reporting Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces movements to foreign fighters. One other suspect is being held for further questioning.

Iraqi Security Forces detain 4 suspected extremists, kill one BAGHDAD

Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two suspected extremists and two extremist cell leaders in separate raids. In Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained two suspected extremists who are believed to be responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi citizens, weapons trafficking as well as attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces. During the course of the operation, the assault force received small arms fire from an individual near the target objective. Iraqi and U.S. Forces engaged the individual, killing him. In a separate operation, an Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics Team from Ninewah detained two extremist cell leaders in western Mosul. The two suspects are believed to be responsible for financing and planning attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces along with smuggling weapons for extremists in the region.

Multi-National Corps - Iraq
January 6, 2008